The NBA has eight games on the slate Sunday, starting with the 76ers at the Mavericks at 1 p.m. ET and finishing with the Thunder at the Suns at 9:30 PM ET. Five of those eight games feature two teams that would both be in the postseason if the season ended today, highlighted by the number one seeded Timberwolves hosting the Clippers and the number one seeded Celtics hosting the Warriors. There are plenty of interesting matchups on the docket with opportunities to find players and teams that could outproduce expectation. Let's take a closer look at some of those potential angles.
Snellings' favorite plays for Sunday
Minnesota Timberwolves (+1.5) vs. LA Clippers (-120). The Timberwolves have the better record than the Clippers on the season, and also have been the hotter team of late. The Timberwolves have won seven of their last 10 games, while the Clippers are 5 - 5 in that same span. The Timberwolves have a clear size advantage over the Clippers, and have taken advantage of that to win both matchups this season including a 21-point win last month. According to the ESPN Analytics Game Predictor, the Timberwolves should be expected to win outright by an estimated 3.8 points.
RJ Barrett over 21.5 points (-125). Barrett has missed five games since January 28 due to injury, but when he plays full minutes he's pretty automatic over 20 points. In the last 10 games when Barrett has played at least 30 minutes, he has scored more than 21.5 points eight times with an average of 22.8 PPG. He has scored at least 23 points in three straight, may be asked to carry a heavier scoring load with Scottie Barnes (hand) out, and faces a Hornets team that allows the ninth-most points to opposing small forwards.
Cleveland Cavaliers (-5.5) vs. New York Knicks (Even). The Cavaliers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA in the New Year, winning 21 of their last 26 games. The Knicks, meanwhile, have struggled with all their injuries and have lost eight of their last 11 games. The potential equalizer to keep an eye on is the availability of Donovan Mitchell (Q, elbow) and Caris Levert (Q, elbow), both of whom sat out Friday's 10-point win over the Pistons. Even so, according to the ESPN Analytics Game Predictor, the Cavaliers should be favored by 6.8 points on Sunday.
Victor Wembanyama over 3.5 blocks (-105). Wembanyama has been blocking shots at an incredible pace since just before the All-Star Break. In his last seven games, Wembanyama is averaging 5.3 BPG with at least four blocks in six of the seven games. He has at least four blocks in all five games since the Break. On the season, opposing centers have the eighth-most blocks in the league against the Pacers.
Oklahoma City Thunder -4.5 at Phoenix Suns (-110). The Thunder have won six of their last seven games and are a half-game out of the top seed in the Western Conference, while the Suns enter the game only 4-4 in their last eight. The Suns could be without Devin Booker (ankle), who left Saturday's game early after stepping on Royce O'Neal's ankle. The Thunder won their only matchup with the Suns this season by 12 points.
Projections and injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com.
Philadelphia 76ers at Dallas Mavericks
1 p.m. American Airlines Center, Dallas
Records (Against the Spread)
76ers: 34-25 (32-27-0)
Mavericks: 34-26 (33-27-0)
Line: Mavericks (-7.5) Total: 237.5
Money Line: 76ers (+260), Mavericks (-320)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 6.7, straight up 73%, 231.0 total points.
Injury Report:
76ers: Kelly Oubre Jr., (GTD - Shoulder); KJ Martin, (GTD - Ankle); De'Anthony Melton, (OUT - Back); Robert Covington, (OUT - Knee); Joel Embiid, (OUT - Knee)
Mavericks: None reported
Golden State Warriors at Boston Celtics
3:30 p.m. TD Garden, Boston
Records (Against the Spread)
Warriors: 32-27 (32-25-2)
Celtics: 47-12 (30-26-3)
Line: Celtics (-10.5) Total: 230.5
Money Line: Warriors (+400), Celtics (-525)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 10.6, straight up 83%, 233.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Brandin Podziemski, (GTD - Knee); Gui Santos, (GTD - Knee); Stephen Curry, (GTD - Knee); Andrew Wiggins, (OUT - Personal)
Celtics: Kristaps Porzingis, (GTD - Quadriceps); Neemias Queta, (OUT - Knee)
LA Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves
3:30 p.m. Target Center, Minneapolis
Records (Against the Spread)
Clippers: 38-20 (30-28-0)
Timberwolves: 42-18 (30-27-3)
Line: Timberwolves (-2.5) Total: 220.5
Money Line: Clippers (+110), Timberwolves (-130)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 3.9, straight up 64%, 231.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Clippers: Ivica Zubac, (GTD - Illness); Russell Westbrook, (OUT - Hand)
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, (GTD - Ankle); Jaylen Clark, (GTD - Achilles); Kyle Anderson, (GTD - Knee)
Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic
6 p.m. Amway Center, Orlando
Records (Against the Spread)
Pistons: 9-50 (29-29-1)
Magic: 34-26 (38-22-0)
Line: Magic (-10.5) Total: 217.5
Money Line: Pistons (+450), Magic (-600)
BPI Projection: Magic by 8.9, straight up 79%, 227.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Marcus Sasser, (GTD - Knee)
Magic: None reported
Charlotte Hornets at Toronto Raptors
6 p.m. Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Records (Against the Spread)
Hornets: 15-45 (24-36-0)
Raptors: 22-38 (29-31-0)
Line: Raptors (-7.5) Total: 223.5
Money Line: Hornets (+250), Raptors (-300)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 9.5, straight up 80%, 230.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Hornets: Brandon Miller, (NA - Back); Cody Martin, (OUT - Ankle); Seth Curry, (OUT - Ankle); LaMelo Ball, (OUT - Ankle); Mark Williams, (OUT - Back)
Raptors: Scottie Barnes, (OUT - Hand)
New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers
7 p.m. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland
Records (Against the Spread)
Knicks: 35-25 (31-28-1)
Cavaliers: 39-20 (29-29-1)
Line: Cavaliers (-6.5) Total: 211.5
Money Line: Knicks (+210), Cavaliers (-250)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 6.8, straight up 74%, 222.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Duane Washington Jr., (OUT - Thumb); Julius Randle, (OUT - Shoulder); OG Anunoby, (OUT - Elbow); Mitchell Robinson, (OUT - Ankle)
Cavaliers: Caris LeVert, (GTD - Elbow); Donovan Mitchell, (GTD - Knee); Tristan Thompson, (OUT - Suspension); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Ankle)
Indiana Pacers at San Antonio Spurs
7 p.m. Frost Bank Center, San Antonio
Records (Against the Spread)
Pacers: 34-27 (32-27-2)
Spurs: 12-48 (28-31-1)
Line: Pacers (-6.5) Total: 242.5
Money Line: Pacers (-250), Spurs (+210)
BPI Projection: Pacers by 5, straight up 67%, 244.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Pacers: Ben Sheppard, (GTD - Illness); Doug McDermott, (OUT - Calf)
Spurs: Julian Champagnie, (OUT - Ankle); Charles Bassey, (OUT - Knee)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix Suns
9:30 p.m. Footprint Center, Phoenix
Records (Against the Spread)
Thunder: 41-18 (37-21-1)
Suns: 35-25 (25-34-1)
Line: Thunder (-6.5) Total: 233.5
Money Line: Thunder (-250), Suns (+210)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 4.1, straight up 64%, 239.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Jaylin Williams, (OUT - Knee)
Suns: Devin Booker, (GTD - Ankle); Eric Gordon, (GTD - Groin); Jusuf Nurkic, (GTD - Neck); Nassir Little, (GTD - Knee); Damion Lee, (OUT - Knee)