Preakness Stakes Expert Picks, Odds and News

LeBron James is going through one of the worst scoring slumps of his career, with just 12 points (5-of-13 shooting) in the Los Angeles Lakers 101-93 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Friday's NBA Cup match.

Cam Thomas was supposed to take the throne, but LaMelo Ball has come to claim the title of the NBA's biggest gunner. The Charlotte Hornets point guard is attempting 24.4 shots per game this season, the highest mark since James Harden in the 2018-19 season.

After spending the last five months in rehab following surgery, Kristaps Porzingis the veteran center showed few signs of rust. However, his conditioning is still a work in progress, as he was seen breathing heavily during breaks in the game.

It's unusual for the Denver Nuggets to be defeated so decisively. However, that's exactly what happened on Monday, when the New York Knicks swept aside the former champions with a 145-118 victory. The Nuggets had had their last game on Saturday in Los Angeles, where they blew out the Lakers. For the Knicks it's their tenth victory and are in fourth position in the Eastern Conference.

The Charlotte Hornets have received bad news for their 2024-25 season, as Grant Williams, one of their key bench players, has been ruled out for the remainder of the year due to a serious knee injury. During the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night, Williams tore his ACL, meniscus, and other ligaments in his right knee. This injury is a major blow to the team and could affect the NBA ODDS for the Hornets in upcoming games.