Bulls woes to continue in Brooklyn
Chicago Bulls suffered a demoralising home loss to Cleveland Cavaliers over the weekend and look to be heading for defeat at an in-form Brooklyn Nets in their next assignment.
Brooklyn can strengthen hold on playoff spot (Jan 30th, 00.30am)
The Nets will probably consider this campaign a success if they are involved in the post-season and they are on target to do so, with an overall winning record.
At home, Brooklyn have a solid 15-11 record and they should have too much quality for the Bulls, despite some injury concerns.
The hosts could be without up to eight players for their clash with Chicago, but they have been in exceptional form at the Barclays Center regardless, with eight straight wins going into this clash.
The Bulls did win at Cleveland in their last road game, ending a losing streak of six, but after failing to back that up at home to the Cavs they look set for another defeat on their travels in Brooklyn.
Washington to raid Cleveland (Jan 30th, 00.00am)
With John Wall out for the campaign and Dwight Howard also on the treatment table, this season should really be a write-off for Washington but the Wizards continue to defy expectations and are involved in the hunt for a play-off berth.
They may well fall short, but the capital team can at least continue their unlikely push for a post-season place by seeing off rock bottom Cleveland in Ohio this week.
The Cavs have just five wins in 24 attempts at the Quicken Loans Arena this season and their last success at home came in mid December. Cleveland did beat Washington last time they were in Ohio, but the Wizards should be able to take their revenge when the two teams meet this week.
Boston look to get revival back on track (Jan 31st, 00.30am)
Many expected Boston to reach the NBA Finals with relative ease this season, as on paper they should be comfortably the strongest team in the Eastern Conference but a poor start has left them playing catch up.
The Celtics have picked up of late however, and gave Golden State a real test in a narrow defeat to the champions over the weekend as a six-game winning streak was brought to an end by the Warriors.
Boston, who are 11.00 to win the Championship, entertain Charlotte Hornets this week and can claim a victory as they look to push into the top four in the East.
The Celtics began a 10-game winning run at TD Garden with a 16-point win over Charlotte just before Christmas and will be hoping for another big win, they could be worth some consideration in the point spread in this game.
Boston still look contenders to go all the way in a fiercely competitive battle for a Finals spot and they are 3.25 to win the Eastern Conference outright. Toronto Raptors are the 2.80 favourites and Milwaukee Bucks look a strong option at 4.50.
Home comforts key for Blazers (Jan 31st, 02.30am)
Portland’s achievements in the Western Conference have been overshadowed by Denver Nuggets and the Blazers can continue their impressive campaign with a success over visitors Utah Jazz this week.
Portland have the second best home record in the West and can improve on that this week, when they take on the Jazz at the Moda Center.
Utah have picked up some big results on their travels this term and they thrashed the Blazers by 30 points when these teams last met in Oregon at the end of last month.
However, Portland have since beaten Utah in Salt Lake City and will be confident of claiming another success over the Jazz, as they seek an eighth straight home victory.
The Blazers have downed the likes of Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers at home over the course of the last month and look set for a strong second half of the season, as they look to secure a top-four finish going into the playoffs.
