Two fierce NBA rivals in the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics are set for another feisty Atlantic Division battle, with the winner set to go a full game above the other in the very tight Eastern Conference standings.
And out West, the potentially Stephen Curry-less Warriors will look to bounce back from their recent defeat, while the red-hot Grizzlies will go for their seventh straight win when they host the struggling Detroit Pistons.
Read on below for SBOTOP’s preview of all four games coming up on the NBA schedule.
Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks
The Knicks are coming off a big 104-94 win over the Pacers to snap a two-game losing skid. All-Star forward Julius Randle made a big return from Covid protocols with 30 points and 16 rebounds, while RJ Barrett added 32 points and 8 rebounds for the Knicks, who are still without point guard Kemba Walker.
Walker got some promising NBA 2022 news about his troublesome knee, but he is still likely to miss the matchup against his old team, the Celtics.
Boston slid back to 18-20 – tied with the Knicks – after a close 99-97 loss to the Spurs last night snapped their two-game win streak.
Jaylen Brown followed up his career-high 50-point performance against the Magic with a team-best 30 points. But Jayson Tatum struggled in his first game back from Covid protocols, scoring just 19 points on 6-of-20 shooting from the field.
The home team has won the first two games between the two Atlantic Division rivals. The Celtics won their most recent meeting last month in Boston 114-107 thanks to 27 points from Josh Richardson.
Golden State Warriors @ New Orleans Pelicans
Stephen Curry is in a major shooting slump. The two-time MVP has only scored 23 points while shooting an abysmal 8-of-41 (20 per cent) from the field and 2-of-19 (10 per cent) on 3-pointers over his last two games. But while the Warriors were able to overcome his struggles to beat the Heat, they fell 99-82 to the Mavericks last night.
Curry is now questionable to face the Pelicans on the second night of a back-to-back due to a bruised quad.
With the struggling Curry possibly set to sit out, Jordan Poole will likely return to the starting lineup. Poole, who has been playing off the bench in recent games, had 32 points in just 26 minutes against the Heat but cooled off significantly against Dallas as he finished with just six points.
As for the Pelicans, they are back in a slump. After winning five of six games – their best run of the season – they have dropped their last three games to the Bucks, Jazz, and Suns — all by double digits.
Brandon Ingram, who has been dealing with a sore Achilles, has had a rough start to the year. He has averaged just 13 points while shooting 8-of-36 (22 per cent) in his first two games of 2022.
Detroit Pistons @ Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are the hottest team in the West at the moment. The Grizz have won six games in a row after edging by the Cavs, 110-106.
Ja Morant had 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists as he continues to play at a very high level. The third-year point guard is averaging 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists while shooting 52 per cent from the field and 53 per cent on 3-pointers in his last eight games.
The NBA 2022 betting odds will have Memphis as massive favourites to extend their win streak to seven games as they host the struggling Pistons. Detroit’s rare two-game win streak came to an emphatic end as they were thumped 140-111 last night by the Hornets. Detroit’s defence gave up 24 3-pointers as they fell to 7-29 on the season and 3-16 on the road.
Star rookie Cade Cunningham continued his fine play of late with 16 points and 7 assists. But with Jerami Grant still out after thumb surgery, the Pistons just don’t have the weapons they need to compete.
LA Clippers @ Phoenix Suns
The Clippers will head into their Western Conference finals rematch with the Suns in bad shape. They lost 122-104 to the Timberwolves, their seventh defeat in their last 10 games. They are now at 19-19, eighth in the West.
The Clippers were missing several key players in Paul George, who is dealing with an elbow injury, wings Nicolas Batum and Luke Kennard, and big men Ivica Zubac and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Reggie Jackson has been unable to step up in George’s absence. The veteran guard is averaging just 13.7 points on 36 per cent shooting over his last six games.
As for the Suns, they have reclaimed a share of the best record in the West (29-8) with their recent two-game win streak. After crushing the Charlotte Hornets by 34 points, they beat the Pelicans by 13 last time out.
With starting centre Deandre Ayton still in the Covid protocols, the Suns have received some surprising contributions from the reserve big men Jalen Smith and Bismack Biyombo, who had 16 points (6-6 FG), 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals off the bench against the Pelicans.
Ayton, as well as JaVale McGee and Jae Crowder, have all cleared the protocols, but they will still be unable to play against the Clippers.
Betting Tip: LA Clippers Asian Handicap +11.50 @ 2.00
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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