1
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Knicks
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The Knicks have misplaced simply thrice this month and have received 11 of their final 13. One of many two losses in that stretch was in opposition to a extremely good Minnesota workforce and with out Jalen Brunson or OG Anunoby. Brunson is placing up superhero numbers. Karl-Anthony Cities has reversed his early season capturing stoop. Mikal Bridges is having an excellent season. You possibly can’t lay off Josh Hart anymore. The bench is producing. God himself could not maintain Mitchell Robinson off the offensive glass. Is the protection ok to win a title? That is a great distance off from being decided. However proper now, the Knicks have earned the highest PR spot going into an enormous head-to-head with the Spurs Wednesday evening.
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3
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23-9
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2
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Spurs
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San Antonio had a full straightaway lead on the No. 1 PR spot with their three wins over the Thunder over a two-week stretch. However they blew a tire with two straight losses to Utah and Cleveland. The Spurs get an opportunity at redemption in opposition to New York, which beat them within the NBA Cup closing, on Wednesday.
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3
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23-9
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3
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Thunder
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stated it: “You do not lose to a thrice in a row in a brief span with out them being higher than you.” That is the Spurs, who’ve been unable to carry the momentum of these Thunder wins with two straight losses of their very own, however nonetheless, OKC cannot be above San Antonio proper now. The schedule is getting exhausting now and so they gave up 129 factors to the Hawks taking part in with out Trae Younger and Jalen Johnson on Monday.
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2
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28-5
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4
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Rockets
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Houston has received three straight starting with a radical beating of the Lakers on Christmas by which they grabbed offensive rebounds like they had been taking part in in opposition to their little brother and his little punk mates. Tari Eason being again provides yet one more nice defender and high quality 3-point shooter to the combination.
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1
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20-10
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5
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Nuggets
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Simply when the Nuggets are all able to take over the No. 1 spot after a monster 56-16-15 efficiency from Nikola Jokić in an unimaginable time beyond regulation win over Minnesota, they lose two straight on the Florida journey. Jamal Murray missed a possible game-winner in opposition to the Magic after which the Warmth spanked them by 24. Now Jokić is out no less than 4 weeks (and possibly greater than that) with a knee hyperextension. Let’s have a look at how this goes.
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3
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22-10
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6
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Pistons
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Detroit ended a brief two-game slide — which included a wire-to-wire loss to the Clippers — with a win over the Lakers on Tuesday. That makes 10 wins within the final 14 for the East’s No. 1 workforce and what’s nonetheless the league’s second-best protection.
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—
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25-8
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7
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Celtics
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Jaylen Brown is preventing for the MVP crown amongst gamers who’ve nearly no probability of profitable the precise MVP. Brown’s streak of 10 straight video games with no less than 30 factors ended on Tuesday however so what. The Celtics beat the Jazz for his or her tenth win of their final 13 video games as they proceed to take a seat as a top-three workforce within the East.
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2
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20-12
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8
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Timberwolves
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The Wolves have solely misplaced 4 video games since Thanksgiving, and a type of was on Christmas in opposition to the Nuggets by which Anthony Edwards had 44 and so they led by 9 in time beyond regulation earlier than in the end falling to the aforementioned positively preposterous 56-15-14 displaying from Jokić. It is a actually good workforce on each ends that has been to 2 straight convention finals, in case you’ve got forgotten, and Rudy Gobert is as soon as once more taking part in elite protection.
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1
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21-12
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9
|
Suns
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Phoenix simply will not go away. They hit a troublesome stretch of schedule and misplaced to some good groups, however they’re caring for enterprise in opposition to the groups they should beat with 5 wins of their final six, together with a pair over the Warriors and Lakers. This workforce performs so exhausting and can steal just about any ball inside arm’s attain. Type of a nightmare to play in opposition to.
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2
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19-13
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10
|
Cavaliers
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The Christmas loss to the Knicks by which the Cavs let a 17-point lead slip away was a intestine punch. However the 3-pointers have been raining down of late and the win over the Spurs on Monday, all issues thought of, was their most necessary victory of the season. They’ve Evan Mobley again and the large 4 is definitely on the court docket collectively. Cleveland is just 3-4 this season when that has occurred, however traditionally that foursome has killed opponents. Let’s have a look at if the Cavs can string collectively a great stretch in opposition to what’s a particularly robust upcoming schedule.
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5
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18-16
|
11
|
Warriors
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The Warriors have received 4 of 5. They seemed good within the win over Orlando however that is not an excellent workforce proper now with out Franz Wagner or Jalen Suggs. They folded of their one loss throughout that stretch, coughing up a seven-point lead inside the ultimate two minutes by the use of one other turnover barrage earlier than shedding in time beyond regulation to the Raptors.
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6
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17-16
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12
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Lakers
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A win over the Kings was a momentary reprieve from what has been a tough stretch for the Lakers, who’ve now misplaced 4 of their final 5 after the Pistons turned an in depth video games right into a fourth-quarter blowout on Tuesday. L.A.’s protection simply does not have it, and with Austin Reaves being out and LeBron James being a web unfavorable participant to this point, it is beginning to appear like the Lakers are going to finish up within the play-in vary barring a significant commerce.
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4
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20-11
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13
|
Clippers
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Right here come the Clippers, who’ve received 5 straight (with two of the wins coming over the Rockets and Pistons, which carries actual weight) with Kawhi Leonard on a tear. Leonard mainly averaged 30 PPG over 12 December video games highlighted by a completely monster 55 piece within the win over Detroit on Sunday. Now, the five-game win streak was preceded by a five-game shedding streak and the Clippers clearly stay in a gap. However they haven’t any incentive to lose with their 2026 first-round choose owed to the Thunder and so they’re now simply two losses again of the ultimate play-in spot.
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12
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11-21
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14
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Raptors
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If it feels just like the Raptors fell off a cliff, properly, they type of did, however once you win 13 out of 14 over a month span, it does not take a lot to get your self again into the dialog. Toronto has received three of its final 4 and is again as a top-four workforce within the East. Scottie Barnes went full superhero in a win over the Warriors with 23 factors, 25 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals for the primary 20-20-10 recreation in franchise historical past.
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—
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20-14
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15
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76ers
|
The Sixers edged Memphis on Monday for his or her first win of the season with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George all within the lineup, however a three-game shedding streak preceded that victory. Maxey continues his MVP-caliber season and Embiid is averaging north of 30 PPG over his final six. I proceed to assume this workforce is an out of doors menace within the East, however proper now the Sixers are treading water at 5-5 over their final 10.
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3
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17-14
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16
|
Path Blazers
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Portland has received 5 of its final eight and is within the West’s final play-in spot for the time being. They’ve scored a pair good wins over Boston and Dallas of their final two. You like to see Shaedon Sharpe scoring 23.5 PPG on 45% 3-point capturing over his final 13 video games. Deni Avdija needs to be a lock for an All-Star nod.
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5
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14-19
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17
|
Magic
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Orlando blew a 21-point lead in a loss to the Raptors on Monday and has now misplaced seven of its final 11. They did handle to take down the Nuggets with 62 mixed factors from Desmond Bane and Anthony Black, however with out Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs and with Paolo Banchero having his worst season this can be a workforce taking part in uphill proper now.
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7
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18-15
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18
|
Warmth
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Miami answered a three-game shedding streak with a three-game win streak together with a 24-point win over the Nuggets (Jokić obtained damage and solely performed 19 minutes, however nonetheless that is a giant win). Miami is hanging across the play-in line, at the moment No. 7 however tied within the loss column with No. 6 Orlando.
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2
|
18-15
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19
|
Nets
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Likelihood is you haven’t any thought the Nets have received seven of their final 11 video games with a bunch of lengthy, switchy guys and a protection that ranked — are you prepared for this — No. 1 within the league for the month of December. Michael Porter Jr. continues his All-Star-caliber season. Rookie Egor Demin buried a career-best seven 3-pointers in opposition to the Warriors on Monday.
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5
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10-20
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20
|
Bulls
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The Bulls have misplaced two straight after a five-game win streak that included 4 wins in opposition to the Cavs and Hawks and one other in opposition to the Sixers. The Bulls are literally a .500 workforce in opposition to plus-.500 opponents. They only went within the tank in opposition to an excellent comfortable stretch of schedule in late November.
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10
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15-17
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21
|
Mavericks
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Klay Thompson had a clear 3-point look to tie the sport in opposition to the Blazers on the buzzer nevertheless it rimmed off, and with that the Mavs are on a three-game shedding streak with Anthony Davis again in road garments (the Mavs are 4-14 with out him this season). The excellent news is Cooper Flagg is an absolute stud. I am unsure the rest about this 12 months issues for the Mavericks, and the reality is they need to be tanking for the one probability they’ve so as to add a second stud subsequent to Flagg by way of a stacked 2026 draft class.
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3
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12-22
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22
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Jazz
|
It takes some actual dedication to correctly execute a tank with Lauri Markannen and Keyonte George. These guys are studs and the Jazz have been a top-eight offense over their final 15 video games. Nonetheless, losses in 5 of their final seven helps their reason for holding their top-eight protected 2026 choose.
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2
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12-20
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23
|
Hornets
|
The Hornets are inside shouting distance of a play-in spot with an improved protection and a few a lot wanted pop from Brandon Miller, who scored a season-high 31 in opposition to Milwaukee on Monday.
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1
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11-21
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24
|
Pelicans
|
A lot for the five-game win streak. The Pelicans have now misplaced 4 straight however they’ve been very aggressive in opposition to some actually robust groups. Jordan Poole missed a 3-pointer that may’ve tied the sport vs. the Knicks with six seconds left. Zion had 32 in that recreation and is averaging 22.5 PPG on 60% capturing for the month of December, principally off the bench.
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2
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8-26
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25
|
Grizzlies
|
Ja Morant returned from a four-game absence over the weekend and put up a season-high 40 factors in an time beyond regulation loss to Philly on Tuesday. The Grizzlies, who’ve stored themselves within the play-in race by the use of a really comfortable schedule stretch, actually may’ve used that win as a result of the upcoming schedule is homicide with two in opposition to the Lakers earlier than dates with the Spurs, Suns and Thunder.
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6
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15-18
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26
|
Bucks
|
Giannis threw down the windmill dunk heard ‘around the world on the conclusion of Milwaukee’s win over Chicago and predictably the Bulls did not prefer it. Nothing like millionaire grown males crying over having their aggressive emotions damage. Unwritten guidelines are for Little League. If you happen to don’t love somebody dunking on you on the finish of a loss then do not lose. Anyway … the Bucks nonetheless stink even with a bit of stretch of three wins in 4 video games in opposition to the JV class of the already JV Jap Convention (Pacers, Bulls and Hornets).
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3
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14-19
|
27
|
Hawks
|
Keep in mind that feel-good Hawks story that was beginning to occur? Yeah, that is over. Atlanta has misplaced seven straight since Trae Younger returned with a protection that could not cease a nosebleed. Are they going to make a transfer for Anthony Davis?
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14
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15-19
|
28
|
Kings
|
The Kings have misplaced 10 of 12, the final two on the L.A. journey by a mixed 65 factors to the Lakers and Clippers. The one purpose to pay any consideration to this workforce is to see who they are going to commerce.
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1
|
8-25
|
29
|
Wizards
|
The Wizards, regardless of profitable 4 of their final eight, nonetheless solely have seven wins and are at the moment in line for the best odds attainable for touchdown the No. 1 general choose subsequent summer time. That is actually all that issues as they concentrate on the event of Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson and Kyshawn George — a younger trio that appears midway promising.
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2
|
7-24
|
30
|
Pacers
|
Indiana is on a nine-game shedding streak and has been outscored in these video games by 126 factors. They’ve the worst file within the league. What else do you need to know?
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2
|
6-27
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