NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the surprise teams this season in the NBA. They currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference at 36-18.

It took some time for the Donovan Mitchell-led roster to gain momentum, but it seems as if the Cavs are finally back to being a team with true championship potential. Mitchell has been the biggest part of that; he averages the fourth-most points per game in the Association with 28.4.

However, the Cavs entire roster has been extremely productive in terms of scoring this season. Darius Garland contributes 18.2 PPG, while Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen tack on another 15.8 and 15.6, respectively.

The Cleveland offense as a whole ranks just 15^th overall. However, their defense currently ranks No. 2. They say defense wins championships, but it also helps win games against teams like the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 76ers certainly aren’t the same team without Joel Embiid. The former frontrunner for MVP suffered a lateral meniscus injury that has sidelined him for weeks and his return timeline is unknown. Since losing Embiid, the 76ers are 3-6 and they are 3-10 in the last month.

However, with time to figure things out since the All-Star break, Philly could be a different team. They host the Cavaliers with hopes of staying in contention for a possible playoff run that may or may not include Embiid.

The roster is still loaded with talent. Tyrese Maxey has been a breakout star the last few years and currently averages 25.7 PPG. Recently acquired Buddy Hield scores 22.3 PPG and veteran Tobias Harris gives them another 17.7. They certainly have the pieces to be contenders without Embiid, and Friday’s matchup will be an immediate test to see if the post All-Star break 76ers can do just that.

The Cavaliers certainly pose a big threat as they come into town. Philadelphia is a 4.0-point underdog at home to a team they beat during the month-long skid. Hield and the Sixers defeated the Cavs 123-121 on the road and they have a chance to repeat history at home. The series between the two teams is currently 1-1 on the year.

Jason Schlefsky’s pick: Cleveland moneyline (-154)

Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers are top-five teams in the East with a lot on the line in every game. Fighting for playoff seeding, games between the two teams can be incredibly meaningful towards the end of the year. The Embiid-less 76ers may have gotten the best of the Cavaliers last time, and expect them to come out looking good again, but the Cavaliers are in a position they haven’t been in in a long time. Expect them to come out firing on all cylinders and beat Philly in a close one.

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NBA: Washington Wizards at Oklahoma City Thunder

The NBA is back in action after the All-Star break and they aren’t starting off slowly Multiple teams around the league begin the final stretch of the season with a back-to-backs.

The Washington Wizards and Oklahoma City Thunder both fall into that category and will play the second of the two games on Friday night. But they are in completely different positions.

The Thunder will be at home for the second-straight night, while the Wizards will have to travel overnight. The Wizards got blown out by the Denver Nuggets 130-110, while the Thunder had a huge win of 129-107 against the Los Angeles Clippers in which All-Star starter Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had yet another 30-point night.

Gilgeous Alexander has been so outstanding this season that he is one of the top candidates for MVP. In fact, he is second only to Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets. Gilgeous-Alexander averages 31.1 PPG, ranking second in the league overall.

The Thunder are currently 38-17 which puts them No. 2 in the Western Conference. They currently trail the Minnesota Timberwolves by only a game. The Timberwolves have a tough matchup against the Bucks on Friday, which could potentially leave the door wide open for the Thunder to tie it up in terms of records.

A win for the Thunder should almost be guaranteed on Friday night. The Wizards are 9-46 and have the second-worst record in the league. They are on a losing streak of nine games and are currently 14.5-point underdogs to the Thunder on the road.

Betting the Thunder moneyline is pretty much pointless. As it stands, that wager is currently -1350. They are the largest favorites of the day by a longshot and for good reason.

Washington ranks 29^th when it comes to points allowed per game and Oklahoma City ranks fourth in offensive scoring. Oklahoma City also has the second-best average scoring margin at +7.5 per game. Washington has the second worst at -9.3.

Combine those two factors, and it’s easy to see why the oddsmakers set the line in the way they did. However, it might even be a little cautious. The Wizards are on the road, for the second night in a row, against yet another title contender in the west. Their season is toast and they have an interim head coach. Absolutely nothing is going right for the Wizards, and this one could end up being an even larger margin than 14.5.

Pick: Oklahoma City -14.5 (-110)

Every game matters for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The top-four teams in the West are all within 2.5 games of each other and home-court advantage in basketball can be crucial in the late rounds of the playoffs, something the Thunder are eagerly anticipating this season. While a win is almost guaranteed, a win by 15 or more seems very likely, as well. Expect the Thunder to run the Wizards out of the arena on Friday night by a score of 20 or more.

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And Keep an Eye On…

NHL: New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers (Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET)

This is a doozy, with ABC/ESPN getting a premier matchup between two Original Six teams on a Saturday afternoon. The Rangers are rolling, riding a nine-game winning streak into this one. That’s catapulted them to 79 points, atop the Metropolitan Division and just one point back of Boston for the top spot in the East. Philly is also playing well, as they’re the No. 6 seed at the moment. Oddly, they’re mediocre at home (14-12-1), however, giving the Rangers a great chance to keep their streak alive.

NCAAB: (2) Houston at (11) Baylor (Saturday, 10:00 a.m. ET)

This is a great Big 12 battle, kicking off the college basketball slate in style on CBS. Houston has won four in a row, keeping them near the top of the rankings. Baylor has struggled a bit of late, going just 2-2 in their last four games, including a 78-71 loss to BYU their last time out. The game is in Waco, so the high-flying Bears have a great shot to pull the upset.

NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs at Colorado Avalanche (Saturday, 5:00 p.m. ET)

This has all the makings of a Stanley Cup Final preview. Colorado is currently the No. 3 seed in the West with 75 points, while Toronto is fifth in the East with 72. The Leafs and the Avs will be tough outs in the postseason. Why? Because they have superstars on their roster. Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with 93 points, while Auston Matthews paces Toronto with 76. Both can light the lamp at any time, making this must-see TV.