8 Jan 11 NBA Friday Key Games Preview

Elsa/Getty ImagesThis Friday with all of the March Madness Brackets finding their way to the trash bins around the country, the NBA has a full slate of action. With playoff spots and favorable seedings at stake, the drama will be high not only in college basketball this weekend, but in the pro as well.Friday Key GamesUtah Jazz (44-24, 4th in Western Conference) @ Phoenix Suns (42-26, 6th in Western Conference)Sportsbook: NBA Odds (*lines are approximations as they have not been posted at the time of writing.)Spread: Phoenix -Denver Broncos jersey
2Over/Under: 225Money Line: Phoenix -130, Utah +110The Jazz and Suns meet with a possibility that this game will foreshadow a first round playoff matchup. PG Deron Williams and PF Carlos Boozer have outplayed PG Steve Nash and PF Amare Stoudamire significantly in their two wins over the Suns earlier this season. Both teams are coming into the game 7-3 in their last ten games and are playing their best ball at the right time of the season.The Suns are renowned for not playing defense and trying to outscore teams. The Jazz can score with anybody and the Suns particular style of play eats right into the hands of the Jazz. Nash has 11 turnovers in the two losses to Utah this year and Boozer has outrebounded Stoudamire 35- 12. Those numbers spell disaster and will again in Phoenix on Friday.Final: Utah 124 - Phoenix 117Boston Celtics (43-24, t-3rd in Eastern Conference) @ Houston Rockets (35-31, 9th in Western Conference)Bookmaker Review (*lines approximated)Spread: Boston -4.5Over/Under: 209Money Line: Boston -175, Detroit Lions
Houston +150The Houston Rockets sit 4.5 games behind Portland for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. They can afford to lose too many games with only 14 left in the season. Boston and the aging Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce stand in their way. Sitting in a tie for third in the East with the young Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics have had trouble losing to playoff teams (lost to Milwaukee, Memphis and Cleveland in the past two weeks) while handling the non-playoff teams (Washington, Indiana, New York and Detroit). The interesting question is how they will handle a fringe playoff team like Houston. The Rockets have not been playing like a team that wants to watch the playoffs from the comforts of a sofa and are 7-3 in their last 10 with wins over Denver and Memphis earlier in the week. Luis Scola has come alive for Houston and is averaging 26 points and 11 rebounds in his last five games. Aaron Brooks has been better than his season averages and has 23.8 points and 5.8 assists per that same time span. Green Bay Packers jersey
Boston looks disinterested at times on the boards and the athleticism of Garnett with his knee is a shell of what he once was. Scola will have to hear plenty of trash-talking, but right now he is a better player and will lead the Rockets to a big victory over a likely one and done in the playoffs.Final: Houston 108 Boston 101. Take Houston +150Two-Team Parlay: Rockets, Jazz on the money line. (*also check out our March Madness Odds)