The Spurs and Rockets will meet for the fourth and final time. However, it’ll be under much different circumstances. San Antonio won’t have Victor Wembanyama in the lineup because the NBA star is declared out for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign after a blood clot diagnosis. It’s the second devastating NBA 2025 news for the Spurs after head coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke last November and hasn’t coached the team since.
Wembanyama’s absence hurts the Spurs’ NBA 2025 odds of making it back to the postseason. San Antonio have a 24-32 record, good for 13th in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Rockets are the fourth seed at 36-22.
Elsewhere, the Celtics, Raptors, Sixers, Blazers, Thunder, Hawks, Clippers, and Kings will visit the Pistons, Pacers, Knicks, Wizards, Nets, Heat, Bulls, and Jazz.
Continue reading below as SBOTOP picks the top three games for tomorrow.
Boston Celtics @ Detroit Pistons
The Pistons emerged as one of the surprising teams this season, thanks to head coach JB Bickerstaff. With 32 wins (and 26 losses), Detroit have surpassed their win total in the past two years and are the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. However, Detroit have lost their previous three meetings against Boston this season, so they might see their winning run end tomorrow.
Detroit are buoyed by a seven-game winning streak after securing a 106-97 victory against the Clippers last Monday. First-time All-Star Cade Cunningham posted 32 points (game-high), nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and four three-pointers on 9-for-22 shooting from the field and 10-for-12 from the free throw line. Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson had 20, 12, and 10 points. Duren also grabbed 19 boards.
The Celtics are fresh from a 111-101 win over the Raptors last Tuesday to extend their winning run to six games. Jaylen Brown led with 24 points, five rebounds, and four assists on 10-for-18 shooting from the field. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Jayson Tatum, and Sam Hauser added 22, 20, 19, and 10 points.
Boston were without Kristaps Porzingis (illness), Al Horford (rest), and Jrue Holiday (rest), but they are likely to return in the lineup against Detroit to close their back-to-back set.
Philadelphia Sixers @ New York Knicks
The Knicks slipped to a 37-20 record after back-to-back defeats against the Cavaliers and Celtics, but they will fancy their chances against the Sixers (20-37), who are on an eight-game slide.
In their latest loss to Boston, New York didn’t get much production apart from the starters. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 24 points and 18 rebounds on 9-for-20 shooting from the field in the losing effort. Fellow All-Star Jalen Brunson added 22 points, three rebounds, four assists, and four three-pointers on 9-for-19 shooting. Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby had 20, 14, and 10 points.
Philadelphia are fresh from a blowout defeat against Chicago. Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 19 points each in the losing effort.
The Sixers have an extensive injury list ahead of the Knicks match. Joel Embiid (knee), Guerschon Yabusele (eye), Kyle Lowry (hip), and Eric Gordon (wrist) are ruled out, while Quentin Grimes (knee), and Justin Edwards (ankle) are probable to play. Philadelphia will need huge performances from Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre Jr. to stand a chance on the road.
Given Embiid’s recurring knee problems, the Sixers might have to consider shutting him down for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign to fix his injury since they are going nowhere.
San Antonio Spurs @ Houston Rockets
The Spurs haven’t won since shutting down Victor Wembanyama, and they will face another tough challenge from the Rockets, who have won four of their last six. San Antonio suffered back-to-back road losses at New Orleans. In the 109-103 defeat last Tuesday, seven Spurs scored double-digit points, but it wasn’t enough to topple their hosts.
Devin Vassell had 20 points (team-high), five rebounds, and three assists. De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes had 15 points apiece. Chris Paul and Jeremy Sochan added 12 points each, Keldon Johnson and Bismack Biyombo finished with 11 and 10 points.
The Rockets secured a 100-97 win over the Bucks last night, despite Amen Thompson getting ejected for a hard foul on Giannis Antetokounmpo in the final period.
Jalen Green led with 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and five three-pointers on 9-for-20 shooting from the field. Alperen Sengun finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks on 8-for-16 shooting from the field. Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason added 16, 13, and 12 points.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE BASKETBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
