Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are on fire at the moment. The Sixers are riding an eight-game winning streak, with Embiid continuing to make a strong case to win his first NBA MVP award with his outstanding performances.
Embiid and co will now be eyeing their ninth win in a row as they host the Chicago Bulls, who are doing their best to stay in the play-in picture in the East.
And out west, the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors will be desperate to end their disastrous 11-game road losing streak as they take on the West’s worst team, the Houston Rockets.
Read on below as SBOTOP shares news and insights on all six games on the upcoming NBA schedule.
Indiana Pacers @ Charlotte Hornets
The Pacers’ play-in hopes are looking bleak as their 141-121 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers put them 1.5 games back of the No 10 seed in the East.
The Pacers, who previously beat the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks, were still missing star point guard Tyrese Haliburton due to a knee injury, as well as rookie guard Bennedict Mathurin.
Fellow rookie Andrew Nembhard has been stepping up and delivering NBA 2023 highlights in their absence. The 23-year-old has put up back-to-back 20-point games for the first time this season.
Nembhard and the Pacers should see some more joy against the struggling Charlotte Hornets, who are on a four-game home losing skid and were thrashed 121-82 by the Sixers last time out.
After a string of 20-point games, Keylly Oubre Jr finally fell back down to earth as he finished with just 11 points on 2-of-12 shooting.
Chicago Bulls @ Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers are the hottest team in the NBA. They have won eight games in a row and have now jumped up to second in the East.
Joel Embiid continues to strengthen his MVP credentials with his amazing play. The big man is averaging nearly 36 points on 62 per cent shooting over his last nine games.
James Harden was rested in the Sixers’ win over the Pacers, but the 33-year-old should be back to take on the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls have tightened their hold on the No 10 seed after winning four of their last five games. DeMar DeRozan has been instrumental in their recent success. He had 49 points in their double-overtime win over the Timberwolves and is averaging nearly 29 points per game in the month of March.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ New York Knicks
The Timberwolves are in trouble. Not only have they lost three games in a row, but they have also lost young star Anthony Edwards to an ankle injury.
Edwards sat out the Wolves’ 122-107 loss to the Raptors last time out, and Minnesota severely missed his scoring from the perimeter.
Edwards could very well miss the Timberwolves’ trip to Madison Square Garden against the Knicks, who have won three games in a row and are coming off a big 116-110 win over the West-leading Nuggets.
Jalen Brunson scored a team-high 24 points in his first game back from a foot injury, while RJ Barrett and Julius Randle combined for 41 points.
Golden State Warriors @ Houston Rockets
The Warriors still can’t get a win on the road. Their disastrous road losing skid has now reached 11 straight games after a 133-119 defeat to their budding rivals, the Memphis Grizzlies.
Stephen Curry, who had scored 81 points in their previous two games, finally had his first off game since returning from injury as he finished with a mere 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting.
But the NBA 2023 betting odds will back Curry and co to end their remarkable road losing streak as they face the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets had their season-high three-game winning streak snapped by the New Orleans Pelicans last time out. That was despite a 40-point performance from sophomore guard Jalen Green.
Dallas Mavericks @ Memphis Grizzlies
The Mavericks have risen to the No 6 seed in the West after back-to-back wins over the Spurs and Lakers. Kyrie Irving finally returned from his injury absence to drop 38 points in the win over the Lakers.
Irving has been sizzling in March, averaging 33.6 points on nearly 56 per cent shooting over his last five games.
However, both Irving and superstar Luka Doncic, who has also been missing with a left thigh strain, are listed as questionable to face the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizz are also coming off back-to-back wins over the Spurs and Warriors as they continue life without superstar Ja Morant. Jaren Jackson Jr has stepped up his scoring game as he’s averaging nearly 21 points per game this month. Meanwhile, Tyus Jones has done a terrific job orchestrating the offence in Morant’s absence.
Sacramento Kings @ Utah Jazz
The Kings continue to keep pace at the top of the West. They have won three games in a row – all on the road – and six of their last seven as they remain second in the West standings.
They are coming off a 132-118 win over the Washington Wizards. Domantas Sabonis was one rebound shy of another triple double as he finished with 30 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds.
Sabonis will now set his sights on Salt Lake City as they face the Jazz, who returned from a six-game road trip to beat the Boston Celtics, 118-117.
All-Star Lauri Markkanen had another excellent game with 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Jazz, who remain tied with the Timberwolves and Lakers in the race for a play-in spot.
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