Sports Handicapper Jim Feist's Picks & Predictions

This Eastern Conference series moves to Atlanta tonight for game three as the Hawks look to take 2-1 advantage and hold home court against the Sixers. The Sixers rebounded from their game one loss at home with a 118-102 win in game two. The Hawks find themselves a 1.5 point home dog here tonight. Atlanta has been a good covering team at home, going 25-13 and 20-6 ATS over their last 26 at home. Philly forward Joel Embiid always seems to be the focal point with his injuries. Embiid is questionable with a knee injury tonight. The Hawks have only trailed at the half in one playoff game and that was game two vs Philly. As for the total, the Sixers have gone under in four of their last five games. They are also 4-12 O/U in their last 16 games as a road favorite. Atlanta has gone under in six of their last seven games as a playoff dog. They are also 2-8 O/U in their last 10 overall games. I'll take the UNDER here tonight.

 This Eastern Conference series moves to Atlanta tonight for game three as the Hawks look to take 2-1 advantage and hold home court against the Sixers. The Sixers rebounded from their game one loss at home with a 118-102 win in game two. The Hawks find themselves a 1.5 point home dog here tonight. Atlanta has been a good covering team at home, going 25-13 and 20-6 ATS over their last 26 at home. Philly forward Joel Embiid always seems to be the focal point with his injuries. Embiid is questionable with a knee injury tonight. The Hawks have only trailed at the half in one playoff game and that was game two vs Philly. This is a team that gets out of the gate fast and I look for that again here tonight. This Hawks team very good at home and I'll take them as a short home dog. Play Atlanta.

The Denver Nuggets in desperate need a win here in game three as the venue returns to the Mile High City. It's been two blowout victories for the Suns thus far, including Wednesday night's 123-98 mismatch. Chris Paul has been the catalyst for the Suns in the playoffs, with 26 assists and just one turnover in the first two games of this series. The Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokic has been excellent, averaging 23 points and 11 points through the first two games. However, after Jokic, there hasn't been much help. Home court can definitely help and the Nuggets know they can't go down 0-3 and have any chance. This is their best effort game right here. Play Denver.

Interleague action here on Friday has the LA Angels vising the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Angels are in fourth in the AL West, 6-games back of division leading Oakland. The Angels have played much better of late, winning three straight and seven of their last 10 games. The Arizona Diamondbacks are done for this year, they play in the very competitive NL West where they are in last place, 19-games back. They have lost seven straight games and eight of their last 10 games. The Angels start Shohei Ohtani, who is 2-1 in his eight starts. Ohtani has a 2.76 ERA and has allowed more than two runs just once in his last five starts. Merrill Kelly starts for the D'backs. Kelly is 2-6 in his 12 starts with a 5.12 ERA. Kelly has allowed nine earned runs over his last 12 2/3 innings. Hard to be on the D'backs side as bad as they have played. Take the LA Angels.

 The Oakland A's holding onto their slim lead in the AL West with a 1-game advantage of second place Houston. The A's look to extend that lead here tonight at home against the Kansas City Royals. The Royals are in their place in the AL Central, 7.5-games back of the White Sox. The Royals will start Brady Singer tonight. Singer is 3-5 in his 12 starts with a 4.88 ERA and 5.91 road ERA. Singer has allowed 12 runs over his last three starts (14 innings). Cole Irvin will toe the rubber for the A's. Irvin is 4-7 in his 12 starts with a 3.89 ERA. Irvine is coming off a nice start at Colorado where he allowed just one run over six innings for the Win. I'll take the A's here tonight at home with the slightly better starter on the hill. Play Oakland.