In what should be a great night of NBA action, we're looking to dish out some winners on an evening that features a TNT doubleheader in which the Brooklyn Nets host the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks take on the Golden State Warriors.
1. Charlotte Hornets at Toronto Raptors - 7:00 p.m. ET
Over the last two seasons, the Raptors are 15-5 against the spread when facing teams that make 14.0 or more threes per game. Toronto is also 59-41 against the spread when coming off a game in which the team scored 105 or fewer points under head coach Nick Nurse. The Raptors are going to use their length to get out and contest shots on this Hornets team, and they should also bounce back from a poor offensive performance on the other end. One of the main reasons to like Toronto in this game is the fact that Fred VanVleet's tenacity could give LaMelo Ball some trouble here. Ball is an extremely talented player but he is going to need to play very hard in order to win his matchup with VanVleet, who is a legitimate All-Star these days. The Raptors' wings are also a lot better than the ones the Hornets have to offer, and that'll be especially true if Gordon Hayward is either out or hobbled here. He's dealing with a foot issue and is questionable for this one.
THE PICK: Raptors -3
2. Minnesota Timberwolves at Portland Trail Blazers - 10:00 p.m. ET
While Damian Lillard might be out indefinitely, the Blazers have gotten some insane play from Anfernee Simons this season. The young guard is looking like a big part of Portland's core, and he just might be exactly what the team needs for its post-Lillard future. With Simons and CJ McCollum, the Blazers still have one of the best backcourts in basketball, which is part of the reason this team has won seven of its last 11 games. Portland has also started to play some improved defense in that span. The team is normally the second-worst team in the league in defensive rating, but Portland has been 17th in that mark in the last 11 games. That difference is huge when you can score the way the Blazers do, and this team should have no trouble generating good looks against the Timberwolves. The Blazers are 15-4 against the spread when coming off three games in a row against Eastern Conference opponents over the last two years, and they have won those games by an average of 10.9 points per game. The Timberwolves are also 2-4 against the spread in their last six games.
THE PICK: Blazers +4
3. Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors - 10:00 p.m. ET
The Warriors are really lost without Draymond Green right now. Sure, Golden State has won three of its last four games, but the team is also 5-6 straight-up and 3-8 against the spread in its last 11 games. The Warriors really miss Draymond's presence on the defensive end, but they also miss his ability to connect on offense. Green is one of the best passers in the league and a lot of the Warriors offense runs through him. Golden State has also been winning games against weak competition, but the team could be in trouble against Dallas. The Mavericks are one of the best defensive teams in basketball, meaning they'll make Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins work for absolutely everything. Then, Luka Doncic will do what he does on the offense end, which is flirt with 30 points while also dropping dimes for his teammates. Also, with Draymond out of the lineup, Kristaps Porzingis could feast in this game. Dallas is 8-1 against the spread after a game in which the two teams combined to score 195 or fewer points this season. The Mavericks have won those games by 14.8 points per game and they'll be looking to win another low-scoring battle here. Don't be surprised if they win this one outright.
THE PICK: Mavericks +3.5
