Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets (ESPN)
The Pistons visit Brooklyn to open the ESPN Thursday double-header (all times AEST).
It’s been a disappointing season for Detroit with not a lot going their way. Blake Griffin is out for the rest of the season having underwent knee surgery and Andre Drummond is very likely to be moved before the February 6 trade deadline.
Drummond (wrist) is a game-time-decision, Derrick Rose (knee) is probable and Luke Kennard (knee) is out.
Dwayne Casey’s team currently sit 10th in the East at 17-31 but a playoff appearance seems unlikely from here. They have lost four of their last five, including three in a row.
Brooklyn are in their own slump, having dropped six of their last seven. Most recently they fell to the Knicks on Sunday in a game that Kyrie Irving (personal) sat out as he mourned Kobe Bryant’s tragic death. His status for this one is unclear.
DeAndre Jordan (finger) has missed the last couple of weeks but is set to return here.
These teams have already met twice in Detroit this season, splitting the clashes 1-1.
Tip: Brooklyn to win @ $1.41
Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs
The Jazz head to San Antonio in a battle out West.
After a shaky start to the season for a team that went in with big expectations, Utah have been on a tear since mid-December. It fell in sync with when Mike Conley got injured and Joe Ingles was inserted into the starting line-up.
Conley returned last week but is now coming off the bench given how well this team has functioned with Ingles in the first unit and how this gets managed moving forward will be intriguing.
Quin Snyder’s team have gone 8-2 in their last 10 to sit fourth in the West at 32-14, but did drop their last game to the Rockets on Tuesday, who were without James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela.
The Spurs are two games behind the eighth-placed Grizzlies but have lost their last three to Phoenix, Toronto and Chicago.
LaMarcus Aldridge missed the Bulls clash and has been ruled out for this one too with a sprained thumb. Jacob Poetl stepped up in his absence with 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, but San Antonio need Aldridge fit and firing to have a genuine crack at making the playoffs.
Tip: Utah to win @ $1.43
Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers (ESPN)
The Rockets and Blazers go head-to-head to cap off ESPN’s double header at the Moda Centre.
Houston are coming off arguably their biggest win for the season, ousting the Jazz on the road without their big three Harden (thigh), Westbrook (rest) and Capela (heel). Westbrook is set to return against the Blazers, while Harden and Capela are both listed as questionable.
Eric Gordon was massive in Utah, exploding for a career-high 50 points, with six threes, six boards, two steals and a block.
The Blazers simply haven’t been able to consistently tie wins together, but you feel like they could make a strong push in the second half of the season. They have won two of their last three, most recently knocking off Indiana at home. Terry Stotts’ side sits 10th in the West at 20-27.
Damian Lillard was enormous last week to earn Player of the Week honours. For the week, Lillard averaged 52.7 points (53.4% FG, 57.4% 3-PT, 94.9% FT), 7.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists, including franchise-record 61-point effort against Golden State.
CJ McCollum returned from a three-game absence against the Pacers, tallying 28 points with six threes.
These teams have already met twice in Houston this season, splitting the clashes 1-1.
Tip: Portland +5.50 @ $1.87
