Tuesday night will feature top division and conference squads in their intent to stretch their dominance in the league as the NBA approaches its mid-season stage. Currently, just four teams in the league have managed to get 19 or more wins, and three of these are set to play in both East and West coast showdowns tonight. With the recent announcement from NBA authorities that the Bulls-Pistons game was postponed due to recent COVID-19 outbreaks, the green light for the remaining games is still on. The Knicks are set to receive a visit from West Conference top Warriors, while the heating Suns are set to visit the Blazers, and Durant’s Nets take on Raptors at Brooklyn. 

Knicks Face Western-Conference Leading Warriors 

The New York Knicks continue to struggle in their attempt to pull away from the fifth spot of the Atlantic Division as they prepare to play the West Conference-leading Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden tonight in the first of our NBA picks and parlays. 

A win for the Knicks could lean their recent 2-6 season record over their last eight performances just slightly towards the positive end. Not much of an accomplishment, yet adding wins still places them just a step forward to fight for a potential season turnaround. 

On the other hand, Golden State will arrive in NYC with a 22-5 season record and as the top Pacific Division squad with the Phoenix Suns right behind them. The squad, still commanded by Stephen Curry’s dominant offensive showing, is headed to have their very own Steph stand just two three-pointers away from breaking Ray Allen’s NBA three-point record. 

Curry’s potential record-breaking performance, along with the Warriors’ 23^rd overall season win, could become the perfect mix for a memorable night at MSG for the Golden State squad.   

To Warriors coach Steve Kerr, his squad is doing great yet still needs to be consistent, especially given that the season is not even halfway finished. However, there is no question the Warriors will oppose a banged-up NY Squad, and given recent performances, Golden State is by far the team to favor for tonight’s matchup.  

Booker’s Suns Meet Blazers In Attempt to Extend Winning Streak

The Suns are dominating the Western Conference standings and are currently trailing behind the Warriors in the Pacific Division. Yet, with Devin Booker leading the squad with 23.2 average points per game and veteran legend Paul George getting 10.2 assists per game, the team has continued to shine at the top of the NBA with 21 wins and just five defeats. 

For the Suns, solid performances have allowed the squad to build momentum. Although losing to the LA Clippers last night, Phoenix is still genuinely dominating. The team is now eighth overall in the league with 110.8 average points per game and fourth overall with 26.1 assists per game. 

For Portland, the story is upside down. With five consecutive losses and fourth overall in the Northwest Division, the squad attempts to fight for a comeback. A win over the Suns could translate into the perfect scenario for a quick turn of events. Still, it’s safe to lean towards the Suns and opt for a solid Phoenix win backed up by substantial performance numbers. 

Durant’s Nets to Face Raptors at Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Nets are leading East Conference standings with a 19-8 season record, and this Tuesday’s matchup at Barclays Center will give the NY squad a chance to dominate over the Toronto Raptors. 

It wasn’t a matter of who, but which category each player was to dominate in a Brooklyn lineup full of stars. Kevin Durant tops the Nets with 29.4 average points per game, followed by James Harden’s 9.6 assists per game. For the Nets, the season continues to be proof that putting together top players in a team can lead to more than just productive chemistry but also result in top-level performances. 

As for the Raptors, fourth place in the Atlantic Division and a 13-14 season record has Toronto struggling as they remain tenth in the NBA conference standings. However, for Toronto, having Fred VanVleet’s averaging 19.7 points and 6.4 assists per game has proven insufficient to keep the squad afloat. In addition, their continuous defensive mistakes continue to take a toll on the team. 

There is no question Raptors are ready to put up a fight. However, the Nets should be expected to lead the way to a solid performance and get their ninth home win of the season.