Michael Alexander

Rating: 2 Units

Leonard will probably sit out the second contest of a back-to-back after recording 26 points and 12 rebounds in Wednesday's 102-93 loss to the Houston Rockets while Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers ponders how best to incorporate George.  Clippers have won when Kawhi Leonard has played. They are 7-0 when he plays, and 0-3 when he doesn't.

Rating: 2 Units

The Milwaukee Bucks are winners of five of their last six games but will have to continue their hot play without one of their key players. The Bucks will play their first game this season without All-Star swingman Khris Middleton when they host the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Middleton suffered a thigh contusion in Sunday's 121-119 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder and was ruled out for the next three or four weeks after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday.  Milwaukee took all four meetings last season by an average of 11.5 points.

Rating: 2 Units

The NY Knicks finished with the NBA's worst record last season (17-65), as well as its worst home record of 9-32 (Bulls were also 9-32 at home). New York lost 120-102 on Tuesday at Chicago, falling to 2-9, which matches its worst 11-game start in franchise history. The Knicks will try to pull out of their rut and save coach David Fizdale's job when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday in the first game of TNT's doubleheader. The Mavs are 6-4 to open the current season but enter having lost TWO of three. The Knicks are averaging only 99.5 PPG (29th) on an NBA-worst 41.6% shooting. In this quick turnaround from last Friday, expect the Mavs to gain a measure of revenge from that embarrassing home loss. Lay the points.

Rating: 2 Units

Bulls seem fully recovered from losing 12 starters, covering 4 straight, the L2 by 48½ points, with back-to-back 43 point outbursts. And try a 252-25 rushing yards edge at Eastern. Kent stayed with Toledo, despite 289-171 yard deficit. Note allowing 289 & 289 rushing yards each of its last 2 tilts.

Rating: 2 Units

First of 7 division matchups this week. That Steeler "D" was beyond impressive vs the Rams, forcing 4 TOs, making it 8 straight games with 2+ takeaways, which is their longest streak since '89. What a gutsy call going for it on 4th-&-1 from their own 34, with 9:00 left, that led to a huge field goal that forced lately to score a TD. Now have won 5 straight after that 0-3 start. Pitt 7-0-1 vs Browns. Four-game losing skein now over for the Browns, & even though this year has been a disappointment, their 3-6 start is the best they've had in 5 yrs. But Beckham has gone 7 straight games without a TD.

Rating: 2 Units