The schedule of NBA games for a Friday is kind of small, but
there are still ten games for tonight. Below are two picks for you to take into
account and gauge your picks off of. Enjoy and as always; good luck!
Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors
Two teams that are almost certainly lottery bound at the end
of the season face off tonight north of the border. Wednesday night, the
Raptors got destroyed by the Celtics in Boston 100-64. Without their best
player Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors have been lost this season. When Bargnani
missed time just a few weeks ago, Toronto went 0-6 SU, and lost by an average
of 12 points per game. They also only scored 81 points per game during that
stretch.
Even though the Raptors have won a game during their most
recent four game stretch without Bargnani, they still have been struggling to
score and struggling to stay competitive. Leaving out their win against New
Jersey, the Raptors have scored an average of 74 points per game in their last
three losses.
For the Wizards, they have covered in their last three games
and four of their last five. They seem to have turned a small corner since the
firing of Flip Saunders; at least against the spread. They have been playing
better and they might not be the worst team in the league. Veteran Rashard
Lewis has actually shown up as well. If he can be even a shadow of his old
self; his scoring, combined with the play of John Wall and JaVale McGee can
turn this team into a solid competitor. The Raptors do have 7 wins, but only
two of them have come at home. I see value in the Wizards here in my NBA picks and I
think it is very likely they come away with another road win in Canada.
My Pick: Wizards +4.5
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets' injury report is as long as...well I
can't think of a witty simile at this point, but you get the idea. So, (enter
large/long simile above). With the probability of some Nets' D-League and
practice squad guys 
logging big minutes tonight, the Wolves here have
incredible value on the NBA odds board. Even though they are on the road, the Wolves are 7-2 ATS on
the road this season. Minnesota has just gotten back Michael Beasley and he is
making people remember why he was a number two overall draft pick just a few
season ago. He had 34 points against the Rockets just a few nights ago.
New Jersey is 0-4-1 ATS in their last five games against
Minnesota, The Nets are also 3-13 ATS in their last 16 home games and have only
won four of those 16. Even though the Wolves' road record SU isn't that good,
with all the injuries for the Nets, the Wolves' talent and roster depth will be
too much for Deron Williams alone to take. As such, Williams will have to chase
around Ricky Rubio, which has proven no small task. One of the biggest reasons
I really like the Wolves here is the fact that not only are the Nets without
their second best player and starting center, Brook Lopez; they will almost
certainly be without their backup Mehmet Okur and his back up Johan Petro, who
are both dealing with separate injuries. D Will will probably have 40 + points,
but the Wolves will win here by double figures.
My Pick: Wolves -4.5