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Perhaps the NBA team most desperate for help at the trade deadline is the Golden State Warriors, who have signaled the need for a change both on the record and through leaks to various outlets. It will be shocking if the Warriors don’t do something before the Feb. 8 Trade Deadline, with the potential for a franchise-altering maneuver that could mean the departure of one or more of their dynasty staples.

The mood around the Warriors has been dreadful over the past few days, as Stephen Curry honestly described, with two home blowout losses punctuating the problems — both on and off the court — that they’ve endured throughout the 2023-24 season. Draymond Green’s suspension, Chris Paul’s injury and Andrew Wiggins’ disappearing act are just a handful of issues that the Warriors will seek to remedy with some new blood. According to recent reports, everyone but Curry is on the table as a potential trade candidate.

There have bee plenty of names in the rumor mill surrounding Golden State, so here is a look at what the team can give up, followed by five trade targets who could end up turning around a disappointing Warriors season.

Potential Warriors trade assets
(remaining contract after 2023-24)

Klay Thompson (Expiring)
Chris Paul (1 year, $30M non-guaranteed remaining)
Andrew Wiggins (3 years, $85M remaining)
Draymond Green (3 years, $78M remaining)
Gary Payton II (1 year, $9.1M remaining)
Kevon Looney (1 year, $3M guaranteed — remaining)
Jonathan Kuminga (1 year, $7.6M remaining)
Moses Moody (1 year, $5.8M remaining)
Up to three first-round draft picks (2026-2031, cannot trade picks in consecutive years)
Asset rundown: It’s hard to imagine the Warriors parting ways with franchise stalwarts Thompson and Green, but, at this point, everything is a possibility. Thompson could be the more attractive of the two due to his large expiring contract, but Golden State would almost certainly need to attach assets along with him in any deal. The same goes for Paul, whose contract is essentially expiring since next year is non-guaranteed. Green is still playing at a high level (when he’s on the court), but his suspension and disciplinary issues over the past few seasons could make the three remaining years on his contract a nonstarter. Wiggins is suffering through an atrocious season and is owed considerable money, so a team would have to believe in his ability to turn things around in order to acquire him.

Ultimately, any Warriors deal will have to include young players (Kuminga, Moody, etc.) and/or draft capital. That will obviously severely compromise Golden State’s future, but the front office seems committed to trying its hardest to contend while Curry is still performing at an elite level.

Potential fit: Siakam is a popular name in Warriors trade rumors, and for good reason. Not only would he fit into head coach Steve Kerr’s scheme as a versatile, skilled forward, but he would also provide the secondary scorer and playmaker that Curry so desperately needs. On the downside, Siakam’s shooting has gotten steadily worse, to the point where he’s in the 29th percentile in catch-and-shoot scenarios this season, per Synergy Sports. Golden State already has spacing issues, so adding a player like Siakam in exchange for Wiggins, Kuminga and/or Green might just be a horizontal move.

Potential fit: Murray would immediately solve the Warriors’ creation problem, adding a scorer and playmaker adept in the pick-and-roll (72nd percentile, including passes, per Synergy Sports). He’s also been a good catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter this season, making him a strong candidate to play alongside Curry as well as in place of him. Murray is big for a guard, however at 6-foot-5 he would only exacerbate the Warriors’ glaring lack of size that tends to get them in trouble night after night — particularly if they need to trade a wing (Kuminga, Moody or Wiggins) in order to acquire him. Murray is a good defender, but, ultimately, he may be too small to make a significant impact for Golden State.

Potential fit: On paper, Grant is an ideal fit next to Curry as a secondary scorer, who can either get his own shot or spot-up behind the arc (82nd percentile on catch-and-shoot this season, per Synergy Sports). He’s also a potentially elite defender, who has the size and versatility to guard multiple positions, making him an excellent fit in Kerr’s system. The problem comes, however, when Curry goes to the bench. Even as the primary playmaker in Detroit and at times in Portland, Grant has never averaged three assists per game. This season, he’s in the 29th percentile in halfcourt offense, including assists, per Synergy. Is Grant enough of a difference maker to push the Warriors forward this season, and what price would the Blazers ask in return?

Potential fit: Kuzma proved he can be an effective role player on a championship team with the Lakers back in 2020, but since then, he’s taken on a primary scoring and playmaking role with the Washington Wizards. The Warriors would likely need him to do something in between, similar to how Grant performed with the Trail Blazers when Damian Lillard was there. The question is whether Kuzma will be able and willing to do that, since his offensive efficiency is lacking as a primary scorer (33rd percentile in the halfcourt this season, per Synergy Sports). Kuzma is also a strong rebounder for his position, another area where Golden State could use some help.

Potential fit: Bogdanovic made a lot more sense in the beginning of the season, when it looked like the Warriors would just need a complementary piece. He’s an elite shooter off the catch or off the dribble and he occasionally dabbles in some secondary playmaking, but that might not be enough for Golden State at this point. Even with his 6-foot-7 frame, Bogdanovic is limited on the defensive end as well, making this a hard sell for the Warriors front office, unless they can get him for a cheap price.

The names came one after the other in a dizzying rush, a breaking-news version of all-time-great dominoes. Pete Carroll. Nick Saban. Bill Belichick.

The Seattle Seahawks’ coach had been pushed aside. The New England Patriots’ coach, perhaps the greatest in NFL history, was parting ways with the team he’d led to six championships. The Alabama head coach, certainly the greatest in college football history, was retiring.

It was enough to wait for the next shoe to drop, the next name to fall, the next all-time great septuagenarian who’d defined a team and an era to suddenly say goodbye. Here in the NBA, it was hard not to look south to San Antonio and, in that gold rush of sudden goodbyes, let the mind wander to head coach Gregg Popovich and just how long he’ll be a Spur.

He fits all the parameters. All-time great? Check. Perhaps the best to ever do it? Check. An exorbitant number of titles to compare to Saban’s seven and Belichick’s six? Check? At an age — 74, older than his three football contemporaries — where change might be afoot? Check, check, check.

But rest assured Spurs fans. There are several things that separate Pop’s reality from that of the Sabans and the Belichicks and the Carrolls of the world, and that which makes his situation wholly different.

First, and perhaps most important, is the very-real fact that Popovich’s greatness remains firmly intact — as does the recognition of that reality within his organization. That, clearly, was no longer true for the Patriots and Seahawks brass when they gazed at their own legendary coaches.

Some of this is because Popovich’s excellence isn’t just a Spurs story. His time as the head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team exposed a range of players — and all-time greats themselves — to his excellence. Street cred matters, even for head coaches like Popovich.

Over his San Antonio tenure, or at least through its many championships, Pop was also a partner with Tim Duncan and Duncan’s all-time greatness, not a mere beneficiary of it. The same can no longer be said with surety about Belichick without Tom Brady.

That Brady left New England and immediately won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, while the Patriots began a descent to where they are now, strips even the most legendary coaches of their cache, luster and, eventually, if things go poorly enough, their jobs.

Pop’s history is different. Duncan never left to win elsewhere, and Kawhi Leonard’s exit, though leading to its own quick championship in Toronto, quickly gave way to injuries and a sense of what could have been. And while Kawhi was great, he never raised the question like Brady did about where the true brilliance emanates from in their respective teams.

And, unlike Saban, who is 71, Pop, even at 74, clearly wants to keep going. He’s said it. He seems to still love it. Some coaches like to spend their golden years on the golf course. Some, like Pop, seem to prefer staying in the arena that’s defined their careers.

But the most important difference between Pop and the two football legends who did not get to leave on their own terms is the fact that he’s blessed with the possibility of another Duncan — or LeBron, or Jordan, or Brady, or however you want to characterize the GOAT-like potential of Victor Wembanyama.

Carroll is gone in large part because Russell Wilson stopped being Russell Wilson, and then was shipped off to Denver. Belichick is certainly gone — which is to say, he lost in a way he never did before — because Brady was literally gone. And neither Geno Smith in Seattle nor Mac Jones in New England (or Cam Newton, or Bailey Zappe, or anyone else) could fill that talent gap.

But the Spurs’ situation, and therefore Pop’s position within it, is very, very different. Wemby is the real deal, a lottery ticket of greatness that both offers protection from the idea a change might be needed and the kind of hope and excitement and challenge and responsibility that might make an old (basket)ball coach stick around for a while.

And maybe that’s the biggest difference of them all.

San Antonio’s bad season doesn’t matter, because, unlike in Seattle and New England, there’s a sense of hope. Forget this year’s standings, you can gaze into the future and see a shimmering vision of what-can-be. And in it is Popovich winning again.

Wembanyama’s talent, and the uniqueness of his potential, must be catnip to a coach like Pop as he contemplates the possibilities. There is a duty in shepherding that kind of talent to true success, just as there was when Pop helped Duncan go from a promised one to an actual, all-time, top-10 great.

And there’s a promise of what can be — of what Wemby plus Pop can equal — that would make any organization patient with and committed to their all-time great coach.

Belichick lost Brady, and then he lost games, and then he lost his place in New England. Carroll, too, found out that there are short memories, even for legends when the playoff drought turns too parched.

But nothing whets the appetite, nor motivates the ambitious, nor protects someone like Pop, like a Wemby-level talent.

So rest easy, Pop fans. The last few days have shown us you never know when greats will suddenly, shockingly go.

But Gregg Popovich isn’t going to be one of them until, like Saban, he chooses so himself.

The Miami Heat (21-16) will play the third game of a four-game homestand when they host the Orlando Magic (21-16) on Friday night. Miami has lost three of its first five games this month, including a 128-120 loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Orlando had its two-game winning streak snapped in a 113-92 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday. This is the first game of a four-game road trip for the Magic, who are tied with the Heat for seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on Friday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The Heat are favored by 3 points in the latest Magic vs. Heat odds, while the over/under is 221 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Heat vs. Magic picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 12 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 112-62 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Orlando vs. Miami. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Magic vs. Heat:

Heat vs. Magic spread: Heat -3
Heat vs. Magic over/under: 221 points
Heat vs. Magic money line: Heat: -152, Magic: +128
Heat vs. Magic picks: See picks at SportsLine
What you need to know about the Heat
Miami is off to a slow start in January, but it put together a solid 4-1 record over its final five games in December. One of those wins came on the road against Orlando, as Tyler Herro poured in 28 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out seven assists in an all-around performance. He is questionable for this game due to a shoulder injury, but he was able to play 36 minutes against Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Jimmy Butler (foot) and Kyle Lowry (hand) are doubtful to play on Friday night, while Caleb Martin (ankle) joins Herro with a questionable tag. Bam Adebayo stepped up with Butler and Lowry sidelined on Wednesday, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two blocks. Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been a key player as well, earning Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors in November and December. See which team to pick here.

What you need to know about the Magic
Orlando tied a franchise record with nine consecutive wins, but that streak ended early last month. The Magic have cooled off since then, with some of that being attributed to injury issues of their own. They were without Franz Wagner (ankle), Wendell Carter Jr. (knee), Joe Ingles (ankle) and Gary Harris (calf) in their 113-92 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday.

The Magic only had 10 players available against the Timberwolves, as Moe Wagner led Orlando with 21 points. Paolo Banchero, who was the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year, leads Orlando in scoring (22.9), rebounds (7.1) and assists (4.8). Third-year guard Jalen Suggs has improved drastically since his rookie year, shooting a red-hot 40.3% from beyond the arc after shooting 32.7% last year and 21.4% as a rookie. See which team to pick here.

How to make Heat vs. Magic picks
The model has simulated Magic vs. Heat 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

After speculation started swirling about if the Bulls would start selling some of their main pieces, Chicago has quickly become one of the hottest teams in the NBA. The Bulls enter their Friday matchup against the Warriors on a three-game winning streak, including back-to-back overtime victories. Chicago’s two overtime games this week helped boost production from options like DeMar DeRozan, Coby White and Nikola Vucevic from the NBA DFS player pool, but should daily Fantasy basketball players consider the possibility of fatigue on Friday when crafting an NBA DFS strategy on sites like FanDuel and DraftKings?

Bulls guard Zach LaVine scored 25 points on Wednesday, his most since missing a month with a foot injury. LaVine has played three games since making his return on January 5, so can you trust him for Friday NBA DFS lineups? Should daily Fantasy basketball players include the Warriors sharpshooters like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in NBA DFS picks? Before making your NBA DFS picks, be sure to check out the NBA DFS advice, player rankings, stacks, and top daily Fantasy basketball picks from SportsLine’s Jimmie Kaylor.

Kaylor is a DFS and betting expert for SportsLine, who won a DraftKings Millionaire Maker contest in 2022. He uses a combination of his background as a former college and professional athlete and his keen eye for statistical trends when making his picks and locking in his DFS lineups. Kaylor enters the 2024 calendar year with multiple five-figure tournament cashes on his DFS resume.

Kaylor’s approach allows him to find the best NBA DFS values and create optimal lineups that he only shares on SportsLine. They’re a must-see for any NBA DFS player.

On Wednesday (when he last published picks), Kaylor highlighted Nuggets center Nikola Jokic as one of his top picks in his NBA DFS player pool on both sites. The result: Jokic had 27 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, returning 50.75 points on DraftKings and 42.6 points on FanDuel. Anybody who included him in their lineups was well on the way to a profitable day.

Kaylor has turned his attention to NBA action on Friday and locked in his top daily Fantasy basketball picks. You can only see them by heading to SportsLine.

Top NBA DFS picks for Friday, January 12
For Friday, one of Kaylor’s top NBA DFS picks is Kings center/power forward Domantas Sabonis, who is listed at $10,200 on DraftKings and $9,900 on FanDuel. Sabonis had 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in a 123-98 win over the Hornets on Wednesday. The 27-year-old has four triple-doubles over his last seven contests while averaging 22.9 points, 15.4 rebounds and 9.3 assists over that span. Sabonis leads the league with 12.7 rebounds per contest.

The Kings play the 76ers, who will be without Joel Embiid (knee). This should allow Sabonis to impose his will even more on the glass without Embiid’s 7-foot frame and 11.8 rebounds per game on the floor. The 76ers are coming off a 139-132 overtime loss to the Hawks on Wednesday as their team defense also struggled without the reigning NBA MVP in the lineup. This is another strong opportunity for Sabonis to put together another huge NBA DFS performance.

Another part of Kaylor’s optimal NBA DFS strategy includes rostering Hornets guard Terry Rozier ($8,800 on DraftKings and $9,100 on FanDuel). Rozier had 22 points on Wednesday in a 123-98 loss to the Kings after scoring 39 points with eight assists in a 119-112 overtime loss to the Bulls on Monday. He has scored at least 34 points in three of his last five contests.

The Hornets are playing the Spurs, who are allowing the fifth-most points (122.3 points per game) this season. The Spurs are coming off a 130-108 win over the historically poor Pistons and entered that contest allowing 123.2 ppg over their previous five games. The nine-year veteran is averaging a career-high 24.3 ppg with seven assists per contest this season, and Rozier finds himself with a great matchup to add value to NBA DFS lineups on Friday. See Kaylor’s other NBA DFS picks right here.

How to set your NBA DFS lineups for Friday, January 12
Kaylor is also targeting a player who could go off for massive numbers on Friday because of a dream matchup. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.

The Chicago Bulls (18-21) will try to extend their three-game winning streak when they host the Golden State Warriors (17-20) on Friday night. Chicago opened its hot streak with back-to-back wins over the Hornets before getting past the Rockets in overtime on Wednesday. Golden State is still trying to kick things into gear this season, losing three of its first five games in January. The Warriors are only ahead of three teams at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, putting them outside of the current playoff picture.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on Friday at the United Center in Chicago. The Bulls are favored by 3 points in the latest Bulls vs. Warriors odds, while the over/under is 228 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Warriors vs. Bulls picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 12 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 112-62 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Golden State vs. Chicago. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Warriors vs. Bulls:

Bulls vs. Warriors spread: Bulls -3
Bulls vs. Warriors over/under: 228 points
Bulls vs. Warriors money line: Bulls: -153, Warriors: +129
Bulls vs. Warriors picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Bulls can cover
Chicago has a chance to win a season-high fourth straight game after beating the Hornets twice and the Rockets once. The Bulls covered the spread as 8.5-point home favorites in their 104-91 win over Charlotte last Friday, with Coby White posting a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double. They went on the road and covered the spread again in a rematch with the Hornets on Monday, paced by 27 points by White.

Their momentum continued on Wednesday, as White poured in 30 points to lead Chicago to a 124-119 win over Houston as a 3.5-point favorite. They have not faced Golden State since last January, when they snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Warriors. The Warriors got booed out of town after getting blown out by the Raptors and Pelicans to wrap up a disappointing 2-5 homestand. See which team to pick here.

Why the Warriors can cover
Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has seven wins in nine visits to Chicago as a head coach starting in 2014. The Warriors are playing without Chris Paul (hand) and Draymond Green (return to competition), but they still have stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Curry leads the team with 26.7 points, 4.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game, while Thompson is adding 17.1 points.

Third-year power forward Jonathan Kuminga is averaging 12.8 points and 4.1 rebounds as the team’s third-leading scorer. The Warriors have won 11 of their last 12 games against the Bulls, and they have covered the spread in eight of the last 10 head-to-head meetings. Chicago has only covered the spread four times in its last 14 home games played on a Friday. See which team to pick here.

How to make Bulls vs. Warriors picks
The model has simulated Warriors vs. Bulls 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

We’ve got another exciting Western Conference matchup on Friday’s NBA schedule as the Memphis Grizzlies will host the Los Angeles Clippers. Memphis is 14-23 overall and 3-13 at home, while Los Angeles is 24-13 overall and 8-9 on the road. The teams have split their two matchups this season, with both of those taking place in Los Angeles. The Clippers are 19-18 against the spread this season, while the Grizzlies are 16-21 versus the line.

Tip-off is at 8 p.m. ET at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. Los Angeles is favored by 8.5 points in the latest Grizzlies vs. Clippers odds, per SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 225.5 points. Before entering any Clippers vs. Grizzlies picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 12 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 112-62 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Los Angeles vs. Memphis. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Clippers vs. Grizzlies:

Grizzlies vs. Clippers spread: Grizzlies +8.5
Grizzlies vs. Clippers over/under: 225.5 points
Grizzlies vs. Clippers money line: Grizzlies: +270, Clippers: -339
Grizzlies vs. Clippers picks: See picks at SportsLine
What you need to know about the Grizzlies
The Grizzlies must’ve know the odds they were up against on Tuesday, but they decided it wasn’t going to be the story of the game. They took down the Dallas Mavericks 120-103, which marks the biggest victory the Grizzlies have managed all season. Memphis’ victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Desmond Bane, who scored 32 points to go along with nine rebounds.

Bane is one of the last Grizzlies left standing as the team has seven players listed as out for Friday, including Marcus Smart (finger) and Santi Aldama (knee), while others such as Ja Morant (shoulder) and Steven Adams (knee) are out for the season. Without all of these key pieces, Memphis has sloughed to the second-worst ranking in terms of both offensive rating and points per game. Bane (24.7 points per game) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (21.3 PPG) are the only active Grizzlies who are averaging more than 8.6 points per game. See which team to pick here.

What you need to know about the Clippers
Meanwhile, even if it wasn’t a dominant performance, Los Angeles beat the Toronto Raptors 126-120 on Wednesday, which made it back-to-back wins for the Clippers. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were among the main playmakers for the Clippers as the former scored 29 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists, while the latter scored 29 points with seven assists.

L.A. is now 16-3 over its last 19 games as the trio of Leonard, George and James Harden are gelling together. The Clippers rank second in the NBA in 3-point percentage, and they also do it on the other end of the court, ranking fifth in steals per game. While Los Angeles is just 2-6 against the spread as an underdog, it boasts a 17-12 ATS record as the favorite. See which team to pick here.

How to make Grizzlies vs. Clippers picks
The model has simulated Clippers vs. Grizzlies 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

Carmelo Anthony is one of the most iconic Denver Nuggets players of all time, but he recently shared some frustrations about the team that drafted him third overall in 2003.

Reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic now dons the no. 15 Denver uniform Anthony once did. Anthony called the franchise’s decision to give Jokic the number “petty” during his podcast, 7PM in Brooklyn, on Thursday.

“It was a petty maneuver,” Anthony said. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh we got numbers to choose from.’ It was like, ‘Here, you got 15.'”

Anthony was a prolific scorer for nearly eight seasons with Denver and made three All-Star teams with the Nuggets before forcing his way to his hometown New York Knicks via trade. While Jokic wore 15 in Serbia before coming to the NBA, Anthony thinks management could’ve handed the big man his former number out of spite.

“And y’all put Jokic in the middle of that,” Anthony said. “He don’t know what the f— going on. He could’ve been like, ‘I want to wear 15.’ He could’ve been like, ‘I want to wear 15, 15 is here.’ Oh, that’s Melo’s number. You know what I mean? Just pay homage. I don’t know. He could’ve wore it because he wanted to pay homage. But what I believe is that they gave him 15 to try to erase what I did.”

“Y’all put Jokic in the middle of that”

Melo opens up on jersey #15 in Denver on a new episode, out now. Tap in.@carmeloanthony x @THEKIDMERO

📺: https://t.co/JhHT8uX4QG pic.twitter.com/iHtZPb3PO1

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) January 11, 2024
Anthony left Denver sitting third on the all-time scoring list with 13,970 points, but Jokic is right behind him with 13,023 points as a Nugget. The two-time NBA MVP also leads the franchise in rebounds (6,721), assists (4,307), double-doubles (408), and triple-doubles (116).

Anthony left Denver in 2011. Anthony Randolph then wore No. 15 for the Nuggets in the 2013-14 season before Jokic joined the team for the 2015-16 season.

Jokic, 28, has a long career ahead of him and can continue to build his resume as the greatest Nugget ever in the coming seasons. The no. 15 jersey will almost certainly have his name on the back as opposed to Anthony’s when it hangs from the rafters one day.

We’ve got another exciting Eastern Conference matchup on the NBA schedule as the Atlanta Hawks and the Indiana Pacers will face off on Friday. Atlanta is 15-21 overall and 6-9 at home, while Indiana is 22-15 overall and 9-7 on the road. The Pacers have won their first two meetings of the season by an average of 19.5 points per game.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The Hawks are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Pacers vs. Hawks odds, according to the SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 252 points. Before entering any Hawks vs. Pacers picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 12 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 112-62 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Indiana vs. Atlanta. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Pacers vs. Hawks:

Hawks vs. Pacers spread: Hawks -5.5
Hawks vs. Pacers over/under: 252 points
Hawks vs. Pacers money line: Hawks: -221, Pacers: +178
IND: The Pacers are 7-2 against the spread over their last nine games
ATL: The Hawks have covered the spread in back-to-back home games
Hawks vs. Pacers picks: See picks at SportsLine
What to know about the Pacers
The Pacers are coming off a 112-104 victory over the Wizards on Wednesday, winning their eighth game over their last nine contests. The Pacers knocked off the Celtics, 133-131, on Monday despite losing Tyrese Haliburton after the star point guard only played 13 minutes. Haliburton (hamstring) will miss multiple weeks as the Pacers, who have played at one of the fastest paces throughout the season with Haliburton leading the way, will need to adjust to a new style of play.

Myles Turner had 18 points and 13 rebounds against the Wizards as Indiana may try to take advantage of his 6-foot-11 frame and inside presence more with Haliburton out. Andrew Nembhard moved into the starting lineup on Wednesday. The second-year guard struggled with two points and five assists with five turnovers, but he’ll see more run over the next few weeks. Bennedict Mathurin, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is averaging 21 ppg over the last two contests as he’ll have more opportunities to score and create with Haliburton out and if Aaron Nesmith (questionable; shin) can’t suit up. See which team to pick here.

What to know about the Hawks
The Hawks are coming off a 139-132 overtime victory over the 76ers on Wednesday. Atlanta has played back-to-back overtime contests, relying on key players to play a huge chunk of minutes. Trae Young had 28 points and 11 assists over 43 minutes on Wednesday as one of three Atlanta players with at least 25 points. The Hawks had 55 rebounds, including 16 offensive boards, as three different players had at least 10 rebounds, led by Jalen Johnson’s 16 rebounds.

Young is averaging 27.8 points and 11 assists this season, ranking seventh in scoring and second in assists in the NBA. His running mate, Dejounte Murray, has had his name thrown around in trade speculation over the last few weeks. The 27-year-old is averaging 21.1 ppg after averaging at least 20.5 ppg in each of the last two seasons. Young and Murray form one of the better offensive backcourts in the NBA for as long as the two are playing together and could put together another strong performance against the Pacers, who have allowed at least 130 points in two of their last five games. De’Andre Hunter (knee) is out for Friday. See which team to pick here.

How to make Hawks vs. Pacers picks
The model has simulated Pacers vs. Hawks 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Hawks vs. Pacers, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Pacers vs. Hawks spread you need to jump on Friday, all from the model on a 112-62 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, and find out.

This past week had several almost upsets, but most of the top women’s college basketball teams managed to stay undefeated. Ohio State survived an overtime battle against Penn State, and South Carolina overcame a career-best performance by Utah’s Alissa Pili.

UConn looked much improved against North Carolina, as the Huskies collected a solid win over the Tar Heels in a big step toward rebuilding their confidence. Paige Bueckers had a vintage performance in the Huskies’ win.

Another team handling business is the UCLA Bruins, who have held onto the No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll — their highest ranking in program history — for the fourth straight week thanks to multiple players shining.

Here are some of the biggest moments and storylines from the past week, and as well as the top games to watch over the coming days.

Bucket of the week: Paige Bueckers, UConn
The UConn star registered 26 points in her team’s 76-64 win over No. 24 North Carolina on Sunday to reach 1,000 career points. Bueckers’s performance was highly efficient, as she went a blistering 11-of-14 from the field.

Although Bueckers is a redshirt junior, injuries have resulted in that being her 55th career game, making her tied with Maya Moore for the fastest to join the 1,000-point club. Bueckers also recorded a career-high four blocks in the win.

Paige Bueckers’ 1,000th career point! pic.twitter.com/vD56UI4tHM

— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) December 10, 2023
Assist of the week: Sydney Taylor, Louisville
This was just great ball movement by the Cardinals during their 73-61 win against Kentucky. The steal by Olivia Cochran, the pass by Nina Rickards, then Sydney Taylor with the assist and the layup by Nyla Harris.

The Cardinals are putting on a show 🤩 #NCAAWBB x 🎥 ACCN / @LouisvilleWBB pic.twitter.com/AjfS4Be7BJ

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) December 10, 2023
Stop of the week: Lauren Betts, UCLA
Betts has been outstanding as a Bruin, helping her team excel on both ends of the court. Not only does she lead UCLA with 17 points per game, but she also has a team-best 16 blocks. This block happened when her team blew out CSUN 111-48, while holding the Matadors to just 27.3% from the field.

DENIED 🚫

LB’s rejection turns into an quick 2⃣ for Kiki!

📺: https://t.co/G7k8Y1xYR5#GoBruins | @laurenbetts12 x @Deeezzy3 x @kiki_rice0 pic.twitter.com/HpZAl1ZS0b

— UCLA W. Basketball (@UCLAWBB) December 8, 2023
Game of the week: Penn State vs. Ohio State
Big Ten play got off to an exciting start as two top 25 teams battled it out in overtime. No. 12 Ohio State walked away with a 94-84 victory over then-No. 25 Penn State despite trailing for the entire second and third quarters.

The Buckeyes had to outscore the Lady Lions 21-12 in the fourth quarter to stay alive. Penn State’s Chanaya Pinto grabbed a steal with 20 seconds left in regulation, and Taylor Valladay hit a jumper with 11 seconds on the clock to even the score at 80-80.

Ohio State star Jacy Sheldon registered a season-high 31 points, including nine of the Buckeyes’ 14 points in overtime. Sophomore forward Cotie McMahon contributed 27 points, and guard Taylor Celeste recorded a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.

“I think our upperclassmen did a great job of keeping everyone together and on the same page,” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said. “We looked more connected and on the same page in the second half when we were down by 10 than we did at any point during the game. I told them afterwards to do that for 40 minutes — we’ll be right where we need to be.”

Q3 | 😤 What a move by @JacySheldon ‼️#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/h2eCewbpEi

— Ohio State WBB (@OhioStateWBB) December 10, 2023
Unfortunately, Penn State’s leading scorer Makenna Marisa suffered a leg injury and went to the locker room with 1:51 left in overtime. She had a team-best 28 points along with eight rebounds before exiting the game. There has yet to be an official update on her injury.

Biggest storylines from the week
Utah’s Pili shines in loss to South Carolina
The Utes gave South Carolina a difficult battle despite losing 78-69 on Sunday. Their leader was Alissa Pili, who registered a career-high 37 points against one of the best defenses in the nation. She shot an impressive 15-of-22 from the field, and added three steals and one block over 29 minutes.

“Man, it was so hard. Our main goal was to stop Pili, but she gave up a 30-piece,” South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao said after the game.

CAREER HIGH PERFORMANCE
Pili now has 35 points for a new career-high @alissa_pili (Also, what a move to get it)#GoUtes
📺 https://t.co/hz457Enoa7 pic.twitter.com/YqEz82zdlD

— Utah Women’s Basketball (@UTAHWBB) December 10, 2023
Caitlin Clark takeover continues
The Iowa star registered 35 points, nine rebounds and five assists during her team’s 67-58 win over the Iowa State on Dec. 6. This performance helped her reach 3,000 career points — making her the 15th player in women’s college basketball history to reach that milestone.

Clark is also the first player in Division I basketball history to reach 3,000 points while also having at least 750 rebounds and 750 assists.

The bucket where @CaitlinClark22 made history 🙌 pic.twitter.com/dcPbevPyKA

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) December 7, 2023
Kateri Poole no longer on LSU’s roster
LSU coach Kim Mulkey announced Sunday that Kateri Poole, a starter during their 2023 Women’s NCAA Tournament run, is not a member of the program anymore.

“She’s no longer with us,” Mulkey said.

Poole was a solid defensive piece for the team last year, but she has not played for the Tigers since Nov. 17 against Southeastern Louisiana — and she was only on the court for five minutes during that game.

LSU also didn’t have point guard Hailey Van Lith on the court Sunday, as she has been dealing with plantar fasciitis.

Interesting Stats
UNLV off to its best start in over two decades: The Lady Rebels entered the AP Top 25 this week after wins over Arizona and Oklahoma. Their 9-0 record is the best start in the Lindy La Rocque era. This is only Rocque’s third season at the helm of the program, and it’s been a productive one so far.

JuJu Watkins named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, again: The USC rising star has played five weeks of college basketball, and she has now been named the conference’s Freshman of the Week each of those weeks. The current record for a single season is eight total selections.

Kiki Rice flirts with quadruple-double: The UCLA guard registered 14 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds against CSUN on Dec. 7, giving her the 10th triple-double in program history. She also registered an impressive seven steals. Only four women have achieved a quadruple-double in NCAA college basketball since steals started counting.

Lauren Betts has monster game: Rice’s teammate, Betts, stuffed the stat sheet herself against Florida State. Betts recorded 22 points, 18 blocks and four blocks in a resounding win over the Seminoles. Only two other players in women’s college basketball have reached at least 20 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks in a single game this season: Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley and Stanford’s Cameron Brink. Not bad company to keep.

Only 18 unbeaten teams remain:
NC State 10-0
Texas 10-0
Washington 10-0
TCU 10-0
Texas Tech 10-0
South Carolina 9-0
UCLA 9-0
West Virginia 9-0
Colorado State 9-0
UNLV 9-0
Marquette 9-0
USC 8-0
Miami 8-0
Old Dominion 8-0
California Baptist 8-0
UCF 8-0
Baylor 7-0
Oregon State 7-0
Matchups to watch:
(all times Eastern)

No. 20 Creighton vs. No. 19 Marquette | Wednesday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m. | BEDN on FLOSPORTS: These two teams have split their series 13-13 since 2008. Creighton’s only loss this season was at the hands of Green Bay — a team receiving votes on the AP Top 25 poll — on Nov. 16. Meanwhile, Marquette is off to the best start in program history with a perfect 9-0 record.

No. 18 Louisville vs. No 17 UConn | Saturday, Dec. 16, 12 p.m. | FOX: Louisville might no longer have Hailey Van Lith, as the point guard is now with LSU, but the Cardinals have been just fine this season with wins against teams such as Gonzaga and Ole Miss. UConn is still working to be more consistent, but Paige Bueckers reminded everyone of her superstar potential during the Huskies’ win over North Carolina.

The LSU Tigers had a record-setting night in their 133-44 win over McNeese State on Tuesday. Not only was it the most points scored in school history, it was also a program-best margin of victory.

On their way to history, LSU saw a 47-0 run and held the Cowgirls scoreless in the second quarter. Even head coach Kim Mulkey was impressed by her team.

“I told them at the half that we held them scoreless in the second quarter,” Mulkey said. “I told them then I’m not really sure I’ve ever been a part of that. And then I found out about that run and you don’t think about it at the moment. I don’t know that I have been a part of that. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, that is kind of crazy.”

A record-setting night for the Tigers pic.twitter.com/LVvRsZoC2i

— LSU Women’s Basketball (@LSUwbkb) December 13, 2023
As a team, LSU shot at 57.7% from the field and six Tigers reached double-digits. Freshman Aalyah Del Rosario led the way with her first career double-double as she registered 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting, along with 10 rebounds.

“For me it’s just about progress,” Del Rosario said. “Compared to the beginning of the season when I came here, I was not in the best shape. Now I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. The support from my teammates and my coaching staff has been amazing.”

Junior forward Angel Reese also had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, as did sophomore Aneesah Morrow with 18 points and 11 boards. Freshman guard Mikayla Williams, who has already earned a spot in the starting lineup, contributed with 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting, along with six assists and four steals.

The team broke records even without starting point guard Hailey Van Lith, who is out while dealing with plantar fasciitis. Next up, LSU is hosting Northwestern State on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. ET.