Be sure to check the injury reports and other relevant information as this article is written the night before and picks may change with new information!
Indiana Pacers at Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have a few names that have appeared on the injury report for this matchup at home against the Pacers. Davis and Gasol are listed as out while Kuzma and James are listed as game-time decisions.
I would assume that both James and Kuzma will appear in the starting lineup, otherwise, this team would be defenseless. Be sure to constantly check injury reports as these names will be crucial to the outcome of the game. The Lakers are on a two-game losing streak and went an abysmal 3-7 in the last 10 games before the all-star break. Davis missing games is having a major impact on the team’s ability to compete but they still remain third in the Western Conference.
With Davis being out, the down-low tandem of Sabonis and Turner will be hard to stop. Even if Kuzma plays, he wont be 100% healthy. This is the key to the Pacers win. They are better in nearly every aspect of the paint and if Kuzma sits, James will likely have to guard Sabonis and play close to 40 minutes.
Schroder can play defense and should be able to limit Brogdon who has an emerged as effective point guard in this league without all the flash of other stars. Brogdon is averaging 21.2 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 4.7 RPG. Excellent numbers for the young guard, Schroder is capable of keeping him at his averages and should be able to reach his average of 14.9 PPG will be enough to keep this game close.
The Lakers are the favorite at home with a spread of -4.5. Although, the Pacers were sliding heading into the all-star break going 4-6 in their last 10 games. The glaring advantage of the Pacers down low makes the Pacers +4.5 an attractive play.
Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies
This matchup will feature a battle between the European centers of Jokic and Valancunias. Jokic is currently leading the Most Valuable Player Award and it’s easy to see why. The young center has reinvented the center position and acts more like a point guard. Jokic is averaging 27.1 PPG, 8.6 APG, and 11.0 RPG.
The Nuggets are hanging onto the 6th seed in the West behind an overall record of 21-15 and have started to separate themselves from the rest of the pack after a slow start out of the gate. The Grizzlies are not far behind as they come off a win against the Wizards a few days ago to improve their record to 17-16.
The main factor in this matchup will be a battle between the point guards of Ja Morant and Jamal Murray. Ja Morant has slowed down since his amazing start to the season after his injury which is great for Murray who can be known to put the clamps on other star point guards while throwing up 30+ points himself. Whoever wins this matchup, will win the game.
The Nuggets are the -3.5 favorites on the road and will need to get past the tight Grizzly defense and stop then from finding the open man, which they rely heavily on. However, the Nuggets have the talent advntage in key positions and will be well-rested making the Nuggets -3.5 the play.
Pacers +4.5
Nuggets -3.5
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