The Charlotte Hornets (1-0) will try to build on an impressive season-opening victory when they host the Detroit Pistons (0-1) on Friday night. Charlotte sprung a 116-110 upset over Atlanta as a 4-point underdog on Wednesday, with all five of its starters finishing in double figures. Detroit staged a late comeback attempt at Miami in its opener, coming up just short in a 103-102 final. The Pistons trailed by 19 points before nearly pulling off the outright upset as 9.5-point underdogs.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Charlotte is favored by 4 points in the latest Hornets vs. Pistons odds, while the over/under is 226 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Pistons vs. Hornets 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 seasons. The model finished the 2022-23 NBA season on a 72-39 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning nearly $2,800. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

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

Hornets vs. Pistons spread: Hornets -4
Hornets vs. Pistons over/under: 226 points
Hornets vs. Pistons money line: Hornets: -177, Pistons: +150
Hornets vs. Pistons picks: See picks here
Why the Hornets can cover
Charlotte got off to a strong start this season with its 116-110 win over Atlanta on Wednesday, as PJ Washington scored a team-high 25 points on 12 of 18 shooting. Second-year center Mark Williams added a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds, while rookie small forward Brandon Miller had 13 points off the bench in his NBA debut. Miller scored eight of his points in the fourth quarter of the upset win.

Veteran guard Terry Rozier added some timely buckets during a 24-point performance, while LaMelo Ball posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists. Ball broke his ankle eight months ago, but he hit four 3-pointers in the second half of Wednesday’s game in his return. The Hornets have won 10 of their last 12 home games against Detroit, and they have covered the spread in six of their last nine games dating back to the end of last season.

Why the Pistons can cover
Detroit has been a pesky underdog since the end of last year, covering the spread six times in its last nine games. The Pistons picked up some momentum at the end of their season opener in Miami, nearly erasing a 19-point deficit in a 103-102 final. They put together a 14-0 run in less than three minutes late in the fourth quarter, and they had a chance to win the game on the final possession.

Star guard Cade Cunningham poured in 30 points and dished out nine assists, shooting 8 of 11 from the field in the first half. Center Jalen Duren and power forward Isaiah Stewart both finished with double-doubles, shooting a combined 14 of 22 from the floor. Rookie shooting guard Ausar Thompson shot just 1 of 7 from the floor, but he should be more comfortable in his second career game. See which team to pick here.

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

The Denver Nuggets (1-0) will go on the road for the first time this season when they face the Memphis Grizzlies (0-1) on Friday night. Denver, the defending NBA champion, opened the campaign with a 119-107 win over the Lakers on Tuesday night. Memphis dropped its season opener to New Orleans at home on Wednesday, despite entering the game as a 1-point favorite. The Nuggets cruised to a 113-97 win in the most recent meeting between these teams, which came last March.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. Denver is favored by 5.5 points in the latest Grizzlies vs. Nuggets odds, while the over/under is 221 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Nuggets 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 seasons. The model finished the 2022-23 NBA season on a 72-39 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning nearly $2,800. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

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

Grizzlies vs. Nuggets spread: Grizzlies +5.5
Grizzlies vs. Nuggets over/under: 221 points
Grizzlies vs. Nuggets money line: Grizzlies: +176, Nuggets: -213
Grizzlies vs. Nuggets picks: See picks here
Why the Grizzlies can cover
Memphis opened the season with a disappointing loss against New Orleans, but it is playing at home for the second game in a row, while Denver is hitting the road for the first time this season. Shooting guard Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 31 points, five rebounds and five assists, knocking down five 3-pointers. Power forward Xavier Tillman added a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The Grizzlies acquired guard Marcus Smart in the offseason, and he will make another start in place of the suspended Ja Morant. Smart finished with 17 points and three assists on Wednesday. Memphis has been nearly untouchable at home, going 16-3 in its last 19 games, and it has covered the spread in five straight home games against the Nuggets.

Why the Nuggets can cover
Memphis is playing without three starters from last year’s team, with Dillon Brooks going to Houston in an offseason sign-and-trade, Morant serving his 25-game suspension and center Steven Adams undergoing season-ending knee surgery. The Grizzlies were unable to pick up the slack on Wednesday, and now they have to face the defending champions. Denver began its defense of the first title in franchise history with a 119-107 win against the Lakers on Tuesday.

Reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in a triple-double effort. He recorded triple-doubles in each of Denver’s two wins against Memphis last season, and all four of his fellow starters scored in double figures on Tuesday. The Nuggets have covered the spread in five straight road games, while Memphis has only covered once in its last five games. See which team to pick here.

How to make Grizzlies vs. Nuggets picks
The model has simulated Nuggets vs. Grizzlies 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, 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’re entering the back half of Week 1 of the 2023-24 NBA season and James Harden is still seeking a new home. While the Los Angeles Clippers are his preferred destination and have reportedly halted negotiations for the time being, other teams could become interested in acquiring him in the more immediate future. Fringe playoff teams are looking to avoid being on the outside looking in once the postseason rolls around while legitimate contenders are hoping to add a finishing touch for a deep title run. The disgruntled Harden could be helpful to both situations and we’ve outlined cases for why two teams should consider bringing him in.

Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves were a play-in team last year and want to do everything they can to make a real push with Anthony Edwards as the face of the franchise. The 22-year-old wing drew some Harden comparisons out of college and Minnesota could use a player who puts more pressure on defenses running at point guard. Harden hasn’t been a go-to scorer in years, but he did lead the league in assists per game last season and his playmaking could benefit several Timberwolves.

Harden’s pairing with Tyrese Maxey worked wonders right off the bat. The Kentucky product feasted off open looks following his arrival in Philly and has converted 45.3% of his 3-pointers and 49.5% of his field goals through 68 career games with him. Edwards often has all eyes on him as his team’s only consistent threat off the dribble. Harden’s creation skills could free him up for fewer forced shots and improve Minnesota’s offensive flow as a whole. Then there’s Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s thrived as one of the league’s premier shooting bigs in recent years. Harden remains a pick-and-roll savant capable of finding KAT spot-up opportunities and picking out the more limited Rudy Gobert easy lobs for finishes around the rim.

Minnesota also has the personnel to make up for Harden’s defensive shortcomings. Jaden McDaniels is growing as one of the NBA’s up-and-coming 3-and-D players. His effort, athleticism, and anticipation make him a great fit with Harden while Gobert protects the paint. Those two and Edwards were part of the five-man Timberwolves lineup that boasted a defensive rating of 104.6 over 260 minutes (17 games) last season.

The 76ers nearly toppled the new-look Milwaukee Bucks in their season opener and could get this deal done in return for Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson, and some draft capital. Getting some veteran support is better than nothing for Philly and a difference maker at point guard could mean the world to the Timberwolves in a Western Conference that’s teeming with star power toward the top.

Miami Heat
The Miami Heat missed out on the Damian Lillard sweepstakes and it’s clear that they could still use an upgrade at point guard. Harden appears to be the only star on the market and Miami shouldn’t have to fork up as much as they would have for Lillard. The Heat have enough moveable assets and talent to make a deal work.

The 76ers would probably like to start someone other than De’Anthony Melton with Maxey in the backcourt and 37-year-old Kyle Lowry probably isn’t the answer. That’s where 23-year-old Tyler Herro enters the conversation. The young duo would be a hindrance on defense together but have loads of offensive versatility as scorers and facilitators. Caleb Martin and draft capital could help sweeten that deal, as breakout performance from last year’s playoffs was eye-opening. He’s a competent scorer who can defend multiple positions and help make up for the fact that P.J. Tucker gives the 76ers little to nothing on offense.

This deal would bring Miami a more dynamic player at point guard and give him an environment where he can be on the court with at least one All-Defensive caliber player at all times. Shooters like Duncan Robinson and Kevin Love can provide Harden with efficient outlets on the perimeter. Miami has exceeded expectations in the postseason for years but could use a third piece to take them over the top. Could Harden be the answer?

The Denver Nuggets (1-0) will go on the road for the first time this season when they face the Memphis Grizzlies (0-1) on Friday night. Denver, the defending NBA champion, opened the campaign with a 119-107 win over the Lakers on Tuesday night. Memphis dropped its season opener to New Orleans at home on Wednesday, despite entering the game as a 1-point favorite. The Nuggets cruised to a 113-97 win in the most recent meeting between these teams, which came last March.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. Denver is favored by 5.5 points in the latest Grizzlies vs. Nuggets odds, while the over/under is 221 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Nuggets 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 seasons. The model finished the 2022-23 NBA season on a 72-39 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning nearly $2,800. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

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

Grizzlies vs. Nuggets spread: Grizzlies +5.5
Grizzlies vs. Nuggets over/under: 221 points
Grizzlies vs. Nuggets money line: Grizzlies: +176, Nuggets: -213
Grizzlies vs. Nuggets picks: See picks here
Why the Grizzlies can cover
Memphis opened the season with a disappointing loss against New Orleans, but it is playing at home for the second game in a row, while Denver is hitting the road for the first time this season. Shooting guard Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 31 points, five rebounds and five assists, knocking down five 3-pointers. Power forward Xavier Tillman added a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The Grizzlies acquired guard Marcus Smart in the offseason, and he will make another start in place of the suspended Ja Morant. Smart finished with 17 points and three assists on Wednesday. Memphis has been nearly untouchable at home, going 16-3 in its last 19 games, and it has covered the spread in five straight home games against the Nuggets.

Why the Nuggets can cover
Memphis is playing without three starters from last year’s team, with Dillon Brooks going to Houston in an offseason sign-and-trade, Morant serving his 25-game suspension and center Steven Adams undergoing season-ending knee surgery. The Grizzlies were unable to pick up the slack on Wednesday, and now they have to face the defending champions. Denver began its defense of the first title in franchise history with a 119-107 win against the Lakers on Tuesday.

Reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in a triple-double effort. He recorded triple-doubles in each of Denver’s two wins against Memphis last season, and all four of his fellow starters scored in double figures on Tuesday. The Nuggets have covered the spread in five straight road games, while Memphis has only covered once in its last five games. See which team to pick here.

How to make Grizzlies vs. Nuggets picks
The model has simulated Nuggets vs. Grizzlies 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, 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’re entering the back half of Week 1 of the 2023-24 NBA season and James Harden is still seeking a new home. While the Los Angeles Clippers are his preferred destination and have reportedly halted negotiations for the time being, other teams could become interested in acquiring him in the more immediate future. Fringe playoff teams are looking to avoid being on the outside looking in once the postseason rolls around while legitimate contenders are hoping to add a finishing touch for a deep title run. The disgruntled Harden could be helpful to both situations and we’ve outlined cases for why two teams should consider bringing him in.

Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves were a play-in team last year and want to do everything they can to make a real push with Anthony Edwards as the face of the franchise. The 22-year-old wing drew some Harden comparisons out of college and Minnesota could use a player who puts more pressure on defenses running at point guard. Harden hasn’t been a go-to scorer in years, but he did lead the league in assists per game last season and his playmaking could benefit several Timberwolves.

Harden’s pairing with Tyrese Maxey worked wonders right off the bat. The Kentucky product feasted off open looks following his arrival in Philly and has converted 45.3% of his 3-pointers and 49.5% of his field goals through 68 career games with him. Edwards often has all eyes on him as his team’s only consistent threat off the dribble. Harden’s creation skills could free him up for fewer forced shots and improve Minnesota’s offensive flow as a whole. Then there’s Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s thrived as one of the league’s premier shooting bigs in recent years. Harden remains a pick-and-roll savant capable of finding KAT spot-up opportunities and picking out the more limited Rudy Gobert easy lobs for finishes around the rim.

Minnesota also has the personnel to make up for Harden’s defensive shortcomings. Jaden McDaniels is growing as one of the NBA’s up-and-coming 3-and-D players. His effort, athleticism, and anticipation make him a great fit with Harden while Gobert protects the paint. Those two and Edwards were part of the five-man Timberwolves lineup that boasted a defensive rating of 104.6 over 260 minutes (17 games) last season.

The 76ers nearly toppled the new-look Milwaukee Bucks in their season opener and could get this deal done in return for Mike Conley, Kyle Anderson, and some draft capital. Getting some veteran support is better than nothing for Philly and a difference maker at point guard could mean the world to the Timberwolves in a Western Conference that’s teeming with star power toward the top.

Miami Heat
The Miami Heat missed out on the Damian Lillard sweepstakes and it’s clear that they could still use an upgrade at point guard. Harden appears to be the only star on the market and Miami shouldn’t have to fork up as much as they would have for Lillard. The Heat have enough moveable assets and talent to make a deal work.

The 76ers would probably like to start someone other than De’Anthony Melton with Maxey in the backcourt and 37-year-old Kyle Lowry probably isn’t the answer. That’s where 23-year-old Tyler Herro enters the conversation. The young duo would be a hindrance on defense together but have loads of offensive versatility as scorers and facilitators. Caleb Martin and draft capital could help sweeten that deal, as breakout performance from last year’s playoffs was eye-opening. He’s a competent scorer who can defend multiple positions and help make up for the fact that P.J. Tucker gives the 76ers little to nothing on offense.

This deal would bring Miami a more dynamic player at point guard and give him an environment where he can be on the court with at least one All-Defensive caliber player at all times. Shooters like Duncan Robinson and Kevin Love can provide Harden with efficient outlets on the perimeter. Miami has exceeded expectations in the postseason for years but could use a third piece to take them over the top. Could Harden be the answer?

There was a time when James Harden was worth the headache. When he was worth dedicating your entire offense to at the expense of everyone and everything else. When his scoring, playmaking and foul drawing were so dominant that you could put up with his pathetic defense.

That time has passed.

That’s not me saying that. That’s the market saying that. Only one team appears to even vaguely want him, the Clippers, and even they only want him if they can get him off the clearance rack. Hell, the Sixers didn’t let the guy on their team plane, and they nearly went into Milwaukee and knocked off a Bucks team that is arguably the championship favorite anyway.

Sure, it’s one game. The first game of the season, no less. It means nothing in the grand scheme of things. But there was no way to watch Tyrese Maxey in that game and think anything other than the Sixers, at this point, simply don’t need Harden any more than anyone else does.

“Maxey is ready. He is ready,” Doc Rivers, who of course coached Maxey and the Sixers for the past three seasons, recently said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “I think if [the 76ers] make the right trade [for Harden], and allow Maxey to be Maxey, he’s ready, and that makes them a really good team.”

It begs the question: What is the right trade? At this point, the answer might be any trade. Daryl Morey isn’t a give-in kind of guy, but given that you could argue that Maxey isn’t just an adequate Harden replacement, but actually the better current player, perhaps the return package doesn’t need to reflect the value Harden is really only worth in name.

If Morey wants to free his team of the drama and let it move forward with a fair chance of competing with a clear head, there’s a legitimate addition-by-subtraction case to be made here. Harden is still good, but he’s not doing anything anymore, for the most part, that is irreplaceable. He’s surely not the only point guard in the NBA who can score 20 points a night or drag defenders with him and hit a roller or kick to a shooter.

Hell, even at his peak, Harden was never as good a 3-point shooter as Maxey, and he has never offered anything close to Maxey’s full-court, straight-line, or even corner-turning speed.

Against Milwaukee, Maxey put up 31 points and eight assists. He didn’t commit a single turnover. He made three 3-pointers and got to the free-throw line 10 times. He lived in the paint. Drew defenders and dropped short-roll passes to Joel Embiid. Created an ocean of space on his step-backs.

Tyrese Maxey looks like an All-Star pic.twitter.com/Vqm1es7gIj

— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) October 27, 2023
Nobody is saying Maxey is, or ever will be, the force Harden was at his peak (he’ll never be the playmaker that Harden was or even still is today, to say nothing of the volume shooting/scoring). But this had the look of a peak Harden performance, and if you’re playing the “it’s only one game” card, you clearly haven’t been watching Maxey these past three years.

This was a performance in keeping with his immense talent and career trajectory. The Sixers have seen this from him before. A lot, actually. But they’ve never been able to fully utilize, or benefit from, Maxey’s abilities with Harden commanding so much control of the ball and offense.

Rivers, in the aforementioned interview with Simmons, said as much: “Sam Cassell [former Sixers assistant coach] said it to me all last year: ‘[Maxey is] ready now, but you know, we’ve got two guys.”

Do you know how you fix a two-guy problem? Get rid of one of them. It’s going to require Morey to swallow a little pride and accept what he surely believes to be a lowball offer, but again, it’s addition by subtraction if nothing else. Give this team, and Maxey, an honest chance. They deserve it more than whatever it is that Harden thinks he deserves.

Following Kobe Bryant’s tragic death in 2020, murals that celebrated the memory of the five-time NBA Champion were created around the world. However, one particular mural that depicted Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, was recently in danger of being taken down, according to USA Today.

Painted by Louie Palsino, the mural is located in Los Angeles and sits less than 1,500 feet south of Crypto.com Arena, the home of the Lakers. Its existence was in jeopardy after the landlord of the building had ordered it to be removed. The occupants of the building, Hardcore Fitness, pleaded with the community to help keep the Bryant mural up. Thankfully, with the help of 2K Games and others, the mural will stay up as a landmark in the community.

On Sept. 14, Hardcore Fitness owner Cecilia Moran stated in an Instagram post that the mural was in danger of being removed. This led to an online petition to keep the mural and it has received more than 90,000 signatures to date, including support from Vanessa Bryant.

In meetings with her landlord, Moran received an extended deadline through October in order to get rid of the mural. In an appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on Monday, 2K Games head of lifestyle and content marketing Ronnie Singh, better known as Ronnie 2K, announced that the video game company had reached an agreement with Moran’s landlord to keep the mural from getting taken down.

Singh even held a rededication ceremony near the mural on Thursday and told fans about how important the company felt that the mural was. Ironically enough, Bryant is the cover athlete of the NBA 2K24 video game, which was released last month.

“For weeks and months, people have lined up in front of this beautiful mural, taking pictures. For us to be a part of saving this thing is just a celebration of basketball,” Singh said. “This one means a lot to our community. It’s basketball-related. It’s Kobe Bryant. Our cover star for NBA 2K24 is Kobe Bryant. It made sense for us to get involved. We felt a moral responsibility to jump in and say, ‘We want to make a difference.’ Not words, but actions.”

The mural will be kept up until at least Oct. 26, 2024, and 2K Games will aim to extend that agreement.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons will miss the next four to six weeks after an MRI revealed that he has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, the team announced on Friday. Simons will undergo surgery to address the issue in the coming days.

Simons sustained the injury during the Blazers’ season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, though exactly when is unclear. He was still in the game late in the fourth quarter, and didn’t check out for good until both teams emptied their bench in what was a 24-point game at the time. Simons finished that game with 18 points and four assists on 6 of 14 from the field.

The sixth-year guard is coming off a career-season in which he averaged 21.1 points and 4.1 assists while shooting 37.7% from 3-point land, and made good on the four-year, $100 million extension he signed in 2022. He was expected to take on even bigger role this season after Damian Lillard’s departure in a blockbuster trade, but that will now obviously have to wait.

Given the timeline, Simons is set to be out for at least 16 games, but will likely miss even more. While he probably wasn’t going win any major end-of-season awards, he may have been in the mix for Most Improved Player. In any case, it’s worth noting that he is the first player to be taken out of contention due to injury. Under the new rules, players must appear in 65 games to be eligible for major honors, and Simons will now not reach that mark.

In the short-term, the biggest ripple effect for the Blazers is that No. 3 overall pick, and future face of the franchise Scoot Henderson will have more opportunity and responsibility than anyone was expecting this early in his career. He already played 35 minutes in the season opener, so his actual playing time won’t increase, but he’ll have the ball in his hands more often and will need to be more aggressive looking for his own shot.

Looking further ahead, Simons lengthy absence likely ensures that the Blazers will have one of the worst records in the league this season. They were already crushed on opening night by the Clippers and will now be without their best shot creator for nearly 25% of the season. That might be for the best long-term, especially if they have some more lottery luck, but it could make this a long winter in the Pacific Northwest.