Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA and College Basketball picks and predictions for Tuesday, January 13.
Kentucky Wildcats at Tennessee Vols, 9:00PM ET
Bruce Pearl felt Tyler Smith’s latest performance was an inspiration to the rest of the Tennessee team.
The coach of the No. 24 Volunteers hopes the star forward can inspire his teammates to avoid rare consecutive home losses when they face SEC rival Kentucky on Tuesday night.
Despite spending two days on crutches after suffering a bruised left knee, the 6-foot-7 Smith convinced Pearl he could play and finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds in Tennessee’s 86-77 league-opening victory at Georgia on Saturday. Smith overcame the injury he suffered in an 89-79 overtime loss to Gonzaga on Wednesday that snapped a school-record 37-game winning streak for the Vols (10-4, 1-0) at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Pearl understood the importance of Smith’s effort in rallying his team from a 10-point deficit to a earn a key victory.
NCAAB Free Pick: Kentucky – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +6 Sports Interaction
Cleveland Cavs at Memphis Grizzlies, 8:05 PM ET
As dominant as the Cleveland Cavaliers have been at home, they would like to show they can be just as dangerous on the road.
Looking to avoid a third straight loss away from home, the Cavaliers begin a road heavy stretch in their schedule when they meet the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Cleveland (29-6) has the best record in the Eastern Conference and now looks to become the NBA’s fourth team to reach 30 wins, joining Boston, Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Cavaliers begin this stretch of six road games in their next seven contests after a 98-83 win over the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics on Friday, improving to 19-0 at home.
The Grizzlies’ last win over the Cavs was a 113-106 home victory on Nov. 5, 2005.
NBA Free Pick: OVER 185 – View Game Matchup | Best Line: 185 Sports Interaction
Charlotte Bobcats at Detroit Pistons, 7:35 PM ET
The Detroit Pistons are nearing full strength after losing two starters to injuries late last month.
With forward Rasheed Wallace back in the lineup, the Pistons make a quick stop at home Tuesday to take on the Charlotte Bobcats before heading back out on the road.
Detroit (22-13) went 2-2 on its just-completed road trip, closing out the stretch with a 99-82 loss to Utah on Saturday. The Pistons shot 35.9 percent from the field for the game and scored 35 points in the second half.
Detroit is 12-4 all-time against the Bobcats and 6-1 at home. Charlotte’s last win over the Pistons was a 103-96 victory at The Palace on Jan. 10, 2007.
NBA Free Pick: PISTONS – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -7 Sports Interaction
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Posted: 1/13/09 2:00PM ET