Rating: 2 Units

Thursday’s games have been excluded from the analysis, and the 51-24 Denver Nuggets hosted the New Orleans Pelicans, searching for their fifth consecutive victory. Over their previous four showings, the Nuggets have beaten the Brooklyn Nets 108-102, Washington Wizards 118-104, Milwaukee Bucks 129-106, and Philadelphia 76ers 116-111. Last Monday, Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double of 25 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists to lift his team over the 76ers, who missed both Joel Embiid and James Harden. The Nuggets shot 50.6% from the field and posted a terrific 34/12 assist-to-turnover ratio. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Thunder have won four of their last seven games. They are playing well offensively, scoring more than 119 points per game in their last three games. They’ve taken advantage of their opportunities at the charity stripe, making over 80 percent of their free throws. They rebound the ball well and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, grabbing more than 11 offensive rebounds per game on the road, which will give them more scoring chances. They also cut back on their turnovers in recent games, and won’t give the Pacers a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Pacers have one of the worst defenses in the league and they’re playing worse at the moment, giving up more than 135 points per game in their last three games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Thunder in this game. The Pacers have lost six of their last seven games and three straight home games. Despite their slump, they are playing well offensively, scoring more than 120 points per game in their last three games. Their rebounding dropped off in their last three games, so don’t expect them to get a lot of extra-scoring chances against the Thunder. They’ve also been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Thunder, who more than 10 steals per game in their last three games. Even though the Thunder have struggled defensively on the road, they played well in their last two road games and won’t have trouble keeping Indiana’s offense in check.

Rating: 2 Units

Seattle's fans are known for being so loud they annually draw the most false-start penalties in the NFL. It seems they've taken that same approach across the street to T-Mobile Park. Mariners manager Scott Servais and his players credited the sold-out crowd for helping them to a 3-0 victory Thursday in the season opener against the Cleveland Guardians. The four-game series continues in Seattle on Friday night, when Mariners left-hander Robbie Ray (12-12, 3.71 ERA last season) will try to keep the momentum going. Ray is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in four career appearances against Cleveland, including three starts. With Triston McKenzie on the injured list with a strained teres major muscle in his right shoulder, the Guardians are set to start rookie right-hander Hunter Gaddis (0-2, 18.41 ERA last season). Gaddis will be facing the Mariners for the first time.

Rating: 2 Units

Left-hander David Peterson, regarded just last month as the New York Mets' sixth- or seventh-best starting option, is already in the two-hole. Peterson, 27, will face the host Miami Marlins tonight after the Mets won 5-3 on Opening Day. The reason for Peterson's promotion is the Mets have two starters on the injured list. Projected fifth starter Jose Quintana (rib surgery) isn't expected back until at least July, and new co-ace Justin Verlander, who pitched for the Houston Astros last year and won his third Cy Young Award, was placed on the injured list Thursday due to a muscle strain. This is Peterson's fourth year in the majors. Last season, he won a career-high seven games, going 7-5 with a 3.83 ERA in 28 appearances (19 starts). Peterson has been good in five career appearances (four starts) against the Marlins, going 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA.

Rating: 2 Units

The Atlanta Hawks have won two of their last three games including a home win against the Cavaliers on Tuesday. The Brooklyn Nets have been hit or miss recently. They have dropped six of their last eight games including disappointing losses against the Kings and Magic. They only covered twice in that eight-game span. The Hawks continue to dazzle offensively, averaging a remarkable 127 points in their last five games. Atlanta is hot from three-point range where they have connected on 38.6% of their threes in their last three games. This is key as the Nets give up plenty of threes, ranking 25th in the NBA in three-point defense. The Nets have not been reliable at home, going 1-4 in their last five home games, covering just once.