Tuesday NBA Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Sunday, February 3.
Chicago Bulls at Houston Rockets, 8:35PM ET
The Houston Rockets are struggling to play consistently well during another injury-plagued season. Strangely enough, they might take a few lessons from the Chicago Bulls, who appear to finally be getting things together.
The Bulls look to win four straight games for the first time in nearly two years – and beat the Rockets for the first time in more than three years – when the clubs square off in Houston on Tuesday night.
Chicago’s win streak comes after dropping 13 of its previous 18. The poor stretch prompted owner Jerry Reinsdorf to call his team "embarrassing" and "a disaster" on Friday, saying he’s been tempted to stand up and boo his own team.
Reinsdorf, though, has to be pleased with the way the Bulls have played on their season high-tying seven-game road trip.
After falling in the opener, Chicago (21-27) snapped a five-game skid by routing the Los Angeles Clippers 95-75 the day before Reinsdorf made his comments.
The Bulls then shot a season-high 55.6 percent from the field in a 109-88 win over Sacramento on Friday before shooting 50.0 percent and recording a season-high point total in a 122-111 victory over Phoenix on Saturday night.
NBA Free Pick: Houston – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets, 9:05PM ET
It looked like the San Antonio Spurs’ marathon road trip was about to get off to a rocky start against the worst defensive team in the NBA, but the team’s three stars made sure that wouldn’t be the case.
Escaping with a win in Denver could be considerably more difficult.
A night after needing overtime to pick up their fourth straight victory, the Spurs will try to win for the ninth time in 10 games on Tuesday when they visit the Nuggets, who are happy to have their superstar back on the floor.
San Antonio’s "rodeo" road trip has been a major success over the past six seasons, as coach Gregg Popovich’s team has gone 35-13 on the annual journey since 2002-03.
This year’s eight-game trek began at Golden State on Monday, and the Spurs (33-14) found themselves down 89-77 with less than nine minutes left to the defensively challenged Warriors.
But San Antonio closed regulation on an 18-6 run – including four Manu Ginobili free throws in the final minute to tie the score – and won 110-105 in overtime despite Tim Duncan fouling out.
Ginobili finished with 32 points, and is averaging 28.0 points in his last three games. He’s 35-of-36 from the free-throw line.
NBA Free Pick: San Antonio – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:05PM ET
Paul Pierce made up for Kevin Garnett’s absence to help the Boston Celtics keep their winning streak alive in their last game. Based on coach Doc Rivers’ assessment of Garnett’s condition, Pierce may not be done shouldering the team’s offensive load.
With Garnett expected to miss his second consecutive game with an illness, Pierce and the Celtics go for their 12th straight victory Tuesday night when they visit the Atlantic Division rival Philadelphia 76ers.
Garnett had missed only one previous game this season because of a suspension before an illness kept him home for Sunday’s game against Minnesota. Rivers said the All-Star forward will probably miss Tuesday’s game as well.
"He’s sick. He’s really bad. His fever’s really high," Rivers said of Garnett, who spent his first 12 NBA seasons with the Timberwolves. "He’s probably not playing Tuesday. For him to be out of any game, especially today, he’s got to be pretty sick."
Without the reigning defensive player of the year, the Celtics (40-9) beat the Wolves 109-101 for their 11th straight victory since a 2-7 slump from Dec. 25-Jan. 9. The win was largely due to Pierce, who was three points shy of his season high with 36 and added eight rebounds and six assists.
NBA Free Pick: Boston – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
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Posted: 2/3/09 12:35AM ET