Fadeaway World brings another round of predictions for a slate of seven games being played around the NBA tonight. Last night’s slate brought many surprises and unlikely performances, as we went 4-4 on our predictions, bringing our season record to 143-76. Tonight’s slate is full of exciting matchups with razor-thin margins.
The marquee matchup of the night will be an Eastern Conference Finals rematch between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. Another 2023 playoffs rematch also features prominently with the Golden State Warriors facing the Sacramento Kings. The Denver Nuggets take on a tough New York Knicks squad while the Los Angeles Lakers face the Chicago Bulls at home. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid will also be in action against the Indiana Pacers.
With a fun lineup of games for tonight, let’s see which teams can emerge victorious tonight.
Utah Jazz At Washington Wizards – 7 PM EST
Jazz Last 10 Games: 6-4
Wizards Last 10 Games: 1-9
Jazz Injuries: N/A
Wizards Injuries: Isaiah Livers – Day To Day (Hip)
Last 5 Meetings: Wizards Lead 3-2
The Utah Jazz (22-23) have lost some of the momentum that helped them jump into the West play-in race over January but are still one of the most dangerous sides in the NBA right now. They’re at full health and are getting solid production all across their roster, with Lauri Markkanen leading them admirably. They’re coming into this one having lost their last three games.
The Washington Wizards (7-36) are relatively healthy and have seemingly revived Marvin Bagley into looking like an NBA-caliber center. However, the holes in the roster have been visible the entire year as the team enters this game on a five-game losing streak. The Jazz need this win badly and won’t let it slip against an out-of-sorts Wizards roster.
Prediction: Jazz def. Wizards 123-108
Philadelphia 76ers At Indiana Pacers – 7 PM EST
76ers Last 10 Games: 7-3
Pacers Last 10 Games: 4-6
76ers Injuries: Marcus Morris Sr. – Day To Day (Foot), Tobias Harris – Day To Day (Illness), Jaden Springer – Out (Ankle), Mo Bamba – Out (Knee), Robert Covington – Out (Knee), Kenneth Lofton Jr. – Out (Shouler), De’Anthony Melton – Out (Back)
Pacers Injuries: Jalen Smith – Day To Day (Back), Tyrese Haliburton – Out (Hamstring)
Last 5 Meetings: 76ers Lead 4-1
The Philadelphia 76ers (29-13) look like one of the major threats in the East due to Joel Embiid’s incredible form. He’s scored more points than played minutes this season, a feat last achieved by Wilt Chamberlain in his historic 50-point average season. They have the longest active win streak in the East with six and will look to add a seventh.
The Indiana Pacers (24-20) are yet to win a game in the Pascal Siakam era, as the former champion looks to be adjusting to the Pacers’ unique style of play. The Pacers haven’t looked good without Tyrese Haliburton in recent games and it seems unlikely that they can topple the in-form 76ers without their star player.
Prediction: 76ers def. Pacers 120-112
Denver Nuggets At New York Knicks – 7:30 PM EST
Nuggets Last 10 Games: 7-3
Knicks Last 10 Games: 8-2
Nuggets Injuries: Reggie Jackson – Day To Day (Toe), Julian Strawther – Out (Knee), Vlatko Cancar – Out (Knee)
Knicks Injuries: Isaiah Hartenstein – Day To Day (Achilles), Mitchell Robinson – Out (Ankle)
Last 5 Meetings: Nuggets Lead 3-2
The Denver Nuggets (31-14) have been performing with metronomic consistency this season, sitting half a game behind the No. 1 seed in the West. Nikola Jokic isn’t putting up numbers like an MVP but it’s clear to see he’s performing at that level as he’s led the Nuggets to a three-game win streak recently. But they’re walking into Madison Square Garden to face one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
The New York Knicks (27-17) have only lost two games since acquiring OG Anunoby and look like legitimate threats in the East. This is one of their biggest tests with their new roster, as the team has the ingredients to slow the Nuggets down. With home-court advantage and a four-game winning streak behind them, the Knicks will try their best to outperform Denver. However, the Nuggets may punish their lack of center-play with Hartenstein possibly missing this game.
Prediction: Nuggets def. Knicks 112-110
Boston Celtics At Miami Heat – 7:30 PM EST
Celtics Last 10 Games: 7-3
Heat Last 10 Games: 4-6
Celtics Injuries: N/A
Wizards Injuries: Kevin Love – Day To Day (Illness), Jaime Jaquez Jr. – Out (Groin), Dru Smith – Out (Knee)
Last 5 Meetings: Celtics Lead 4-1
The Boston Celtics (34-10) are separating themselves from the rest of the league as the clear best team in the NBA right now. The No. 1 seed has looked unbeatable, even when star players like Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown underperform. But they tend to slip up against certain opponents and they’ll look to send a message in a rivalry matchup tonight.
The Miami Heat (24-20) last beat the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but they’ve lost the four games around that one win. After a rough loss in Terry Rozier’s first game as a Heat, the franchise will hope they can pull out magic led by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in this high-stakes matchup. But their inconsistent form and lineup questions after acquiring Rozier could mean this game is a little too soon for the new-look roster.
Prediction: Celtics def. Heat 118-111
Minnesota Timberwolves At Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 PM EST
Timberwolves Last 10 Games: 6-4
Nets Last 10 Games: 2-8
Timberwolves Injuries: Mike Conley – Day To Day (Illness), Jaylen Clark – Out (Achilles)
Nets Injuries: Cameron Johnson – Day To Day (Shoulder), Ben Simmons – Out (Back), Day’Ron Sharpe – Out (Knee), Dariq Whitehead – Out (Shin)
Last 5 Meetings: Nets Lead 3-2
The Minnesota Timberwolves (31-13) were usurped by the OKC Thunder for the No. 1 seed in the West, with a chance to earn it back tonight with a win. The shock loss against the Charlotte Hornets has sent waves around the franchise, and they ensured they didn’t suffer a similarly embarrassing loss in their last game where they had to come back and beat the Washington Wizards.
The Brooklyn Nets (17-26) have been in a rotten run of form. Outside of a victory over the Lakers last week, the Nets have been one of the worst teams in the NBA in 2024. Even with a mostly healthy roster, the incongruent pieces that form the rotation are limiting the franchise’s potential with Mikal Bridges. The Wolves have a tough defensive style of play that may be impossible for the Nets to overcome.
Prediction: Wolves def. Nets 121-107
Sacramento Kings At Golden State Warriors – 10 PM EST
Kings Last 10 Games: 5-5
Warriors Last 10 Games: 4-6
Kings Injuries: Sasha Vezenkov – Out (Ankle)
Warriors Injuries: Gary Payton II – Out (Hamstring), Moses Moody – Out (Calf), Chris Paul – Out (Hand)
Last 5 Meetings: Warriors Lead 3-2
The featured Western Conference matchup of the evening will see the Sacramento Kings (24-18) put their recent struggles behind them. The franchise has lost some key games with massive blown leads over the last week but bounced back with a strong win over the Atlanta Hawks. They need to keep that energy in their next game as the race for the top six in the West intensifies.
The Golden State Warriors (19-22) returned from a week-long absence after the passing of assistant coach Dejan Milojevic with an emphatic win over the Atlanta Hawks last night. They’ll look to keep the magic going against their rivals Sacramento as they look to re-enter the Western Conference playoff picture. They’re the 12th seed right now and need to reach .500 as soon as possible to keep hopes alive. However, the Kings will ensure they don’t lose another game to the Warriors.
Prediction: Kings def. Warriors 127-118
Chicago Bulls At Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30 PM EST
Bulls Last 10 Games: 6-4
Lakers Last 10 Games: 5-5
Bulls Injuries: Patrick Williams – Day To Day (Ankle), Zach LaVine – Out (Ankle), Torrey Craig – Out (Heel), Lonzo Ball – Out (Knee)
Lakers Injuries: LeBron James – Day To Day (Ankle), Anthony Davis – Day To Day (Achilles), Cam Reddish – Out (Ankle), Gabe Vincent – Out (Knee)
Last 5 Meetings: Pistons Lead 3-2
The Chicago Bulls are looking to solidify a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs but have fallen 3.5 games behind the sixth seed. Their recent form brought them from out of the play-in to being a week-long stretch away from being a threat in the West. Despite a close loss against the Suns last time around, the Bulls will hope that they can add a win with their solid cast of veterans and a resurgent Coby White.
The Los Angeles Lakers (22-23) are suffering from bouts of inconsistency this season, but are coming off a hard-fought loss to the Clippers without LeBron James. Unless James is returning against the Bulls, the Lakers will be in for a dogfight, with Anthony Davis also playing through minor injuries. D’Angelo Russell’s electric form continuing might be the catalyst for a Lakers win tonight.
