NBA Daily Picks: Lakers Want Easy Win Against Hornets, Luka Doncic Alone Against Wolves Big 3

After six games of NBA action yesterday, we went 4-2 on our picks to bring our overall record to 27-16 on the season. There are eight more games scheduled for tonight with some marquee games to highlight. First, Ja Morant and the red-hot Memphis Grizzlies go into Denver to take on the reigning NBA champions. Then, the Los Angeles Lakers look to get back on track against the Charlotte Hornets. These two games, plus six other matchups, are going to make for an exciting Thursday night of hoops.

Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics – 7:30 PM EST

Pistons Last 10 Games: 0-10

Celtics Last 10 Games: 8-2

Pistons Injuries: Killian Hayes – Day To Day (Illness), Isaiah Stewart – Out (Toe)

Celtics Injuries: Jayson Tatum – Day To Day (Ankle), Jaylen Brown – Day To Day (Back)

Last 5 Meetings: Celtics Lead 5-0

While the Boston Celtics appear to be a bit more banged up than usual, another meeting with the Detroit Pistons can almost be seen as a rest day. The Pistons bring their NBA-record 27-game losing streak into Boston on Thursday night where the Celtics are a perfect 14-0 at home this season.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are currently dealing with lingering injuries but should be in the lineup tonight which spells bad news for Detroit. Their only bright spot has been young guard Cade Cunningham who is averaging 24.4 points and 6.4 assists over his last 10 games. The matchup with Jrue Holiday should be a fun one to watch in an otherwise lackluster game that is likely to end with the Pistons’ losing streak reaching 28 games.

Prediction: Celtics def. Pistons 118-105

Utah Jazz at New Orleans Pelicans – 8 PM EST

Jazz Last 10 Games:6-4

Pelicans Last 10 Games: 6-4

Jazz Injuries: N/A

Pelicans Injuries: Larry Nance – Day To Day (Rib), Matt Ryan – Out (Calf)

Last 5 Meetings: Jazz Lead 5-0

The Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans meet as well on Thursday night with Utah owning a 5-game winning streak against the Pelicans. Both teams are 6-4 over their last 10 games as well and after two gut-wrenching losses to the Grizzlies this past week, the Pelicans need a win in the worst way.

To finally get a win over the Jazz, the Pelicans will need to find a way to slow down Lauri Markkanen who has been on a tear since returning from injury. Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum have been outstanding over the last 10 games but the real key to success for them has come with the play of Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III. Jones is one of the game’s most versatile defenders while Murphy has been exploding offensively as of late.

Prediction: Pelicans def. Jazz 113-104

Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls – 8 PM EST

Pacers Last 10 Games: 4-6

Bulls Last 10 Games: 6-4

Pacers Injuries: Bruce Brown – Day To Day (Knee)

Bulls Injuries: Nikola Vucevic – Out (Groin), Zach LaVine – Out (Foot)

Last 5 Meetings: Pacers Lead 3-2

After a hot start to the season that saw them advance to the In-Season Tournament Final, the Indiana Pacers have cooled off a touch, going 4-6 over their last 10 games. The Chicago Bulls have picked up their season over the last two weeks even without Zach LaVine who is injured and has a ton of attention on him due to trade talks.

The Bulls’ resurgence as of late can be linked directly to the play of Coby White and DeMar DeRozan. White has been on fire this season, averaging a career-high 17.7 points per game on 39.7% shooting from three. The matchup to watch in this one will be in the paint though. Myles Turner and Andre Drummond are likely to be matched up with each other tonight with injury to Nikola Vucevic keeping him out of the lineup. Whoever wins the battle on the boards will prevail in this one.

Predictions: Pacers def. Bulls 123-116

Dallas Mavericks at Minnesota Timberwolves

Mavericks Last 10 Games: 5-5

Timberwolves Last 10 Games: 7-3

Mavericks Injuries: Tim Hardaway Jr. – Day To Day (Illness), Josh Green – Day To Day (Elbow), Kyrie Irving – Out (Heel)

Timberwolves Injuries: N/A

Last 5 Meetings: Timberwolves Lead 4-1

For the second time in one week, the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves will meet in a matchup of Western Conference contenders. The Mavericks are on the back end of a back-to-back after a tough loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday. The Timberwolves, boasting the NBA’s best defense, come into this one 7-3 in their last 10 games and getting contributions from every position on the court.

The real key for Minnesota in this one is going to be the size advantage they have with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively can certainly hold his own but there is only so much he will be able to do to slow down Minnesota’s towering dup. Of course, anything is possible with a healthy Luka Doncic on the court but it will take something truly special for Dallas to knock off Minnesota tonight.

Prediction: Timberwolves def. Mavericks 112-104

Memphis Grizzlies at Denver Nuggets – 9 PM EST

Grizzlies Last 10 Games: 5-5

Nuggets Last 10 Games: 8-2

Grizzlies Injuries: Brandon Clarke – Out (Achilles), Derrick Rose – Out (Hamstring), Luke Kennard – Out (Knee)

Nuggets Injuries: Aaron Gordon – Out (Face/Hand)

Last 5 Meetings: Nuggets Lead 4-1

The Memphis Grizzlies and their 4-game winning streak since the return of Ja Morant head into Denver tonight to take on the Nuggets and their 5-game winning streak that they have going. Memphis looks like an entirely different team since Morant’s return while the Nuggets have been quietly winning tough games and going on a run comparable to the end of last season which carried over to the playoffs en route to an NBA title.

Of course, the point guard matchup is going to be where the fireworks take place. Morant is going to go right at Murray and challenge him at every turn, playing with a chip on his shoulder since coming back from his 25-game suspension. Nikola Jokic will have his hands full with Jaren Jackson Jr. in the paint but Jokic’s craftiness and elusiveness in his position should make for a long night for Jackson, especially if he cannot stay out of foul trouble.

Prediction: Nuggets def. Grizzlies 115-103

Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors – 10 PM EST

Heat Last 10 Games: 7-3

Warriors Last 10 Games: 6-4

Heat Injuries: Jimmy Butler – Day To Day (Calf), Josh Richardson – Day To Day (Back), Kyle Lowry – Day To Day (Soreness), Caleb Martin – Day To Day (Ankle)

Warriors Injuries: N/A

Last 5 Meetings: Warriors Lead 3-2

As of late, the Golden State Warriors have looked as if they are ready to turn their season around. They have won six of their last 10 games and are getting contributions up and down their lineup and not from just Stephen Curry. Unfortunately for them, the Heat are on a tear right now as well, seeking their eighth win in their last 10 games and fourth win in a row.

Miami’s first obligation is of course to slow down the attempts from Curry on the outside. If they can keep Jimmy Butler or Tyler Herro in his face for more possessions than not, that is always one way to accomplish that but still, it’s easier said than done. The matchup to watch for me will be how the Warriors combat Bam Adebayo’s two-way presence. The interior advantage lies with Miami so it will be interesting to see if Golden State’s outside shooting can win them yet another game.

Prediction: Heat def. Warriors 111-106

San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers – 10 PM EST

Spurs Last 10 Games: 1-9

Trail Blazers Last 10 Games: 2-8

Spurs Injuries: N/A

Trail Blazers Injuries: Shaedon Sharpe – Day To Day (Adductor), Deandre Ayton – Day To Day (Knee)

Last 5 Meetings: Trail Blazers Lead 3-2

In a battle of two of the Western Conference’s worst teams, the Spurs head into Portland to take on the Trail Blazers late Thursday night. Both teams have had an abysmal start to their season, sitting well below .500 as they try to usher in a new era for the respective franchises. In life after Damian Lillard, the Trail Blazers are struggling to navigate a tough Western Conference. The Spurs have had the same issue at the start of the Victor Wembanyama era.

The Spurs and Trail Blazers both rank in the bottom 5% of teams in terms of scoring this season, leading me to believe that the superior defense has to prevail this evening. With Deandre Ayton slightly hobbled, maybe the Spurs will start feeding their generational talent rather than ignoring him. If they do that, they can win a game like this one against a beatable opponent. That being said, I do not trust the Spurs right now in any shape or form.

Prediction: Trail Blazers def. Spurs 108-101

Charlotte Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30 EST

Hornets Last 10 Games: 1-9

Lakers Last 10 Games: 4-6

Hornets Injuries: Gordon Hayward – Day To Day (Ankle), Brandon Miller – Day To Day (Ankle), Mark Williams – Day To Day (Back)

Lakers Injuries: Gabe Vincent – Out (Knee)

Last 5 Meetings: Lakers Lead 3-2

Our final matchup of the evening features the Charlotte Hornets heading to the West Coast to take on the Los Angeles Lakers. The Hornets come in reeling as losers of nine of their last 10 games while the Lakers need a win after losing six of their last 10 as well. Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis are salivating at the thought of taking the court tonight despite cries of help for them to the public given their recent slide.

This is the type of game that can easily get the Lakers right back on track and start another winning streak. It can also easily add fuel to the fire if the Lakers overlook their opponent and let an easy win fall into the loss column. Something tells me that with Davis and James combined, they are not going to let that happen tonight.

Prediction: Lakers def. Hornets 120-107