Cleveland are starting to get their season back on track, with four consecutive wins lifting them to a 28-20 record, which has them just two games back of the #2 seed Boston. Tuesday’s 114-98 victory over Orlando came in convincing style, mounting a big second quarter comeback before racing away with the win in the second half. Donovan Mitchell was the star of the show, putting up 45 points on 74.3% TS%, along with four assists. Evan Mobley also enjoyed a good night out, with 20 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, but suffered a calf injury that will see him miss at least the next two weeks, and Jaylon Tyson’s solid play continued, with 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one block.
The Lakers picked up another win on Tuesday, improving to 28-17 with a 129-118 victory over Chicago. Luka Dončić dominated this contest, finishing with 46 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists in an elite showing, while Rui Hachimura shot 9/11 for 23 points to help Los Angeles to a very strong 130.3 offensive rating. LeBron James had his moments on his way to 24 points, five rebounds and three assists and Jake LaRavia had some nice touches in his eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
With no Mobley or Darius Garland, two of Cleveland’s three best players will be on the sidelines for this clash. That is going to make it very hard for them, especially offensively, and this game looks set for the under. Los Angeles play with the fourth-slowest time to shot in the league and we have seen the under hit in four of their last five games.
Toronto picked up their fourth successive victory on Monday, shocking Oklahoma City with a 103-101 triumph. On the road, Darko Rajaković’s side entered Paycom Center as 11.5-point underdogs, but they never let the defending champions get away from them, before going on a 15-5 fourth quarter run to take a 101-97 lead with just over a minute to play. Scottie Barnes came up with a huge offensive rebound off some missed Jamal Shead free throws and Immanuel Quickley then kept his cool at the line to put up Toronto 103-99 and ultimately win them the game. That was a fitting ending, as Quickly finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and two steals, while Barnes got close to a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks. RJ Barrett had 14 points, six rebounds and two steals and Ja’Kobe Walter was busy on both ends with nine points, two assists and three steals in some crucial minutes off the bench.
New York powered to victory in the fourth quarter against Sacramento on Wednesday. Winning 103-87. Their 31-15 fourth quarter saw them break away from the visitors, after going into the final period tied 72-72, with a 21-7 run in particular helping NY pick up what ended up being a comfortable win. Jalen Brunson started off hot and finished with 28 points, four assists and one block, and Mikal Bridges was also on his game, with 18 points, five assists and one steal. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled offensively again, with 17 points on 5/15 shooting, with 11 rebounds and four assists, but some standout defensive performances from Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride helped seal the deal for NY.
Collin Murray-Boyles looks set to return from his thumb injury for Toronto, and his defence is going to be a big asset against this New York team. With New York being on night two of a back-to-back, there is a chance that we see Brunson rest after his recent injury, and we have also seen Robinson rest in B2Bs this season, meaning NY may well be without two key pieces. As slim favourites, that makes Toronto the play.
Houston have won five of their last six games on the back of a 108-99 victory over Memphis on Tuesday. Trailing 62-72 midway through the third, Houston were at risk of another home defeat, but a 26-7 run, including a hot run from Kevin Durant, gave Houston an 88-79 lead which they never relinquished. Alperen Şengün also took over down the stretch, recording 12 points in the fourth to finish the game with 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a dominant showing on the offensive end, while Durant also notched up 33 points, along with eight boards. Amen Thompson dished out a career-high 14 assists — five each to Şengün and Durant — to aid his stars and finish with a near-triple-double of his own, with eight points and eight rebounds.
San Antonio fell to a disappointing 95-104 loss to New Orleans at home on Monday, dropping their season record to 31-15. As 11.5-point favourites, San Antonio were expected to steamroll the visitors, but the opposite took place, falling behind by 20 points in the third quarters to stare down the barrel of a hugely embarrassing loss. To their credit, they then pulled off a 34-9 run to take the lead midway through the fourth, but that seemed to suck up all of San Antonio’s energy, as NO almost immediately responded with a 0-13 run to win the game. Victor Wembanyama had a very inefficient game for his standards, shooting 6/16 for 16 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks, and although Keldon Johnson and De’Aaron Fox both continued their solid offensive form, shooting a combined 10/20 FGs, it was a poor offensive night for SA. Shooting just 47.5% eFG% as a team, San Antonio recorded just a 100.0 offensive rating to lose in disappointing fashion to the lowly New Orleans.
The battle of Şengün and Wembanyama will be blockbuster viewing and may well determine the winner of this contest, but as a much better team on the whole, I am very happy to back Houston as just 2.5-point favourites. They have covered four of their last five games against their SA foes.