NBA Wednesday Storylines

We are fresh off a competitive NBA weekend, in which the second-highest scoring game in NBA history (a Kings 2OT W over the Clippers, 176-175) was overshadowed by a four-game Sunday where each contest had playoff-intensity. Hopefully this level of competition sustains itself as the regular season winds down 👇

Every game this season between the Cavs and Celtics has ended in OT — Cleveland managed to win both, squeezing out a one-point victory in early November, after a missed Jaylen Brown buzzer beater. Tonight should be another dramatic outing ☘️

• Two of the top scoring options in the league clash, as Donovan Mitchell (27.2 ppg) attempts to earn his team a road win against Tatum (30.1 ppg)

• Jaylen Brown will make his return to Bostons' lineup, after missing Monday's loss to the Knicks for personal reasons. He will offer more of an offensive punch when Tatum might not have it going

It might be the Josh Hart era in New York — since trading for the hybrid wing/guard, the Knicks have gone 6-0. They will carry this win streak into MSG to host the Nets in another cross-borough clash 🗽

• Prior to a mid-February Knicks W, the Nets had won nine straight against their state rivals

• The Knicks are holding onto a half-game lead in the standings against the Nets, but another win tonight would even the head-to-head between the squads. This could be important towards maintaining a top-six seed and avoiding the play-in

Those two games, plus the Sixers vs. Heat, have my attention tonight - but all eyes should be on Kevin Durant's debut in Charlotte ⭐️

He's Back

KD has not played NBA basketball since early-January. The landscape of the league looked completely different then, as the Nets were beginning to resemble a contender again. Fast forward a couple months — Kyrie is in Dallas, Brooklyn is rebuilding and KD is set to make his debut with the Suns this evening. This league moves fast!

📍 Suns @ Hornets Preview

This game would've been sneakily competitive if not for some bad injury luck. LaMelo Ball fractured his ankle against the Pistons on Monday, bringing an end to his regular season campaign. If you missed it, it was one of those freak accidents 👇

In an injury-plagued third season, Ball was still putting up impressive numbers at 23 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 8.4 APG, while shooting 38% from deep

• Charlotte comes into this one riding a five-game winning streak, but the absence of Ball and PJ Washington do not bode well against a Phoenix team that is about to add KD to its lineup

• It is interesting to note that the Suns have been middling on the road, going 12-19, while the Hornets have been "better" at home, going 11-18 (only 20 wins on the season)

While KD will most likely be on a minutes restriction, his addition will greatly help a Phoenix offense that ranks in the bottom third of the league at 112.7 PPG — at the same time, the Suns have a stifling defense, which should only improve once KD is back in form 🔥

Betting Preview (subject to change)

• Spread: Suns -10

• Moneyline: Suns -510 (bet $510, win $100), Hornets +390 (bet $100, win $390)

• O/U: 228

For My Parlay Gurus

I would hop on the Suns spread as soon as possible — the KD addition certainly helps, but Charlotte was not a good team with LaMelo Ball, so you can imagine what his absence implies. Additionally I like the Celtics to bounce back at home vs. the Cavs 👇

• Suns -10 @ Hornets: -110

• Celtics -6.5 vs. Cavs: -110

$100 on this bet would win you $264 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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