The Oklahoma City Thunder has its eyes on the top seed in the Western Conference, which means home-court advantage throughout the West playoffs. The Sacramento Kings are young and athletic and have been competitive, but they’re just looking to wrap up another non-playoff season but finish on a high note entering the process of building a new arena. The Thunder continues its pursuit of the best record Friday night with a visit to Sacramento – where the Thunder lost in its last visit in February. Here’s a look at what to expect from both teams, plus my final score prediction to help you make your NBA picks for the night.

Oklahoma City Thunder (45-17) @ Sacramento Kings (20-42), 10 p.m. ET

The Thunder won for the fifth time in seven games Wednesday night with a 109-97 win over Phoenix for their 20th road win this season. The Thunder is one game back (in the loss column) of San Antonio for the best record in the West, but the Spurs own the tiebreaker. The Thunder close with Sacramento twice, at the Lakers and home vs. Denver. The Thunder has done most of its damage with its offense, ranking second in scoring (103 ppg). Oklahoma City has won its last three road games against sub-.500 teams, with the last loss coming Feb. 9 at Sacramento (106-101). The Thunder has lost five of its last six games in which it failed to score 100 points.

The Kings are stumbling to the finish line, dropping their eighth game in the last nine outings with a 127-102 loss to San Antonio Wednesday night. The Kings have lost seven-straight games against teams with winning records, with the last win coming at Utah March 30 (104-103( and the last home win coming March 20 vs. Memphis (119-110). The Kings are 15-16 at home, but 2-7 in their last nine home games. While the Kings are a top-10 offensive team (98 ppg), they are the worst defensive team in the league (105 ppg), allowing 100 or more points in each of the last seven games and 16 of the last 17. For the Kings to have any success, they usually either have to outscore teams or have a really good defensive game.

The latest NBA odds list the Thunder as 10-point favorites, while the over/under is set for 214 points. It will be difficult for the Kings to have much success against the talented Thunder. However, the Thunder did lose the last time it visited, because the Kings are young and athletic and thus provide a potentially difficult match up. Sacramento hasn’t stopped Oklahoma City in their two previous meetings, but Sacramento can win by hitting shots. The Kings are capable of doing so, but the Thunder have a lot of firepower to contend with. If Sacramento can control one of the Thunder’s big three of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook or James Harden, it will have a chance. If two of them meet or surpass their season averages, the Kings will be in big trouble. The Thunder should prevail, but don’t be surprised if the Kings make it competitive until the fourth quarter.

Final Score Prediction: Thunder 110, Kings 102

The Houston Rockets are fighting for their playoff lives, sitting on the precipice of falling out of the top-eight in the West – though an upset in their last game helped their cause. The Los Angeles Lakers have grabbed a firmer grip on their once-slipping Pacific Division lead, and they are making a move toward locking down a top-three playoff seed in the West bracket. A very determined Rockets team will look to improve its playoff odds when they seek another road upset Friday night by visiting the Lakers. This is the third and final meeting this season, with each team winning at home – Houston took a 107-104 decision in the most recent meeting March 20. Here is a breakdown of what to expect from each team, plus my final score prediction on the game to help you with your NBA picks tonight.

Houston Rockets (29-25) @ Los Angeles Lakers (35-20), 10:30 p.m. ET

The Rockets have alternated wins and losses in their last seven games, but are coming off a surprising 99-93 win at Chicago Wednesday night that snapped a three-game road losing streak and opened a four-game road trip. Houston currently sits in a tie for seventh in the West (with Denver ), just one game back of Dallas for sixth but one game ahead of Phoenix and Utah . The Rockets are one of the better offensive teams in the league (ranking ninth with 98 ppg), but is a bit deficient on the defensive side, ranking just 20 th with 97 ppg allowed. The Rockets have been without starting point guard Kyle Lowry (infection) for the last month, and he is not expected back until perhaps the last week of the season.

While the Rockets have been good offensively, the Lakers have prided themselves on their defense this year. Los Angeles has won four straight games, the latest a 113-108 win over the Clippers can pushed the Clips to two games back in the loss column for the division lead. Though the team has gained some momentum, there is a concern – the Lakers were one of the top-10 defensive teams in the league, but have given up 100 or more points five times in the last seven games (3-2 in those games). The Lakers have won their last three home games (four if you count the Clippers game) after losing the previous three – however, they are 23-5 at home overall this year (behind only San Antonio for best home mark in the West).

A quick look at the NBA odds shows the Lakers favored by 6 points at home, while the over/under has been posted at 195.5 points. Houston hasn’t reached 10 wins on the road yet this year (in 26 games) and the Lakers own the third-best home record in the league (behind only Miami and San Antonio ). On paper, this does not look like it will go well for the Rockets. However, Houston has been very competitive of late without Lowry, and of course it has playoff positioning to consider. After beating Chicago , a win in L.A. would boost the teams’ resume and playoff chances heading into winnable games at Sacramento and Portland . The Lakers, though, seem to getting into their “playoff mode” at this time of year, and with a chance to lock down the division and a No. 3 playoff seed while at home, don’t expect Kobe Bryant or the Lakers to take the night off. Houston will battle, but the Lakers are too much at home.

Final Score Prediction: Lakers 100, Rockets 95

The New York Knicks are on a very positive path, getting above .500 and looking to be a threat in the Eastern Conference. The Atlanta Hawks have had some trouble in recent weeks, but may be starting to turn the corner to make the sprint toward the postseason. Two teams still jockeying for playoff positioning take to the court in Atlanta Friday night. New York won the first meeting this season, 99-82 at home Feb. 23. Here’s a look at what to expect from both teams, plus our final score prediction on the game to help you make your NBA picks tonight.

New York Knicks (26-25) @ Atlanta Hawks (30-22), 7:30 p.m. ET

The Knicks are on a roll that wasn’t exactly expected when Mike D’Antoni abruptly resigned. But since that day, the Knicks have won eight of nine games, the latest a 108-86 rout of Orlando at home. New York has won two of its last three on the road, all under new coach Mike Woodson. The team has played strong defense over the last nine games, allowing 90 or more points just twice over that span after giving up 90 or more 31 times in 42 games under D’Antoni. The defense has improved to 12 th in the league in points allowed (95 ppg), though the team will have to adjust to losing Amare Stoudemire (back) for perhaps the rest of the regular season.

The Hawks had won four straight and six of seven – including the marathon four-overtime home win over Utah last week – but has dropped its last two games, 108-101 at Milwaukee and 98-77 at home vs. Chicago. Their recent success has entrenches Atlanta in the No. 6 playoff spot, one half game behind Indiana. Atlanta has won six of its last eight home games, but the two losses were to Eastern teams (Chicago and Boston). The Hawks rank fifth in the league in scoring defense (93 ppg), but has been an inconsistent 20 th in scoring offense (95 ppg) and is one of the weaker rebounding teams (41 rpg, 23 rd in the league).

The NBA odds list the Hawks as 3.5-point favorites with a total set at 186 points. Both teams have playoff positioning to fight for in this game. The Knicks haven’t been on the road much since Woodson took over, but they have been successful. Atlanta is licking its wounds after a blowout loss at home. New York will be challenged on the road without Stoudemire, but Carmelo Anthony has stepped up to carry some of the load. There is a pretty good chance that Atlanta will play some defense, so it may come down to whether Atlanta’s shots will fall at a comfortable clip. New York is playing better to its strengths and has been a little more consistent, so it will have a chance. Even without Stoudemire, New York is playing with enough confidence to eek out a win.

Final Score Prediction: Knicks 94, Hawks 93

The Portland Trail Blazers have started shuffling their deck; though they’re not out of the payoff picture, they haven’t met up to lofty expectations this year. The Chicago Bulls lost their MVP to injury but still lay claim to being the beasts in the East after a signature win in their last outing. The new-look Blazers hit the road Friday night to take one the dominant Chicago Bulls in their only meeting of the season. Here’s a look at what to expect from both teams, plus my NBA picks for the game.

 Portland Trail Blazers (20-23) @ Chicago Bulls (36-9), 8 p.m. ET

The Blazers have lost four of their last five games and seven of nine to fall out of the top eight spots in the West – and they also lost head coach Nate McMillan, who was fired Thursday The Blazers also traded away Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace, the Blazers will look different from the one that lost 121-79 at New York Wednesday night. Whether that will be good or bad, of course, remains to be seen. But for now, the Blazers did pick up Jonny Flynn and Mehmet Okur as possible starters, though they’ll be free agents at the end of the year. Statistically, this is a middle-of-the-pack team – it ranks 12 th in the league in scoring (97.1 ppg) and 13 th in scoring defense (95.2 ppg). Oh, and the team is just 6-16 away from home this year.

The Bulls established themselves again as the best in the East when they beat the No. 2 Miami Heat, 106-102, Wednesday night without reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose. Overall, Chicago has won three straight and 11 of 12, the only blemish a 99-94 home hiccup to Orlando – just the Bulls’ third home loss in 21 dates this year. Chicago has been using defense all year, though it has looked human of late, giving up 97 or more points in each of the last five games – more than eight points per game over the teams’ season average. The team, however, is still be top rebounding team in the league (46 rpg), thanks to the efforts of Joakin Noah, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng. The Bulls are tough to beat at home, but this might be a trap game, coming off the win over Miami .

The most recent NBA odds show the Bulls favored by 9 points, while the total is set at 193 points. The tough thing about the trade deadline is when teams change players, sometimes the opposing team has to figure out how the new players fit into the system being run. And after such a pivotal, emotional win vs. Miami without its best player (who may sit out again due to a tricky groin injury) and facing a wounded Blazers team with a new coach and a couple new players, this could easily be a game that Chicago could overlook. Portland won’t roll over with a new voice in the huddle, so this could easily be a closer game than it looks on paper. Chicago should still win, but don’t be surprised to see Portland in it with a chance to win in the fourth quarter.

Final Score Prediction: Bulls 98, Blazers 93

The Portland Trail Blazers were supposed to be a breakthrough team this year, but has recently struggled to stay above .500 and remain one of the eight playoff-eligible teams in the West. The Celtics overcame a brutal start to the season and is in the hunt for the playoffs, but it dealing with trade rumors swirling about their best overall player. A team that has had issues on the road visit a team that only recently has gotten got at home, as the Blazers continue a season-long seven-game road trip with a visit to Beantown to face the Celtics. Here’s a look at what to expect from both teams, plus my final score prediction to help you make your NBA picks tonight.

Portland Trail Blazers (19-20) @ Boston Celtics (20-18), 7:30 p.m. ET

The Blazers have been hampered this year by their lack of success away from the Rose City. Wednesday’s 106-94 loss at Minnesota Wednesday to kick off this road trip was the Blazer’s third straight road loss and fourth in the last five outings. Overall, Portland has lost eight of its last 12 games, and the recent trend has been on defense – in six of the losses, Portland has allowed 100 or more points and three of the four wins came from holding teams to 91 or fewer. With Boston’s overall offensive struggles, Portland may be in a better position to get a win on the road than it has had in a while. LaMarcus Aldridge (21.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg) leads a balanced team with six double-figure scorers on a squad that ranks fifth in the league in scoring (98.1 ppg), though it is an average 13th in scoring defense (94.3 ppg), which is more a by-product of Portland’s tempo.

Boston started this season rather slow, but has come on of late. After a 4-8 start overall and a 4-5 opening to the home schedule, Boston has gone 16-10 overall and 11-3 at home since, though it fell hard Wednesday night at Philadelphia, 103-71, to snap a five-game win streak. Boston is 9-2 in its last 11 home games, including a win over Chicago. The team has succeeded despite the rumor mill swirling about point guard Rajon Rondo (13.8 ppg, 10.1 apg) being traded by next week’s trade deadline. But as long as Boston continues its current roll, it’s unlikely there will be a major deal – and certainly not one involving the teams’ best player. The Celtics rank a stout third in the league in scoring defense (89.8 ppg) despite being dead last in rebounding (39.1 pg). For Boston to overcome its offensive difficulties (90.5 ppg, 26th in the league), it will have to crash the boards hard against an athletic but physical Portland team. That is likely the best way, also, to slow down Portland’s tempo and rhythm on offense.

Looking at the latest NBA odds, Boston is favored by 3 points, while the total has been set for 183. The Celtics have been hamstrung by their offensive issues all season, which has placed a tremendous emphasis on the defensive intensity. Boston seems to do pretty well against Eastern teams, but it has trouble against West teams – especially those who are disciplined and can dictate the tempo of the game. Portland knows what it wants to do due to its experience, but Boston is equally experienced in holding to its defensive philosophy. It will be imperative for Boston to command the flow of the game at home, and probably to an extreme. If Portland can get the game into the 90s, it will have a strong chance of winning. Boston must keep the game in the 80s or lower, and Portland has had the propensity to get sucked into those kinds of games, despite its high-scoring average. Boston will manage to keep Portland in a half-court and that will be enough to eke out a close, competitive game.

Final Score Prediction: Celtics 93, Portland 87

The Milwaukee Bucks are trying desperately to shake out of a recent slide and get back in the playoff chase. Atlanta also wants to remain viable, but it will have to solve the offensive issues that have cost it in recent weeks. A key Eastern Conference matchup takes place Friday night when the Bucks visit the Hawks for their second meeting this season. Atlanta posted a 97-92 win at Milwaukee January 23rd. Here is a look at what to expect from each team, plus some potential NBA picks on the game.

 Milwaukee Bucks (14-21) @Atlanta Hawks (20-15), 7:30 p.m. ET

Milwaukee has flirted with .500 a couple of times this season, most recently getting to 12-14, but has dropped seven of nine games since, including Wednesday’s 102-96 loss at Boston to open a three-game road trip. The Bucks are mid-level on offense, but they have had trouble consistently stopping teams, as they rank just 23 rd in the league in scoring defense (97.5 ppg). The Bucks are balanced offensively, with six players scoring in double figures, but the team has been riddled with injury issues – Andrew Bogut (ankle) is still out and has missed 23 games, Mike Dunleavy has missed 10 games, Stephen Jackson nine and Drew Goodne six. Brandon Jennings (17.9 ppg, 5.4 apg) has carried the load admirably, but he needs at least two additional healthy bodies to give him help. Gooden had a good game Wednesday, but who else will be available to step up?

Atlanta got to 16-6 not long ago and looked like one of the true elite teams in the East. Since then, though, the Hawks have gone 4-9, including Wednesday’s 85-82 loss to Golden State. Offense has been the issue for Atlanta – it has gone five games without scoring more than 83 points and has cleared 90 points just once in its last nine games. That trend may break Friday, but Golden State was considered a weak defensive team as well and Atlanta’s offense looked flat. The Hawks are one of the best defensive teams in the league (91.5 ppg allowed), but are one of the 10 worst offenses (93.0 ppg). This could be a battle of attrition – which will bend first – Atlanta’s offense or Milwaukee’s defense?

The latest NBA odds list the Hawks as 4.5-point favorites, while the over/under is set for 188.5 points. Based on the first meeting, it was Milwaukee’s defense that gave in more, as Atlanta “exploded” for 97 points. If Milwaukee’s defense isn’t shored up, this might be the same result. Atlanta can’t seem to get out of its own way on offense, however, and Atlanta won that first meeting mainly because it was during the team’s 16-6 start and it was riding a cool wave of momentum. Neither team has momentum right now, though Milwaukee does have a post-All-Star break win under its belt already. Atlanta is 2-5 in its last seven home games, while the Bucks are 3-3 in their last six road contests. Atlanta gets a slight advantage in this game, if for no other reason its defense and the friendly rims.

Final Score Prediction: Hawks 90, Bucks 85

The Orlando Magic is trying to close the first half of this NBA season on a roll and keep itself near the top of the East standings. The Atlanta Hawks would love to end their first half on a positive note and end a skid that has kept them from reaching the milestone 20-win mark in the first half. Two teams that are battling for position among the top-four Eastern teams will face off Thursday night when the Magic pay a visit to Atlanta – both coming off road games the night before. Atlanta won the first meeting this year, pulling out an 89-87 overtime win in Orlando Feb. 10. Here’s a look at tonight’s matchup, plus my possible NBA picks for the game.

Orlando Magic (22-12) @ Atlanta Hawks (19-14), 7:30 p.m. ET

Orlando is riding a 6-1 streak into Thursday’s game against the Hawks. Of course, with Dwight Howard and coach Stan Van Gundy, the Magic is known for its defense and rebounding, as it lists fifth in the NBA in points allowed (91.1 ppg) and ninth in rebounds per game (43.3). The team does have some balance in that five players score in double figures, paced by Howard (20.3 ppg, plus a league-leading 15.3 rpg). That balance is necessary for the Magic to score consistently, because teams are devising ways to slow down Howard inside and dare Orlando to win on the perimeter. It’s likely that will be the case again with Atlanta.

Atlanta would love to end the first half with a win, as they have lost 5 of their last 6 games overall. Offensive struggles don’t bode well for a team that is already mediocre on offense (94 ppg), and facing one of the best defensive teams in the league. If there is a bright spot, it is that Atlanta has a top-10 defensive team (91.7 ppg, ranking seventh in the NBA). The team has had to muddle through without Al Horford, who has played just 11 games due to injury. Zaza Pachulia (7.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg) has been valiant in his place, but Horford’s absence means a shortage of bodies to bang with Howard, which then limits the strategic and tactical options available to the coaching staff in how to handle Orlando’s inside-out offense.

Our latest NBA odds show the Magic favored by 4, while the total has been set at just 177 points. Atlanta won the first meeting with Orlando by sheer will in a very low-scoring game (despite going to overtime). For Atlanta to do that again, it will have to rely on Joe Johnson and Jeff Teague to post big games, and Pachulia might have to double his scoring and rebounding average to essentially neutralize Howard. Orlando has some momentum and confidence coming into this game, while Atlanta could use a confidence boost with its current struggles. In another very tight, competitive game, Orlando may just have too much Dwight Howard for Atlanta. It will be a tight game either way, but on the back end of a back-to-back, jump shots tend to be a little short, so the emphasis will likely be in the paint – and Howard has the advantage over Pachulia.

Final Score Prediction: Orlando 89, Atlanta 84

The Golden State Warriors have become more competitive of late whiel still implementing a fun, up-tempo offense they’ve been known for over the last 20-plus years. The Oklahoma City Thunder also likes to run, and it has been running teams out of the gym while playing decent defense to keep teams at bay. These two have played two high-scoring games this year, and the Warriors and Thunder will renew acquaintances Friday night in Oklahoma. Here is a preview on the game, plus my NBA picks for it.

Golden State Warriors (11-15) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (22-7), 8 p.m. ET

The Warriors saw their three-game winning streak game to an end Wednesday night at home, falling 93-91 against Portland. However, Golden State had beaten Houston and Denver in recent days, and played the Thunder to within three points at home just before the streak. Golden State ranks fourth in the league in scoring (99.1 ppg), but is among the five worst defensive teams (100.2 ppg), so it appears it will have to outscore teams to win. Five players score in double figures, but the team has raised its level of play of later alongside the recent rise of David Lee, who had 29 points and 11 rebounds vs. Portland and averages 19.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He likely will need a great game Friday to keep Golden State in reach of an upset of Oklahoma City.

The Thunder, relative to its hot start, is sort of stumbling along, losing 96-95 at Houston Wednesday night to split its last four games. However, the Thunder has not stumbled much at home, posting a 10-1 mark on its home court, winning the last seven since a 103-93 loss to Portland. In two games in Oakland, the Thunder had no trouble with its third-ranked offense (103.1 ppg), scoring 120 and 119 in the two wins. This is still a three-man perimeter show, led by Kevin Durant (27.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Russell Westbrook (22.8 ppg, 5.5 apg) and reserve guard James Harden (16.8 ppg, 3.5 apg).

The latest NBA odds list the Thunder as 10-point favorites, while the total sits at 208. Since David Lee has stepped up and played well the last few games, the Warriors have pulled off fa couple of nice wins and have seriously challenged good teams like Oklahoma City and Portland – the last two losses by a combined five points. Oklahoma City is a perimeter-oriented team with not much of an inside threat, so teams with a presence can stay close and have a chance. If Lee has a strong game and demands the ball inside, he alone could control tempo and keep OKC around 100-105 rather than 115-120 points, which just might be the secret to winning this track meet. Golden State has been better of late, but the Thunder is at home and won’t take the Warriors lightly. OKC should win, but it may not be very lopsided – and should be entertaining for those who like full-court basketball.

Final Score Prediction: Thunder 105, Warriors 96

The Atlanta Hawks have been without two centers in the post recently, and have struggled as a result. Maybe hitting the road will help take off some pressure. Meanwhile, down in Florida the Orlando Magic continue to succeed with defense. Coming off a win over its in-state rival will certainly give the Magic some confidence entering Friday’s home contest with the Hawks. This will be the first of three meetings between the teams this year. Here’s a look at my NBA picks and a preview on the game.

Atlanta Hawks (17-9) @ Orlando Magic (16-10), 7 p.m. ET

Atlanta had lost three straight home games (after an 8-1 start) without the services of centers Al Horford (torn pectoral) and Jason Collins (elbow), but did finish the homestand with a 97-87 victory Wednesday night vs. Indiana. With Horford out potentially the rest of the regular season and Collins out at least another week, the pressure of the post game has had to fall on Josh Smith (15.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg) and Zaza Pachulia (6.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg). Clearly, without Horford or Collins to provide that physical presence to make Dwight Howard work, the Hawks will have some trouble containing Orlando’s big man. That means that Joe Johnson (18.6 ppg, 3.7 apg), Jeff Teague (12.3 ppg. 5.0 apg) and Marvin Williams (10.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg) will have to help defensively and likely do much more than their season averages to keep Atlanta in the game. The good news is, Atlanta is sound defensively, ranking fifth in the league in scoring defense (91.3 ppg) – so they will find a way to either corral Howard or control the perimeter.

The Magic enter this game with a 4-1 mark in its last five games, most recently posting a 102-89 win over Sunshine State rival Miami Wednesday night. Howard was the story in that game, overshadowing Miami’s “Big Three” by posting 25 points, 24 rebounds, three steals and two blocks to help the Magic to the win. Howard is key to opening up the Magic’s perimeter game, which lit up Miami with 17 3-pointers at a 41-percent clip. With Atlanta so short-handed inside, it will be a case of “pick your poison” with Orlando – let Howard dominate you inside, or leave the shooters free at the arc? Ryan Anderson posted 27 points and had five triples in Wednesday’s game to lead the perimeter attack. Orlando has another advantage in that it also is a very good defensive team, ranking eighth in the NBA in points allowed (91.6 ppg).

The latest NBA odds list the Magic as 5-point favorites, while the total is set for 182 points. On paper, this does not look good for Atlanta. Even if it was at full strength, the team was going to be challenged as to how to best defend the Magic, who have Howard patrolling the paint and very good shooters around him on the perimeter (Anderson, Jason Richardson, J.J. Redick, Hedo Turkoglu, among others). Atlanta’s best hoope might be to become a Western Conference team and try to run at ever opportunity – the Hawks may have a speed and athleticism advantage. But if Orlando stays within its disciplined system and dictates tempo on its home floor the Magic should come away with the win. A game around 90 points will be in Orlando’s favor; Atlanta’s chances go up if hey can get the game near 100 points.

Final Score Prediction: Orlando Magic 98, Atlanta Hawks 86

The New York Knicks finally broke out with one of their highest-scoring games of the season their last time out, taking out some frustration from a rough stretch. The Boston Celtics have also struggled, but they have started turning the corner and finally got above .500 this week. The two longtime Atlantic Division rivals will renew acquaintances and try to pay forward some positive momentum when the two meet at TD Garden Friday night. This is the second of four meetings this year, with the Knicks winning the first, 106-104, at home in the season-opener Christmas Day. Here is a preview and my NBA picks for the game.

New York Knicks (8-14) @ Boston Celtics (11-10), 8 p.m. ET

The Knicks got out to a 6-4 start to the season, but had lost nine of 10 since until breaking out with a 113-86 thumping of Detroit at home Tuesday night. This game will be the second of three in three nights, as New York hosted Chicago Thursday night, visits Boston Friday and returns home to face the Nets Saturday. The Knicks had their highest scoring regulation effort since pouring in 114 against Sacramento in December, burying the Pistons with 60-percent shooting from the floor and a 25-point night from leading scorer Carmelo Anthony in his first game back after missing a week with injuries. If ‘Melo is truly healthy, his presence changes the dynamic of the New York offense and may make the Knicks once again competitive like they were expected to be when the season began. The Knicks will need to improve on their 15 th -ranked scoring offense to make up for mediocre defense (16 th , 95.1 ppg) and rebounding (17 th , 41.9 pg).

The Celtics, meanwhile, seem to have found their groove. After a home loss to Phoenix, Boston has won six of seven, with the lone loss a one-point fall-from-ahead loss to Cleveland. Most recently, Boston buried the Raptors Wednesday night, 100-64, to open a five-game homestand. Interestingly, the Celtics have played this recent stretch without starting point guard Rajon Rondo (wrist), who may be back in the lineup Friday. In the eight games he has missed, the Celtics have shot better and played better defense. Whether that continues with Rondo back will be an interesting X-factor for this game. The C’s are second in the league in scoring defense (86.9 ppg), but are one of the worst units in scoring (90.3 ppg, 25 th ) and rebounding (38.6 pg, 29 th ).

The latest NBA odds show the Celtics favored by 6.5 points, while the total is set for 182. Anthony’s health and Rondo’s effectiveness if he plays will both play a role in this matchup. With New York playing three-in-three here, coach Mike D’Antoni will likely be forced to play deeper into his bench than his usual eight-man rotation, which could make his team very vulnerable. But like so many games in the NBA, this will be a battle of tempo. New York won the first meeting at home because it dictated tempo and got into triple-digits. It might not need to hit 100 to win, but New York might need to reach at least 96 points to pull off the win. Boston has gotten back to its tenacious defensive self lately as part of this current run, and until New York can prove that the Detroit game wasn’t just a fluke, it will be hard to go against the home team in this game. It is an intense rivalry and these two teams are pretty closely matched talent-wise, but the slight edge goes to the Celtics.

Final Score Prediction: Celtics 89, Knicks 84