As the NBA gets cranking this week, and teams across the league are sporting new uniforms (the Miami Heat reminisce about Miami Vice with their new outfits), there are going to be a few hot games tonight as we look at our picks for Nov 25.  There’s not much room for error and every point counts.  Starting with the matchup between the Indiana Pacers and the Memphis Grizzlies, to be played in Indiana, a lot is riding on today’s games.

Sports Intel Daily Picks Nov 25

The Pacers and the Grizzlies are fairly well-matched when they face each other, with each team having won four contests.  The last time they met was in January of this year, when the Grizzlies squeaked by with a 106-103 victory.  This is a different season, though, and the Pacers are a different team.  They are playing tighter and, thanks to players like Domantas Sabonis and Justin Holiday, are able to get the ball to the hoop when it’s needed most.

The Grizzlies haven’t been able to do the same, falling short on several occasions.  Dillon Brooks has not been his best lately and Ja Morant can’t carry the entire team.  With Malcolm Brogdon expected to make a return for the Pacers, everything’s looking good for Indiana and they shouldn’t have any problems trapping the bear tonight on their way to a home win.

The Toronto Raptors, with an 11-4 record, haven’t lost a game at home this season.  They’re about to put that streak to a real test when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers tonight as we look at the second of our picks for Nov 25. This won’t be an easy game as the Sixers are 11-5 and have all the makings of being a championship team this year.

Philadelphia just annihilated the Heat this past Saturday, 113-86.  They showed no mercy and are going to come back strong again tonight.  The Sixers are also looking for revenge after losing to the Raptors in the second round of the playoffs last year.

The 76ers might have to make a stand without Kyle O’Quinn and Furkan Korkmaz, but the Raptors are down Kyle Lowry, which is certainly going to hurt their chances.  Despite not having the best record on the road this year (4-5), the Sixers are strong and healthy.  In what should be a tight game, Philadelphia takes the win.

After a slow start, the Boston Celtics have improved somewhat and are now 11-4 on the season.  They have to face the Sacramento Kings, 7-8, tonight and this game could prove to be more interesting than some think.  The Celtics have lost their last two games, while the Kings are 7-3 in their last ten games.  That followed a start to the season that saw them lose all of their first five games.

The Celtics could most likely be on the court without one of their anchors, Kemba Walker.  He was taken out on a stretcher during the team’s game against the Denver Nuggets and, while the injury in the NBA game was determined to just be a neck strain, he is still listed as a game-time decision tonight.  The Kings don’t have any significant injuries to report and are pumped from their winning streak.  The Celtics are favored to win, but it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see the Kings sneak in a victory so look like a reasonable pick for Nov 25.

The Heat will host the Charlotte hornets tonight, new uniforms and all.  That will be enough to distract the Charlotte squad, constantly looking over their shoulders for Tubbs and Crockett to appear.  For those too young to remember, Crocket and Tubbs were the stars of the hit TV series Miami Vice in the 80s, and the Heat’s new uniform automatically conjures images of the two fighting drug lords on Miami beaches.

Both teams are coming off losses, but the Heat are definitely in a better position.  They’re 11-4 and third in the Eastern Conference, facing the 6-11 Hornets on the tail end of four straight victories at home.  The fact that Miami has to play without Justise Winslow and Derrick Jones, Jr., and possibly without KZ Okpala, doesn’t seem to appear to be an issue given the depth the team has.

About the only thing negative that could be said about the Heat is that they lead the league in turnovers, with 19 per game.  However, just like Crocket and Tubbs, they’ll always find a way to beat their rivals in the end.   The Heat will prevail.

That’s it for the Nov 26 daily picks from us at Sports Intel, good luck with your NBA betting tonight, and we’ll see you soon.