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The Los Angeles Lakers will try to bounce back from a devastating Game 2 defeat when they host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday in a crucial Game 3 of their 2024 NBA playoffs series. In Game 2, Los Angeles led by as many as 20 points in the second half before Denver rallied for a 101-99 win. The defeat was the largest blown lead by any team in an NBA postseason game in the last 25 seasons. The Nuggets lead the best-of-seven first round Western Conference playoff series 2-0.

Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers are listed as 1-point favorites in the latest Nuggets vs. Lakers odds, per SportsLine consensus, while the Over/Under for total points scored is 217. Before making any Lakers vs. Nuggets picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the second week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 90-58 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Nuggets vs. Lakers and just locked in its picks and Game 3 predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Lakers vs. Nuggets:

Nuggets vs. Lakers spread: Los Angeles -1
Nuggets vs. Lakers over/under: 217 points
Nuggets vs. Lakers money line: Denver -105, Los Angeles -115
DEN: Nikola Jokic ranked second in the NBA this season in triple-doubles (25).
LAL: Anthony Davis ranked third in the league in rebounding (12.6 per game).
Nuggets vs. Lakers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Nuggets can cover
The reigning NBA champs have dominated the head-to-head series against Los Angeles recently as Denver has beaten the Lakers 10 straight times. That stretch includes a four-game sweep against Los Angeles in last season’s Western Conference Finals and three wins during the 2023-24 regular season. The Lakers haven’t beaten the Nuggets since Dec. 16, 2022.

In addition, Denver may have found a way to slow Davis and the Los Angeles offense in Game 2. After giving up 68 points in the first 26 minutes, Nuggets coach Michael Malone switched Aaron Gordon onto the Lakers big man. After that, Denver allowed just 31 points in the final 22 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine.

Why the Lakers can cover
LeBron James remains an elite player. From the All-Star break to the end of the regular season, the 39-year-old James averaged 27.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 9.5 assists while shooting 58.4% from the field, 45.0% on 3-pointers, and 76.9% from the free-throw line. So far this series, he is averaging 26.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 10.0 assists while shooting 54.5% from beyond the 3-point arc.

In addition, Davis has been elite offensively so far in this series. The 31-year-old Davis has scored 32 points in each of the first two games while averaging 12.5 rebounds. He is also shooting 61.9% from the field and 92.3% from the free-throw line. See which team to back at SportsLine.

How to make Lakers vs. Nuggets picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 219 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over in 50% of simulations. You can see the picks only at SportsLine.

So who wins Lakers vs. Nuggets, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Nuggets vs. Lakers spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 90-58 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.

The Los Angeles Lakers enter Thursday night’s Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets in desperate need of a win. The Lakers, who blew a 20-point lead in Monday’s Game 2, find themselves down 0-2 in the first-round playoff series and without answers of how to notch a win against the reigning champion Nuggets. Denver has won 10 games in a row against L.A., including six consecutive victories in the postseason.

Jamal Murray was the hero for the Nuggets in Game 2, hitting a buzzer-beating game-winner over Anthony Davis to give Denver a 101-99 win in a game the Lakers led nearly the entire night. It was a demoralizing loss for the Lakers, who will host Games 3 and 4 in L.A., needing at least one win to keep their season alive.

“It’s all about sustainability,” LeBron James told reporters after Game 2. “It doesn’t matter what you can do throughout the first 47.5 minutes. You got to close the game, which we didn’t do. We got to do a better job of that. But some of the things that we’ve done over the first couple games, we’re very excited and happy about those. But we got to do a better job of closing it.”

Here’s what to know about Thursday night’s Game 3:

Lakers vs. Nuggets — Game 3 info
Time: 10 p.m. ET | Date: Thursday, April 25
Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
TV channel: TNT | Live stream: TNT app
Odds: Lakers -1, O/U: 217

Storylines
Nuggets: It’s been a good start to the playoffs for the champs as they fought back for a Game 2 victory and kept home-court advantage in this first-round series. Nikola Jokic is nearly averaging a triple-double in the series with 29.5 points, 16 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game so far. Murray has only shot 37.5% from the floor, but he hit the biggest shot of the series. Michael Porter Jr. has added 41 points in the two games, while the Nuggets have limited the Lakers to 101 points per game.

Lakers: The Lakers’ stars have shined in the series. LeBron has been sharp, with 26.5 points and 10 assists per game. Davis has been the highest scorer of the series with 64 points so far. And D’Angelo Russell had a solid Game 2 after struggling in Game 1. Still it hasn’t equaled a victory, and the Lakers will need more production from players like Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura if they want to turn this into a competitive series.

Prediction
The Nuggets just keep finding ways to beat the Lakers, especially in close games. It seems like if the Lakers are going to take a game against the Nuggets, they need to take it and make it a runaway before fourth-quarter Jokic can get his team back in the game. Don’t expect that to happen in Game 3 as Denver makes it 11 in a row and pushes L.A. to the brink of elimination: Pick: Nuggets +1

No NBA team has ever overcome a 3-0 playoff deficit to win a series, and Joel Embiid seemingly came into Game 2 against the New York Knicks knowing that. A home loss would have dropped his Philadelphia 76ers into a 3-0 deficit, and Embiid posted a new career playoff high 50 points in Philadelphia’s Game 3 win over New York to ensure that wouldn’t happen. Embiid’s performance was incredible, but it also came with several controversial moments in the first half.

In the first half, Embiid committed three notable fouls. Two of them were committed in the same general region against different Knicks. In the first quarter, Embiid was assessed an offensive foul for seemingly hitting Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein in the groin. In the second quarter, on a shot attempt, Embiid swung his leg upward unnecessarily and hit New York’s other center, Mitchell Robinson, in the groin as well.

Third controversial Embiid play of the night pic.twitter.com/vyYv01Q8h6

— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) April 26, 2024
Those plays, however, paled in comparison to another foul Embiid committed against Robinson. In the first quarter, Embiid got knocked to the ground by OG Anunoby near the basket. Anunoby passed the ball to Robinson, but Embiid, from the ground, grabbed Robinson’s leg and pulled him down to ground as well. He was assessed only a flagrant-1 foul for the play.

Should Joel Embiid have been ejected for this?

pic.twitter.com/BE4T27I0cE

— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) April 26, 2024
After the game, Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo called the play “dirty.” Other teammates called it out, too.

Donte DiVincenzo called Joel Embiid’s Flagrant 1 on Mitchell Robinson a ‘dirty’ play. Isaiah Hartenstein said it ‘wasn’t a basketball play.’ Josh Hart said it was a reckless play and Knicks were fortunate that Robinson avoided a severe ankle injury.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 26, 2024
Embiid, meanwhile, said he was trying to protect himself.

“It’s unfortunate,” Embiid said. “I didn’t mean to hurt anybody. In those situations I gotta protect myself because I’ve been in way too many situations where I’m the recipient of the bad end of it. It was unfortunate.”

The NBA’s official rulebook determines that a flagrant foul penalty 2, which triggers an automatic ejection, is to be called “if contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary and excessive.” Obviously, this is a subjective definition. However, pulling a player’s foot from the ground while he’s attempting to jump not only seems excessively dangerous, but it is hardly a basketball play.

Zach Zarba, the referee’s crew chief on Thursday night, commented to a pool reporter after the game about the decision of calling the foul a flagrant 1 instead of a flagrant 2.

“In this instance, the crew was unanimous along with the replay center official in Secaucus that this foul was unnecessary but did not rise to the level of a flagrant 2,” Zarba said. “He unnecessary contact rose to the level of a flagrant 1 but we were unanimous that this did not rise to the level of excessive contact, unnecessary and excessive, which would have been a flagrant 2 ejection. That’s why we kept it a flagrant 1.”

Robinson played through pain in the first half, but had a visible limp at points. He attempted to warm up to start the second half, but started the second half in the locker room and was eventually ruled out due to a left ankle injury. It is unclear what an impact the Embiid play had on him, as he was already listed as questionable due to an ankle injury entering Game 3, but it obviously did not help. Robinson left the arena in a walking boot after the game.

Asked about the flagrant foul after the game, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau responded “which one?”

Tom Thibodeau on the flagrant foul called on Joel Embiid:

“Which one? The one they called, or the one they didn’t call? Just want to make sure we have clarity on that.” pic.twitter.com/qlrkqYDWar

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 26, 2024
Whether a foul is dirty or simply part of the physical nature of the game is ultimately subjective. But Embiid — who, per ESPN, is dealing with a mild case of Bell’s palsy — got caught in that gray area three times in the first half alone. If nothing else, he dialed up the intensity in an already chippy series to an 11. Embiid and the Sixers will attempt to tie the series at 2-2 on Sunday, and when this series does shift back to New York for Game 5, Embiid can expect a very cold welcome.

The Phoenix Suns (33-22) travel to play the Dallas Mavericks (32-23) on Thursday evening. This is the third matchup of the season between these foes after they’ve split the first two, and on Jan. 24, Phoenix beat Dallas 132-109. The Mavericks have hit the Under in 20 of their last 30 games, while the Suns have hit the 1H money line in 23 of their last 35 away games. Bradley Beal (hamstring) is questionable for Phoenix.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Mavs are 1.5-point favorites in the latest Suns vs. Mavericks odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 245 according to SportsLine consensus. Before making any Mavericks vs. Suns picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 60-36 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Suns vs. Mavericks. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Mavericks vs. Suns:

Suns vs. Mavericks spread: Dallas -1.5
Suns vs. Mavericks over/under: 245 points
Suns vs. Mavericks money line: Dallas -123, Phoenix +103
PHO: The Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last six games
DAL: The Mavericks are 4-1 ATS in their last five games played on a Thursday
Suns vs. Mavericks picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Suns can cover
Guard Beal (questionable) is getting more into the flow as the season goes on. Beal has good shooting range to stretch out the defense while getting to the lane regularly. The Florida product logs 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. In the Feb. 8 win over the Jazz, Beal had 30 points and seven assists.

Guard Grayson Allen fits into his role perfectly. Allen can get hot in a flash due to his jumper and does a good job slashing to the rim. The Duke product averages 12.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per contest. On Feb. 13, Allen had 19 points, four assists, and made two threes. See who to back at SportsLine.

Why the Mavericks can cover
Guard Luka Doncic is one of the best playmakers in the game. Doncic doesn’t beat defenders with his athleticism but does it with his IQ instead. The five-time All-Star leads the NBA in scoring (34.2) and ranks third in assists (9.5). In his last outing, Doncic finished with 27 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.

Guard Kyrie Irving is another fearless force in the backcourt. Irving uses his shifty ball handles and utilizes his sweet jumper to space out the floor. The Duke product logs 25.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. In the Feb. 14 meeting against the Spurs, Irving notched 34 points, nine boards, and seven assists. See who to back at SportsLine.

How to make Mavericks vs. Suns picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 242 points. The model also says one side hits in almost 60% of simulations. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.

Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton will miss at least the next two games with an ankle sprain, head coach Doc Rivers told reporters on Thursday. The Bucks are set to return to action after the All-Star break against the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, before traveling to take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

The Bucks have never given an official timeline for Middleton, who has not played since the team’s loss to the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 6. He left the arena that night on crutches and in a walking boot, according to Eric Nehm.

About six minutes into the matchup with the Suns, Middleton had the ball on the wing and was guarded by Kevin Durant. He worked himself into a rhythm, pulled up for a 3-pointer, and landed on Durant’s foot. His left ankle rolled violently, and he collapsed to the floor in obvious pain.

After briefly reviewing the monitor, the officials upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 1 on Durant. Middleton took the flagrant free throws himself — he went 1-of-2 — and briefly remained in the game. However, he was not moving well and checked out at the next dead ball. He immediately went back to the locker room with the Bucks’ medical staff and was ruled out for the rest of the game.

It’s still unclear when Middleton will return to action, and it’s not surprising the Bucks are taking the cautious route given his health problems in recent years.

Dating back to the 2022 playoffs, when he sprained the MCL in his left knee in the first round, Middleton has been a regular on the injured list. He’s dealt with a myriad of upper and lower body problems and has undergone two surgeries — one on his wrist and another on his knee last summer. So far this season he has missed 13 games and played in both ends of a back-to-back just once.

Having Middleton healthy for the postseason will be paramount for a Bucks team that is still hopeful of competing for a title despite a rocky 3-7 start under Rivers.

The Golden State Warriors won’t have to contend with LeBron James when they return from the All-Star break to host the Pacific Division-rival Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. James is out against Golden State due to an ankle injury that sidelined him at Utah in Los Angeles’ final game prior to the break. The Lakers (30-26) still defeated the Jazz 138-122 for their sixth win in seven overall contests and fourth straight on the road. The Warriors (27-26) also have won six of seven after posting a 140-137 triumph at Utah last Thursday.

Tip-off at Chase Center in San Francisco is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. Golden State is a 6-point favorite in the latest Warriors vs. Lakers odds, according to SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 243.5. Before making any Lakers vs. Warriors picks or NBA predictions, you need to see what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 60-36 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Warriors vs. Lakers. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Lakers vs. Warriors:

Warriors vs. Lakers spread: Golden State -6
Warriors vs. Lakers over/under: 243.5 points
Warriors vs. Lakers money line: Golden State -238, Los Angeles +193
GSW: The Warriors are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games
LAL: The Lakers are 12-16 ATS on the road this season
Warriors vs. Lakers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Warriors can cover
Klay Thompson had one of his best offensive performances of the season in Golden State’s victory at Utah as he scored a season-high 35 points off the bench. The 34-year-old shooting guard, who eclipsed the 15,000-point mark for his career, was 7-for-13 from 3-point range and also grabbed six rebounds as he entered as a reserve for the first time since his 2011-12 rookie season. Thompson was just 5-for-23 from beyond the arc over his previous three contests.

Thompson scored 24 points in Golden State’s first meeting with Los Angeles this campaign, a 145-144 double-overtime loss at home on Jan. 27, while Stephen Curry led all players with 46 points. The 35-year-old Curry also eclipsed the 40-point mark in the Warriors’ last home game, recording 41 in a 130-125 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 14. He made nine 3-pointers in that defeat and is 36-for-67 from beyond the arc over his last four contests. See who to back at SportsLine.

Why the Lakers can cover
With James unable to play, more will be expected of Anthony Davis, who leads Los Angeles in scoring with an average of 24.9 points. The 30-year-old Davis also came up with a strong performance in the first meeting with the Warriors, scoring 29 points while pulling down 13 rebounds. It was one of the 42 double-doubles recorded this season by Davis, who is fourth in the league in that category while ranking third in rebounds (12.2) and fifth in blocks (2.5).

Davis is coming off an effort against Utah in which he registered game highs of 37 points and 15 boards. Fellow power forward Rui Hachimura set a career high of 36 points on 13-of-19 shooting in that contest. The Lakers are 8-2 in their last 10 meetings against Golden State and they’ve won nine of their last 11 games played in February. See who to back at SportsLine.

How to make Warriors vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 241 points. The model also says one side hits in over 60% of simulations. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson made his All-Star Game and 3-Point Contest debuts last weekend in Indianapolis, and was given a rude welcome by a heckler on All-Star Saturday Night. But before he could get too upset, he realized the comments were coming from his dad.

Brunson told the story on the latest episode of his new podcast, “Roommates Show,” with his Knicks teammate Josh Hart.

Someone called Jalen a bum at the 3pt competition 👀

Full episode: https://t.co/z3DNhbLkUq pic.twitter.com/tfGL1rNTcN

— Roommates Show (@Roommates__Show) February 22, 2024
“I heard some dude behind the bench, some bald guy sitting behind the bench,” Brunson said. “I heard, ‘You effing bum!’ I was like ‘Who just said that?’ My dad. He was like, ‘Yeah, with that bonus we could have finished my basement.'”

Despite the harassment from his dad, Brunson put up a strong showing in the first round of the event, finishing with 24 points. That mark would have been enough to advance most years, but there was some strong shooting in Indy this time around. Every single participant put up at least 20 points in the first round, and four tied at the top with 26. Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard went on to win the event for the second time in his career.

The good news for the Brunsons is that the Mavericks declined to offer Jalen a four-year, $55 million extension back in the 2021-22 season, and he signed for $104 million with the Knicks that summer. With that kind of money, there should be some left over to redo the basement.

Brunson is enjoying the best season of his career, averaging 27.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game, while shooting 41.1% from 3-point land. Thanks to his leadership, the Knicks exited the All-Star break in fourth place in the Eastern Conference at 33-22, and are on pace to make the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (25-15) will try to extend their seven-game winning streak when they face the Orlando Magic (23-20) on Monday night. Cleveland won all six games during its recent homestand before adding a 116-95 win at Atlanta on Saturday. Orlando lost five times in a six-game stretch, but it responded with a 105-87 win over Miami on Sunday. The Cavaliers are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, while the Magic are in eighth place.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Monday at the Kia Center in Orlando, Fla. Cleveland is favored by 1.5 points in the latest Magic vs. Cavaliers odds, while the over/under is 215.5 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Cavaliers vs. Magic picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model entered Week 13 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 42-23 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Cleveland vs. Orlando. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Cavaliers vs. Magic:

Magic vs. Cavaliers spread: Magic +1.5
Magic vs. Cavaliers over/under: 215.5 points
Magic vs. Cavaliers money line: Magic: +104, Cavaliers: -124
Magic vs. Cavaliers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Magic can cover
Orlando was on the road for seven of its first nine games this month, so it is happy to be back at home for the conclusion of this three-game homestand. The Magic are coming off an impressive performance, blowing out the Heat in a 105-87 final on Sunday. Power forward Paolo Banchero scored a team-high 20 points on 7 of 14 shooting, and he completed his double-double with 10 rebounds.

All five starters scored in double figures for Orlando, as its season-opening starting lineup was back together for the first time in more than two months. They held the Heat to a season-low point total and forced 18 turnovers, boosted by Markelle Fultz’ first start since Nov. 9. Franz Wagner scored 19 points and dished out five assists in his return to the starting lineup after missing eight games due to a sprained right ankle. See which team to pick here.

Why the Cavaliers can cover
Cleveland lost to Toronto in its first game of 2024, but it has rattled off seven consecutive wins since then to move into fourth place in the conference standings. The Cavaliers won all six games during their homestand, wrapping it up with a 135-95 win over the Bucks. Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and dished out seven assists, while Georges Niang had a team-high 33 points off the bench.

The Cavaliers stayed hot on Saturday, cruising to a 116-95 win as 2-point road favorites at Atlanta. Mitchell had 18 points and eight assists to lead a balanced scoring attack and extend the league’s longest active winning streak. Cleveland scored the first 10 points of the game and never trailed, holding the Hawks to a season-low in points. Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee) remain out for Cleveland, while Caris LeVert (wrist) is questionable. See which team to pick here.

How to make Magic vs. Cavaliers picks
The model has simulated Cavs vs. Magic 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, and it also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

For the second-straight season the NBA is billing a handful of upcoming games this week as NBA Rivals Week where teams with some sort of history or intriguing matchup will take center stage to highlight the various storylines and past drama between franchises and players. The rivalries range from classics, like the Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks, to budding ones, either between teams or players.

Rivals Week runs from Jan. 23 through Jan. 27 with 11 games highlighting these matchups, all of which will be nationally televised. It’s an interesting wrinkle to add to the NBA calendar in an effort to add some entertainment to regular season games, and while there may no longer be true rivalries like we saw in the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s, some of these matchups do bring a bit more to the table than others. As the league gets set to celebrate some old and new rivalries it only makes sense to take a look at the games and see which ones stand out amongst the rest. With that being said, here’s a look at the top five matchups taking place during Rivals Week.

1. Denver Nuggets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
   Date: Saturday, Jan. 27 | Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
   Location: Ball Arena — Denver
   TV channel: ABC | Live stream: fubo (try for free)
   If the last meeting between these two teams is any indication of what to expect for Round 2, then this might end up being the best matchup of the week. We’ve got two guys who have won the last three MVP’s and one of them could potentially walk away with the award again this year, too. Earlier this month, when Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic faced off, it resulted in Embiid taking over in the fourth quarter to carry the Sixers to a win. He put up 41 points for the second-straight game which was also on the second night of a back-to-back. It also extended his streak of dropping 30+ points to 18 games, a streak he’s since extended to 20.

Embiid and the Sixers got the win, but Jokic also showed out for the Nuggets, putting up 25 points and 19 rebounds in a duel that pit the top two big men against each other. And after it was all said and done, Embiid said Jokic was the best player in the league, tipping his cap to the two-time MVP. The only thing keeping this matchup from reaching its full potential is if one of Embiid or Jokic doesn’t play. Embiid would be the bigger concern as he hasn’t played in Denver in each of the last three years due to injuries. There’s no reason to expect him to sit as of right now, especially as he told Jokic after their first game, “I’ll see you in two weeks.” So let’s all hope both stars can stay healthy so we can get another dose of this exciting rivalry.

2. Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
   Date: Tuesday, Jan. 23 | Time: 10 p.m. ET
   Location: Crypto.com Arena — Los Angeles
   TV channel: TNT
   The co-tenants of Crypto.com Arena are an obvious choice for this list, and it should shape up to be an entertaining matchup. The stars are there on both sides, and for the Clippers, injuries haven’t hit this season like they have in the past, so Kawhi Leonard and Paul George should be ready to go. And while the Lakers have struggled since winning the inaugural In-Season Tournament, going just 7-13 since hoisting up that trophy in Las Vegas, you can always count on LeBron James and Anthony Davis to put on a show.

The Lakers already hold a 2-0 advantage against the Clippers this season, and both games came down to the wire with the first needing overtime to be decided and the second match coming down to the final shot for the Lakers to edge out a three-point win. Despite the Clippers being winless against the Lakers this season, they’ve been nearly unstoppable since Jan. 1 against everyone else, holding the league’s top offense while posting an 8-2 record, the second-best mark during that span. But even with all that recent success, the Lakers seem to be the Clippers kryptonite this season, which should make for an exciting game when these two face off during Rivals Week.

3. Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns
   Date: Wednesday, Jan. 24 | Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
   Location: American Airlines Center — Dallas
   TV channel: ABC | Live stream: fubo (try for free)
   You can trace this rivalry back to the 2022 playoffs when the Mavericks dismantled the top-seeded Suns in the second round in shocking fashion. In every meeting that’s followed there always seems to be some tension on both sides, and the star plays on both teams — Luka Doncic and Devin Booker — certainly play up to that. Doncic and Booker are some of the most competitive players in the league, and neither shy away from talking trash, so when they face each other you can always bet on some words being exchanged during the game. But despite the trash talking both players have shared their mutual respect for each other, despite how heated and competitive they can get during the game.

Doncic and Booker’s competitive nature alone would make this a worthwhile matchup, but when you also factor in that this matchup features Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Bradley Beal then it’s must-watch television. The Suns and Mavericks are also only separated by just a half-game in the West standings, adding extra motivation to this game. There’s also the fact that the last time these two teams suited up opposite each other, Doncic dropped 50 points on the Suns in their arena on Christmas in a win without Irving. Basically any way you spin it, this is one of those matchups worth watching.

4. San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
   Date: Wednesday, Jan. 24 | Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
   Location: Frost Bank Center — San Antonio
   TV channel: ESPN | Live stream: fubo (try for free)
   The Spurs likely won’t be competitive in this game, but the matchup worth watching is Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren, the two favorites to win Rookie of the Year. When you hold their stats up next to each other they’re almost mirrors but how they’re getting there is vastly different. Wembanyama is at the center of the Spurs’ offense, and he gets over four more shot attempts per game than Holmgren. But while the OKC rookie isn’t the No. 1 option on his team, Holmgren’s already become a crucial piece to the Thunder’s success. His scoring, playmaking and rim protection have all been part of why the Thunder hold the No. 2 seed in the West standings.

This will be the second time we get Wemby vs. Holmgren this season, and hopefully the second time will live up to the expectation a bit better. In the first meeting between these rookies neither really had a standout performance, reminding us that they’re both just getting their feet wet. But with over half the season under their belts, this time around should be different.

5. Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics
   Date: Thursday, Jan. 25 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
   Location: Kaseya Center — Miami
   TV channel: TNT
   This is a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, and with the way that ended — the Celtics falling behind 0-3 then storming back to push it to a Game 7 only to lose — has likely fueled Boston in what’s been a dominant season thus far. But last season’s conference finals isn’t the only thing that makes this a rivalry. The Celtics and Heat have faced each other in three of the last four Eastern Conference Finals, so there’s familiarity between the two sides. And even though the Heat haven’t made a ton of noise this season — hovering around the No. 6 spot and the play-in tournament — we know from history that Miami always brings it in big games.

The Philadelphia 76ers (28-13) will return home and aim for their sixth consecutive victory when they host the San Antonio Spurs (8-34) on Monday night. Philadelphia won back-to-back road games over the weekend, beating the Magic and Hornets. San Antonio snapped a four-game losing streak with a 131-127 win at Washington on Saturday, but it still has the worst record in the Western Conference. This is the first of two meetings between these teams this season, with the rematch slated for April.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Sixers are favored by 14 points in the latest Spurs vs. 76ers odds, while the over/under is 237 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any 76ers vs. Spurs picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 14 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 48-25 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning over $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on San Antonio vs. Philadelphia. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Spurs vs. 76ers:

76ers vs. Spurs spread: 76ers -14
76ers vs. Spurs over/under: 237 points
76ers vs. Spurs money line: 76ers: -1097, Spurs: +696
76ers vs. Spurs picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the 76ers can cover
Philadelphia got off to a slow start this month when it lost three of its first four games, but it has responded with a five-game winning streak. The 76ers beat the Kings and Nuggets during a three-game homestand before beating the Magic and Hornets on the road over the weekend. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid posted a double-double with 33 points and 10 rebounds, scoring at least 30 points for the 20th consecutive game.

The 76ers are sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, despite playing without Embiid for 10 games. They were without several important key role players on Saturday, but Tobias Harris scored 21 points and Tyrese Maxey added 16. Philadelphia has covered the spread in four of its last five games, and it has covered in 10 of its last 13 home games. De’Anthony Melton (back) is out for Monday. See which team to pick here.

Why the Spurs can cover
San Antonio picked up its eighth win of the season on Saturday, springing an outright upset at Washington as a 2-point underdog. The Spurs erased a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes, as Victor Wembanyama returned from a one-game absence to score 24 points and grab eight rebounds. Guard Tre Jones nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with 11 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds.

Wembanyama, who has been on a minutes’ restriction, played 28 minutes against the Wizards, including critical moments down the stretch. He leads the team with 19.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, while Devin Vassell is adding 17.8 points. The Spurs have quietly been underrated by the betting market in recent weeks, covering the spread in eight of their last 10 games. Zach Collins (ankle) is questionable for Monday. See which team to pick here.

How to make 76ers vs. Spurs picks
The model has simulated Spurs vs. Sixers 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that has is hitting in almost 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.