In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter…

Additional Model Predictions ⬇️

NHL Model Predictions- Click Here

There were plenty of model predictions to go around yesterday across the NHL, with our model focusing in on one of those predictions in our Featured Matchups. That prediction went 0-1 overall, and you can see how the rest of the model performed below.

Money Line Predictions: 9-3

Over/Under Predictions: 6-6

Puck Line Predictions: 7-5

Featured Matchup: 0-1

Nine NBA games are scheduled to take place today. Our model’s predictions for all nine matchups can be found below.

Portland Trail Blazers @ Memphis Grizzlies

Model Predicts- Grizzlies ML, OVER 208.5, Grizzlies -1.5

The Portland Trail Blazers will begin a three-game road trip on Friday night, with the first stop coming in Memphis,Tennessee to take on the Grizzlies.

Portland enters tonight’s matchup in the basement of the Western Conference. posting a record of just 15-42 through the team’s first 57 games of the season. Memphis isn’t much better though, owning a 20-39 record, good enough for 13th in the West.

This is by far the ugliest game on tonight’s slate, but our model still sees some value on the Grizzlies as a small home favorite. Let’s take a look at why that is.

Portland Trail Blazers

• Enter tonight on nine-game losing streak

  • Did not win a single game in February

  • Ranked 30th in Net Rating in February (-13.8)- 2.4 points worse than any other team

• Non-existent offense has led to losing streak

  • 105.5 Offensive Rating in February- 28th in NBA

  • Shooting 43.8% from floor as team this season- 39th in NBA

• Injuries- Malcolm Brogdon, Shedon Sharpe are OUT, Moses Brown and Deandre Ayton are questionable

Memphis Grizzlies

• Enter tonight on three-game losing streak

  • Losses to Clippers, Nets, and Timberwolves

  • Lost by single digits to Clippers and Timberwolves

• Defensive helps make up for boatload of injuries

  • Own 111.2 Defensive Rating in last five games

  • Opponents shooting 45.8% overall and 33.3% from three in same three-game span

• Injuries- Almost the entire team (10 players on injury report- 6 listed as out)

What’s the Play?

Once again, this is the worst game on tonight’s slate, but we agree with our model that this is a good time to back the Grizzlies on the money line.

It’s nearly impossible to predict who is going to suit up for the Grizzlies on a nightly basis, but one thing we can predict is that the defense will show up. Even with stars like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. out, Memphis has maintained a defensive ranking just outside of the top-10, and has stayed competitive against title contenders such as the Bucks, Clippers, and Timberwolves across the last two weeks.

Portland doesn’t have the same kind of depth as Memphis from a defensive standpoint, and missing Sharpe and Brogdon is a huge blow offensively as well. We’ll take Memphis tonight.

The Play: Grizzlies ML (-115)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Golden State Warriors- 31-27 overall this season, 8-2 in last ten games

• Milwaukee Bucks- 39-21 overall this season, 4-0 in last four games

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Chicago Bulls- Over is 31-26-1 this season, 16-14 as the home team

• Los Angeles Clippers- Under is 33-22-2 this season, 17-10-1 as the home team

Spread Trends ➕➖

• Golden State Warriors- 32-25-1 against the spread (ATS) this season, 19-8 ATS as the away team

😅 Lakers survive in overtime against struggling Wizards. Anthony Davis and LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 134-131 overtime victory against the struggling Washington Wizards, with Davis scoring 40 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, and James adding 31 points. James' pivotal plays in overtime, including a crucial block and a tying 3-pointer, helped secure the win. Despite a strong effort from the Wizards, led by Jordan Poole's 34 points, they were unable to overcome the Lakers' late-game execution, extending their losing streak to 13 games.

💪 Embiid plans to return to 76ers lineup this season if healthy. Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is committed to returning to action this season as he recovers from a knee injury, stating that if he feels well, he will play. Embiid did not provide a specific timeline for his return but underwent a procedure on his left meniscus in early February and was expected to be re-evaluated after four weeks. The 76ers have struggled in Embiid's absence, going 4-8 since he last played and currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Today’s trivia requires you to dig into multiple pockets of your brain, testing your knowledge of recent events as well as those that happened decades ago.

See how many of the below questions you can get correct. Answers are provided at the end of the newsletter.

Question #1- Who was the first quarterback selected in the 2005 NFL Draft, going first overall to the San Francisco 49ers?

Question #2- Who led the NBA in total points scored during the 2013-14 season, amassing 2,593?

Question #3- Barry Bonds played for what MLB team from 1986-1992 before his stint with the San Francisco Giants?

Anyone know what has happened on March 1st throughout history? We didn’t have a clue either, but it appears that it has been a busy day.

On March 1st…

1993- New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner is reinstated as general partner of the team. Steinbrenner faced lengthy absence due to his relationship with convicted gambler Howie Spira. Steinbrenner owned the New York Yankees from 1973-2010.

1998- Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley leads his team to a 85-84 win over the New Jersey Nets. The win was the 900th career win for Riley, making him the fifth coach in NBA history to reach the milestone. Riley would end his coaching career with 1,210 wins, the fifth-most in NBA history.

2001- NHL legend Ron Francis scores a goal in a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders. The goal not only sealed the win for Francis and the Carolina Hurricanes, but it gave Francis his 50th point of the season, making him just the second player in NHL history to record 50+ points in 20 consecutive seasons. Francis would end his career with 1,798 points, the fifth-most in NHL history.

1. Alex Smith

2. Kevin Durant

3. Pittsburgh Pirates