We’re back for another NBA Starting Five Multi! There are only three fixtures to choose from this week, so I’ve had to pull in a few unfamiliar faces.

POINT GUARD:  Tyrese Maxey
Starting at the Point, I have the 76ers’ only productive asset this season, Tyrese Maxey. Despite Philly losing just about every time they step out on the court, Maxey has enjoyed a productive season from a personal standpoint. The young Guard has averaged 26-4-6 on the season and 29-3-7 across his last nine games. I’m taking him to drop another 25+ points on the way to another Sixers defeat.

SHOOTING GUARD: CJ McCollum
To accompany Maxey in the backcourt, I am taking CJ McCollum at Shooting Guard. CJ has been balling out for NOLA recently, dropping 45 against the Jazz and 30+ on each of his previous two appearance against the Grizz this season. I have him lighting it up from deep again here, dropping 25+ points.

SMALL FORWARD: Miles Bridges
At Small Forward I have Mile Bridges from the Hornets, who will be taking the court against the Trail-Blazers. Bridges has averaged 21-8-5 across his last ten games, scoring 20+ points in his previous five appearances. I’m taking him to put up 15+.

POWER FORWARD: Jaren Jackson Jr.
With the Hottest 100 playing this Saturday, it’s only appropriate I take Triple J as my Power Forward. Jaren Jackson Jr. has averaged 23-6-2 on the seasons and 26 points across his last 10 starts, while also scoring 56 points across his last two games against the Pels. I have him to hit at least 20 points in this game.

CENTER: Mark Williams
Finally at center, I’m bringing in Mark Williams from the Hornets. The little known 7 footer is dominating the paint on the defensive end for Charlotte, grabbing 13+ boards in his last four games. I have him collecting at least another 10 against Portland.

The Pacers take on the Spurs for the first time this season, with both teams trending in opposite directions.

Indiana is the form side in the comp in 2025, winning eight of their 10 games this year, including victories against Cleveland and Boston!

Meanwhile, the Spurs are 3-7 across the same trip, and 1-6 across their last seven games.

On current form, a -2.5 line looks like an absolute steal for the home side here.

The Clippers and the Wizards are set to meet for the 2nd and final time this season, with the LA side taking out the previous matchup by 25 points.

Just when you think they’ve hit rock bottom, Washington continue to find a way to stoop to a new low.

The Wiz have lost 10 straight games, and hold a league-low 6 wins, with the next worst side (Utah) at least hitting double figures.

Meanwhile, the Clippers are 11-3 against sides with a losing record, a category Washington well and truly fall into.

I’m taking the hosts to cover.

The Kings look to build on a solid start to the calendar year (8-1), when they play host to the Warriors, a side they recently bettered by 30-points on the road.

Alternatively, the Dubs regression has been substantial, after starting the season 13-3, the 2022 Champs have won 9 of their last 27 games, leaving them sitting 11th in the West.

Without a clear and obvious move in the trade market, I can only see things getting worse for the Warriors.

I’m taking the Kings to go 2-0 against the Pacific division rivals.

The Cavs travel to Houston to take on the Rockets in what should be a highly competitive fixture.

Cleveland hold the best away record in the league, winning 15 of their 19 games on the road, with their only loss outside of Cleveland in 2025 coming against OKC.

Meanwhile, the Rockets are 2nd in the West, with a 28-14 record, going 14-7 at home, although their last home fixture was a defeat to the Pistons.

The Rockets are piecing together a solid breakout season, but they are still far from the finished product, which shows in their record against sides with sides .500 and above, going 16-11.

I’m taking the Cavs to continue their dominance on the road, covering the slight -1 handicap on offer.

The Nuggets take on the 76ers for the first time this season, with an eye on climbing into the top three seeds in the West.

Denver are 7-3 across their last 10 games and are searching for a third straight win here.

Meanwhile, the Sixers are three games outside of the Eastern Conference play-in bracket, with Nick Nurse struggling to get his preferred starters on the floor.

With Joel Embiid sitting through injury, Jokic should have the run of the floor here, and I am taking him to lead the Nuggs to a comfortable home victory.

The Lakers have been handed a timely victory as they prepare to take on the Wizards in LA.

The Wiz are on a 9-game losing streak, and have only won one of 18 games on the road this season!

LA has enjoyed playing sides with a losing record this season, going 11-1 against such teams, a huge contrast to their 11-17 record against +.500 sides.

I have the Lakers winning, and winning comfortably.

The Dubs and the Celts meet for the 2nd and final time this season, with the host looking to complete a double over the reigning champs.

The Warriors are looking to secure a third straight win after seeing off the Timberwolves, and the Wizards recently, but are still off the pace in the West, sitting 10th in the conference standings.

Alternatively, the Celtics are 2nd in the East, but are 6-4 across their last 10 games and are entering this class off the back of an OT defeat to the Hawks.

Steph Curry dropped 27 points in the Warriors last win against the Celtics, and I’m backing him to have another productive day from beyond the arc.

The Clippers look to make it four wins on the Trott when they play host to the Bulls on Tuesday arvo.

The Bulls have lost four straight games, all of which were against mediocre outfits, such as Charlotte and the Pels.

LA has turned the new Intuit Dome into a fortress this season, faint 14-6 at home, while also going 14-6 against the spread in those fixtures.

I’m backing the Clippers to see off the Bulls with relative ease here.

POINT GUARD: SGA 30+ Points
OKC are set to take on the Mavs for the third time this season, with their series poised at 1-1. Shai is currently leading the league in scoring with 31.4 points per games and has dropped 75 points on Dallas across two starts.

SHOOTING GUARD: Antony Edwards 4+ 3PT FGs
Anthony Edwards has publicly criticised his team’s performances of late, suggesting the T-Wolves starting five has not shown enough fight. Antman has a elevated his game from beyond the arc this season, averaging 4.2 3PT FGs per game, while hitting over 4 threes in six of his last seven starts.

SMALL FORWARD: Jayson Tatum 10+ Rebounds
At Small Forward I am taking Jayson Tatum, who leads the Celts in Points, Rebounds, Assists, and Steals this season! Deuce has been consistant on the boards of late, grabbing 10+ rebounds in four of his last five starts. I’m backing him to dominate the glass once again.

POWER FORWARD: Paolo Banchero 25+ Points
Sticking with the same game, I have Paolo Banchero starting at Power Forward. Since his return from injury, Banchero has averaged 25-7-4 and will be expected to shoulder most of the offensive burden against the Celts, with Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs missing through injury.

CENTER: Victor Wembanyama 4+ Blocks
Wemby looks to be a lock for defensive player of the year, with the Alien averaging a league-high four blocks per game. The lengthy Frenchman imposed his dominance under the rim against the Grizzlies last time out, amassing a handy 8 blocks. I have him to pick up at least four again here.

The league’s two best sides are set to face each other for the 2nd time in a week, as the Cavs look to complete a regular season sweep over the Thunder.

Cleveland ended Oklahoma’s 15-game winning streak last Thursday (AEST), claiming a 7-point victory infant of their home crowd, with twin talls, Allen and Mobley combining for 46 points and 21 boards.

OKC’s home record is 2nd to none, they’ve gone 17-2 in Oklahoma, while also going 12-5-1 against the spread.

Thins is bound to be a cracking fixture, I’m taking the Thunder to even the ledger and cover the line as home favourites.

The Kings host the Rockets for the 2nd time this season, and will be looking to go 2-0 against their Conference rivals.

Sacramento are 7-3 across their last 10 games, but enter this fixture off the back of a poor defensive showing in Milwaukee, going down to the Bucks 115-130.

Similarly, the Rockets are 7-3 across their las t10 games, and are eyeing off their fifth straight win, as they look to consolidate 2nd place in the Western standings.

Houston are a credible 12-6 on the road this season, and are 11-6 against the spread in such fixtures.

This will be the 2nd of back-to-back games for the Rockets, who have thrived without rest this season, covering the line in seven of 11 games which their opponents had a rest advantage.

The Rockets show up to play every time they step foot onto the hardwood, and I have them covering the spread in this tough road fixture.

The Knicks head to Philly looking to go 2-0 against their Atlantic devision rivals.

Both sides enter this match-up with a 5-5 record across their last 10 respective games, though the Knicks are sitting comfortably in 3rd in the East, while the Sixers are 11th, and three games outside of the play-in bracket.

Philly are a horrendous 6-11 at home this season, and 4-13 against the spread in those fixtures.

Meanwhile, the Knicks are 13-8 on the road, and an impressive 6-1 against devision rivals.

I have the Knicks to cover at Wells Fargo Center.

The T-Wolves look to even the ledger with the Dubs this season, when they welcome Curry and co to the Target Center on Thursday arvo (AEST).

Both sides are enduring mediocre seasons, the Warriors aer 19-20, sitting below the play-in bracket and look void of ideas, while Minnesota hasn’t looked the same since trading away KAT.

The T-Wolves are 10-8 in Minnesota this season, with one of their eight losses coming against the Dubs at the tailed of last year.

With both sides floundering at the minute, I’d much rather concentrate on the player markets for this fixture, specifically the 3PT FG markets.

Unsurprisingly, Steph is wavering 4.4 3-pointers made per game, 2nd highest in the league, not far behind is Antman, whose 4.2 3PT FGs puts him in 3rd.

I’m taking both perimeter superstars to knock down 3+ 3PT FG’s a piece.

Many people questioned Sacramento’s decision to sack head coach Mike Brown, and rightfully so, with the former Dubs assistant winning coach of the year just two seasons back.

The Kings are currently proving all those doubters wrong, going unbeaten across their last seven games, the longest current winning streak in the league.

They travel to take on a Bucks side, who are neither here nor there at the moment, going 5-5 across their last 10 games, and lingering just above the play-in bracket in the East.

The Kings have won their last three away fixtures comfortably, and I’m backing them to shock the Bucks on the road.

Dallas plays host to the Nuggets for the 2nd straight game across three days, after losing by 11 points on Monday.

Understandably, the Mavs have largely struggled without the services of Luka and Kyrie, losing seven of their last 10 games.

Meanwhile, the Nuggs are 7-3 across the same trip, and are looking to secure a fourth straight victory.

Without their two star guards, I don’t think the Mavericks have the fire power to hang with Denver, and I have them losing this game comfortably.

Phoenix def Utah
After sliding out of the play-in bracket, the Suns can ill afford to drop a game against conference whipping boys the Jazz. Phoenix have already bettered Utah twice this season, and should take a third W at home.

Detroit def Toronto
The Pistons are 8-2 across their last 10 games and are making a real crack at it in the West, where they are on track to compete for a spot in the playoffs. Alternatively, the Raptors are 1-9 across the same trip, 1-16 on the road, 0-2 against Detroit, and are clearly tanking their season.

LA Clippers def Charlotte
Finally the Clippers host the Hornets at their new Arena, a court which they are 12-6 on this season. Conversely, Charlotte are a lowly 2-14 on the road this season, and although they’re an entertaining watch, the young side are yet to figure out how to win.