The Wizards are already one of the worst teams in the NBA, and Isaiah Stewart being out with a calf strain removes what little interior presence Washington has. The Knicks, playing at home with a full complement of stars, have every reason to run up the score against a helpless Wizards squad. Talent this dominant at Madison Square Garden covers big numbers — chalk wins here.

OKC is 55-15 and just destroyed the Nets by 29 points, proving their depth transcends individual injuries. Washington is without Trae Young and has no one capable of keeping this competitive. The Thunder's organizational talent and coaching advantage make -20.5 a number I'm comfortable laying against the worst team in the league.

Purdue is a No. 2 seed averaging 81.7 points per game against a Queens squad that went just 5-9 against winning records — the talent gap here is enormous and undeniable. Both teams are fully healthy, meaning nothing stands between the Boilermakers and a dominant first-round performance. A No. 2 vs. No. 15 matchup is exactly where superior talent asserts itself, and Purdue covers at -25.5.

Duke is the overall #1 seed entering the NCAA Tournament as a dominant blue blood program, and even with Patrick Ngongba II doubtful, they have more than enough firepower to roll over a 16-seed Siena squad. Caleb Foster is expected to play, and the Blue Devils' talent gap over the Saints is simply too vast to overcome — chalk this one hard. At -27.5, Duke covers with room to spare.

Boston is 45-23 with the NBA's best defense, allowing just 107.1 points per game, while Golden State limps in at 33-35. The Celtics are playing at home and Tatum being on the injury report is manageable with Jaylen Brown averaging 28.4 PPG as the clear alpha. Talent and depth win at home — riding the Celtics to cover -12.5 is the easiest play on the board tonight.

Auburn is a top-tier college basketball program taking on South Alabama, a program in a completely different tier of competition. The Tigers have minimal injury concerns — Keyshawn Hall's suspension appears to be resolved and the roster is healthy — while South Alabama has no business keeping this within three possessions. Talent and depth win out; lay the chalk with Auburn -17.5.

The Boston Celtics are a championship-caliber team hosting a rebuilding Phoenix Suns squad at TD Garden, and no significant injury concerns are surfacing for Boston's core. Jaylen Brown is putting up 24+ PPG and the Celtics' depth and defensive IQ give them a massive structural advantage over a Suns team that can't even keep Devin Booker healthy for full stretches. Chalk stays chalk — trust the banner-chasing roster to handle business at home.

Cleveland is fully healthy while Dallas is playing short-handed with six players on the injury report and owns a brutal 22-45 record. The Cavaliers are a top-tier offense led by Donovan Mitchell at 28.2 PPG playing at home in Rocket Arena, where they've been dominant all season. Dallas is being outscored by 5.1 points per game — this line is well-earned and the Cavs have every reason to run it up.

Jayson Tatum is back and Derrick White is probable, giving the Celtics their full arsenal against a 16-49 Wizards squad dealing with significant injuries. Boston's defense ranks #1 in the NBA allowing just 107.1 PPG, and Washington simply doesn't have the firepower to keep this close. Talent dominates at home, and the Celtics cover this spread with ease.

Memphis is decimated — Scotty Pippen Jr. is out for the season, Brandon Clarke is out, and both Caris LeVert and Cedric Coward are questionable. Cade Cunningham is rolling at 21.6 PPG and 8.6 APG, and Detroit's depth advantage at home should be overwhelming against a short-handed Grizzlies squad. The talent gap is too wide; the Pistons cover -15.5 comfortably.

Washington is an absolute wreck — nine players on the injury report is borderline unplayable at the NBA level, while Orlando is relatively healthy and playing at home. The Wizards are one of the worst teams in the league at 16-44, and the Magic have a positive scoring differential that will be on full display against this depleted roster. Give me the Magic -15.5 all day — talent and health are both pointing in one direction.

The Jazz are without Lauri Markkanen (hip), Jusuf Nurkic (nose), and potentially Keyonte George (illness) — their entire frontcourt and a key guard are gone. The Knicks come in at 41-25 with a healthy roster and the talent edge to exploit a depleted Utah squad. Laying the points with New York is the obvious call when the other team is this banged up.

The Wizards are decimated — Kispert is out with a fractured thumb and Washington's roster is a shell of itself, leaning on raw youngsters like Carrington and Tre Johnson for minutes. Miami is the superior team at home, and even with Powell and Jovic sidelined, they have more than enough firepower to blow out one of the league's worst squads. Give me the Heat covering -15.5 at home without hesitation.

The Cavaliers are one of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference, and the 76ers are showing up with Tyrese Maxey and three other players listed on the injury report — that's a crippled squad walking into a buzzsaw. Cleveland covers double-digit spreads routinely at home, and a depleted Philly roster has no answer for their depth and execution. Talent wins, and tonight the talent gap is a canyon.