Progsport Basketball Prediction

9th in the Eastern Conference 15 wins - 17 losses Chicago is still in discussions to make a top 10 in the Eastern Conference. Indeed, Billy Donovan's players have certainly lost a few places, but should remain around these positions in the months to come. On the other hand, their approach this year is very cyclical for the moment, like 5 successes collected Cavaliers times 2, Hawks times 2 and 76ers, for a setback in front of the Milwaukee Bucks 103-112 and Minnesota Timberwolves 101-136. The New Orleans Pelicans 15th, 8 victories - 26 defeats will not go far this year. Comeback possible? Yeah at the limit for the Play-in. But knowing that the teams that revolve around this place are already much stronger than New Orleans, we let you imagine the damage in a head-on clash in front of the OKC Thunder, or Denver Nuggets... For the moment Zion Williamson's partners have also opted for a very cyclical approach. The NOLA Pelicans fell with honors to the Knicks in the last game 125-130.

Return of Giannis Antetokounmpo and return of good results for Doc Rivers' men. Like a wave of a magic wand, Milwaukee found a lot of consistency and accuracy under the leadership of its super Greek. Even more, Cream City won its matches against direct competitors for the top 10, the first being Chicago in Illinois 103-112 and the second the Charlotte Hornets 113-123 in North Carolina. Now against the Washington Wizards the opportunity is too good not to triple the bet. Should the Washington Wizards be happy to no longer occupy last place? Or on the contrary ask questions for the future? A bit of both because if Washington finds itself in 14th place it is of course because Indiana has given up 9 defeats in a row but also a bit because Washington has won 2 of the last 3 games in the NBA in front of the Toronto Raptors 138-117 and the Memphis Grizzlies 116-112. 

After losing 3 clashes against the Spurs, 111-109 for the great return of V.Wembanyama, 130-110 in Texas for Act II, and during Christmas in OKC 102-117, the leader of the Western Conference and reigning champion has resumed its march forward. The two tests against two teams from the Eastern Conference went perfectly, firstly against the Philadelphia 76ers deprived of Jo Embiid with a score of 129-104 and secondly against the Atlanta Hawks 140-129. Portland to start with this little info that you probably remember, was the first team this year to knock off the defending champion OKC in November 125-121 in the Moda Center. Since the OKC Thunder took revenge for the first time at home on the 24th of the same month 122-95 and finally 115-123 in the Moda Center on December 1st. The Portland Trail Blazers 10th, 14 wins - 19 losses beat the Boston Celtics 114-108 and then the Dallas Mavericks 125-122. 

The Toronto Raptors version 2025-26 is a success on all levels for the moment. Last year the team flirted with 65% defeats, when this year we find it in 4th position in the ranking with a solid record of 20 victories - 14 defeats. How did Toronto get here? The arrival of Brandon Ingram, the obvious complementarity with Scottie Barnes. Toronto is moving forward, winning matches, like the Toronto Raptors' last two successes ahead of the Golden State Warriors 141-127 and the Orlando Magic 107-106. Opposite, the Denver Nuggets occupy 3rd place in the Western Conference 22 wins - 10 losses but will have to deal with the absence of Nikola Jokic for the coming weeks. Injured in the knee, the Serbian avoided the worst, but will still be absent for 1 month. Passing through Florida to challenge the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat, the Colorado players initially surrendered 127-126 and 147-123 during the match in which Jokic injured his knee. 

After a success against the reigning champion and leader of the Western Conference, the OKC Thunder, 111-109, then 130-110, and as part of Christmas in OKC 102-117, San Antonio took 2nd place in the ranking 23 wins - 9 losses. In overflowing confidence, "Wemby" and his gang nevertheless lost their means in front of the modest formation of the Utah Jazz with a score of 114-127 and finally in front of the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-113 although not in their best form. You will have understood, these two defeats in a row are a real problem for the SA Spurs. One thing stands out now, when you see the 15 teams in the East, it is the ranking of the 2nd Knicks which certainly has not changed, but the latter have moved considerably closer to the 1st Detroit Pistons by now only conceding one small defeat behind the latter. While the Pistons had fun losing to Utah then to the Clippers, New York for its part took care of winning its last 3 games in front of the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-124, the Atlanta Hawks 125-128 and the Pelicans 125-130.