The Miami Heat lost five games in a row and are on a mission to end their skid with their game against the Charlotte Hornets. The Milwaukee Bucks have an eight-game winning streak on the line with back-to-back games against the Boston Celtics on Friday and the New York Knicks on Saturday. The Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz meet in a back-to-back battle with the #9 seed in the West battling the top seed.

Ja Morant Memphis Grizzlies Utah Jazz Milwakee Bucks Miami Heat
Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies are on the playoff bubble in the Western Conference, but have two tough games against the NBA’s best team the Utah Jazz. (Image: Bill Carlisle)

The second half of the NBA season is jammed with back-to-back games this weekend. This scheduling twist provides bettors with an opportunity to fade teams on the second game of a back-to-back matchup, especially if they have to travel for the second game.


NBA Friday
  • Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks
  • Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets
  • Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans
  • Atlanta Hawks at Golden State Warriors
NBA Saturday
  • New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks
  • Memphis Grizzlies at Utah Jazz
  • Detroit Pistons at Washington Wizards
  • Philadelphia 76ers at LA Clippers
  • Cleveland Cavs at Sacramento Kings
NBA Sunday
  • Phoenix Suns at Charlotte Hornets
  • Atlanta Hawks at Denver Nuggets

Some of the worst teams in the NBA play each other this weekend in a number of old-fashioned bum fights. The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Houston Rockets, the basement dwellers of the Western Conference, meet in a back-to-backer on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards have a showdown between two of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference.

NBA Friday: Joker vs Zion, Trae vs Steph

Boston Celtics (21-23) at Milwaukee Bucks (29-14)… The Celtics don’t have a lot of time left to turn around their season, but they’ll make a huge stride if they can pick off the Bucks on their home turf.

Miami Heat (22-23) at Charlotte Hornets (22-21)… The Heat hold the NBA’s longest current losing streak. Without LaMelo Ball, the Hornets continue to win and moved into the #4 seed in the East.

Houston Rockets (12-31) at Minnesota Timberwolves (10-34)… If the T-Wolves win two in a row, they’ll tie the Rockets for the least wins in the West. The Rockets were busy at the trade deadline and should be short-handed this weekend. The Rockets are still fade-worthy at 13-30 as the worst team in the league ATS.

Denver Nuggets (26-18) at New Orleans Pelicans (19-24)… Regardless of their record, whenever Zion Williamson and the Pelicans play Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, it’s an epic battle. If you like to bet NBA totals, the Pelicans are 30-13 at hitting the over; the best in the NBA. The Nugs are 27-17, and rank #4 in hitting the over.

Atlanta Hawks (22-22) at Golden State Warriors (22-22)… Trae Young and Steph Curry meet in the “Gotta Get Unstuck” game of the night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPBD1MHcAIs

NBA Saturday: Griz and Jazz B2B

New York Knicks (23-22) at Milwaukee Bucks (29-14)… Let’s see what happens when the most potent scoring attack in the NBA meets the league’s top defense. The Bucks crank out 120 ppg, while the stingy Knicks allow less than 105 ppg. The Knicks look like a playoff team and are ranked #4 with a 26-18-1 ATS record.

Detroit Pistons (12-31) at Washington Wizards (15-28)… The Wiz have the NBA’s worst defense, allowing 119.9 ppg. That bodes well for the Pistons, the seventh-lowest scoring team (107.2 ppg)  in the NBA.

Memphis Grizzlies (21-20) at Utah Jazz (32-11)… Ja Morant vs Spida Mitchell. If you missed seeing these guys throw down on Friday, you can watch again on Saturday. The Jazz have the second-best record covering the spread this season at 28-15 ATS.

Philadelphia 76ers (31-13) at LA Clippers (38-16)… Doc Rivers returns to Hollywood to play his old team, but the Sixers still don’t have Joel Embiid (knee). The Clippers recently shed Lou Williams in favor of Playoff Rondo.

Cleveland Cavs (17-27) at Sacramento Kings (20-25)… The Sacramento Kings quietly cobbled together a three-game winning streak. The Cavs have the worst offense in the NBA, scoring only 104 ppg, but they meet the league’s second-worst defense that allows 119 ppg.

NBA Sunday: Trae vs Murray

Phoenix Suns (29-14) at Charlotte Hornets (22-21)… The Suns will feel like it’s 10 am PT in this Sunday’s early afternoon game on the East Coast. The Suns are the top team in covering the spread at 29-14 ATS.

Atlanta Hawks (22-22) at Denver Nuggets (26-18)… This marks the fourth game of a seven-game Western road trip for the Hawks. The Nugs feast on weary and homesick teams that roll into Denver. The Nuggets are within striking distance of overtaking the LeBron-less LA Lakers and the #4 seed in the West.