Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Wednesday, February 4.
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, 7:35PM ET
Madison Square Garden probably hasn't hosted a better set of acts than it's getting this week, as the NBA's three best teams visit the New York Knicks in a five-day span.
The world's most famous arena certainly hasn't seen a performance like it did in the Knicks' latest game - one LeBron James is more than capable of repeating.
After giving up an MSG-record 61 points to Kobe Bryant two days earlier, New York will get a visit from another superstar on Wednesday as James and his Cleveland Cavaliers look for their eighth win in nine games.
The Knicks (21-26) ended January playing their best basketball of the season, closing the month by winning six times in seven games to pull within a half-game of Milwaukee for the Eastern Conference's eighth playoff seed.
To begin February, though, New York returned home for perhaps the most intimidating three-game stretch in the NBA this season - visits from Los Angeles, Cleveland and Boston, teams that as of Monday had combined for 114 wins.
The total increased by one that night at MSG. Bryant scored 61 and the Lakers had at least 30 points in every quarter of a 126-117 win over the defenseless Knicks.
Bryant is the league's reigning MVP and third-leading scorer this season, and now the Knicks will have to defend James - the NBA's second-leading scorer - and the Central Division-leading Cavaliers (38-9).
NBA Free Pick: NY Knicks – Best Line: +5.5 Sports Interaction
Portland Trail Blazers at Dallas Mavericks, 8:35PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers had to overcome a double-figure fourth-quarter deficit to keep their winning streak alive in their last game. If recent history is any indication, a road game against the Dallas Mavericks will pose another significant threat to their run.
The Trail Blazers look to match their season high with their sixth straight win - and their first in Dallas in more than six years - as they take on the Mavericks on Wednesday night.
Portland (30-17) trailed New Orleans by as much as 20 points Monday night and entered the fourth quarter 15 points behind.
Sparked by an injury to Hornets point guard Chris Paul and a surge from rookie point guard Jerryd Bayless, however, the Blazers outscored the Hornets 38-15 in the final period to escape with a 97-89 victory - their fifth straight.
Blazers guard Brandon Roy, held to a season-low six points and 2-for-10 shooting Monday, had 22 points against the Mavericks.
NBA Free Pick: Dallas – Best Line: -4.5 Sports Interaction
Miami Heat at Detroit Pistons, 7:35PM ET
The Miami Heat haven't had much success against the Detroit Pistons lately, but they appear to have a good chance of breaking that trend Wednesday.
In their first meeting of 2008-09, a healthy Dwyane Wade looks to lead Miami to it first victory at The Palace in more than four years when it faces Detroit, which is in the midst of its worst home losing streak in eight years.
Wade missed 31 games last season due to various injuries and the Heat (26-21) finished with the NBA's worst record. This season has been another story, as the five-time All-Star has played in every game and led Miami to the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference - one game back of fourth-place Atlanta and a half-game ahead of the Pistons (25-21).
On Monday, Wade helped the Heat bounce back from consecutive losses, finishing with 32 points and nine assists in a 119-95 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Miami shot a season-high 55.6 percent from the field, went 9-of-16 from beyond the 3-point arc and improved to 18-3 when scoring 99 points or more.
NBA Free Pick: Detroit – Best Line: -4 Sports Interaction