Friday NBA Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Friday, March 20.
Charlotte Bobcats at Toronto Raptors, 7:05PM ET
After falling into a slump last week, Charlotte needed somebody to step up against the Toronto Raptors and Gerald Wallace came through with a big performance.
The Bobcats probably could not have afforded to lose that type of leadership down the stretch of a playoff push.
With Wallace expected to play after a scary-looking knee injury, the Bobcats look to beat the Raptors for the second time in four days as the teams conclude their season series Friday night.
Charlotte (30-38) is making a late run for a playoff spot, trailing eighth-place Chicago by 1 1/2 games as part of a crowded mix of teams battling for the final postseason berth in the Eastern Conference.
The Bobcats had won six straight before losing their next three, a skid that threatened to derail their chances to make the postseason for the first time in their history. But Wallace had 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals as Charlotte ended its losing streak with a 112-86 win over Toronto (24-44) on Monday night.
NBA Free Pick: Dallas – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Hornets, 8:05PM ET
After surviving a tense finish against one of the Western Conference’s worst teams, the New Orleans Hornets are hoping to make things easier on themselves when they face another.
The Hornets look to notch an eighth straight home win over the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
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New Orleans (42-25) opened this five-game homestand Monday with a costly 95-84 loss to Houston. The Hornets had their five-game home winning streak snapped and missed a chance to pass the Rockets in the conference standings.
They appeared headed for a third straight loss overall Wednesday against Minnesota, trailing by four with 2:39 left. However, Chris Paul set up David West for a dunk with 12.6 seconds left and New Orleans survived to win 94-93 when the Timberwolves’ Randy Foye missed a jumper at the buzzer.
NBA Free Pick: Memphis – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets, 8:35PM ET
For a Houston Rockets club trying to close the gap in an already tight Southwest Division race, a home game against the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night might be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Houston (45-25) is second in the Southwest, 1 1/2 games behind San Antonio. The Rockets are also one-half game ahead of Northwest Division-leading Denver for the third-best in the Western Conference. The Spurs host Atlantic Division-leading Boston on Friday, while the Nuggets are at home against struggling Washington.
The Rockets have won their last seven meetings with the Timberwolves (20-48), and have taken five in a row at home from Minnesota by an average margin of 18.8 points.
NBA Free Pick: Houston – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
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Posted: 3/20/09 9:30AM ET