In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter…

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

Money Line Predictions: 7-3

Over/Under Predictions: 5-5

Spread Predictions: 4-6

Featured Matchup: 1-0

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

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Memphis Grizzlies

Model Predicts- Cavaliers ML, OVER 219.5, Cavaliers -5

The Cleveland Cavaliers will hit the road for the second game of a back-to-back set on Thursday, heading down to Memphis, Tennessee to take on the Grizzlies.

Cleveland enters tonight’s matchup fresh off a 128-121 win over the Detroit Pistons last night. That win was the third consecutive victory for the Cavaliers and the team’s 11th win in the last 12 games, while Memphis enters tonight on a two-game losing skid.

Once again, this is the second game in two night’s for Cleveland, but our model still expects plenty of points to be scored in this matchup. Let’s take a look at why that is.

Cleveland Cavaliers

• 3-0 in last three games

  • Wins over Bucks Clippers and Pistons

  • Ended January with 11-2 record and +15.1 Net Rating (2nd best in NBA)

• Defense has struggled in back-to-back sets

  • Have surrendered 120 points or more in four of six back-to-backs this season

  • Allowed opponents to shoot 50% from the floor and 42.5% from three in last two back-to-backs

• Injuries- Tristan Thompson and Ty Jerome both OUT

Memphis Grizzlies

• Barely keeping head above water due to injuries

  • 4-4 in last eight games

  • Have scored 110 points or more in only two of last eight games

• Have remained competitive when given the rest advanatge

  • 4-5 overall when having more rest than their opponent (TeamRankings)

  • Have not played since Monday, while Cleveland played last night

• Injuries- Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Ziaire Williams, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia all OUT. Derrick Rose, John Konchar, and Luke Kennard all questionable

What’s the Play?

It seems like the entire Grizzlies roster is injured for tonight’s game, but we agree with our model that backing the over in this contest is a good play.

Cleveland has run through many of its opponents over the last month, posting a 121.3 Offensive Rating and 106.1 Defensive Rating in January. However, as previously mentioned, the Cavaliers have struggled to stop many opponents in these back-to-back sets, opening the door for a weaker offense like Memphis to take the lid off the basket.

Additionally, the over is 4-2 when Cleveland has no rest this season (TeamRankings), mostly because of that weak defensive play. It’s certainly not the prettiest bet on the board, but one that our model gives a solid edge to.

The Play: Over 219.5 (-110)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Cleveland Cavaliers- 29-16 overall this season, 11-2 in last 13 games

• Utah Jazz- 24-25 overall this season, 15-6 as the home team

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Cleveland Cavaliers- Over 21-23-1 this season, 4-2 in second game of back-to-back

• Philadelphia 76ers- Over is 28-18 this season, 14-9 as the away team

Spread Trends ➕➖

• Indiana Pacers- 27-19-3 against the spread (ATS) this season, 17-10-2 ATS as an underdog

• Cleveland Cavaliers- 24-19-2 ATS this season, 4-3-1 ATS as a road favorite

😬 Trail Blazers spoil Lillard’s return to Portland. Anfernee Simons led the Trail Blazers to a 119-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, spoiling Damian Lillard's return to Portland. Lillard, now with the Bucks, scored 25 points, but Simons' crucial plays, including a key floater, secured the win for the Blazers. Despite Lillard's emotional homecoming, the Bucks suffered their second straight loss under new coach Doc Rivers while the Blazers, focusing on developing young talent, have won two consecutive games in the absence of their former star player.

👏 Marc Gasol retires from basketball after 20 seasons. Three-time All-Star center Marc Gasol has announced his retirement after a 20-season professional career. Gasol concluded his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020-21 season, and played two additional years with Spanish club Basquet Girona. Gasol, a key figure in the Memphis Grizzlies' "Grit and Grind" era, spent 11 of his 13 NBA seasons with the team, earning two All-NBA nods and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

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- DK Metcalf and AJ Brown attended what SEC school before their careers in the NFL?

Question #2- John Wall, Evan Turner, and what other player made up the top-three picks of the 2010 NBA Draft?

Question #3- How many All-Star games has LeBron James been selected to in his career?

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

On February 1st…

2008- Johan Santana signs a 6-year, $137.5 million contract with the New York Mets. The Minnesota Twins had to trade Santana to New York for the deal to go through, which at the time made him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history. Santana would go on to post a 46-34 record and 3.18 ERA in four season with the Mets.

2014- NFL quarterback Peyton Manning becomes the NFL’s all-time leader for MVP trophies. Manning was given the honor for the fifth time in his career, which came after throwing for 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns in the 2013-14 season. Manning still holds the MVP record, with Aaron Rodgers being next in line with four.

2023- NFL quarterback Tom Brady his announces his retirement. Brady was 45 years old when making the announcement, the second time in which he retired from the sport after originally retiring in 2022. Brady spent 23 seasons with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning seven Super Bowls in that time.

1. Ole Miss

2. Derrick Favors

3. 20