The Celtics relinquished the top spot in the Eastern Conference after losing to the Knicks last week, and they haven’t recovered since.
They’ve lost four of their last five NBA games, including a three-game skid, and they’ll face another difficult test tomorrow when they visit the Blazers.
On the other hand, the Hawks, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Bulls, Thunder, and Raptors are going to pay a visit to the Wizards, Heat, Pelicans, Nuggets, Suns, and Clippers, respectively, as all of them are trying to make a push for this season’s playoffs.
We’re entering the last few weeks of the 2022-23 campaign, so every game is crucial. Without further ado, continue to read below as SBOTOP breaks down the top three matches from tomorrow’s seven-game schedule.
Portland Blazers @ Boston Celtics
The Blazers are currently 12th in the Western Conference with a 31-34 record, but they can sneak in to the play-in picture if they can extend their winning streak to three games.
After enduring a poor run of NBA 2023 results last week, the Blazers got much-needed wins against two of the weakest teams in the Eastern Conference, the Magic and the Pistons.
Damian Lillard has been playing at such a high level, scoring at least 25 points in 18 consecutive games. Over that stretch, he’s averaging 38.9 points, 6.9 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.0 threes made per game.
The Blazers have been undermanned for a while, but there’s some good news, as Jusuf Nurkic has been upgraded to questionable for tomorrow’s game. Nurkic hasn’t suited up for a game since February 1st due to a strained calf, so his impending return beefs up their thin frontcourt.
If Nurkic doesn’t play tomorrow, then Drew Eubanks and Trendon Watford would share his minutes.
The Celtics, meanwhile, are fresh from a tough loss against the Cavaliers, as they were without Jayson Tatum. The 2023 All-Star Game MVP missed Monday’s clash due to a sore knee, so Jaylen Brown was their focal point on offence, but Tatum is now off their injury report.
He has recorded at least 40 points in two of the last three games and will aim to maintain his hot streak against Portland.
His co-star, Jaylen Brown, is also having a strong run since the All-Star break, averaging 28.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in his last six games.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Miami Heat
The Cavs and the Heat are both on a two-game winning streak, but only one of them can extend it to three straight games tomorrow.
Cleveland are coming off a huge OT victory against Boston on Monday after losing to them the week prior. Donovan Mitchell was amazing once again as he dropped 40 points, his eighth so far this year.
Over his last 10 games, Mitchell is averaging 31.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 50-per cent from the field. Evan Mobley has been solid too, averaging 19.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in his last eight appearances.
The Heat beat the Hawks twice last week, as Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo stuffed the stat sheet. Adebayo had 30 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks in the first game, while Butler tallied 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in the second game.
The NBA 2023 odds favour the Cavaliers to win since they’re the higher seeded team in fourth, but the eighth-seeded Heat can surely make this a competitive affair.
Betting Tip: Cleveland Cavaliers Asian Handicap -3.00 @ 2.03
Chicago Bulls @ Denver Nuggets
The Bulls are still in the hunt for the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference, and they can improve their position when they visit the West-leading Nuggets.
Chicago are fresh from a close home loss to Indiana despite Zach LaVine’s 42-point outburst for their ninth loss in their last 12 games. LaVine also had 27 in their defeat to Phoenix on Friday.
The Nuggets remain on top of the Western Conference standings, and they have been virtually unbeatable at home this season (30-4 record). They are on a four-game winning streak, with wins over the Raptors, Grizzlies, Rockets, and Clippers last week.
Nikola Jokic was an assist shy of his 26th triple-double of the season against the Raptors, as he had 17 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists.
The Bulls have their hands full against the reigning MVP, and they cannot let him have another triple-double because the Nuggets have yet to lose a game when he does so (25-0 record).
Betting Tip: Denver Nuggets Asian Handicap -8.00 @ 1.99
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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