New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers (-5, 185)
New York could have Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry back in its lineup on Friday.
Marbury missed Wednesday’s 100-93 victory over the Nets after the death of his father on Sunday. He’s averaging 14 points and five assists.
Curry missed the Knicks’ last contest with a sprained ankle. He’s averaging more than 16 points and more than five rebounds.
Pick: Knicks
Phoenix Suns at Washington Wizards (+7, 224 ½)
The Suns have been scorching outside Arizona.
Phoenix has won three straight on the road, including Wednesday’s 136-123 win over Toronto.
Steve Nash has tallied at least 15 assists in each of the Suns’ last three. Phoenix, not surprisingly, has averaged more than 124 points in that span – 14 points above its season average.
Pick: Suns
Indiana Pacers at Orlando Magic (-8, 211 ½)
Orlando is a remarkable 17-3 ATS. It is also 5-2 straight up (SU) in Florida.
The Magic have covered the spread in three straight games at Amway Arena, including a 104-102 win over the Celtics on Nov. 18. Orlando also covered the spread in its last meeting with Indiana last March.
The favorite is also 5-2 ATS in the last seven matches between the Pacers and Magic.
Pick: Magic
Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons (-8 ½, 183 ½)
The Bulls have been hot but the Pistons have been ablaze.
Detroit has won five straight by an average margin of 22 points. They also averaged more than 108 points in that span.
Pistons sixth man Jason Maxiell has also increased his production, averaging 12.2 points and nine rebounds in Detroit’s last five contests.
The Pistons are also 4-0 ATS in their last four against the Eastern Conference.
Pick: Pistons
Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics (-11, 185)
The Raptors could be without Chris Bosh on Friday but that doesn’t mean that the Raptors will be pushovers against the Celtics.
Toronto narrowly lost to Boston on Nov. 4. T.J. Ford, not Bosh, led the Dinos in scoring with 32 points against the Celtics.
The Raptors are also 4-1 ATS in their last five outside Canada.
Pick: Raptors
Houston Rockets at New Jersey Nets (+4 ½, 186 ½, )
Nets point guard Jason Kidd reportedly called in sick on Wednesday. There is speculation that Kidd is sitting out to force a trade, potentially to the Lakers.
Kidd could also miss Friday’s meeting with the Rockets. The veteran PG is leading the Nets in assists (10.4), rebounds (8.7) and steals (1.7).
New Jersey could also be without backup PG Marcus Williams, who is recovering from a broken foot.
Pick: Rockets
Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Hornets (-5 ½, , 201)
The Grizzlies haven’t been very fierce outside Tennessee.
Memphis has lost seven of its last eight road games. It has also failed to cover the spread in back-to-back contests outside FedEx Forum.
New Orleans also covered the spread in its last four meetings with Memphis in the Big Easy, going back to 2006.
Pick: Hornets
Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs (pick, 199)
The shorthanded Spurs trumped the Mavericks on Wednesday and improved to 11-0 at the SBC Center.
They did it, most impressively, without Tim Duncan.
However, Duncan could miss Friday’s showdown with the Jazz and it is unlikely the Spurs will win back-to-back contests without the Big Fundamental.
Duncan is leading the Spurs in rebounding (8.9) and blocks (1.7). He is also averaging more than 17 points.
Pick: Jazz
Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento Kings (-5, 193)
No team looks forward to facing the Kings in Arco Arena.
Sacramento is a remarkable 9-1 ATS and 7-3 straight up at home, which includes victories over the Rockets, Jazz and Spurs.
The Kings have also covered the spread in three straight meetings with the Clippers in Sacramento dating back to 2006.
Pick: Kings
Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors (-9 ½, 208 ½)
There is no way the aging Heat can hang with the athletic Warriors.
Golden State ranks second in the NBA in scoring with more than 109 points a night. It has also won eight of its last 10, including Wednesday’s 30-point thrashing of the Bucks.
Miami is also a shaky 2-7 SU outside South Beach.
Pick: Warriors
Milwaukee Bucks at Seattle SuperSonics (-1, 197 ½)
Milwaukee has struggled on the road, but not badly enough to risk losing to lowly Seattle.
The SuperSonics are 3-6 ATS at Key Arena and 2-6 ATS in their last eight overall.
Seattle outlasted the Clippers on Wednesday for just its fourth victory this season. The Sonics, though, are just 1-4 ATS in their last five following an ATS victory.
Pick: Bucks