We are ending the calendar year of 2023 on a high note with an 8-2 record on our picks Friday Night, bringing our overall record to 42-19 this season. The Saturday slate features six more games and some intriguing matchups are set for action. First, LeBron James celebrates his 39th birthday with a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, looking to avenge the loss handed down to them by Anthony Edwards and company last week. Then Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks head to Golden State to take on Curry and the Warriors in a matchup of elite point guards.
With just six games scheduled for today, let’s look ahead at all the action headed our way.
Miami Heat at Utah Jazz – 5 PM EST
Heat Last 10 Games: 7-3
Jazz Last 10 Games: 6-4
Heat Injuries: Jimmy Butler – Day To Day (Calf), Duncan Robinson – Day To Day (Ankle), Jaime Jaquez Jr. – Day To Day (Head), Kyle Lowry – Day To Day (Soreness), Caleb Martin – Day To Day (Ankle)
Jazz Injuries: N/A
Last 5 Meetings: Heat Lead 5-0
Our first game of the day features the red-hot Miami Heat continuing their West Coast trip and taking on the Utah Jazz. The Heat have won seven of their last 10 games led by Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and rookie sensation Jaime Jaquez Jr. The Heat’s stifling defense and masterful offensive play have propelled them to a tie for fourth in the East at 19-12 on the season.
While the Jazz have been much better as of late, this matchup does not favor them in many ways. The Heat have gotten great play from Tyler Herro over the last five games with the former Sixth Man of the Year averaging 26.2 points per game during that time on 49.5% shooting. Rookie Jaime Jacquez will be another name to watch in this one as he too has been on a tear lately with 17.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in his last 10 games as well.
Prediction: Heat def. Jazz 113-101
Toronto Raptors at Detroit Pistons – 6 PM EST
Raptors Last 10 Games: 3-7
Pistons Last 10 Games: 0-10
Raptors Injuries: N/A
Pistons Injuries: Isaiah Stewart – Out (Toe)
Last 5 Meetings: Raptors Lead 5-0
The NBA community is fully invested in the Detroit Pistons even as they bring their NBA record 28-game losing streak into Saturday against the Toronto Raptors. For the Pistons, they have nothing to lose in this matchup while the Raptors will try desperately to avoid being the team that breaks the streak.
The Raptors are coming off a tough two-point loss on the road against the Celtics in which Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes combined for 57 points on 20-42 shooting. These two, barring any unforeseen rest, should be able to lead Toronto to the win if they are on the top of their games. Meanwhile, it will be Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham, if anyone, who can lead the Pistons to their first win since October.
Prediction: Raptors def. Pistons 114-110
New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers – 7 PM EST
Knicks Last 10 Games: 5-5
Pacers Last 10 Games: 4-6
Knicks Injuries: Jericho Sims – Out (Ankle)
Pacers Injuries: Bruce Brown – Out (Knee)
Last 5 Meetings: Knicks Lead 4-1
Eastern Conference rivals clash on Saturday Night with the New York Knicks hitting the road to take on the Indiana Pacers. It will be the first time that these two teams meet this season as both teams come into this matchup looking for a win that could move the needle in the playoff chase just a touch.
All eyes will be on the point guard matchup between New York’s Jalen Brunson and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton. Brunson has had a great stretch over his last 10 games with 27.9 points and 7.1 assists per game during that stretch. Haliburton is coming off a 20-point, 20-assist, and 0-turnover performance against the Bulls on Thursday night. Whichever point guard shows up and commits fewer mistakes to cost their team momentum should be the team that prevails.
Prediction: Pacers def. Knicks 125-118
Philadelphia 76ers at Chicago Bulls – 8 PM EST
76ers Last 10 Games: 8-2
Bulls Last 10 Games: 5-5
76ers Injuries: Joel Embiid – Day To Day (Ankle)
Bulls Injuries: Patrick Williams – Day To Day (Ankle), Nikola Vucevic – Out (Groin), Zach LaVine – Out (Foot)
Last 5 Meetings: Bulls Lead 3-2
Coming off a road win in Houston on Friday, the Philadelphia 76ers continue to roll in 2023-24, winning eight of their last 10 games overall. The Bulls have been a much more complete team as of late and a nuisance on the schedule for many, sliding their way into the 10th spot in the East with a 14-19 record through 33 games.
With Joel Embiid’s status once again uncertain, the Sixers will rely on point guard Tyrese Maxey to lead them to victory. Maxey had a big night on Friday against the Rockets with 42 points on 50.0% shooting from the floor and 14-15 from the foul line. The Bulls will likely stick Alex Caruso on Maxey in an attempt to slow down the guard, likely headed for his first All-Star selection but I still believe it will not be enough.
Prediction: 76ers def. Bulls 119-112
Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves – 8 PM ET
Lakers Last 10 Games: 4-6
Timberwolves Last 10 Games: 7-3
Lakers Injuries: Anthony Davis – Day To Day (Ankle), LeBron James – Day To Day (Knee), Cam Reddish – Day To Day (Groin)
Timberwolves Injuries: N/A
Last 5 Meetings: Timberwolves Lead 3-2
Happy 39th birthday to the great LeBron James. Your present? A matchup with the No. 1 defense in the NBA and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota has been one of the premier teams in the league to watch this season led by Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert along with a supporting cast that has been elite as well. The Lakers are still looking to find their groove after the In-Season Tournament, losing six of their last 10 games overall.
While the spotlight will be on James for his 39th trip around the Sun, it will be the big men we have to watch in this contest. The matchup of Anthony Davis and Rudy Gobert is going to be fun with Gobert looking to slow down a red-hot Davis as of late. In his last 10 games, Davis is averaging 32.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game. It will be up to him to deliver a win against one of the top teams in the NBA this season. I find it unlikely though.
Prediction: Timberwolves def. Lakers 108-103
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors – 8:30 PM EST
Mavericks Last 10 Games: 4-6
Warriors Last 10 Games: 5-5
Mavericks Injuries: Kyrie Irving – Day To Day (Heel), Luka Doncic – Day To Day (Quad)
Warriors Injuries: Kevon Looney – Day To Day (Illness)
Last 5 Meetings: Warriors Lead 3-2
Our final matchup of the evening will be the one that fans tune into the most with two superstar point guards going head-to-head in primetime. Luka Doncic and the Mavericks look to take advantage of a struggling Warriors team led by Stephen Curry and get back to the winning ways that had Doncic at the top of MVP conversations.
Both of these teams have lost two games in a row and will turn to their stars to avoid making it three. Doncic is nursing a quad injury but will still look to attack Curry on every possession to break down the defense with his size and precision as a scorer and passer taking over. Curry needs to bounce back from a horrendous shooting night in a loss to Miami on Thursday, a game in which the entire Warriors team looked lost in the end. Tonight, I believe that the Mavericks get the most from their supporting cast of Dereck Lively, Dante Exum, and Tim Hardaway Jr. and take down Golden State.
Prediction: Mavericks def. Warriors 116-105
