Houston Rockets @ Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN)
Houston (33-23) will travel to the Target Center for a match-up against the struggling Timberwolves (26-30) who sit four games outside the playoffs.
The story for Houston, as it has been for several weeks, will be James Harden and his 30-point scoring streak which currently sits at 30 games.
The reigning MVP is currently averaging 36.5 points per game and is on track for the best scoring season since Kobe Bryant in 2005-06.
The Rockets as a team have won seven of their last ten games and will enter the Minnesota game off the back of a 16-point victory against Dallas.
The Wolves are enduring another mediocre season, currently sitting in twelfth in the West.
Despite the struggles Karl-Anthony Towns is having another strong season and is set to play in his second All-Star Game in Charlotte.
The big man is averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds as well as a career high in blocks and will be looking to exploit the injury to Rockets centre Clint Capela and dominate down low.
The Wolves picked up a win in their last game against the Clippers with Towns and Derrick Rose leading the way.
Given the Wolves’ struggles and the ongoing form of Harden, the safe choice for this game would be the Rockets as they continue to push for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Tip: Houston to win - $1.68
Golden State Warriors @ Portland Trail Blazers (ESPN)
In a Western Conference showdown, the Trail Blazers (33-23) host the first-placed Warriors (40-15).
Golden State have been on a hot streak since the return of DeMarcus Cousins in January.
Cousins has played ten games since his return, losing one of those, with the big man averaging 14 points and six rebounds in only 23 minutes a night.
The Golden State juggernaut has only gained momentum with the seamless addition of Cousins to go along with their three 2019 All-Stars in Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
The trio are averaging over 20 points per game, illustrating the ability for Golden State to share the load.
The Blazers are having another promising season currently sitting in fourth place in the West.
The two leaders of the franchise, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, are once again having strong seasons, both averaging above 20 points.
However, it has been the work of role players like Jusuf Nurkic that have helped the Blazers compete in the West.
Nurkic is averaging a double-double and has a triple-double to his name, showing his contributions cover many areas for Portland.
It’s likely that the Golden State dominance over the NBA will continue with a win over the Blazers here, especially with no Blazer being a solid match for Kevin Durant.
Tip: Golden State to win - $1.50
Philadelphia 76ers @ New York Knicks
The 76ers (36-20) will travel to New York for the second half of a back-to-back against the Knicks (10-46).
These two teams are at completely opposite ends of the Eastern Conference, with the 76ers sitting in fourth and the Knicks dead last.
The Sixers are a completely different team compared to the start of the season. The additions of Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler have the team firmly set in win-now mode.
The team’s two young stars, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, will both be wanting to head into the All-Star break with plenty of momentum on their side as they try to make a push for the top three seeds.
Embiid is having an MVP-calibre season, averaging 27 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks, while Simmons has career highs in points and rebounds.
The Knicks are in the middle of a franchise worst losing streak that currently sits at 17 games and the end is not in sight.
The franchise has fully embraced the tank as they look to get a top three pick in the hopes of landing Zion Williamson.
Will all that being said, a Philly win by double digits is more than likely as they look to find more chemistry between their new starting line-up.
Tip: Philadelphia - 9.5 @ $1.92.
