25 Feb

Warriors guard ‘getting close’ to return after playing 5-on-5 in full practice

Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul will be back soon. The 38-year-old future Hall of Famer, who broke his hand during a game against the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 5 and had surgery three days later, fully participated in Wednesday’s practice, according to coach Steve Kerr. Paul will miss Golden State’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, but won’t be out for much longer.

“He’s doing great,” Kerr told reporters. “Just played 5-on-5, took part in our whole practice. He’s getting close. He won’t play tomorrow, but he’s feeling really good. He played a lot over the All-Star break, he told me, so the next step is for the training staff to get a feel for where he is conditioning-wise and just make sure everything is set for him to be out there.”

Heading into Friday’s game against the Lakers, the Warriors are 27-26 and 10th in the Western Conference. They’ve won eight of their past 10 games, and during that span, they’ve scored 120.9 points per 100 possessions (which is one percentage point better than the Boston Celtics’ league-best mark this season) and allowed 111.2 per 100 (which is point better than the Oklahoma City Thunder’s fourth-ranked defense).

All of this is to say that Paul will return to a team that has changed in many meaningful ways during his absence. When he fractured his second metacarpal, Draymond Green was suspended, Andrew Wiggins was coming off the bench, Kevon Looney was (sometimes) starting, Gary Payton II was injured, and both Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody were frustrated with their respective roles. Now Golden State appears to have found something with a new starting lineup of Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Wiggins, Kuminga, and Green, which has outscored opponents by 27.1 points per 100 possessions in 106 minutes since Green’s return. Just before the break, Klay Thompson came off the bench for the first time since he was a rookie and played his best game of the season.

At practice on Thursday, Kerr showed the Warriors the standings. The point was to “make sure they know what’s at stake,” Kerr said.

“We’re in 10th, we’ve been on a good run, but we’ve gotta carry that forward,” Kerr said. “And there’s no reason why we can’t keep winning and do what we did a year ago, which was climb up the standings and put ourselves in a favorable position for the playoffs.”

Last season, Golden State was 29-30 and 10th in the West after losing its first game coming out of the All-Star break. Then it won 15 of its final 23 games and finished sixth, avoiding the play-in by the skin of its teeth.

When Paul returns, his presence could complicate how the Warriors close games, but he should also stabilize a second unit that now features two former All-Stars. He and Podziemski have worked well together, and having too many players who clearly deserve significant minutes is surely a welcome problem for Kerr, who has dealt with the opposite issue for most of the season.

After the Lakers game, Golden State will host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday and the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

25 Feb

2024 NBA picks, February 22 predictions from proven model

We’ve got another exciting Eastern Conference matchup on the NBA schedule as the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers are set to tip at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Cleveland is 36-17 overall and 19-9 at home, while Orlando is 30-25 overall and 12-17 on the road. The Cavaliers have dominated this series in recent years, winning eight of the last 10 meetings against the Magic.

This time around, the Cavaliers are favored by 8.5 points in the latest Cavaliers vs. Magic odds, and the over/under is 217 points. Before entering any Magic vs. Cavaliers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions 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.

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

Cavaliers vs. Magic spread: Cavaliers -8.5
Cavaliers vs. Magic over/under: 217 points
Cavaliers vs. Magic money line: Cavaliers: -352, Magic: +276
Cavaliers vs. Magic picks: See picks here
What you need to know about the Magic
Winning is just a little bit easier when you work as a team to post 10 more assists than your opponent, a fact the Magic proved last Wednesday. They enjoyed a cozy 118-100 victory over New York. The win came about thanks to a strong surge starting at the 11:34 mark of the second quarter when the Magic were facing a 39-27 deficit.

Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero were among the main playmakers for the Magic as the former scored 21 points along with six assists and three steals and the latter went 6 for 10 from beyond the arc en route to 36 points and five assists. The Magic are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games and they’re 4-1 ATS in their last five games on the road.

What you need to know about the Cavaliers
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers posted their closest victory since January 7th last Wednesday. The Cavs narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Chicago 108-105. The victory was all the more spectacular given the Cavaliers were down 17 points with 6:14 left in the second quarter.

Donovan Mitchell was his usual excellent self, scoring 30 points along with seven assists and six rebounds. For the season, Mitchell is averaging 28.4 points, 6.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game. Mitchell (illness) is listed as questionable for tonight’s contest. The Cavaliers have won 10 of their last 11 games and they’re 13-7 against the spread in their last 20 contests.

How to make Cavaliers vs. Magic picks
The model has simulated Cavaliers vs. Magic 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that hits in almost 70% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

25 Feb

2024 NBA picks, February 22 predictions from proven model

We’ve got another exciting Atlantic Division matchup on the NBA schedule as the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors are set to tip at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto is 19-36 overall and 11-16 at home, while Brooklyn is 21-33 overall and 8-16 on the road. The Nets have dominated this series in recent years, winning eight of the last 10 meetings against the Raptors.

This time around, the Raptors are favored by 1 point in the latest Raptors vs. Nets odds, and the over/under is 231.5 points. Before entering any Nets vs. Raptors picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the advanced 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.

The model has set its sights on Brooklyn-Toronto. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:

Raptors vs. Nets spread: Raptors -1
Raptors vs. Nets over/under: 231.5 points
Raptors vs. Nets money line: Raptors: -115, Nets: -104
Raptors vs. Nets picks: See picks here
What you need to know about the Nets
The Nets were expected to have a tough go of it last Wednesday, and, well, they did. It’s going to take some time for them to recover from the 136-86 bruising that the Boston Celtics dished out last Wednesday. The loss unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for the Nets in their matchups with the Celtics: they’ve now lost four in a row.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, the Nets struggled to get the ball back on offense and finished the game with only six offensive rebounds. Brooklyn has struggled as the underdog this season and is currently 9-28 in that position. The Nets are also 2-12 against the spread in their last 14 games on the road.

What you need to know about the Raptors
Meanwhile, the Raptors’ recent rough patch got a bit rougher last Wednesday after their third straight defeat. They fell just short of Indiana by a score of 127-125. Despite their loss, the Raptors saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Scottie Barnes, who dropped a double-double with 29 points and 12 rebounds, was perhaps the best of all.

For the season, Barnes is averaging 20.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Barnes racked up 17 points and 11 rebounds in Toronto’s setback against Brooklyn on Nov. 28.

How to make Raptors vs. Nets picks
The model has simulated Raptors vs. Nets 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 hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

25 Feb

‘We’re never going to bottom out’

Generally speaking, success does not last forever in the NBA. Talented teams break up. Dynasties end. If you’re running a team that is in championship contention, you spend as much money as you’re allowed and steal from your future in order to maximize your short-term odds of winning it all. Eventually, inevitably, when you can’t see a path to the top, you must accept reality. This often means going all the way to the bottom.

Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob, however, rejects this life cycle. He believes that the Warriors are an exception to the rule and that they have an “ace in the hole,” Lacob told ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.

“We are the Golden State Warriors,” Lacob said. “I believe in the culture. I believe that word gets out. I could go on and on. I’m not trying to brag. I’m just saying, that’s who we are.

“We’re never going to bottom out. I won’t settle for that. We’re not doing that.”

Lacob is not exactly guaranteeing that the Warriors will never be near the bottom of the standings under his watch. He is saying, though, that he believes they will never have to go there intentionally. In discussing the “tough path” they tried to walk with the two-timeline plan (i.e. developing Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and the since-traded No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman while competing for championships), Lacob described himself as an owner “who doesn’t want to ever be in the lottery, ever.”

He added, “We don’t want to be bad. We don’t want to go through a transition. I just can’t do that.”

Lacob is always thinking big, and he is confident that Golden State can attract top talent. Just before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, he reportedly called Jeanie Buss, the owner of Los Angeles Lakers, to ask about a potential LeBron James trade. (ESPN reported that neither James nor the Lakers were interested.) The team’s dream scenario is somehow landing Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it will explore any avenue it might have to get James, Paul George, or even ex-Warrior Kevin Durant, according to The Athletic.

“I’m not going to comment on something I can’t comment on, but, in general, I just want to win,” Lacob told ESPN. “We just want to win. We want to be the best, and we’re going to try whatever tactic it takes to get there. I am not here to screw around. We are not here to screw around. We are not here to be just ‘some team.’ We’re not going to do that. We may fail. Everyone fails. We may fail occasionally, but it will not be for lack of trying.”

As always, you can either commend Lacob on his confidence and competitiveness or clown him for his cockiness. The “we may fail” bit indicates that he doesn’t think the Warriors are infallible, but there is some arrogance inherent in any team-building plan that dismisses both being in the lottery and being just “some team.” The precise reason that franchises like the Oklahoma City Thunder have decided to build through the draft is that they didn’t want to be just “some team.”

Stephen Curry turns 36 next month, and it’s totally rational that Golden State does not want to think about rebuilding in the near future. It is possible that the team, which is 27-26 but has won eight of its past 10 games, will go on a post-All-Star run and establish itself as a legitimate title contender again this season. It is also possible that the front office will find a way to add another star and extend the Warriors’ championship window. If either of those things happen, though, it will be an incredible feat and a testament to Curry’s sustained brilliance. The NBA’s new collective-bargaining agreement has made it more difficult than ever to keep teams together (and improve expensive rosters), and Lacob himself recently said the Warriors would like to get out of the luxury tax next season.

As determined as Lacob might be to win, at some point – maybe in a few months, maybe only after Curry retires – he and the Warriors will likely find themselves in an extremely uncomfortable position: No shot at a title, with a choice between two unappealing options: rebuilding and mediocrity. No team, not even the San Antonio Spurs, who long served as their model, has been able to avoid this in perpetuity.

25 Feb

France’s Zaccharie Risacher goes No. 1; Colorado’s Cody Williams lands at No. 4

NBA teams no doubt have varying philosophies and priorities for how to rank and view players in any given class. Those philosophies and priorities are influenced by myriad factors including job security, team need and overall evaluation. But in my role as an analyst my modus operandi has always been to rank highest the players who present the most star potential in the long term accounting for positional size, athleticism, age, production and other factors.

That’s why rising French star Zaccharie Risacher is No. 1 in my latest mock draft below. Risacher, who would be the second LNB Pro A product to go No. 1 in as many years (Victor Wembanyama from Mets 92 in 2023), combines rare traits with an ideal frame and upside to grow both on the ball as a playmaker and as a defender. He’s still raw in terms of where he is developed physically, which comes as no surprise given he’s just 18 years old, but there’s a lot in his game that could be molded into something spectacular if things go right for him. He’s tenacious as a defender and a timely cutter on offense. The flashes that make you go whoa don’t come every sequence the way they did with Wembanyama, but they’re there, and they are enough to buy in to for a team looking to swing for the fences.

The 2024 NBA Draft class is of course wide open at the top so reasonable minds may differ and preferences — be it positionally or eval-based — could put Serbian star Nikola Topic or French star Alex Sarr at No. 1. They go No. 2 and No. 3 respectively in my mock below to the Spurs and Pistons, respectively.

The below mock is based primarily off of how I rank the class and does not take into account team need and fit given that there is still a huge chunk of the NBA season still left to play and a lot left unsettled for the time being as to how the actual draft order will look this summer. Order is based on odds via SportsLine.

24 Jan

2024 NBA picks, Jan. 20 best bets by proven model

The Milwaukee Bucks (28-13) travel to play the Detroit Pistons (4-37) on Saturday in a Central Division showdown. This is the third matchup of the season and Milwaukee has dominated the series as of late, winning seven straight head-to-head matchups against Detroit. On Dec. 16, Milwaukee topped Detroit 146-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo (shoulder) is listed as probable for Milwaukee, while Cade Cunningham (knee), Monte Morris (quad) and Isaiah Stewart (ankle) are out for Detroit.

Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Milwaukee is a 13.5-point favorite in the latest Bucks vs. Pistons odds via SportsLine consensus. The over/under for total points is 245. Before making any Pistons vs. Bucks picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced 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 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.

Now, the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Pistons and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Pistons vs. Bucks:

Bucks vs. Pistons spread: Milwaukee -13.5
Bucks vs. Pistons over/under: 245 points
Bucks vs. Pistons money line: Milwaukee -1076, Detroit +683
MIL: The Milwaukee Bucks have hit the game total Over in 43 of their last 67 games
DET: The Detroit Pistons have hit the game total Over in 30 of their last 47 games
Bucks vs. Pistons picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Bucks can cover
Guard Damian Lillard has been a great addition to Milwaukee. Lillard has an effortless jumper from anywhere on the floor with a superb clutch gene. The seven-time All-Star also scans the court as a facilitator. Lillard averages 25 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. In the Jan. 14 win against the Kings, he tallied 29 points, eight assists and made five 3-pointers.

Forward Khris Middleton is an excellent scorer from mid-range and downtown. Middleton thrives off the ball and has a quick release in catch-and-shoot situations. The Texas A&M product is putting up 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. On Jan. 13 versus the Warriors, Middleton notched 24 points, 10 assists and went 3-of-5 from three. See which team to pick here.

Why the Pistons can cover
Center Jalen Duren brings tremendous size and power onto the court. The Memphis product averages 14.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and shoots 65% from the floor. The 20-year-old has recorded 20 double-doubles thus far. In his last game, Duren totaled 16 points and 11 boards.

Guard Jaden Ivey is a smooth three-level scorer for the Pistons. Ivey has a knockdown jumper and has the skillset to get into the lane regularly. The Purdue product logs 14.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He’s dropped 24-plus points in two straight games. In Wednesday’s loss to the Timberwolves, Ivey finished with 32 points, four boards and six assists. See which team to pick here.

How to make Pistons vs. Bucks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 237 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the model’s picks at SportsLine.

24 Jan

Rockets’ Alperen Sengun highlights trio of best fantasy big men on Saturday

The Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons kicked off Saturday’s NBA action in the afternoon, but seven other games will make up the remaining slate. There are plenty of ideal guards up for grabs, but big men seem to be the most appealing from a fantasy outlook. Several are in prime positions to abuse mismatches or make the most out of new opportunities.

Are you looking for strong returns? Here’s who you should keep an eye on as you look to build an optimal lineup:

Sengun is gearing up for his first meeting with the Utah Jazz this season. The Houston Rockets center is amid his best scoring month of the season. He’s averaging 22.8 points per game in January and should easily impose his will as a low-post scorer and rebounder against John Collins, who the Jazz have opted to start at center over Walker Kessler. His physical advantage should help him create open shots for himself and his teammates.

Vucevic torched the Toronto Raptors with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists his last time out and could easily put up similar numbers against the depleted Memphis Grizzlies. They’ve moved on from Bismack Biyombo and Xavier Tillman is questionable, so they might not have many options to stop Vuc down low. The Chicago Bulls big man has rattled off five double-doubles in his previous six games while averaging 19.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.

Bagley has been unleashed. The former Pistons big man made his Washington Wizards debut on Thursday and started in place of the concussed Daniel Gafford. The Duke product racked up 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in 39 minutes against the New York Knicks’ sturdy defense. Gafford won’t play again on Saturday, so Bagley could see a similar workload against the abysmal San Antonio Spurs. Bagely’s price will probably rise significantly with another start, so fantasy managers should buy low while they can.

24 Jan

Knicks spoil MSG return of RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley behind dominant Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson showings

There’s a popular saying dating back to the 1940s: “You can’t go home again.” On Saturday night, former Knicks RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley learned that axiom’s meaning all too well.

In their first game at Madison Square Garden as members of the Toronto Raptors, Barrett and Quickley suffered through a 126-100 loss at the hands of the New York Knicks. The lopsided matchup came just three weeks after Barrett and Quickley were traded along with a second-round pick for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn.

Barrett and Quickley were met with an ovation from the MSG crowd during pregame introductions, and the Knicks displayed a tribute video of their young former players during an early timeout.

Appreciate all the moments RJ and Quick made at @TheGarden 🤝 pic.twitter.com/WNPaWaqZPn

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 21, 2024
“New York should be extremely proud of [Quickley and Barrett]; they raised them,” Knicks forward Julius Randle said after the game. “They were brought up here and now they’re going to take off and they’re going to flourish for many more years.”

That’s about where the fun ended for Barrett, Quickley and the Raptors, however, as the Knicks went on a dominant second-half run to turn the game into a laugher.

For what it’s worth, both of the Knicks’ former players had solid games. Quickley finished with 12 points and 11 assists on 4-for-8 shooting. Barrett put up 20 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes, going 8-for-15 from the field — though the 80% free throw shooter curiously went 3-for-9 from the stripe, prompting former teammate Julius Randle to appear to shout “I’m in his head!” as Barrett missed yet another freebie.

“I’m in his head!“

— Julius Randle to RJ Barrett pic.twitter.com/f26DsTdEco

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 21, 2024
Randle had every right to talk, since he absolutely dominated Toronto with 18 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, logging the 14th triple-double of his career and eighth as a member of the Knicks — the fourth-most in franchise history. Not to be outdone, Jalen Brunson delivered another masterful performance with 38 points and nine assists on 5-for-11 3-point shooting.

Shining under those @TheGarden lights ✨

38 PTS | 9 AST | 5 REB @jalenbrunson1 pic.twitter.com/oBkiqjCwvF

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 21, 2024
In his first game against the franchise where he spent the first six seasons of his NBA career, Anunoby finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks on 5-for-11 shooting. The Knicks are now 9-2 with the 3-and-D wing, and the team’s net rating has improved by a mind-boggling 41.2 points per 100 possessions with Anunoby on the floor compared to when he sits.

The Raptors are clearly headed in a different direction after trading Anunoby and Pascal Siakam already this season, with more moves likely on the way. Barrett and Quickley both joined the starting lineup immediately and have performed well so far. They should flank Scottie Barnes for the foreseeable future as the Raptors hope for a rapid rebuild.

24 Jan

Sixers’ Joel Embiid joins exclusive club with 20th consecutive 30-point game

Joel Embiid’s historic season continued on Saturday when he put up 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead the Philadelphia 76ers past the Charlotte Hornets, 97-89, in a game that won’t be replayed any time soon. With his 20th consecutive 30-point game, Embiid joined Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden in an exclusive club.

Those three stars are the only players in NBA history to have a 30-point streak to reach at least 20 games. It should come as little surprise that Chamberlain owns the all-time record with a remarkable 65 straight games during the 1961-62 season. The Hall of Famer has also pulled off the feat four times — double every other player in NBA history combined.

Embiid wasn’t at his most dominant against the Hornets, in large part due to a stream of double teams, but it says a lot that he shot 11-of-23 from the field and that’s regarded as a poor showing. He did enough to get the Sixers over the line, though, and that’s all that really matters. They’ve now won five games in a row and have pulled to within half a game of the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference.

For the season, Embiid is averaging 35 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.9 blocks per game on 53.6% shooting. If it wasn’t for the new 65-game threshold, he would be the runaway favorite to win a second consecutive MVP. As it stands, Embiid is on a 62-game pace and needs to play in 34 of the Sixers’ final 41 games. That is not a huge margin of error, especially given Embiid’s injury history.

14 Jan

2024 NBA picks, Jan. 6 best bets by proven model

The Washington Wizards (6-28) host the New York Knicks (20-15) in an Eastern Conference matchup Saturday evening. This will be the second matchup of the regular season between these teams. On Nov. 17, the Knicks defeated Washington 120-99, marking their third straight win over the Wizards. The Knicks lead the all-time series 180-136.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. New York is a 9.5-point favorite in the latest Knicks vs. Wizards odds via SportsLine consensus. The over/under for total points is 238.5. Before making any Wizards vs. Knicks picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced 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 Week 11 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 106-59 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Wizards and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Wizards vs. Knicks:

Knicks vs. Wizards spread: New York -9.5
Knicks vs. Wizards over/under: 238.5 points
Knicks vs. Wizards money line: New York -402, Washington +313
NYK: The Knicks have hit the team total Over in 55 of last 87 games
WAS: The Wizards are 16-18 ATS this season
Knicks vs. Wizards picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Knicks can cover
Forward Julius Randle continues to be an aggressive scorer and rebounder. The 29-year-old averages 23.9 points, 9.4 boards and 4.7 assists per game. He is tied for 12th in the NBA in double-doubles (16). He’s scored 35-plus points in consecutive games. On Jan. 3, Randle had 35 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Guard Donte DiVincenzo provides New York with an energetic presence off the bench. DiVincenzo is a smart defender who owns a great feel for the game. The Villanova product averages 10.7 points and three rebounds per game. He’s scored double figures points in five of his last six games. On Dec. 30 against the Indiana Pacers, DiVincenzo dropped a career-high 38 points and four steals. See which team to pick here.

Why the Wizards can cover
Forward Kyle Kuzma is the team’s top scorer. He has a knack for scoring in a variety of different ways and has great instincts as a rebounder. The Utah product is averaging a career-high 22.4 points with 5.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. On Christmas Eve versus the Atlanta Hawks, Kuzma totaled 38 points, eight boards and five assists.

Guard Tyus Jones has been a solid addition to the backcourt. The Duke product leads the team in assists (5.4) and steals (1.2) with 12.6 points per game. In the Dec. 26 Orlando Magic contest, Jones racked up 22 points, six boards and six assists. See which team to pick here.

How to make Wizards vs. Knicks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 242 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations. You can only see the model’s picks at SportsLine.