Former suitors of Larry Hughes and Gil Arenas duel in DC

CLEVELAND (-7.5) over Toronto
Detroit over PHILADELPHIA (-4.5)
WASHINGTON over Golden State (-2.5)
Atlanta over CHARLOTTE (-4.5)
Boston (-7.5) over NEW YORK
Milwaukee over CHICAGO (-5.5)
Houston over MEMPHIS (-4.5)
Oklahoma City over UTAH (-6.5)
San Antonio (-6.5) over SACRAMENTO

Runnin' and gunnin' with the Suns and Warriors

Orlando (-7.5) over PHILADELPHIA
Miami (-5.5) over NEW JERSEY
Dallas (-4.5) over NEW ORLEANS
Houston over CHICAGO (-2.5)
Atlanta over MILWAUKEE (-5.5)
Toronto (-4.5) over MINNESOTA
OKLAHOMA CITY (-4.5) over San Antonio
Boston over UTAH (-4.5)
Memphis (-2.5) over SACRAMENTO
Phoenix (-4.5) over GOLDEN STATE

Reigning champs face D-League All-Stars

PHILADELPHIA (-2.5) over New York

BOSTON (-9.5) over Detroit

Denver (-2.5) over HOUSTON

GOLDEN STATE over LA Lakers (-7.5)

New Orleans over LA CLIPPERS (-2.5)

UTAH (-10.5) over Washington

Warriors finish back-to-back against last two champs

ATLANTA (-2.5) over Cleveland

Oklahoma City (-0.5) over WASHINGTON

New York over DETROIT (-5.5)

Indiana over CHICAGO (-7.5)

New Orleans over HOUSTON (-6.5)

Minnesota over SAN ANTONIO (-11.5)

LA LAKERS (-11.5) over Golden State

Oracle energy rising with improving health

Miami over CHICAGO (-3.5)

Boston (-2.5) over DALLAS

GOLDEN STATE (-3.5) over Portland

Last night: 5-7

Season: 401-383

Monta looks for first win of '09

BOSTON (-9.5) over Dallas

San Antonio over LA LAKERS (-6.5)

ATLANTA (-4.5) over Phoenix

DETROIT (-2.5) over Houston

INDIANA (-3.5) over Charlotte

Sacramento over TORONTO (-9.5)

MINNESOTA (-4.5) over Chicago

Utah over DENVER (-7.5)

LA Clippers over GOLDEN STATE (-9.5)

Last night: 4-2

Season: 339-306

Shootout on tap in G-StateL

Boston (-4.5) over TORONTO

Miami over LA LAKERS (-10.5)

SAN ANTONIO (-2.5) over Orlando

Dallas (-3.5) over SACRAMENTO

Indiana (-1.5) over GOLDEN STATE

ATLANTA (-6.5) over Philadelphia

LA CLIPPERS over Phoenix (-8.5)

Last night: 4-2

Season: 285-260

LA CLIPPERS (-3.5) over Golden State

Despite having Corey Maggette back, the Warriors really haven't impressed thus far.  We'll shy away from them on the road.

This game starts at 3:30 EST, which is why it's getting it's own post.  The rest of the Saturday picks will be to you by evening.

Showdown of '03 draftees at the Q

Denver over CLEVELAND (-7.5) - The Cavs haven't exactly been whacking people of late, and the Nuggets have yet to lose (albeit against inferior competition) since Chauncey Billups joined the lineup.  We say they keep this one close.

Dallas (-0.5) over CHICAGO - Two shaky teams, but we still think the Mavs are a bit better.

Detroit (-4.5) over GOLDEN STATE - Sure, the Pistons were shaky in their win over the Kings on Tuesday, and they remain 1-2 with Allen Iverson, but the Warriors' play has been nothing to write home about.

Last night: 4-7

Season: 59-57

Injuries abounding

Due to the high volume of impact players whose health remains in doubt, the full slate of lines wasn't available until midday today.  Despite the trickery pulled by the Nets last night (read: they lit it up against Miami even without Devin Harris), these situations play heavily into tonight's picks.

PHILADELPHIA (-4.5) over Utah - Deron Williams remains doubtful, and Memo Okur qualifies for that distinction as well.  The line is low enough to give with Philly given the two likely absences.

Denver (-2.5) over CHARLOTTE - We like Larry Brown well enough, and we're not high on the Nugs, but this still seems a bit low.

Atlanta over CHICAGO (-2.5) - Even without Josh Smith, we'll ride undefeated Atlanta...at least until they roll into Boston on Wednesday.

New York over SAN ANTONIO (-4.5) - No questions about injuries here.  Just the knowledge that Manu and TP won't participate.  Much as this pains me, we want no part of giving with this Spurs.

CLEVELAND (-12.5) over Milwaukee - Michael Redd is questionable.  LeBron James isn't.

LA Lakers (-5.5) over DALLAS - These guys are really good.  We continue to emphasize this.

Detroit (-7.5) over SACRAMENTO - No Kevin Martin means not so much interest in the Kings for us.

Minnesota over GOLDEN STATE (-6.5) - Corey Maggette has missed a few games in a row, and he is questionable for this one.  Al Harrington is likely out as well.

Last night: 1-4

Season: 50-47

The Picksix: Can Dubs hang in?

WASHINGTON (-4.5) over Indiana -- A deflating loss to the 'Cats at home looks like it may have spelled the end for the Pacers. Here's guessing they come out flat in DC.

Miami over TORONTO (-18.5) -- Just too many points.

PHILADELPHIA (-3.5) over Cleveland -- The Cavs are not impressing us as of late.

Boston (-8.5) over NEW YORK -- The Tek Doctrine reigns supreme.

MILWAUKEE (-0.5) over Chicago -- The Bulls really can't be convinced to care.

UTAH (-6.5) over Houston -- They're just so good at home. Unbelievable, really.

Golden State over PHOENIX (-3.5) -- The Warriors live at least one more day, but a loss here could all but end it for them.

San Antonio (-7.5) over SACRAMENTO -- The Spurs still have a division crown (and seeding) to play for and should rebound well from a bopping in Los Angeles yesterday.

Last night: 4-2
Season: 623-579

The Picksix: Fighting for survival out West

GOLDEN STATE (-4.5) over Denver -- Two teams tied for the final spot in the West. A weird five o'clock local starting time. A crowd likely to be nothing short of rabid. We'll take the local yokels.

Utah over DALLAS (-3.5) -- Yeah, we saw what the Jazz did in N'Awlins on Tuesday. We're not messing with 'em.

LA Clippers over LA LAKERS (-15.5) -- The Hollywood boys seems to have cooled off on the runaway wins as of late, and the continuing presence of Elton Brand may help LA's little brother team keep this one close.

Last night: 4-5
Season: 607-565

The Picksix: Dubs, Nugs need to want it more

Golden State over NEW ORLEANS (-8.5) -- This game needs to mean more to the Warriors, who currently sit tight in eighth in the West.

PHOENIX (-6.5) over Dallas -- How deflating was the final-minutes, come-from-ahead loss in LA for the Mavs on Friday? We say, "Very."

INDIANA (-9.5) over Milwaukee -- We've used the phrase "They don't guard anybody" with way too much regularity regarding the Bucks this season.

San Antonio (-5.5) over PORTLAND -- To quote Daunte Culpepper, the Spurs will be looking to "get some getback" after a blowout loss in Utah on Friday.

MIAMI over Detroit (-14.5) -- How many starters will Detroit deactivate for this game? Here's guessing it's less than six, but we're not going to be giving the points regardless.

MINNESOTA (-5.5) over Memphis -- At 7-8 in their last fifteen, Minnesota has what constitutes a hot streak by Grizz-Wolves standards. Then again, Memphis is playing .500 ball over its last two contests. Ya really never know.

Orlando (-7.5) over NEW YORK -- The Knicks are really putrid.

LA Lakers (-5.5) over SACRAMENTO -- The Lakers continue to chase the Hornets for the West's top seed. The Kings aren't putting together solid efforts on back-to-back nights against Denver and LA.

Denver (-11.5) over SEATTLE -- Last time around for these two teams, if you had Seattle and 51.5, you lost. We'll give the points.

Houston (-8.5) over LA CLIPPERS -- Despite Elton Brand's return, the Rockets' stifling defense should cause the Clips all sorts of problems.

Last night: 3-3
Season: 597-545

The Picksix: Lots of running in G-State

PHILADELPHIA (-8.5) over Memphis -- Consecutive displays of competency seem doubtful for the Grizz.

San Antonio (-2.5) over CLEVELAND -- The Cavs are banged up and don't have a point guard who will make the Spurs pay for the lack of Tony Parker.

New Jersey over TORONTO (-8.5) -- The Raps have been a model of inconsistency all season. The Nets should be able to hang around just long enough to keep it close.

Atlanta over CHARLOTTE (-0.5) -- No Gerald Wallace once more for the 'Cats, who haven't been particularly competitive of late.

Denver over ORLANDO (-4.5) -- As of yet, the Magic haven't demonstrated that they respond particularly well to butt-kickings from Stan Van Gundy. There could be some residual effects of Van Gundy's late-game benching and post-game tongue-lashing of Dwight Howard on Monday.

BOSTON (-10.5) over New York -- If Paul Pierce can avoid ejection this time around, the KG-less C's could well keep on rolling once more against the 'Bockers.

DETROIT (-12.5) over Indiana -- The Pistons won't be thrilled about a too-close victory over the Hawks on Tuesday.

New Orleans (-4.5) over MILWAUKEE -- CP3 went for 25 points, 14 assists and 1 turnover last night in Hicag. He was one of three 20-point scorers for the Stingers. These guys are really good. The Bucks aren't.

LA Lakers (-9.5) over MINNESOTA -- The Wolves play the tail end of a back-to-back against a Lakers team still riding the wave of the Gasol trade.

HOUSTON (-9.5) over Sacramento -- Buzz saw.

Portland over DALLAS (-7.5) -- After consecutive uninspired losses in Jersey and Philly, we'll lay off the Mavs for a night.

GOLDEN STATE (-0.5) over Phoenix -- The Suns remain shorthanded with Marion gone and Shaq not suited up. The Dubs should simply be able to out-run them in Oaktown.

Utah (-6.5) over SEATTLE -- Andrei Kirilenko trade rumors aren't good enough reasons to pick against the Jazz right now. We can't think of any others.

Washington over LA CLIPPERS (-4.5) -- In the words of Money from the Parking Lot's Bill Powell, "The Clippers are favored?" Yeah, he's a Clippers blogger.

Last night: 4-2
Season: 401-362

The Picksix: How will the Warriors respond to the long lay-off?

Miami over PHILADELPHIA (-9.5) -- Whether Shawn Marion will be suited up remains in question, but one would have to imagine that Dwyane Wade is feeling empowered by his newfound healthy help. And since when did expecting the Sixers to win by double-digits become a sound wagering tactic, anyway?

HOUSTON (-5.5) over Cleveland -- The Cavs are banged up, with Drew Gooden, Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao all likely out tonight. The Rockets have won 8 of 9 and 13 of 16 overall and will look to remain hot.

GOLDEN STATE (-10.5) over Chicago -- Due to a weird scheduling quirk of sorts, tonight's game is the first contest since last Friday for the Warriors. Against a Bulls team playing its third game in four nights out West, the Dubs should have the energy advantage.

Last night: 5-6
Season: 376-346