Two NBA games where the recent rows say the market is leaning on reputation more than on what just happened. Both are built around rest, turnovers and who is actually on the floor.
Phoenix against the Clippers is a meeting of two teams in the bottom third. The Suns just lost by 26 at home, they are on the second night of a back-to-back, their centre Mark Williams is still out, and they have been giving up about 119 a game. Their point differential is worse than the Clippers'.
The Clippers are missing Beal, Ingram and Miller, but that is not new: their latest game, a 139-123 win, was played with those same absences, and they come in with two days of rest. Their skid was mostly away blowouts, and the Suns are not a team that should be winning by a big margin right now. That's why I'm siding with the Clippers to keep this close or win it.
Portland against Oklahoma City is a turnover story. In the last six box scores Oklahoma City averages around 12 giveaways against roughly 17.5 for Portland, and Portland is missing its ball handlers: Morant, Sharpe and Krejci are all out. The Blazers have lost their last two.
Oklahoma City has been without its bigs and wings for about two weeks and still won big, 128-97 at Memphis and 114-75 against Washington. Portland's route is free throws and threes, and that can keep it level, but the extra possessions should tilt toward the visitors. That's why I'm siding with Oklahoma City to win.
