My WESTERN CONFERENCE GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Houston Rockets at 10:00 EST. Houston will look to tie up this series before heading home for Game 5. Jimmy Butler sat out Game 3 and it's unclear if he'll play in this one. But whether he does or not, I like Houston to, at the very least, keep this one competitive until the final bucket. Basically, I feel that whichever team has its hands on the ball last will win Game 4. Fred Van Vleet was a bright spot in Game 3 for Houston with 17 points. Stephen Curry is obviously amazing, but without Butler at 100%, the lineup gets thin pretty quickly for the Warriors. Houston was the No. 2 seed coming into this one, and Golden State was a No. 7. I'm not counting out the Rockets quite yet. Jalen Green had a big game in Game 2 following the loss at home in Game 1 and I expect a similar response tonight. Grab the points, Rockets roll!

My EASTERN CONFERENCE CRU$HER is on the Pacers at 9:30 EST. So far, the home floor advantage has proved crucial in this series, but I think that the Pacers have a legitimate shot at winning Game 4 outright. That said, in a contest that I see coming right down to the wire, I'll recommend to grab as many points as you can. Indiana had a ten-point halftime lead in Game 3, before the Bucks went on a miraculous second-half comeback to save their season essentially. Giannis Antetokounmpo had another big night with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Gary Trent Jr. exploded for 37 points, hitting nine three-pointers. Suffice it to say, I'm not expecting lightning to "strike twice" for Trent Jr. in Game 4. Damian Lillard was just 2 of 12. Aaron Newsmith had 18 points for the Pacers in Game 3, while Tyrese Haliburton has so far dished out an average of 11.3 assists during the Playoffs. Look for Indiana's depth prove to be crucial in its competitiveness in Game 4. Grab the points, Pacers roll!

My BLOWOUT PLAY is on the LA Clippers at 6:00 EST. James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are through playing "second fiddle" to Nikola Jokic and I believe they can smell the proverbial blood in the water. Denver's offense has looked bad in all three games and frankly, the Nuggets are lucky to only be down 2-1 after holding on for the 112-110 OT win in Game 1 at home. Jokic appears visibly frustrated with the rest of his team. The Clippers though are just getting stronger with each outing. That progression continues in Game 4 at home in my opinion, so lay the points with confidence, because the Clippers are going to roll!

My SLAM-DUNK play is on the Orlando Magic at 7:00 EST. The Orlando Magic will be trying desperately to avoid the 0-3 hole. They managed a solid cover in Game 2's 109-100 loss. The big question for Boston is whether or not Jason Tatum will play. He didn't play in Game 2 and they still won. He could sit again here now with a comfortable 2-0 lead. That for sure works in Orlando's favor in Game 3. Whether Tatum plays or not though, I think this one sets up well for the Magic to finally respond and to, at the very least, take this contest right "down to the wire." While 33-8 overall on the road this year, the Celtics were just a mediocre 20-20-1 ATS away from friendly confines. The Magic were 22-19 SU/ATS at home and I believe the conditions are correct for them to make a response in Game 3. While I think an outright victory is very possible for the Magic, my official call will be to grab as many points as you can with Orlando.

My EASTERN CONFERENCE ROUND ONE GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Indiana Pacers at 7:00 EST. Many might think that this is a good spot for the Bucks to bounce back in, but I'm not one of those people. Indiana destroyed Milwaukee 117-98 in Game 1, and I believe a similar outcome will happen here in Game 2 as well. The Pacers are just too deep offensively. Game 1 saw Pascal Siakam lead the way with 25 points, while Tyrese Haliburton had a double-double. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player on the floor, admittedly overall, and while he had 36 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1, he got little help (note, Kyle Kuzma became the first player in playoff history to play more than 20 minutes and not record a single stat.) Damian Lillard is listed as questionable. It's rumored that he's "good to go." But whether he plays in Game 2 or not, I don't see him being super-effective right out of the gate. The Bucks are just 20-20 on the road this year, while the Pacers are 29-11 at home. Lay the points, Pacers roll!

My PLAYOFF SLAM-DUNK is on Oklahoma City Thunder at 1:00 EST. Can Ja Morant and the Grizzlies upset the Thunder in Game 1 outright? I don't think so! In fact, I can't see Morant, or Memphis being very competitive whatsoever in this one. The Grizzlies lost to Golden State, before then beating Dallas on Friday to secure the final playoff spot in the West. But Morant needed an injection in his ankle to even play, and he'll likely need another one before Game 1. OKC has won nine straight in this series and I'm expecting SGA and company to extend that streak. Memphis struggled big time after the All-Star break, ranked No. 18 in defensive efficiency, while posting a 12-16 record. Lay the points and look for SGA and OKC to keep the foot on the gas from start to finish. Thunder roll!

My Western Conference ROUND ONE GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Minnesota Timberwolves at 8:30 EST. These franchises have not me in the Playoffs since the 2004 Confernece Finals featuring Shaq, Kobe and KG. The Lakers are essentially two players. Granted, their two fantastic players, who have the ability to take over a game or situation at any moment. Austin Reaves had a great regular season, but the bench then starts to wear thin pretty quickly after that. Minnesota made big changes this year as well by shipping out Karl Anthony Towns and going instead with Julius Randle. But Anthony Edwards put the team on his back in the second-half of the season and finished by averaging 27.6 points, 5.7 boards and 4.6 assists per game. Note that only the Oklahoma City Thunder have a better record in the West than the Wolves do since March 1st (17-4.) Over that stretch the Wolves have posted the second-best offense (121.9 points per 100 possessions), and the seventh-best defense (110.7 points allowed per 100 possessions.) I think this is a bad matchup for LA without Anthony Davis in the line-up. While the outright upset is a possibility in my opinion, my official call will be to grab as many points as you can with the Wolves.

My SLAM-DUNK PLAY is on the Indiana Pacers at 1:00 EST. I think that the home-floor advantage will prove critical here for the Pacers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon. These teams have similar overall records, with Milwaukee entering at 48-34 overall. Indiana finished 50-32. The Bucks, though, were just 20-20 on the road this season, while the Pacers were 29-11 in front of the hometown crowd. These teams met last year and Indiana posted a 4-2 series victory. The Pacers advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Final before getting swept in four games by the Celtics. Tyrese Haliburton had a big second half and finished averaging 18.6 points and 9.2 assists. Last year the Pacers finished fifth in the standing, but this year they have home-court by finishing in fourth. Doc Rivers team has hand plenty of ups and downs this year. Milwaukee won its final eight games of the regular season, but with nearly a week off between games, I believe they'll lose that momentum. Damian Lillard also won't be playing, so Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to have to shoulder the load in this series. I say the Pacers strike fast, hard and relentlessly in Game 1. Lay the points, Indiana rolls!

My NBA SLAM DUNK is on the Atlanta Hawks at 7:00 EST. Miami destroyed Chicago on Thursday, while Atlanta is off a loss to Orlando. The winner of this game will then move on to face the No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Both teams are tired. Each has injury issues. Miami was able to take care of Chicago on the road, but overall this year the Heat have struggled on the road, going just 17-23 away from friendly confines this season. Atlanta on the other hand is 21-19 at home. While these teams split their regular-season series 2-2, I believe that here in this Playoff contest, that the home floor advantage really will be a factor working in favor of Trae Young and the Hawks tonight. In fact, each team won on its home floor in those regular season matchups, and there's no reason not to think that this won't continue here in Atlanta tonight. Young melted down in the Orlando loss, but he has a golden opportunity for redemptions here. Grab the point/s, the play is on Atlanta.

My PLAY-IN GAME OF THE YEAR is on the Miami Heat at 7:30 EST. The Heat have defeated the Bulls two other times in the Play-In Tournament, and I expect them to advance once again in 2025 as well. Chicago ended the regular-season with a 39-43 record and in ninth spot, while Miami finished in tenth, two games behind at 34-45. The loser will be eliminated, while the winner will move on to play the winner of the Hawks/Magic. Chicago won the season series by a score of 3-0, but experience counts now in the Playoffs. Yes, Jimmy Butler is long gone from Miami, but it till has plenty of talented players, including Tyler Herro. While Chicago does average 117.8 PPG, it concedes 119.4. Billy Donovan's side also only managed a sub-par 18-23 record at the United Center. Miami last played in the Play In Tournament in 2023 against the Bulls, and then moved on to the Finals to play Denver. Miami averages 110.6 PPG, but is one of the better defensive clubs in conceding just 110.6 as well. I think Eric Spolestra will have "something up his sleeve" here once again for the Bulls. Grab the point/s, Heat roll!

My PLAY-IN TOTAL OF THE YEAR is on the over between the Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic. The winner of this tie will clinch the No. 7 seed in the East, while hte loser will have one more opportunity to try and get a playoff berth with the No. 8 seed. The Magic faltered down the stretch of the regular season, mostly due to injuries to key contributors. Quin Snyder's team is just 4-6 in its last ten games, but they did close the regular-season with two straight wins. Orlando closed with five straight victories. One of those games was a 119-112 home win here over Atlanta just last week. I foresee a similar pace and final combined score here as well, and that's why I'm rolling with the over.

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on the LA Lakers at 10:30 EST. Only one week left to go in the NBA's regular season and we have two teams meeting for a third time this year. Houston beat LA 119-115 at home in January, and then the Lakers responded with a 104-98 home in March. Houston just had its three-game win streak snapped here last time out in a 134-117 loss to the Clippers. With a final home game vs. the Nuggets, it's Houston that could get caught "looking ahead" here. But the bottom line is, that the Rockets have already clinched the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and in their last loss they rested starters Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. (all are listed as questionable for this one as well.) LA is coming off the 112-97 win over the Mavericks, a victory that clinched them a berth, but they're still trying to lock down the No. 3 overall spot in the West. LA actually held Houston to just 41.6 percent shooting from the field in their most recent matchup, and that was with the Rockets at full strength. Look for LA to dial up the pressure from start to finish and lay the points with confidence.

My EASTERN-CONFERENCE GAME OF THE WEEK is on the New York Knicks at 7:00 EST. Detroit is so far 2-1 in the season series, but I think that New York has a legitimate shot at evening it up after this evening in the final regular season matchup between the clubs. New York is off a tough 119-117 loss to the Celtics, while Detroit fell 127-117 to the Kings. Detroit has now lost two straight here at home, also losing 109-103 to Memphis. With two straight against the Bucks to close out the year, will the home side get caught "looking ahead" to those important end-of-season divisional matchups?! Clearly, the answer is yes. The Knicks are still battling for a playoff spot, currently sitting in third spot, two games ahead of the Pacers. Detroit will be either fifth or sixth, depending on how it finishes up against the Bucks to close out the season. Cade Cunningham has helped turned around the Pistons this year, but I think that Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau will have his team prepared tonight. Look for the Knicks to push the pace and while an outright is possible, let's grab the points. Knicks roll!

My 8* SIDE WINNER is on the Sacramento Kings at 10:00 EST. The Nuggets lost their fourth-straight game 125-120 at home to the Pacers and afterward, Denver went out and fired Head Coach Mike Malone, and GM Calvin Booth. Making a coaching change can have one of two effects: either the team responds in a big way, or nothing really changes and it continues to scuffle. Denver had a winning overall record, and to fire both coach and GM with only four games remaining in the regular season feels like extremely poor timing and a complete panic decision. And if it's not that, and this is a bigger overall problem, then a coaching change won't have any effect. The Kings are moving in the opposite direction after three straight wins, most recently a 127-117 victory at Detroit. Sacramento has scored 125, 120 and 127 points over its last three victories. It plays with the added incentive of revenge here as well following a 116-110 loss to Denver in March. Look for the Kings to step up here and to, at the very least, keep this one competitive enough to earn the comfortable cover. Grab the points, Sacramento rolls!

My 10* ATLANTIC DIVISION GAME OF THE MONTH is on the New York Knicks at 7:30 EST. New York is 50-28, but it's 5-1 SU in its last six. It's off a dominant 112-98 win over Phoenix here two nights ago and I believe the Knicks will carry that defensive momentum and confidence over ino this one. Boston is 58-20 and it's won four of its last five SU. With a final road game of the season at Orlando tomorrow night, Boston could be caught looking ahead to that difficult contest (note that the Celtics close out the regular season with back-to-back "cream puffs" at home against Charlotte.) New York's final week is much more difficult though, with a game at Detroit, followed by a home game against Cleveland, then a regular-season finale at Brooklyn. That puts added importance on this contest. The Knicks also play with the added incentive of revenge following a 118-105 loss in their most recent matchup in February. The Celtics have plenty of injury issues as well, with Al Horford out and Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown all listed as questionable. Jalen Brunson though is expected to suit up for New York. Whether he does or not though, I love the way this one sets up for the home side. The play is on New York.

My 10* CBB GAME OF THE MONTH is on Houston at 8:50 EST. Houston stunned Duke by outscoring the Blue Devils 15-3 over the final few minutes to win 70-67 in the final Four and I think the Cougars will carry that confidence and momentum over into the National Championship game. LJ Cryer had 26 points, as the Cougars have proved they can win games with either their offense or the defense. Florida was foruntate in its win over Auburn after trailing for nearly 85% of the game. Walter Clayton Jr. was superb with 34 points, but now he's going to run into a real buzzsaw of a defense in this smothering Cougars' unit. Houston should be favored here in my opinion after beating Duke, so my official call will be to grab as many point/s as you can.

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on the Sacramento Kings at 7:00 EST. Sacramento is in the middle of a playoff battle. Sacramento will most likely be playing Dallas in the Play-In Tournament, but it won't want to back its way into the Playoffs obviously. Sacramento enters playing well, having won two straight, most recently an impressive 120-113 road win at the Cavaliers. The Kings have struggled in the second game of back-to-backs this year, but I'm anticipating a very tight and competitive battle here. Detroit isn't playing very well though all of a sudden, having dropped three of its last four, including a 109-103 loss here to Memphis last time out. Furthermore, the Kings also play with the added incentive of "revenge" following a tight 114-113 home loss to Detroit on December 26th. Expect another very back-and-forth war here in Detroit as well, and grab the points. Kings roll!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on the Houston Rockets at 8:30 EST. Houston won't be rolling over here and it clearly has a very legitimate shot at winning this game outright on the road. The Rockets enter having won two in a row, most recently a confidence-building 125-111 home win over the Thunder on Friday. The Warriors have won five straight, most recently a 118-104 home victory over Denver. This is the final game of the five-game season series and so far Golden State owns a 3-1 edge, so Houston plays with the added incentive of revenge as well. Keep your eyes on Rockets' center Alperen Sengun, who had 31 points, two boards, four assists and three steals in his team's most recent win. Overall the Rockets average 114.5 PPG, while conceding 109.1. The Warriors average 113.9 PPG, while conceding 110.8. Houston has a much tougher schedule to close out the regular season and it won't want to back its way into the playoffs. In a contest that I see being decided by whichever team has its hands on the ball last, I'm grabbing the points. Rockets roll!

My 10* ULTIMATE SIDE is on Houston at 8:45 EST. Most of the money is on the Duke Blue Devils in this matchup, but I feel the value is on the defensive-minded Houston Cougars. Cooper Flagg is a phenomenal player, but Houston has some fantastic play-making guards, experience and depth. Duke beat Houston 54-51 in the 2024 Sweet 16, and everything points to a similar battle here as well in my opinion. LJ Cryer is the key to the Houston offense and Duke will struggle to cover him from the outside at times, giving the underdog the chance to keep this one competitive late. Cryer had 30 points in the 81-76 victory over Gonzaga and I believe he can match pace here with Flagg on the biggest stage. Grab the points, Houston rolls!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK SIDE WINNER is on the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:30 EST. Enough is enough for Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies, who enter off four straight losses and who are now desperate to snap the slide. However, they've played four very difficult and hot teams in the Thunder, Lakers, Celtics and Warriors in those setbacks. What better way to snap a losing slide than to play a losing team like the Heat then? Miami is 35-41 overall, including only 18-19 at home. The Heat are playing their best basketball of the season right now after six straight wins, but after winning 124-103 at Boston last time out as a 10.5-point underdog, I think a letdown is inevitable. Miami is just 6-8 ATS in back-to-back situations this season. The Heat have excelled since the Jimmy Butler trade, but now they run into a desperate visiting side. This becomes an almost "do or die" game for the visitors, and I believe that matters here tonight. Lay the points, Grizzlies roll!

My 10* CBC SLAM-DUNK Wednesday play is on Butler at 7:00 EST. I really do believe this game will be decided by whichever team has its hands on the ball last. Butler is 15-19 and Boise State is 25-10. Butler advanced with an impressive win over Utah as an underdog to advance, and I expect the Bulldogs to carry that momentum over here. Boise State was expected to beat George Washington in its first round matchup, and it did easily. But now it runs into a more veteran team here in the Bulldogs, and I think this one will be much more competitive than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe. Keep your eyes on Pierre Brooks II for Butler, as he led with 22 points and nine rebounds in the win over Utah. Tyson Degenhart had 19 points in the Broncos victory. Butler played well in an underdog role last time out and everything points to that being the case again here on Wednesday. Grab the points, Bulldogs roll!

My 10* CBC GAME OF THE YEAR is on Arizona State at 8:30 EST. Nebraska looked terrible down the stretch of the regular season, losing its final five games and missing the Big Ten Tournament because of it. The Huskers are 17-14 overall. Brice Williams leads an offense that averages 75.4 PPG, and a defense that concedes 72.9. Arizona State finished 13-19 SU, and 17-15 ATS this season. The Sun Devils also played terribly down the stretch, losing ten of 11 and losing in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament to K-State. Overall the team averages 73.9 PPG, while allowing 76.5. A consistent bright spot for ASU has been the play of BJ Freeman, who leads the team with 13.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 2.6 APG. These teams haven't played a serious game in weeks. Each looked bad this season, but they each have a big opportunity to now end the season on a possible positive note. I see these teams being very evenly matched and because of that, I'm grabbing the points. Sun Devils roll!

My 10* NON-CONFERENCE GAME OF THE WEEK is on the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:30 EST. Memphis beat Boston 127-121 on the road as a seven-point underdog back on December 7th. The Grizzlies are now 44-30 though after losing four of their last five, most recently falling 134-127 at home to the Lakers. Clearly, the home side is eager to snap out of this poor stretch. And now I think the Grizzlies catch the Celtics at a great time. Boston is rolling along at 55-19 following eight straight victories. That includes all five so far on its current Western road swing. But with a night off before three home games vs. the Heat, suns and Wizards, would anyone fault the defending champs if they got caught looking ahead? The Grizzlies simply don't have that luxury, and they're finally getting healthier as well. I'll stop short in calling for an outright upset, but I definitely feel the conditions are correct for a competitive battle until the final moments. Because of that, I'm grabbing the points. Grizzlies roll! 

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on the Indiana Pacers at 8:00 EST. The Thunder beat the Pacers by six points on the road in December, so this is a revenge spot for the visitors. The Thunder are 9-1 their last ten overall, but Indiana is right-behind at 8-2 over the same span. The Pacers didn't get caught looking ahead to this game last time out, hammering Washington 162-109. Their only loss in their last seven games was a 1-point setback to a desperate Lakers side. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite to win the MVP this year by averaging 32.9 PPG, I think he'll have a hard time covering another spread here vs. this red-hot Pacers side. Indiana owns the fourth-lowest turnover rate and while I really respect this Thunder defense, I see the Pacers being able to have success offensively in this one. I'm not calling for an outright upset, but I do think it'll be a lot closer than what most are expecting. Grab the points, Pacers roll!

My 10* ELITE 8 GAME OF THE YEAR in on Texas Tech at 6:05 EST. I'm going on record right now saying that I believe the Red Raiders have what it takes to move on to the Final Four. But that said, my official call for this pick is to grab as many points as you can. Florida used a late second-half push to win and cover against Maryland, but I think the Gators will have a much more difficult time against Texas Tech. Walter Clayton Jr. was big for Florida in the Sweet 16 with 22 points and six assists. One blow for Florida is the status of Alex Condon, who suffered an ankle injury, putting him uncertain for this contest. Florida continues to shine defensively, as points are likely to once again be at a premium in this one. The combination of JT Toppin and Elijah Hawkins was too much for Arkansas in the Sweet 16. Florida has a slight size advantage, but the Red Raiders are gritty, battle-tested team that continues to exceed expectations. I'm grabbing the points and expecting a battle until the final horn. The play is Texas Tech.

My 10* SWEET 16 GAME OF THE YEAR is on Texas Tech at 10:05 EST. The Razorbacks have yet to lose a post-season game against the spread. They beat South Carolina 72-68 in the SEC Tournament's first round, but then lost 83-80 to Ole Miss in the second, going on to cover though with the 4.5 points. Arkansas has since won its first two games to open up the NCAA Tournament as well, dispatching KU 79-72 as a 5-point underdog, before a 75-66 upset victory over St. John's as a 7-point dog. Texas Tech is 3-1 SU over its four post-season games as well, losing to Arizona 86-80 in the second round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament, while also winning both of its first two games of the NCAA Tournament, most recently the 77-64 victory over Drake. The Red Raiders are just 1-3 against the spread in that span though, finally managing an ATS cover last time in the victory over Drake. Arkansas is a well-coached team with a bunch of veterans, but Texas Tech has the skill and athletic advantage. It's difficult for me to see the Hogs slowing down JT Toppin, as the 6-foot-9 All-American is averaging 17.9 points and 9.2 boards per game. Arkansas' defense thrives on creating turnovers, but the Red Raiders are 26th in the country in protecting the ball, conceding just 9.9 turnovers per game. Lay the points with confidence.

My 8* REVENGE SLAM-DUNK is on the Denver Nuggets at 9:00 EST. Denver is 45-28 after losing three of its last four. It's coming off a 129-119 loss to Chicago here at home as a 2.5-point favorite. With upcoming home games against Utah, Minnesota, and San Antonio though, there's no reason to hit the panic button if you're a Nuggets fan. Denver has a prime opportunity to bounce back here against the Bucks, as it also plays with the added incentive of "revenge" following a 121-112 loss in Milwaukee in late February. The Bucks are now 2-3 in their last five following a 108-106 setback at Phoenix on Monday. With a night off before games at home vs. the Knicks and Hawks, another letdown appears imminent to me for Milwaukee in this difficult position. I'm expecting Denver to play like the more desperate team here, and that will be more than enough to cover the spread. Lay the points, Nuggets roll! 

My 10* NIT QUARTERFINAL GAME OF THE YEAR is on North Texas at 9:00 EST. I believe the Mean Green will win this game outright, but the official call will be to grab the points. The Mean Green are 26-8 and the Cowboys are 17-17. Oklahoma State managed a nail-biting 85-83 win over SMU to move on, with Bryce Thompson leading the way with 24 points. The Cowboys have managed 78 PPG in the NIT, but for the season they're averaging 73.1. Atin Wright leads UNT in scoring this year with 14.9 PPG and overall the Mean Green average 67.8 PPG. The difference though comes on the defensive end, with UNT conceding 59.9 PPG, and OKS allowing 76.8. The Cowboys' ineffecitve defense will allow the Mean Green to sneak into their building here and find a way to post the victory. Grab the points, the play is North Texas.

My 8* SLAM-DUNK WINNER is on the Houston Rockets at 8:00 EST. Houston is 46-26 and No. 1 in the Southwest, but its looking to rebound here following a 116-111 loss to Denver here on Sunday. With a three-game road trip up next for Houston, with stops at Phoenix and the Lakers, tonight's contest takes on added importance for the home side. Atlanta is off three straight victories and after this it has games at Miami and Milwaukee. The Rockets beat the Hawks 100-96 in Atlanta back in late January and I expect an even bigger lop-sided final outcome here in favor of Houston now that it's at home. Atlanta is just 16-18 on the road, while the Rockets are 26-11 at home. I think the conditions are completely correct for a home-side blowout. Lay the points, Rockets roll!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on the Denver Nuggets at 9:00 EST. Denver is now 45-27 after last night's 116-111 win at Houston to cap a 2-2 road trip. This is the start of five straight at home for the Nuggets, and they play with the added incentive of "revenge" here following a 129-121 loss at Chicago at the end of January. This is the finale of a six-game road trip for the Bulls and after back-to-back victories as an underdog, including an epic 146-115 win at the Lakers as 10.5-point dogs most recently, would anyone fault the visiting side for having a small mental letdown here? Especially with a few nights off before a rematch with the Lakers on Thursday. I believe the conditions are correct not only for a Denver win, but also a comfortable cover as well. Lay the points, Nuggets roll!

My 10* CBI TOURNEY GOY is on Cleveland State at 5:00 EST. This is the quarterfinals of the CBI Tournament. The Queens Royals looked decent in advancing by beating Northern Arizona yesterday by a score of 95-78, but I think the Royals will now struggle here in the second game of the back-to-back. Cleveland State has been off since a 56-54 loss to Youngstown State in the Horizon Conference Tournament's second round as a three-point favorite. The Vikings finished 21-12 and second overall in the Horizon, while Queens was 19-14 in the A-Sun, ranked sixth overall. On the season the Royals average 76.6 PPG, while allowing 74.1, while the Vikings average 73.6 PPG, while allowing 66.5. Cleveland State has five players averaging at least eight points, and I believe this depth, as well as the fact that the Vikings are well-rested, will prove to be the difference-makers for them this evening. Lay the points, Cleveland State rolls! 

My 8* SLAM-DUNK NCAA TOURNEY WINNER is on Auburn at 9:00 EST. Auburn closed out the regular season by losing three of its last four games. It was never in any trouble in its 83-63 win over Alabama State in the first round though and I believe it'll pull away for a comfortable win and cover here as well on Saturday night. I really respect Creighton. The Blue Jays had a huge second half by going 15-4 and then they busted half of the nation's brackets by upsetting Louisville 89-75. The Blue Jays have a great offense, but their defense leaves a lot to be desired. They also don't have the big men to make up against  Johni Broome and the Tiger interior. The Tigers are tough defensively on the floor as well, ranked seventh in the country in 3-point defense in conceding just 29% from behind the 3-point line. I say the Blue Jays have a major letdown here finally and Auburn finally plays up to its potential. Lay the points, Auburn rolls!

My 10* 2ND ROUND NIT GAME OF THE YEAR is on Bradley at 2:00 EST. The Braves enter 27-8 after finishing 17-6 in the MVC. The Braves advanced to the second round by beating North Alabama by a score of 71-62 as 4.5-point favorites. George Mason finished 17-4 in the A-10. The Patriots advanced by beating Samford by a score of 86-69 as 6.5-point favorites. Bradley averages 76.7 PPG, while George Mason averages 71.3. The Braves concede 68.6, while the Patriots allow 63.5. Over their last ten games though Bradley is averaging 70.3 PPG, while allowing 66.1, while George Mason has averaged 69 points per game and conceded 66.4 over the same span. I really believe an upset is in the making here, but my official call will be to grab as many points as you can. Bradley rolls!

My 10* 2ND ROUND GAME OF THE YEAR is on Purdue at 12:40 EST. I had a play on Purdue in its victory over High Point, and now I like the Boilermakers to not only move into the next round but to do so in a convincing fashion once again in this favorable matchup. Here is a small excerpt from that writeup, as a lot of the information contained in that analysis also directly pertains to this pick and why I like the Boilermakers again here in the second round:

... The Boilermakers finished 22-11. They're the No. 4 seed after losing six of their last nine games. I say they come in motivated enough here though to not only win this game but to do so in blowout fashion. Purdue is Top 10 in the country in field-goal shooting at 49% ...

... Purdue is loaded with talent as well, including Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith and I believe they'll be just too much for the Panthers to handle. The Boilermakers have a big talent edge here and I expect them to ride that to a solid victory in the First Round ...

McNeese State is off the 69-67 upset win over Clemson as a seven-point dog, but I believe the Cowboys finally have a letdown here. Clemson played terribly, as McNeese State won despite shooting only 43.5 percent from the floor and 21.1 percent from range. It will be a lot harder now to try and contain Smith and Kaufman-Renn this time though, and I don't believe the Cowboys will. Look for Purdue's size and talent to once again be the deciding factor for the Boilermakers in this matchup and lay the points with confidence.

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on Oregon at 10:10 EST. I really respect the Liberty Flames. They're a great mid-major team, but I think they'll still struggle to keep pace with Oregon down the stretch. Liberty was 28-6 and it won the Conference USA Tournament and regular season title. The Ducks are the No. 5 seed after finishing 12-8 in their first season in the Big Ten. They had won eight straight games before a loss to Michigan State in the Conference Tournament. Oregon center Nate Bittle and point guard Jackson Shelstad will be just too much for the No. 12 Flames in my estimation. All-Conference USA second-team guard Kaden Metheny earned tournament MVP honors, but he faces his most difficult challenge of the year here. I believe Oregon's depth and overall superior talent will in the end prove to be too much for Liberty in this matchup. Lay the point, Ducks roll!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK WINNER is on the Milwaukee Bucks at 10:30 EST. I had a play on the Lakers last night and they went on to win by a score of 120-108 over the Nuggets. After three straight victories, with having played just last night, and with a much more "winnable" game here on Saturday vs. the Bulls, this one sets up as a letdown spot for the home side, that continues to rest injured starters. LeBron James and Luka Doncic are both listed as questionable for this one. The Bucks are looking to stop a two-game slide here after falling 121-105 at home to the Thunder, before a 104-93 setback at Golden state to kick off this road trip. LA just finished playing a back-to-back on the 16th-17th vs. Phoenix and San Antonio. This is its fourth game in five days. Look for the much hungrier visiting side to pull away for the comfortable win and cover. Bucks roll!

My 10* NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND GAME OF THE YEAR is on Missouri. Missouri finished 22-11 this year. The Tigers lost four of their last five, but I expect them to come in rested and ready here. Missouri finished .500 against Top 25 teams this season. Drake finished 30-3 and it has a veteran team led by Bennett Stirtz. Stirtz is great, but the offense is a little thin after that though. In their Conference Tournament win over Bradley back on March 9th, Stirtz led the way with 24 points, but only one other player scored in double figures. Missouri lost to Florida, which went on to win the SEC Tournament, by a score of 95-81. Tamar Bates had 16 points in a losing cause, but I think he and the rest of his team will bounce back big here in the First round. Drakes is a sexy "darkhorse" underdog pick here in Round 1, but I'm not biting. The Bulldogs won't be able to keep pace here offensively, as they've posted below 66 points in four of their last six games. Look for a rested Missouri side to be too much for the Bulldogs on both ends of the floor in this one and lay the points with confidence. Missouri rolls!

My 8* EARLY-RISER play is on Purdue at 12:40 EST. The Boilermakers finished 22-11. They're the No. 4 seed after losing six of their last nine games. I say they come in motivated enough here though to not only win this game, but to do so in blowout fashion. Purdue is Top 10 in the country in field-goal shooting at 49%. The High Point Panthers finished 29-5 and they come in having won 14 straight games, including the Big South Tournament Championship, but they've only played on March Madness team all season. The Panthers enter among the nation's highest-scoring teams in averaging 81.7 PPG, but, clearly, their level of competition has to be questioned. Purdue is loaded with talent as well, including Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith and I believe they'll be just too much for the Panthers to handle. The Boilermakers have a big talent edge here and I expect them to ride that to a solid victory in the First Round. Lay the points, Purdue rolls!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on the Lakers at 10:00 EST. Denver has been trading wins/losses over its last seven games, and off a 114-105 upset win as a 12.5-point underdog, I think this pattern will continue here against the Lakers. Nikola Jokic did not play in that last game and the Nuggets still won. Regardless, I still like the home side in this matchup for a couple of different key situational reasons. Denver has two more tough road games after this at Portland and Houston and could be caught looking and planning for those contests. The Lakers also play with the added incentive of revenge following a 131-126 loss at Denver on March 14th. LA is back on track after back-to-back victories and I expect that positive momentum to continue here at home in this revenge spot. Lakers roll!

My 10* FIRST FOUR GOY is on Texas at 9:10 EST. The winner of this game will face Illinois on Friday. Xavier finished 21-11 The Musketeers had their seven-game win streak come to an end by Marquette in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament. Xavier is led by Zach Freemantel, but the Musketeers finished just 2-5 against teams in the Top 25 this year. Overall Xavier ranks 59th in scoring and 125th in points allowed per contest. The Longhorns come in battle-tested after one of the most difficult schedules in the country. Tre Johnson averages just under 20 PPG this year. In total the Longhorns played against 13 teams ranked in the Top 25 this season. Texas ranks 54th in the country in points per game this year, and 170th in points allowed per contest. The Longhorns also rank 29th in the country in fewest turnovers per game, while the Musketeers rank 130th. Grab the points, the play is on Texas.

My 10* NIT FIRST ROUND GAME OF THE YEAR is on CSU Northridge at 11:00 EST. There's a possible upset in the cards here on Tuesday night, as I feel that CSU Northridge has a legitimate shot at winning this one outright at Stanford vs. the Cardinal. CSU Northridge is 22-10 and 14-7 in Big West action, while Stanford finished 20-13 and 12-10. For me, more than anything, this pick comes down to "recent form." And more specifically, the recent form of each offense. Over their last ten games Maxime Raynaud and the Cardinal are 5-5 and averaging 66.6 PPG, while conceding 70. Conversely, over their last ten games, the Matadors are 7-3 and averaged 80.0 PPG, while conceding 76.1. Marcus Adams Jr. averages 16.1 PPG for Cal State Northridge and I believe their versatile offense will, at the very least, keep them competitive until the final moments. Grab the points, the Matadors roll!

My 8* NIT TOURNEY SLAM-DUNK is on Oklahoma State at 9:00 EST. I think the Cowboys will not only win this first-round matchup on Tuesday night at home, but will do so in blowout fashion. Because of that, I'm laying the points with confidence in this one. Wichita State finished 19-14 overall and 9-11 in the AAC, while Oklahoma State was 15-17 and 7-14 in the Big 12. The Cowboys though finished 8-3 in non-conference action. They each average almost the same, with the Shockers putting up 73.8 PPG on average, and the Cowboys averaging 72.6. The Big 12 was a much more difficult conference this year though in my opinion. The Cowboys beat Cincinnati 78-67 as 3.5-point dogs in their final regular season outing, but then lost to the Beacrats 87-68 in the Conference tournament. The Shockers advanced to the second round and fell 83-80 to Memphis, but in their final regular-season outing, they fell 73-63 at home to Tulsa as 12-point favorites. Look for the Cowboys depth to prove to be the difference here and lay the points.

My 10* Western Conference GAME OF THE WEEK is on the LA Lakers at 10:30 EST. I had LA last night, and I believe it'll find a way to not only win tonight, but to do so in blowout fashion, going on to cover this larger spread easily in my opinion. LA had dropped four in a row previous, so it can't "look past" its lowly opponent this evening. This is a very winnable game for the home side, especially with much more difficult upcoming contests here vs. Denver and Milwaukee on back-to-back nights. The Lakers play with the added incentive of "revenge" as well following a 126-102 loss here to the Spurs back in mid-January. San Antonio has been trading wins/losses over its last four games, and off a 119-115 home victory over the Pelicans, I expect this pattern/trend to continue. The Spurs are only 10-21 on the road this year and everything points to a letdown here for the visiting side in my opinion. And that's why I'm laying the points with confidence, Lakers roll!

My 8* TOTAL SLAM-DUNK is on the Grizzlies at 8:00 EST. Cleveland has not lost a game in over a month. The Cavaliers are 55-10 and most recently beat Brooklyn by a score of 109-104. But it's Memphis that plays with revenge here following a 129-123 loss at Cleveland on February 23rd. The Grizz covered with the 6-point spread, but now here at home and playing with revenge, I believe Memphis has a legitimate shot at winning this one outright. The Grizzlies are 42-24 and they enter having won four in a row following a 122-115 victory here over Utah last time out. Cleveland returns home to take on Orlando next, and I believe it could also be caught looking ahead to that Eastern Conference matchup. Either way, there are overwhelming factors here working in favor of Memphis in my opinion. Grab the points because the Grizzlies roll!

My 10* SWAC TOURNEY GAME OF THE YEAR is on Alcorn State at 8:30 EST. Alcorn State enters the Tournament as the No. 6 seed after finishing 11-20 overall, including 11-7 in the SWAC. Bethune-Cookman closed 16-15 and 13-5 and as the No. 3 seed overall. When you look more closely at their scoring, they're very evenly matched, with Bethune-Cookman averaging 88.7 points per 100 possessions and Alcorn State averaging 86.2 points per 100 possessions. The Braves won both regular season games vs. the Wildcats, and both times, they were dogs. Bethune-Cookman enjoyed a significant home-floor advantage this year, but this game is being played at the Gateway Center Arena. I do think an outright victory is once again possible for Alcorn State, but my official call is to grab as many points as you can. Alcorn State rolls!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK play is on the LA Lakers at 7:30 EST. Both teams come in struggling, but with a tough game at Denver tomorrow night, the Lakers will focus on snapping this two-game slide. They beat the Bucks 128-124 in OT here last March. The Bucks have been playing terribly of late as they've lost three straight. That includes a heartbreaking 115-114 setback at division rival Indiana last time out. And with the Pacers coming to Milwaukee next on Sunday, would anyone fault the home side getting caught looking past their non-conference opponent in this one?! Either way, I believe that LA is in a better position to bounce back after a small stretch of poor play and while I do feel that an outright victory is possible, my official call is to grab as many points as you can with LA.

My 10* BIG WEST TOURNAMENT GAME OF THE YEAR is on Cal State Bakersfield at 9:00 EST. Cal State Bakersfield finished 14-18 and No. 8 in the Big West, while UC Santa Barbara was 19-12 and No. 5. The bottom line here is that the recent form of the Roadrunners has me convinced that they not only are going to cover with the spread here, but also could potentially steal this game outright. Cal State Bakersfield closed the season with a 76-64 win over Hawaii as a 2.5-point favorite. The Roadrunners rank second in the conference in three-point percentage, and that's going to come into play and be a key deciding factor in this Conference Tournament game in my opinion. The Gauchos backed their way into the tournament by losing their last two games. These teams played twice this year and UC Santa Barbara won and covered and each, but now here in the Conference Tournament, the value has finally swung the other way in my opinion. It appears to me that this game will be decided by whichever team has its hands on the ball last. So because of that, I'm grabbing the points. Cal State Bakersfield rolls!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on the Oklahoma City Thunder at 7:30 EST. Because I envision this game being decided by whichever team has its hands on the ball last, I'm going to grab the points in this one. The Thunder had won seven in a row before their most recent 140-127 loss to the Nuggets. They beat the Celtics 105-92 at home back in January. They have a game in Detroit after this. After losing two in a row to close out February, the Celtics enter having won five in a row. Jason Tatum and the home side are on the road for two straight after this, in Miami and Brooklyn, respectively. A great test for the Thunder here. A great regular season record won't mean anything if they go out in the first round. They lost to the Bucks in the Play-In Tournament, but they've already beaten the Celtics once this year. I believe they can do it again, but the official call for this pick is to grab as many points as you can with the Thunder.

My 10* A-10 TOURNEY GAME OF THE YEAR is on Davidson at 11:30 AM EASTERN. I'm going with Davidson to win and cover here on Wednesday morning. The Wildcats backed their way into the Conference Tournament with four straight losses and finished 16-15 overall. But, they did beat Richmond 71-60 on February 8th, and 72-66 on January 25th to sweep the season series. While the old saying goes that it's difficult to beat a team three times in one year, I really like Davidson to bounce back in this opening matchup and post a third straight victory in this series. The Spiders are terrible. They finished 10-21 and they also enter the Conference Tournament having lost four in a row. The "better" team is more prepared to bounce back in this spot, and that's exactly what I'm expecting. This has been a difficult matchup all year for Richmond and nothing will change here in the Conference Tournament. Lay the points, Davidson rolls!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK WINNER is on the Indiana Pacers at 7:30 EST. Milwaukee is 36-27 this season, but it's only 14-16 on the road. The Bucks come to town off two straight poor home losses, falling 111-109 to the Magic, before a 112-100 setback to the Cavs. With a home game against the Lakers up next, Milwaukee is going to get caught looking ahead and the revenge-minded Pacers will take advantage. Indiana lost 120-112 at home to the Bucks back in December. The Pacers have lost three straight after last night's listless 121-103 loss at Chicago. Now back at home and with it's back against the wall, I like the 35-28 Pacers to stop the bleeding here. That said, my official call is to grab as many points as you can with Indiana.

My 8* BIG 12 TOURNEY ROUT is on Cincinnati. The Bearcats finished 17-14 after three straight losses to close out the regular season. That includes a 78-67 setback at Oklahoma State as a 3.5-point favorite in the finale. The Cowboys finished 15-16. Cincinnati stumbled down the stretch of the regular season, but now the Bearcats have a prime opportunity to get back on track in a favorable spot. Cincinnati averages 70.5 PPG, while conceding 63.5. The Cowboys somehow managed the upset win on Senior's Night, but a return to mediocrity would appear imminent now that the Conference Tournament is here. Overall Oklahoma State averaged 72.7 PPG this season, while allowing 76.2. I believe the Bearcats use the final regular season loss as motivation here and keep the foot on the gas until the final horn. Lay the points. 

My 8* SLAM-DUNK WINNER is on the Toronto Raptors at 7:30 EST. Washington is just 6-23 on the road this year. After winning 125-122 at home over Utah, the Wizards beat the Raptors here 118-117 on Saturday. With a back-to-back set at Detroit starting tomorrow night though, the visitors could easily be caught "looking ahead" here and come in distracted. The Raptors are 14-20 at home. They had won three straight before the setback to the Wizards. The Raptors won't be in the Playoffs, but they've been playing better of late. They have a chance to string a couple wins together as well with the wounded 76ers coming to town next. Look for Toronto to respond here, and for the Wizards to take a predictable step back after the back-to-back victories. Lay the points, Raptors roll!

My 10* SUN BELT Conference Tournament Game of the Year is on Arkansas State at 7:00 EST. This is the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game being played in Pensacola, Florida. Arkansas State got by South Alabama 74-71 to advance, while Troy beat James Madison 79-60 in its semifinal matchup. Arkansas State has so far averaged 75.2 PPG in this tournament, while allowing 72.5. Keep your eyes on Joseph Pinion, who had 23 points last time out (three others scored in double figures.) Troy has averaged 77 PPG in the Conference tournament, while allowing 59.5. Tayton Conerway had 22 points in the victory, but I believe this matchup still favors Arkansas State. These teams went 1-1 SU/ATS vs. each other in the regular season, but the Red Wovles' recent offensive play will turn out to be the difference-maker for them in my opinion tonight. Lay the small amount of points with confidence here, the play is on Arkansas State!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK WINNER is on the Boston Celtics at 8:30 EST. LA has been the talk of the league since the Luka Doncic trade. LA is now 40-21, while Boston is 45-18. LA routed Boston 117-96 as a 6.5-point dog back in January, and now it's payback time for the Celtics, in my estimation. Could this be a possible NBA Finals preview?! Very possibly, is the answer with Doncic on the Lakers now. I can't see either team "looking past" this moment, but the home floor advantage will prove to be key here for the Celtics in my opinion. Boston is 21-11 at home this year, while LA is just 15-14 on the road. Look for the revenge-minded home side to keep the foot on the gas from start to finish and for Boston to roll to not only a win, but a comfortable ATS cover as well. 

My 10* NORTHEAST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT GAME OF THE YEAR is on Fairleigh Dickinson. The Knights were 13-19 in the regular season. They opened the Conference Tournament with a 71-56 victory over Stonehill. They play with revenge following an 87-66 loss here back in early February (lost both conference games to the Blue Devils, both SU and ATS this season). Central Connecticut finished 24-6. The Blue Devils opened the tournament with an 86-67 win over Le Moyne. Terrence Brown is a player to keep your eyes on for the Knights today. He's really developed into a major threat, most recently posting 23 points, five rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 36 minutes. I say that the Knights keep their recent momentum rolling here and, at the very least, keep this one competitive enough to earn the comfortable cover. Grab the points, Fairleigh Dickinson rolls!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK WINNER is on the LA Clippers at 10:30 EST. The LA Clippers are 33-29 and third in the Pacific after snapping a three-game slide with a 123-115 win over a red-hot Pistons side here on Wednesday and in my opinion, I believe they'll carry that momentum over into this contest. Despite the recent slide, looking ahead at LA's schedule sees a favorable one for the Clippers, with games vs. the Kings, Pelicans, Heat, Hawks and Hornets after tonight's matchup with the Knicks. New York is 40-22 and second in the Atlantic, but it's coming in with zero momentum after back-to-back losses, including a difficult 113-109 OT loss at the Lakers here last night. The Knicks led for most of the game and then fell apart down the stretch. With two nights off before a game at Sacramento, I believe New York could struggle with fatigue and focus this evening. All of these factors combine to make LA the correct call in my opinion. Lay the points with confidence, Clippers roll!

My 10* CAA Conference Tournament GAME OF THE YEAR is on Stony Brook at 2:00 EST. Stony Brook finished 8-23, but the silver lining saw the Seawolves win their final two games of the year as an underdog. Stony Brook was a ten-point underdog in an 84-74 loss at Delaware in mid-January, so it plays with the added incentive of revenge in this one. The Blue Hens finished with the better 12-19 record, but Delaware backed its way into the Conference Tournament by losing six straight, both SU and ATS. For me, "recent form" is a crtical factor when starting the "playoffs" (in the NBA/NHL/NFL etc), or the Conference Tournaments. I'm not going to call for an outright upset, but that is a very real possibility in this one as well in my opinion. A great situational play in the first round of the CAA Tournament, grab the points as Stony Brook rolls to at least the comfortable cover!

My 10* Missouri Valley Conference Tournament GAME OF THE YEAR is on Murray State at 7:00 EST. Murray State endured mixed results over the regular season and finished 15-16 overall, falling 70-60 in its regular-season finale at Belmont. The Racers will look to move past the Opening round of the Conference Tournament, though in a favorable matchup. Murray State plays with the added incentive of revenge afer losing 78-74 at Evansville in late January as a 5.5-point favorite. The Purple Aces were just 11-20. They lost their final three games of the regular season, including a 62-53 loss at Illinois State in its finale. Nick Ellington did not play for Murray State in the loss to Evansville, and he just finished with 19 points and four rebounds in the most recent loss to the Bears. Look for Murray State to exact a little revenge in the opener of the Conference Tournament and lay the points, as everything points to the Racers rolling!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on Washington at 10:30 EST. To say this is a revenge game would be an understatement, as the Trojans have won ten straight in the series, going 7-3 ATS in that span. They won the first meeting of the year by a score of 85-61 back on December 7th in Washington. Washington is 13-16 this year after a 78-62 loss to Indiana last time out. Washington enters having lost four straight, but USC is just 14-15, and it comes in having lost five in a row. The Trojans finish their regular season with a trip to 21-9 UCLA after this, while Washington returns home to face Oregon. Washington's fan base will be all over it here to snap the ten-game losing streak, and I feel that this factor is more than enough to tip the scales in favor of the Huskies tonight. Most likely there will be no outright win, but I see this one being decided in the final moments. Grab the points.

My SLAM DUNK WINNER on Wednesday March 5th at 9:30 EST is on the Memphis Grizzlies. It's a big West Coast matchup. Oklahoma City is 50-12 overall, including 23-7 on the road, while Memphis is 38-23 overall and 22-9 at home. Shai and the Thunder are in the proverbial driver's seat right now, as he's currently a -550 favorite to win the MVP. Despite that though, we still really like the hungry underdog home side here. Oklahoma City has won six of seven games since the All-Star Break. It's off the 137-128 win over Houston. After this it has three straight at home vs a red hot Portland side and two straight against the Nuggets. Situational cappers would point to this as being a very possible "trap" game for the visitors (as they enter on the extended winning run on the road, combined with the upcoming difficult home stand.) The potential for the visitors to get caught looking ahead is very real. Memphis does not have that luxury. It can't look past anyone as it is now desperate to snap a three-game losing streak, most recently falling 132-130 to the Hawks. Memphis also plays with the added incentive of "revenge" as well after falling 125-112 to the Thunder about a month ago. Grab the points and watch the Grizz roll to AT LEAST the solid ATS cover.

My UNDERDOG BLOWOUT WINNER in on the Charlotte Hornets at 7:00 EST. Golden State has been playing well since the Jimmy Butler trade, but off a 126-119 loss at Philadelphia, a setback that snapped a five-game winning streak, and with a much more high-profile contest at the Knicks on Tuesday, I believe the Warriors are going to have a bit of a mental letdown here. It's a perfect "spot" bet for Hornets backers! Charlotte also plays with the added incentive of "revenge" following a 128-92 loss at Golden State in late February. The Hornets have lost six straight and while I'm not calling for that streak to end today, I do feel that this spread is now a bit too large for Golden State to cover considering the other situational factors its facing. I think the revenge-minded home side will be able to keep this one competitive enough to comfortably cover with this larger spread. 

My Pacific Division Game of the Month is on the LA Clippers at 9:30 EST. LA is just 1-4 since the break. It lost here 106-102 to the Lakers just two nights ago, but I like the Clippers to finally bounce back with a solid victory tonight, and to avenge the most recent loss. This is the fourth and final meeting between the clubs this regular season, and the Lakers currently own a 2-1 lead. But I like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden to respond. The Lakers have won five straight, but I'm finally anticipating a letdown here vs. the desperate Clippers. The Lakers have the Pelicans and Knicks coming to town next, but I think the "hungrier" revenge-minded Clippers are the correct call in this situation. In fact, they've now qualified as my top Pacific Division side for March. Lay the points, Clippers roll.

My Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament game of the year is on Central Arkansas at 7:00 EST. Both teams were pretty poor this season, but the Bears play with revenge and I believe that motivational factor will tip the scales in their favor in the opener of the A-Sun Conference tournament. Both teams finished 8-23 and backed their way into the tournament. But I think the Hatters will have a difficult time slowing down Central Arkansas' star player Elias Cato, who averages 14.8 PPG. The Bears play with revenge as I mentioned following a 75-65 road loss back in January. But now the Hatters don't have the "home floor" advantage here in the Conference Tournament. These teams are evenly matched, but I think the Bears will avenge the earlier loss. That said, grab as many points as you can.

My EARLY RISER play is on PSU (12:00 EASTERN). Penn State is going to fight tooth and nail at home and, at the very least, keep this one plenty close enough to comfortably cover with the points in my opinion. This is the first meeting of the year between the Schools. Last year the Nittany Lions won 85-69. Maryland though is 21-6 this season, while PSU is 15-14. Maryland is off a heart-breaking 58-55 home loss to No. 8 Michigan State, and I believe the visitors will still be mentally "hung over" from that setback. The Terps average 82.6 PPG, while conceding 67, while PSU averages 79.4 PPG, while conceding 73.4. With a tough upcoming game at Michigan after this, the visitors could potentially be caught "looking past" their lowly opponent this afternoon. Either way, the EARLY RISER play is on the home side PSU and the points.

At 8:30pm ET, my Sun Belt Game Of The Month is on Southern Miss. The value lies with the home underdog in this Sun Belt showdown. The Golden Eagles are dreadful on the road but their home record is better than Troy's road record. The Trojans won by only 9 when they hosted the Golden Eagles. Again, SMU is terrible on the road and decent at home. SMU's last three losses all came by single digits. Five of Troy's last 6 road games were decided by 7 points or less. Last season's game here was decided by a single point. This will be another nail-biter. Grab the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my Horizon League Game Of the Month is on Wright State. The Vikings are having a great season but this is a difficult situation. Not only are they off a tough OT loss but they are also playing their 3rd straight road game. This is the first time all season that they will play 3 straight on the road. The Raiders are 3-10 on the road and they lost at Cleveland State back in December. They are a far better 9-3 at the Nutter Center. They defeated the Vikings 82-70 here last season. No big spread to worry about either. Three straight road games will catch up to Cleveland State. Play on Wright State.

At 9:00pm ET, my Big East Game Of the Week is on Creighton. This game is going to be one sided from the get-go. This season's earlier meeting was played at Depaul and the Bluejays won by 24. Playing at CHI Health Center in Omaha, the Bluejays are poised to deliver an even bigger beating. The Blue Demons are off 5 straight double-digit losses and they're 1-9 on the road. Off a double-digit win over Georgetown, Creighton is 13-2 at home. The Bluejays crush the Blue Demons here annually and they beat them by 23 here last year. I've got them winning by at least that many again tonight. Lay the points.

At 7:10pm ET, my Ground and Pound selection is on the Indiana Pacers. The Raptors played at home last night. They fought hard and lost by 10 at home. They will feel the effects of that battle with Boston tonight. The last 3x that the Raptors played their 2nd game in 2 days, they allowed 131, 138 and 132 points. Each was a lopsided loss. The Raptors aren't the same team that beat the Pacers twice earlier in the season and Poeltl's questionable status doesn't help. They also aren't the same team when playing away from Toronto, as evidenced by their 5-21 road record. The Pacers, 16-9 at home, had yesterday off. They will pound the Raptors into submission. Lay the points.

At 8:10pm ET, my NBA Slam Dunk Club selection is on Houston. Home court advantage will provide the Rockets with the edge they need on Tuesday at the Toyota Center. The Bucks are 19-9 at home but only 12-15 on the road. The Rockets are solid (17-12) on the road and they're even better (18-9) at home. Fred VanVleet has been out for the Rockets but he returned to practice Monday. Still questionable, he will provide a big boost for the Rockets, if he can go. Even if he doesn't, this is a hard-working team which doesn't take nights off. They lost last game but that was on the road and it was their 2nd game in 2 nights. After a rough patch, they've won 3 of 5 and all the victories came by 6 or more. The home team has won 6 straight in the series. Lay the points.

At 1:00pm ET, my Early Riser is on Northern Kentucky. A big talent gap exists between these teams and that will be evident at Truist Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Norse just won 2 of 3 road games on a 3-game trip. Now they come home where they have a 9-6 record. The Jaguars are off a win at Detroit but are still 4-9 on the road. These teams played here last February and the Norse won by 16. The previous February, they beat the Jaguars 86-47 in the game at Northern Kentucky. The Jaguars haven't won 2 games in a row in months. Every 2025 win has been followed by a loss. Lay the points.

At 7:40pm ET, my Atlantic Division Game Of the Year is on the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers are in need to a big win. A game against the short-handed Nets is being handed to them on a silver platter. They simply need to play up to their potential and they can blow this Brooklyn team out. The break came at an opportune time. The 76ers lost at Brooklyn 10 days ago. They hammered the Nets in this season's game at Philadelphia though. Maxey said this: "You have to have some urgency out there. You know that every game is going to be important for us." Maxey and the 76ers play with urgency and give us a glimpse of how good they can really be! Lay the points.

At 6:00pm ET, my SEC Game Of the Year is on Alabama. By this time of the year, nearly team is dealing with some injuries or missing players. In Kentucky's case, it's missing one its very important players. Point guard Lamont Butler (shoulder) has missed two straight games and five of the last seven. Also, off-guard Jaxson Robinson (wrist) has sat out the last three games. Coach Pope acknowledged how important Butler is to the Wildcats: "Lamont is a really special point of attack defender. So, we can't replace that. That's just a massive challenge for us to try to figure out." Pope also knows he's walking into a hornet's nest: "Now we've got the epic challenge of all challenges going to Alabama and seeing if we can deal with that insanity down there. The Wildcats are 2-5 on the road. The Tide are 10-2 at home. The last meeting here was a 78-52 win for the Tide. Off consecutive defeats, Alabama will show no mercy today. Lay the points.

At 12:00pm Et, my Early Riser is on Oregon. The Badgers have been scoring a lot of points and playing well but they are still going to have their hands full at Kohl Center this afternoon. After the Badgers' win over Illinois, Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said: "I hope we're not peaking ... I don't want to hit the peak yet." Gard needs to be careful what he wishes for. The Ducks have found their way and are off 3 straight wins. Two of their previous 3 losses had been by 6 or less. Coach Dana Altman commented: "Sometimes you just got to find a way." They've got their momentum back and are coming in thinking upset. The last meeting (NIT 2023) was a 3-point game and this one is shaping up to be another nail biter. Grab the points.

At 7:00 pm ET, my MAAC Conference Game Of the Month is on Fairfield. You guys know how I like getting points with the better team. That's how I see this one. The Stags already defeated the Broncs this season. They've won 6 of the past 9 meetings, each of the past 3. Off a 1-point loss, Rider is 3-5 its past 8 games. All 3 victories were by 3 points or less. The Broncs aren't a good team and they have very little home court advantage. As a matter of fact, the Broncs have 7 road wins but they are only 3-6 in their home games. Grab the points.

At 9:00pm Et, my Wednesday Wipeout is on Gonzaga. The Cougars were competitive much of the way in the first meeting. Eventually, the Bulldogs pulled away for a 13-point win. At the time, the Bulldogs were still finding their way. They lost their next 2 games. They've found their footing now though as they are 6-1 their last 7 games and 4-0 their last 4. Those 4 wins came by 20, 17, 11 and 52 points, an average of 25 per game. The Cougars were riding high when they first faced Gonzaga but have since fallen on hard times. They are off a 21-point loss last game and are now 1-6 their last 7. The Cougars won't be as competitive this time as Gonzaga will make sure that this one gets out of hand early. Lay the points.

At 9:00pm Et, my Big 12 Game Of the Month is on Kansas. Off Saturday''s loss at Utah, Bill Self will demand his team responds with a much better effort at Provo tonight. He's great at getting his team to bounce back from defeat, the Jayhawks are 6-0 straight up off their last 6 losses. Self said the following: "I've obviously done a (expletive) job getting these guys to understand the way we have to play in order to give us a chance to win. I'm tired of regrouping. We don't need to regroup. What we need to do is basically be men as an entire organization. Go out and do what our job is to do and accept responsibility for everybody -- players, coaches, everybody -- when we don't do it well." Self will make sure his team hasn't forgotten that BYU beat them at Lawrence last year. Winning on the road in the Big 12 isn't easy but it can be done. We saw Arizona win at Baylor last night and tonight the Jayhawks will walk away with the road win.

At 12 ET, my Early Riser is on Wichita State. The Tigers are playing very well but they will be tested this afternoon. The Shockers went through a tough patch but have come out of it stronger. They are playing their best basketball and are off 3 straight wins. The last 3 games between these teams were decided by an average of only 5.33 points, each by 8 or less. Even when Wichita State loses, the games are usually close. The Shockers' last 4 losses all came by 8 or less. Grab the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my WAC Game Of the Month is on California Baptist. The Lancers are off an OT loss on the road last game. That was on the heels of a home win against Grand Canyon, the top team in the conference. A let-down wasn't shocking. It won't happen twice in a row though as the Lancers are ready to roll against an inferior opponent. The Trailblazers are likely the least talented team in the entire WAC. The Lancers have big edges both inside and out. Utah Tech is 0-13 on the road and the Trailblazers have lost their last 7 straight overall. Lay the points.

At 10:00pm ET, my V-Day Super Smash is on Nevada. If it seems surprising to see that San Jose State catching this many points at home, it's because the gap between these teams is real. Nevada is one of the best teams in the Mountain West and San Jose State is not. The Spartans are off consecutive losses and the Wolf Pack are off 3 straight victories. They just won by 25 at home last game and their previous win came by 14, on the road. The Spartans are only 6-6 at home this season. Nevada won by 21 here last season. The Wolf Pack are 8-1 the last 9 meetings and all 8 wins came by 9 or more. Lay the points.

At 11:00pm ET, my WCC Conference Game Of the Month is on Gonzaga. The Bulldogs will comfortably cover the "two touchdown" spread tonight, winning by more than 20. The Dons are an unbeatable 15-0 at home but they're below .500 on the road. They haven't beaten Gonzaga in years and they're playing their 2nd straight on the road. Gonzaga is off a 17-point road win and a 20-point home win before that. St. Mary's and San Francisco are ahead in the conference standings but the Bulldogs will remind everyone why they remain the class of the conference. Lay the points.

At 10:40pm ET, my NBA Western Conference Game Of The Year is on the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers catch the Grizzlies off a road win at Phoenix last night. It looked like it might be easy but that wasn't the case in the end. Memphis led by as many as 19 but allowed Phoenix to cut the margin to three, with 2:34 left. Even off 3 straight road wins, the Grizzlies are 15-11 on the road. They haven't won 4 road games in a row all season. The last time they played a road game, after playing the previous day, the Grizzlies lost by 8 at Golden State. For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard has increased his playing time past the 30-minute mark in back-to-back games. Tonight, they'll add Bogdan Bogdanovic to the mix. They are off a 20-point win and are playing with plenty of rest. The Clippers are also 6-2 their last 8 games against the Grizzlies. Lay the points.

At 6:00pm ET, my Big East Game Of The Week is on Villanova. The Red Storm are really strong this season but this is going to be a difficult environment for them. They are off a huge statement road win at UConn (and Marquette before that) and that may have them ripe for an emotional letdown. The Wildcats just beat Xavier by a dozen, their second straight win of 10 points or more. They play with revenge from a January loss at St. Johns. The Wildcats are 2-1 versus ranked teams this season and they have a strong chance at pulling off the upset in front of the home fans. Grab the points.

At 9:10pm ET, my NBA Ground and Pound selection is on the Denver Nuggets. The Trail Blazers had a remarkable run recently but it is now over. They came back down to earth with a 16-point loss at Minnesota on Saturday. Tonight, facing a red hot opponent and playing at a very tough venue, will bring a 2nd straight blowout loss. Before a loss at Portland in December, Denver had defeated the Trail Blazers 7 straight times. Currently, the Nuggets are on a 6-game winning streak and the last 4 of those wins all came by 12 or more points. Lay the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my SWAC Game Of The Month is on Texas Southern. The Tigers have been one of the best teams in the SWAC for years. They've got some good big men which will provide them an edge down low. Bethune-Cookman is a perfect 5-0 on its home floor. On the road, the Wildcats are just 4-12. The Tigers also struggle away from home. They are 3-10 on the road. They are a much better 7-3 at home though. The Tigers won 69-62 their last game here against the Wildcats. Playing at H&PE Arena is going to provide them with the advantage that they need. Lay the points.

At 2:10pm Et, my NBA Game Of the Week is on Houston. The Rockets have gone through a rare rough patch. A home game against Toronto is just what they need to get rolling again. The Raptors are only 4-20 on the road. They fight hard at times but are fully in rebuilding mode. They aren't going to be able to match Houston's intensity. They are off 3 straight losses and the last 2 of them came by 12 and 31 points. The Rockets won by 29 the last time they hosted Toronto. Lay the points and look for another blowout.

At 10:30pm ET, my CBB Game Of The Week is on Arizona. Both teams are red hot but in my opinion, the Wildcats have the stronger squad. They lost at Lubbock earlier but are now playing at home. Arizona is 10-1 on its home floor. Texas Tech star JT Toppin went down with a twisted ankle last game. If he plays tonight, he's likely to be at less than 100%. That will impact the Red Raiders at this difficult venue. Since the loss at Texas Tech, the Wildcats have been on a mission. They've won 5 straight and none of the games were close. They've been waiting for this game and will take care of business on their home floor. Lay the small number.

At 8:10pm ET, my #1 Northwest Div. Game Of the Month is on Minnesota. This will be the fourth and final meeting between the teams during the regular season. The home team won all 3 games. The game at Minnesota resulted in a 25 point win for the Timberwolves. The Trail Blazers have been on quite the run but it will come to an end tonight. Lay the points.

At 12:00pm ET, my Early Riser is on Richmond. This is too many points to be giving the Spiders. Nine of the past 10 meetings, including each of the past 6, have been decided by 6 points or less. The only one that wasn't that close was a 17-point win by Richmond back in 2020. Every other game has been super close. The Spiders just snapped a 7-game skid by defeating Duquesne in their last game. Understand that 4 of the 7 losses during the losing streak were by 6 or less and 5 of those 7 losses were by 9 or less. Davidson has lost consecutive games, both losses by 6 or less. As a matter of fact, the Wildcats have lost 5 of their last 6 and the only win was by 6. Five of those 6 games were decided by 6 or less. Close games have been the order of the day and this will be another one. Grab the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my Big East Game Of The Year is on Connecticut. When was the last time that you could get the Huskies at this low a line for a home game against St. John's? No time in my memory! That shows just how strong this year's St. John's team is. The Red Storm are on a 9-game winning streak and they have to lose in 2025. Impressive stuff but they aren't yet ready to beat the Huskies at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. With the return of star player McNeely and the fact that it's "$2 beer night" in Storrs, the stadium is going to be rocking. McNeely has been out for nearly a month. Even if he doesn't immediately dominate, his return will inspire the rest of the team. The fired up UConn fans will also help provide the Huskies with an extra boost of energy that will put them over the top. The Huskies are off one of their best games, as they beat Marquette on the road. They are 10-1 at home this season. The Red Storm will put up a good fight but it won't be enough. Lay the points.

At 8:00pm Et, my Underdog Game Of The Month is on Montana. These are 2 of the best teams in the Big Sky Conference. Northern Colorado is 9-1 in Big Sky action and Montana is 8-2, good for 1st and 2nd in the conference. This is very important for both teams and we should expect a game which comes down to the wire. As a matter of fact, I believe the visitors will score the upset. The Bears embarrassed them at Montana last month and the Grizzlies have been waiting to settle the score! Prior to last month, 3 of the previous 4 meetings were decided by 6 points or less. The Grizzlies were struggling when they hosted Northern Colorado last month but they have since hit their stride. They have won 4 straight games, going 3-0-1 versus the spread. The Grizzlies are 5-3 ATS the past 8 times that they were underdogs and they're 6-3 ATS the past 9 times that they were underdogs of 6 points or greater. Grab the points.

At 7:00pm ET, my Super Slam Dunk selection is on Ohio. The Bobcats are missing Hadaway but they are still loaded and still have more than enough to beat up the Broncos. Ohio, 7-1 at home, throttled Western Michigan 82-55 in the MAC Tournament last year. The Bobcats have won 6 of the past 7 meetings. Off consecutive losses, they will want to "win big." The Broncos are no strangers to getting blown out. Western Michigan, 3-8 on the road, has seen its last 3 losses come by 21, 9 and 20 points. The class difference will be clear as Ohio is a far stronger squad. Lay the points.

At 10:10pm Et, my NBA Revenge Game Of the Week is on Phoenix. It didn't really surprise me that the Trail Blazers took Saturday's game. Phoenix was coming off a big win over GSW the night before. The Trail Blazers were playing well and playing with double-revenge. Tonight will be a different story. The Suns will now be the team playing with revenge and both teams are now on equal footing, when it comes to rest. Phoenix got pounded on Saturday and that won't sit well with the team, especially when former-Sun Ayton was a big part of Portland's win. We will see an entirely different Suns team this time. The Suns are 5-0 straight-up and 4-1 versus the spread, the past 5 times that they were off a loss. They won by 10, 8, 7, 24 and by 25. The Suns are healthy and tonight they will have their revenge. Lay the points.

At 3:10pm ET, my Central Division Game Of the Month is on Chicago. The Bulls have been playing without LaVine recently and they're playing with the knowledge that changes are likely before the deadline. That didn't stop them from winning big last game and it won't prevent them from cashing for us this afternoon. The Bulls shot 50.6 percent from the field last game and they had assists on 34 of their 45 field goals. The Bulls own the Pistons. They've won 18 of the past 20 meetings. Their last 2 visits to Detroit resulted in double-digit victories. The Pistons are 3-6 versus the spread their last 9 as favorites, 1-4 ATS their last 5 as favorites in the -3 to -7 range. Grab the points.

At 2:00pm Et, my Big 12 Game Of The Year is on Cincinnati. I used the Bearcats as my biggest play from the Big 12 last season. They were +9 point underdogs against BYU and won outright by 11. They're not underdogs today but will deliver us another 10+ point victory. Playing at home is important to each of these teams. The Mountaineers won 69-65 when they hosted the Bearcats at Morgantown last year. But when they played at Cincinnati, the Bearcats smashed them by 36 points. Cincy would go on to win the important tie-breaker, a 90-85 victory in the Big 12 Tournament. WVU lost all 5 starters from last year's team and its starting to show. The Mountaineers are off 3 straight defeats. The Bearcats can relate as they have also dropped 3 in a row. Two of those were on the road though and they are still 8-3 at home. Seven of their 8 home wins came by at least 7. WVU might win when these teams meet again on Feb. 19th but this afternoon's game will be all Cincinnati. Lay the points.

At 6:00pm ET, my Southland Game Of The Year is on Incarnate Word. These teams squared off against each other 3 weeks ago, at Houston Christian. The Huskies won by 5 points. The Huskies also won a close game, at Houston Christian, against the Cardinals, last season. The Cards won the game on their home floor last season though and they will win again at home today. Incarnate Word is 2-7 on the road but 7-4 at home. The Cards just snapped a 6-game slide by blowing out New Orleans last game. That was just the spark that they needed and they will ride an emotional high into today's game. This is the 3rd straight road game for the Huskies and they've got another one on Monday. That will catch up to them against the hungry Cardinals today. The Cardinals are stronger than they were last year and they have one of the better backcourts in the Southland Conference. Guards Bailey, Anderson and company will lead their team to a 2nd straight win. Lay the points.

At 12:00pm ET, my ESPN Early Riser is on Tennessee. The Volunteers have only lost 4 games this season. One of those came at the hands of the Gators, at Florida. That wasn't just any loss. It was a 30-point demolition. Made worse was the fact that Tennessee was undefeated and the top ranked team in the country, at the time. The Vols other 3 losses this season came by just 8 combined points. Today, they will have their revenge from that January 7th debacle. The Vols also also lost big at Florida last year but responded with a 19 point victory in the game at Knoxville. Tennessee coach Barnes said this: "I know our guys are disappointed -- which, I know how much they care, I know how hard they work. ... So we can get better and we've got to get better. And, knowing what I know about these guys, I think we will get better." Barnes team "gets better" and bounces back to blow out the Gators. Lay the points.

At 9:30pm Et, my Thursday Slam Dunk Club is on Memphis. The Memphis Grizzlies have a score to settle with the Houston Rockets. The Grizzlies have only lost 16 times this season but 3 of those losses have come at the hands of the Rockets. The Grizzlies are 19-5 at home and they haven't lost a home game since January 9th. The team that beat them that day? You guessed right, it was the Rockets. There is no way they want to let Houston complete the 4-game series sweep. The Grizzlies are off their worst loss of the season on Monday. They've had the past 2 days off to think about it and they're absolutely going to be bringing it from the get-go tonight. The Grizzlies score 123.3 points per game, the most in the entire NBA. The Rockets average 113.89. The Grizzlies will push the pace and the Rockets will be no match for them tonight. Lay the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my Big Sky Game Of The Month is on Weber State. The Wildcats played without leading scorer Blaise Threatt for several games and that had a negative effect. Threatt has now returned and the Wildcats are much better because of it. In their last game, Threatt had 26 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. Weber State won 87-81 at Sacramento State. The Wildcats used a different starting lineup and the move paid off. Viljami Vartiainen scored a career-high 22 points. The Wildcats will use that same starting lineup against Idaho and are going to win their 2nd straight. Threatt had 24 points when Weber State hosted Idaho last season, a one-sided 88-65 victory for the Wildcats. The Vandals are off a home loss versus Northern Arizona and their last 2 road games were losses of at least 10 points. This is a team that the Wildcats match up well against. This is the start of 4 straight home games and Weber State needs to tip it off with a victory. Lay the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my Wednesday Wipeout is on Connecticut. Outmatched at every position, the Blue Demons know what's in store for them at the XL Center on Wednesday. They lost 85-56 here last January and they're absolutely going to get blown out once again tonight. With 3 losses in 5 games, the Huskies are going to be hostile. No strangers to getting crushed, the Blue Demons just lost by 17 against Butler and by 24 against Creighton. UConn won by 13 when these teams met at Chicago on New Year's Day. That result could have been an even more lopsided if the Huskies had been motivated to run up the score as they were up by 21 at half-time, before taking their foot off the gas a little in the 2nd half. With the Huskies off a loss to Xavier, there will be no such mercy tonight. This one will get ugly. Lay the points.

At 7:10pm ET, my NBA Eastern Conference Game Of The Month is on Charlotte. It looks like they won't have LaMelo Ball but that won't prevent the Hornets from taking down the Nets on Wednesday. The Hornets have won 4 of 7. The Nets have lost 7 straight. Even without Ball, the Hornets are still the healthier team. The Nets are dealing with numerous injuries, including Cameron Johnson. That will make Hornet fans happy as it was Johnson who led the Nets with 34 points in defeating Charlotte by 1 point earlier in the season. The Nets are also missing Cam Thomas (and several others) and he still leads the team in scoring. Between Johnson and Thomas, they average 44.1 points per game. No other Brooklyn player averages more than 13.2 points. The Hornets acquired forward Josh Okogie a couple of weeks ago. A big addition, he had 19 points last game. Josh Green said this of his new teammate: "The energy he has brought from us, offensive rebounds to defensive rebounds, pushing the pace, it's been amazing. He's great to play with." Charlotte won by 11 the last time that it hosted Brooklyn. Lay the points.