NBA: Hornets (+2) Vs Bucks $
This is the second game of a back to back set between these two teams in Charlotte with the Hornets winning game one 114-106. Giannis put down 43 points and it still wasn’t enough for the Bucks to win that game.
The Bucks are struggling right now with a few key absences including Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and Pat Connaughton. These injuries have forced a couple of players to rotate away from their primary positions. It has also opened the for career journeyman Wesley Matthews to get some starting minutes for the depleted Bucks. It is hard to imagine Giannis playing any better than he did in the last game, so they will need to get more production out of their bench in order to win this game.
The Hornets are a young and talented team with a deep bench. Their deficiencies are still on the defensive side of the court which they will need to address if the hope to advance in the playoffs this season. They are also currently healthy at every position. But the lineup adjustments are significant enough for me to question if the Bucks should still be favoured in this matchup.
NBA: Knicks (-6) Vs Spurs $
The Spurs are the latest NBA team to be hit by quarantines and injuries. The will be hard pressed to find the minimum eight healthy players to dress tonight. I am finding a familiar pattern for teams in this situation. They often hang around in the first half as is little is different, but tend to fade as the game progresses particularly in the fourth quarter.
There was no better example of the this than the Jazz playing in TOR the other night. Utah lead the game early by as much as 15 points and then tanked in the second half to lose by 14. The Spurs may find themselves in a similar spot tonight. SA simply does not have the bench depth to handle to loss of 6 or 7 guys out of their regular lineup.
The Knicks are not exactly healthy either which is the reason this line is only 6 points. But they should be good enough to keep the depleted Spurs in check tonight. A key spot for the Knicks may be Evan Fournier who is listed as questionable, but I expect he will likely play if only off the bench.
Legend $$ – Two unit play $ – one unit play
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