Tuesday NBA Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Tuesday, March 10.
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns, 10:05PM ET
A tough week has hurt the Phoenix Suns’ chances of catching the Dallas Mavericks for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Perhaps Josh Howard’s absence will give them a boost.
In danger of losing five straight for the first time in over four years, the Suns look to take advantage of a Mavericks team that will likely be without Howard on Tuesday night.
Coming off an 0-4 road trip, Phoenix (34-29) trails eighth-place Dallas (38-25) by four games in its quest for a fifth straight playoff appearance. A loss Tuesday would give the Suns five straight for the first time since a six-game skid in January 2005.
"We’re in desperate position," Phoenix point guard Steve Nash said. "Let’s do our best, not panic."
Dallas, meanwhile, is trying to improve its playoff position as it opens a four-game road trip. The Mavs still have hopes of moving into one of the top four spots in the West, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round of the postseason.
NBA Free Pick: Dallas – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Oklahoma City Thunder at Sacramento Kings, 10:05PM ET
Good teams are supposed to beat clubs such as Oklahoma City and Sacramento. The Thunder are starting to take advantage of lesser teams as well.
On a hot streak despite being without their two leading scorers, the Thunder look to beat a last-place club for the third time in 11 days when they visit the Kings on Tuesday night.
Oklahoma City (17-46) owns one of the NBA’s worst records but has won four of five despite missing Kevin Durant (ankle). The Thunder also haven’t had Jeff Green (back) for three of the last four games.
Durant and Green combine to average 43.2 points and 13.6 rebounds. Their status for Tuesday is uncertain.
NBA Free Pick: Oklahoma City – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:35PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers have the Eastern Conference’s best record in large part due to their dominant play against the West. There’s no reason to believe that trend won’t continue this week.
Three struggling Western opponents await the Cavaliers on a road trip that begins Tuesday night at Staples Center, where they’ll find a Los Angeles Clippers team looking to avoid its fourth losing streak of at least six games.
Cleveland (49-13) has a stellar 30-9 record against the East, but it wouldn’t be on top of its own conference without the league’s best interconference record. The Cavaliers are 19-4 against the West, including nine road wins, the same amount they had away from home versus the West last season.
They figure to be in excellent position to surpass that total this week on a three-game trip that includes games against Phoenix, which has lost four in a row and is currently out of playoff position, and conference-worst Sacramento, which is 0-24 against the East.
The Cavaliers have beaten the Clippers (15-48) five straight times, and they’re headed West on a positive note.
NBA Free Pick: LA Clippers – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
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Posted: 3/10/09 1:59PM ET