Three NBA games on Thursday, and a Game Pick on every one. Two get the full treatment: Cleveland at Atlanta, and Memphis at Portland.
How we pick NBA games right now: last season’s scoring margins, at half weight this early, plus home court, compared with the board. A lot of rosters changed this summer, so these are leans, and when a team looks very different from last season, we go with the board. Cleveland and Atlanta both played Wednesday, and so did New Orleans. Every pick lands on the receipts page win or lose.
Cavaliers at Hawks, 8:00 PM ET, NBA TV
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Both teams are on a back-to-back, and Atlanta has lost three straight. Full write-up: Cavaliers vs Hawks picks.
Kings at Pelicans, 8:00 PM ET
Both teams are 0-4. New Orleans lost 104-91 to Denver last night, so this is the second half of a back-to-back, and Jordan Poole (ankle) didn’t finish that game. Sacramento is missing Keegan Murray, Maxime Raynaud and Ben Simmons. Our number has the Pelicans by four. Kings with the points.
Grizzlies at Trail Blazers, 10:00 PM ET
Memphis is 4-0, and Portland just lost Shaedon Sharpe for about six months. Full write-up: Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers picks.
Lines as of Thursday morning, after the morning injury report.
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Picks are opinion and analysis, not financial advice. Odds move; confirm at the book.