Toronto’s three-game win streak came to an end in Boston on Saturday, losing 117-125. Without Scottie Barnes (knee) and Brandon Ingram (thumb), the visitors entered the game without two of their best offensive weapons, making them 9.5-point underdogs at tip-off, and save for a second quarter resurgence and a run early into the fourth quarter, the visitors were comprehensively outplayed. While Toronto had a decent offensive night themselves, they had no answer for the rising Boston offence, giving up plenty of open looks at the rim for a 135.9 defensive rating. On the other end of the floor, Ja’Kobe Walter was Toronto’s best, with 19 points and six rebounds, while Immanuel Quickley gave out 13 assists but had a poor shooting night, going just 6/16 from the field and RJ Barrett left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
Philadelphia picked up another big win on Saturday, beating Orlando 103-91. With the hosts still being without Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, Philadelphia made the most of the opportunity, putting together a dominant 50-37 second half to record an important road win. It came in the team’s best defensive game of the season, with a 92.9 defensive rating, forcing Orlando into 18 turnovers and holding them to just 4/29 shooting from deep, never allowing them to get going on offence. Tyrese Maxey had 29 points and three steals, while Paul George had a vintage two-way performance with 18 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Joel Embiid was a little shaky on his way to 22 points and nine rebounds, but the team crashed the offensive glass to pull in 21 offensive rebounds and record 22 second chance points to win well.
Barrett is out for this game, while Barnes and Ingram are both questionable, meaning three of Toronto’s best players may well be missing this contest. Embiid is questionable for Philly, meaning this game is lacking some real offensive firepower on both ends and that makes the under appealing. The under is 12-8 in Toronto’s home games this season.
Minnesota were on the wrong side of a wild 134-146 scoreline against Cleveland on Sunday. It started to come undone for Minnesota in the third quarter, as the hosts pieced together a 36-point period, but it was in the fourth when things got particularly ugly, as Cleveland built an 18-point lead with less than five minutes to play to seal the win for the hosts. With a terrible 140.8 defensive rating, it was the team’s third-worst defensive showing of the season, as they continually failed to prevent Cleveland’s drives into the paint. For Minnesota, Naz Reid and Anthony Edwards each had 25 points, while Julius Randle had 20 points and four assists.
San Antonio improved to 27-11 with a 100-95 victory in Boston on Sunday. It was a gritty win at TD Garden, holding a good Boston offence to just a 97.9 offensive rating while finishing strongly to end the game on a 12-4 run and pick up the win. Victor Wembanyama enjoyed another impressive outing, with 21 points, six rebounds and three blocks to be a +15 in his 26 minutes, while De’Aaron Fox also finished with 21 points, along with nine rebounds and six assists. Julian Champagnie had 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Keldon Johnson also had a double-double of 18 points and 10 boards.
This is a huge Western Conference showdown, as fourth hosts second, and it would not surprise me to see the visitors come out on top here. Both teams are on night two of a back-to-back and that will hurt Minnesota more, with San Antonio’s high-pressure style of play likely to disrupt the hosts more as their legs grow tired. SA are 4-2 ATS on night two of B2Bs this season and will continue that trend.
Golden State have started to find some form and produced one of their best games of the season on Saturday, thumping Sacramento 137-103. Although they led for almost the entire game, it was a clinical final 15 minutes of play that earned Golden State the blowout win, going from 84-84 with three minutes to play in the third quarter before absolutely dominating the final quarter-hour. Steph Curry impressed again, with 27 points and 10 assists, while Jimmy Butler had a tidy 15 points, six rebounds and six assists in just 23 minutes. Draymond Green had his most complete game in some time, recording 11 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while Quentin Post, Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford all had valuable contributions.
Atlanta put together a huge fourth quarter to record a 110-87 victory in Denver. Trailing 84-85 at three-quarter time, it was a 50-50 heading into the final period, but Jalen Johnson had other ideas, dominating the fourth with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in just seven minutes to see Atlanta win the quarter 36-12 and pick up a blowout win. Johnson finished with 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Dyson Daniels picked up his first career triple-double, with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 22 points, eight rebounds and two steals and Onyeka Okongwu had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, helping Atlanta record a significant win.
Kristaps Porziņģis is questionable with an Achilles complaint, and with Horford back and looking energised for Golden State, they are going to have the upper hand in the front court. With Curry and Butler also in good form, the hosts are going to be too much for Atlanta to handle and I like Golden State as just six-point favourites.