BRK @ SAS: This is the first real test for Brooklyn since the firing of coach Avery Johnson. Brook Lopez ran roughshod over the lowly Bobcats and the shorthanded Cavaliers. He’ll be hounded by Duncan and Splitter tonight, so Deron Williams will need to look for others. Gerald Wallace, playing with a sore knee, has scored just 15 points in three games, concentrating mostly on defense. A big game from Joe Johnson is their best hope. San Antonio might be a little tired in this back-to-back, but they won fairly easily in Dallas and are deep enough to find the hot hands.
ATL @ HOU: When you visit Houston, there will be scoring. James Harden will do most of it, but opponents also run up the score. If Josh Smith (hip flexor) has to miss another game, Zaza Pachulia will probably get another start and Al Horford will play PF. Jeff Teague vs. Jeremy Lin is an entertaining PG duel, and Louis Williams — one of the league’s best sixth men — has been very good since joining the starting five. The Hawks have won four straight and are 8-4 on the road, but this could go either way. Rockets PF Patrick Patterson (foot) has returned to limited minutes behind Marcus Morris; that could evolve into a timeshare.
PHO @ OKC: The final game of 2102 is a mismatch. The Thunder, well aware of what the Clippers are doing, are 15-2 at home and the Suns have lost nine straight on the road. Even if Goran Dragic wasn’t bruised all over after a hard fall, he’d have a tough evening against Russell Westbrook, and I presume Jared Dudley gets the unenviable task of chasing Kevin Durant. Phoenix got a big game from Luis Scola in Minnesota, but he’ll get special attention from Serge Ibaka.
The Spin is here by 9:00 EST, every day. My DraftStreet Diary appears later each morning. Don’t miss yesterday’s Fantasy Planner by Jeff Nichols, with a schedule analysis and tips for Week 10. Follow us on Twitter — @SheridanFantasy — for updates and roster advice.