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Portland enters this one at .500, but the locker room tone says they aren’t treating it like a finish line. The Trail Blazers have won 10 of their last 13 and they’ve been closing games with defense, pace, and a next-man-up rotation that keeps producing. Miami brings momentum too after lighting up Sacramento from three. If the Heat are stretching the floor like that, the game changes, because Portland’s surge has leaned on getting stops and then scoring before defenses are set. The availability layer matters for Portland. Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant are both questionable, and that directly impacts Portland’s ball security, perimeter defense, and late-game scoring options. Miami’s best version is when the pace is real and the

Houston hits the road after reaching the midpoint at 26-15, and the recent difference has been the secondary scoring. Reed Sheppard has turned into a real fourth-quarter lever, and when the Rockets get shot-making from the guards, their defense has more margin to win games the “ugly” way. The roster note that matters is in the middle. Steven Adams is sidelined with a severe ankle sprain, and that can show up quickly in second-chance points and late-game rebounding sequences. Philadelphia is closer to full strength than it has been lately, but availability still swings this matchup. Joel Embiid is trending toward playing, and Paul George is the key question. If the Sixers don’t have both, they’re asking Tyrese Maxey to

Denver opens a three-game road trip with a quick rematch against Washington after the Nuggets held on in the first meeting. The bigger storyline is roster strain. Denver is still navigating life without its elite interior anchors, and the recent rebound margins have started to bite. Washington is in a different fight. The Wizards have been competitive in stretches, but closing games has been the problem, and the current skid has created “must-find-a-win” urgency at home. Denver’s offense can still win games because Jamal Murray gives them a reliable half-court engine, and Tim Hardaway Jr. has been a real scoring release valve. The issue is what happens when the shot quality dips late: without the usual rebounding safety net, empty

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits look to build on recent momentum, while the St. Thomas (MN) Tommies aim to protect their home floor in this Summit Conference clash at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. St. Thomas enters as the favorite, but South Dakota State’s efficient shooting makes this line competitive. Current market: Check College Basketball Odds for live updates and sharper angles. The Jackrabbits average 76.7 points per game, with Matthew Mors, Kalen Garry, and Jaden Jackson leading the offense. Mors and Garry’s 12 points each vs Kansas City highlighted their consistency, while Jackson’s 13.4 points per game showcase his impact. South Dakota State’s shooting efficiency (46.6% FG, 125th nationally; 53.6% effective FG) underscores their strengths. Their 10-10 record and