New Year's Day NBA Action

Happy New Year, and what better way to kick off 2026 than watching Kevin Durant torch his former franchise? The Rockets have been one of the league's best stories this season, with Durant's July trade completely transforming this roster into a legitimate contender. Houston's sitting at 22-12 and playing with an offensive efficiency that's reminiscent of those mid-2010s Warriors teams - KD makes everything look so effortless.

Brooklyn, meanwhile, is living through the aftermath of blowing up their superteam experiment. At 13-21, the Nets are firmly in tank mode, and their defensive rating of 118.2 is bottom-five in the league. They've lost eight of their last ten games, and the Barclays Center crowd has been noticeably thin during this losing stretch. There's simply no answer for what Durant brings when he's locked in.

The 5.5-point spread feels about right. Houston's been dominant on the road this season (11-5 away from Toyota Center), and they're catching a Nets team with zero playoff aspirations. Durant should treat this as a homecoming - expect 30+ from the Slim Reaper as he reminds Brooklyn what they traded away. Rockets roll.

The Heat culture against the Pistons' rebuild - this should be interesting. Miami's been maddeningly inconsistent this season, sitting right at .500 with wins over elite teams followed by inexplicable losses to lottery squads. Jimmy Butler's "questionable" status seems to be a weekly occurrence now, and when he's out, this offense can get really stagnant.

Detroit's actually been frisky lately. Cade Cunningham is having a legitimate All-Star caliber season, averaging 23.4 points and 8.1 assists per game. He's finally healthy for a full year and showing why he was the first overall pick. The Pistons have won four of their last six at Little Caesars Arena, and their young core is starting to figure out how to close games.

Here's the thing - Miami on the road in a New Year's Day matinee spot is dangerous. They've been sluggish in early afternoon games all season, and Detroit's home crowd actually shows up for nationally-adjacent games. The Heat should win on talent alone, but covering 4.5 points requires focus they haven't consistently shown. This could easily be a one-possession game late.

Philly's season has been a complete disaster. Joel Embiid's latest injury has kept him out for extended stretches, and without their MVP-caliber center, the Sixers look lost. At 14-20, they're barely clinging to play-in hopes, and the vibes around the organization are absolutely toxic. This is not what they envisioned when they made those offseason moves.

Dallas, on the other hand, is cruising. Luka Doncic has been spectacular - we're talking 31.2 points, 9.4 assists, and 8.7 rebounds per game spectacular. The Mavs are 14-4 at home this season, and the American Airlines Center has been rocking for nationally televised games. Kyrie Irving's secondary scoring gives them options that Philly simply can't match right now.

The 6.5-point spread feels right given the disparity in health and morale. Dallas should control this game from the opening tip, and their half-court offense will methodically pick apart Philly's patchwork defense. Expect a lot of Luka step-backs and Kyrie iso possessions in the fourth quarter. This has blowout potential if Philly comes out flat.

This is the game of the night, easily. Boston's been adjusting to life without Jayson Tatum, who's still recovering from that devastating Achilles injury suffered in the Finals. The good news? Jaylen Brown has stepped up massively, averaging 28.3 points per game and looking like a legitimate MVP candidate. The Celtics remain elite defensively, and their depth has been their saving grace.

Sacramento's been fun as hell to watch. De'Aaron Fox is having a career year, pushing the pace and creating havoc in transition. Domantas Sabonis is quietly one of the best passers in basketball, and their offensive rating of 118.4 is top-five in the league. Golden 1 Center is one of the loudest buildings in basketball when the Kings are rolling.

The 232.5 total tells you everything - Vegas expects a shootout. And they're probably right. Neither team plays much defense in the traditional sense; they just try to outscore you. Boston's the better team on paper, but Sacramento at home in a primetime spot is dangerous. The small spread reflects the travel component - the Celtics are coming off a back-to-back, and the late start time favors Sacramento's pace. Could go either way.