Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Sunday, January 18.
Phoenix Suns at Toronto Raptors, 12:35PM ET
Trying to find a way to end an eight-game losing streak versus the Phoenix Suns will be tough for the Toronto Raptors and interim coach Jay Triano, who is in desperate need of an orchestrator on offense.
With Canada at the 2000 Olympics, he had one of the NBA's best leaders in Steve Nash.
The Suns, kicking off a season-high six-game road trip, hope Nash can pick up his ninth straight win against the team from his home country as they face Triano and the Raptors on Sunday.
Triano, who was named interim coach for Toronto (16-25) after Sam Mitchell was fired on Dec. 3, has been without starting point guard Jose Calderon (hamstring) for seven of the last eight games and the Raptors have only three wins during that span.
Toronto, which has lost four straight, may be without Calderon again as it tries to end an eight-game losing streak to Phoenix (22-15). The Raptors haven't beaten the Suns since a 101-94 road victory on Feb. 10, 2004, the last meeting between the teams before Nash re-signed with Phoenix.
Nash, who played his first two seasons with the Suns before being traded to Dallas in 1998, has won nine straight overall against the Raptors and is 17-2 against them all-time. He'll now try to continue that run in a reunion with Triano, whom he played under with Canada's national team in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
NBA Free Pick: Phoenix – Best Line: -3.5 Sports Interaction
Miami Heat at Oklahoma City Thunder, 7:05PM ET
MIAMI is 50-69 ATS (-25.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 10-25 ATS (-17.5 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) in all games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) as an underdog this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MIAMI is 98-70 ATS (+21.0 Units) in road games when playing on back-to-back days since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 3-2 against the spread versus MIAMI over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 4-1 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NBA Free Pick: OVER – Best Line: 194 Sports Interaction