The NBA season continues on Saturday with three important matchups for the NBA playoffs race.
Cleveland Cavaliers (58-14) at Detroit Pistons (41-32)
The Cavaliers head into their matchup against the Pistons with a solid 6-4 record over their last 10 games and riding a two-game winning streak. Sitting comfortably at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 58-14 record, they’ve already clinched X and continue to dominate the competition. While they’re not exactly on a hot streak, they took care of business in their last game, beating the Spurs 124-116 at home. Jarrett Allen was a force in the paint, dropping 29 points on 90.9% shooting while grabbing 15 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell put up a well-rounded performance with 25 points, 14 assists, and 8 boards. They’ll look to keep the momentum going against a struggling Pistons squad.
The Pistons head into a tough matchup against the top-seeded Cavaliers, sitting 5th in the East with a 41-32 record. They’ve been solid lately, going 6-4 in their last 10 and picking up back-to-back wins, but they’re still fighting for a playoff spot. In their last game, they cruised past the Spurs 122-96 at home, thanks to a 27-point performance from Marcus Sasser, who shot 75% from the field. Tobias Harris chipped in with 15 points, 8 boards, and 4 assists, helping Detroit get the job done. While they’re not exactly on fire, they’ll need to bring their best to challenge the Cavs.
Stadium Record
Detroit are 8-3 in their last 11 games at home. Cleveland are 5-0 since 2022.
Head to Head Record
The Cavs are 10-0 against the Pistons in the last 10 meetings.
Best Bet
The Under is 10-1 in this matchup and I think the total looks a bit high.
New York Knicks (45-27) at Milwaukee Bucks (40-32)
The Knicks are looking to bounce back after a 126-113 home loss to the Clippers, dropping them to 45-27 on the season. Sitting 3rd in the East, they’re still in a solid spot, but with a 5-5 record in their last 10 and no playoff spot locked in yet, they’ll need to find consistency. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way in their last game with 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists, while OG Anunoby had an efficient 28 points on 64.7% shooting. They’re not on a hot streak and are coming off a loss, so they'll need a strong showing against a tough Bucks squad.
The Bucks are struggling to find their rhythm, dropping their last two games and sitting at 40-32 on the season. Currently 6th in the East, they’ve gone 4-6 in their last 10 and still haven’t secured a playoff spot. Their latest setback came in a 127-117 loss to the Nuggets, where Brook Lopez put up 26 points on 70.6% shooting, while Ryan Rollins added 17 points off the bench with an impressive 77.8% FG. They’ll need to tighten up defensively and find some momentum as they face a tough Knicks squad looking to bounce back as well.
Stadium Record
Milwaukee are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games at home. New York are 3-7 in their last 10.
Head to Head Record
In the last 5, the Knicks are 4-1.
Best Bet
After a home loss, the Knicks are 10-1 and I think they can get the job done. They have a good record against the Bucks and Giannis might not play.
Phoenix Suns (35-38) at Minnesota Timberwolves (41-32)
The Suns are still fighting for a playoff spot, sitting 10th in the West with a 35-38 record. They’ve been decent over their last 10 games (6-4), but they’re coming off a rough 132-102 home loss to the Celtics, showing they still have work to do. Kevin Durant did his part, dropping 30 points on 68.8% shooting, but Devin Booker struggled from the field, finishing with 14 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds on just 30.8% shooting. With no hot streak to speak of and time running out, they’ll need to step up against a strong Timberwolves team.
The Timberwolves are still battling for a playoff spot, sitting 8th in the West with a 41-32 record. They’ve been solid lately, going 7-3 in their last 10, but they’re coming off a 119-103 loss to the Pacers. Naz Reid led the way with 20 points on 61.5% shooting, while Anthony Edwards struggled a bit, finishing with 17 points on 36.8% from the field. They’re not exactly on a hot streak, but with the postseason race tightening up, they’ll need a strong showing against the Suns to stay in the mix.
Stadium Record
Minnesota has lost 6 of their last 10 on their home court. Phoenix are 6-4 at this venue.
Head to Head Record
The Timberwolves are 6-4 in the last 10 meetings.
Best Bet
The Over has saluted in 7 of the last 8 homes at home for the T-Wolves and the Suns gave up 132 pts against a Tatum-less Celtics last time out.
