There’s a huge sense of urgency across the NBA as we’re approaching the final juncture of the 2022-23 season.
Several playoff berths are already taken by some of the league’s elite teams, such as the Bucks, Celtics, Sixers, Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Cavaliers, which means that the rest would have to fight for the remaining spots, both in the Eastern and Western Conference.
For tomorrow, we will have a six-game slate, where the Wizards, Hawks, Raptors, Grizzlies, Thunder, and Warriors host the Celtics, Cavaliers, Heat, Magic, Hornets, and Pelicans, respectively.
Boston Celtics @ Washington Wizards
The Celtics seem to have gotten over their slump earlier this month, as they’re on a three-game winning streak, which essentially clinched their spot in the postseason.
They are fresh from a blowout victory against the Spurs without their franchise player, Jayson Tatum, who was out due to a left hip contusion. Tatum was removed from the injury report, meaning that the Celtics are going to be in full force, save for Danilo Gallinari and Payton Pritchard.
Besides Tatum, the Wizards have to key in on Jaylen Brown, who was recently named Player of the Week. Brown averaged 31.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in Week 23.
Kyle Kuzma (ankle) and Bradley Beal (knee) are out, which certainly doesn’t help the Wizards. Kristaps Porzingis will have to shoulder the heavy load if the shorthanded Wizards are going to have a chance at home tomorrow.
Porzingis has only missed one game this month while averaging 23.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game (13 games).
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks
The Cavaliers are back in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2018 and the first time without LeBron James since 1998.
They are on a four-game winning streak, and they can move into the top three in the Eastern Conference standings if they maintain form and if the Sixers keep getting poor NBA 2023 results.
Meanwhile, the Hawks are eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, as they’ve alternated wins and losses in their last seven games, putting them in a complicated situation.
The Hawks need as many wins as they can get, and defeating the Cavaliers tomorrow can boost their SBOTOP NBA 2023 odds. This season, they’ve split their first two meetings against the Cavaliers, meaning that they have the capability to beat them.
Atlanta have won their last four home games against Cleveland, including their 136-119 win in their previous encounter on February 24.
But if Atlanta want to beat Cleveland again, they must find a way to slow down their two stars in particular, and their stars have to show up too.
Donovan Mitchell, who was acquired from the Jazz last summer, is the Cavs’ leading scorer with a career-high 27.4 points per game, and he’s shooting 38-per cent on three-pointers.
Another one is their center, Evan Mobley. During their four-game winning streak, Mobley is averaging 20.5 points. 8.8 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per contest.
Trae Young leads the Hawks in scoring and playmaking with averages of 26.6 points and 10 assists per game, but his backcourt partnership with Dejounte Murray hasn’t worked out well within their expectations thus far.
Betting Tip – Cleveland Cavaliers Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 1.93
Miami Heat @ Toronto Raptors
After seeing their winning streak come to an end, the Heat are planning to create a new one, starting against the Raptors, who are on a streak themselves.
The Heat have fallen back to the seventh seed after ceding the sixth spot to the Nets, who embarrassed them on Sunday with a score of 129-100. After an okay first half, Miami were outscored 54-31 by Brooklyn in the loss.
The good news for the Heat is that their injury list has eased up, with only Kyle Lowry (knee) and Nikola Jovic (back) listed there. Lowry was upgraded to questionable, so he might be available tomorrow.
Either way, the Heat will need big games from their stars, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
As for the Raptors, they’re facing the prospect of playing without Gary Trent Jr. and Will Barton.
Trent Jr. remains questionable because he was limited in their last practice and he has missed the past three games due to a sore elbow.
Barton, meanwhile, sprained his ankle in their win over the Wizards on Sunday.
Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes will continue to lead the way for Toronto, who are holding on to ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
Betting Tip – Toronto Raptors Asian Handicap -3.00 @ 1.87
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE BASKETBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
