With just over a month of the NBA regular season to play, both of Friday's games have huge bearing on the playoffs picture.
First up is a top-of-the-table clash in the East, where the ladder-leading Bucks will be looking to blast past the Pacers.
Then, its a mammoth Western Conference battle, when OKC travel up to Portland.
Don't forget our NBA betting pick for Saturday's feature game either, where Philly take on a red-hot Rockets outfit.
Indiana Pacers @ Milwaukee Bucks
NBA Odds: Pacers $5 (+10.5) / Bucks $1.16 (-10.5)
1st takes on 3rd in the Eastern Conference when the Bucks welcome the Pacers to Milwaukee on Friday.
Even though Milwaukee have been easily the best NBA team of the season, they are on a two-game losing streak.
Last time out, they suffered an embarrassing loss, going down to the Phoenix Suns, who are anchored to the bottom of the Western Conference ladder.
This was arguably the biggest upset of the season, with a superb final quarter from the Suns inspiring them to a 9-point win.
Milwaukee's awful shooting percentage on the night was to blame.
They shot at just 37% from the floor. This was largely due to their shocking night from beyond the arc.
The Bucks attempted an astonishing 42 3-pointers, and yet only made 12 of them.
Where the Bucks have so much success is in their ability to score from inside the arc. This is backed up in the NBA stats, where the Bucks shoot at a league-high 57%.
But against the Suns, Milwaukee felt like they didn't have to put the hard work in, resorting to just hanging back and shooting from three-point land.
And it was this that cost them.
The good news is that this fixture against the Pacers sees Milwaukee return home after a 5-game road trip.
And at home, Mike Budenholzer's men have the best record in the NBA, having lost just 5 of their 30 home games this campaign.
Budenhlozer will have surely ripped into his players for their lax performance against the Suns.
Fired up in front of their home fans, you can bet that Giannis and his teammates will respond.
However, the Bucks are on a two game slide, and a loss against the 3rd-placed Pacers wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world.
Indiana are battling to retain their third spot on the Eastern ladder, after losing star man Victor Oladipo for the season.
Indiana's success in 2018/19 is reflected in their outstanding shooting percentage, which sits at 48%- the second best in the league.
However, in their previous three games, this has jumped up to 49%, suggesting that the Pacers are in some good form.
Bojan Bogdanovic in particular has been in stellar form lately, averaging 30 points per game across his last three matches.
He will have to step up again if the Pacers want to pull off an upset.
Key NBA Stat
The Bucks have won 7 of their previous 8 NBA games at the Fiserv Forum: Milwaukee to win @ 1.16
Free NBA Pick: Milwaukee to cover the -10.5 point line @ $1.92
Reasoning: Back at home, and desperate to return to winning ways after a two-game slide, expect the Bucks to hit back with a bang.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Portland Trail Blazers
NBA Odds: OKC $2.40 (+3.5) / Blazers $1.60 (-3.5)
Another team that will be glad to get back on their home court is the Portland Trail Blazers.
They host the Thunder here in a fixture that snaps a 7-game road trip.
The Blazers won 5 of their first 6 in this away streak, before they tasted defeat last time out against the Grizzlies in Memphis.
Portland were leading at three-quarter time, before a 25-38 final quarter saw them go down by 9 points, in what proved to be just one quarter too many on the road.
But back at home, they will be confident of getting straight back into the winner's circle.
Especially considering that, in their last game at home, the Trail Blazers thrashed Golden State by 22 points.
Damian Lillard was on fire, knocking down 6 of his 8 three-point attempts that day.
Lillard and fellow backcourt player C.J. McCollum have long been the heart of the Blazers and this year has been no exception.
Between them they average 47 points per game, as they guide Portland to yet another playoffs berth.
With big Jusuf Nurkic also growing into one of the NBA's best big men, the Blazers will always be a tough opposition.
And with the recent acquisition of Enes Kanter from the Knicks, Portland have signalled an intent to really reach the next level this campaign.
Finishing in the top four is a must, and they currently sit in a three-way tie for third with Rockets, and the Thunder.
Therefore, a win over OKC here is huge in shaping the eventual playoff standings in just over a month from now.
Speaking of the team from Oklahoma City, they have really fallen away of late after looking like world-beaters.
The success of OKC this campaign has been so intertwined with Paul George's career-best season.
However, a recent dip in his game compounded by a shoulder injury has seen the Thunder lose 5 of their last 6 matches.
George's has made 232 three-pointers this campaign, the third highest total in the league.
However, lately his three point percentage has really taken a hit.
In his last three outings, George is shooting at just 24% from beyond the arc.
Before this poor run, his three-point percentage was above 40%, to give you an idea of this sudden drop in shooting form.
With no signs that this is about to improve, the Blazers should be too strong at home.
Key NBA Stat
OKC have won 3 straight games against the Blazers: Oklahoma City to win @ $2.40
Free NBA Pick: Portland to win by 11+ points @ $3.66
Reasoning: What they did last time at home against the Warriors sent shudders throughout the comp. Expect another dominant showing in front of their home fans.
Philadelphia 76ers @ Houston Rockets
NBA Odds: 76ers $2.65 / Rockets $1.45
Saturday's feature game sees Philly travel down to Texas to take on the Rockets.
The big talking point is whether Joel Embiid makes his return from injury.
Based on how the 76ers are playing without him, you'd think he'd have to be thrown in for this crunch game, even if he's not 100% fit.
On Thursday, the Sixers suffered a shock 1-point loss to the Bulls.
Zach Levine made a lay-up with just one second on the clock to win the game for Chicago, and send the home fans into meltdown.
Despite big performances from Ben Simmons and new recruit Tobias Harris, the Sixers look a shadow of their potential greatness without Embiid.
The big centre averages 27 points, 14 boards and 4 assists per game, so it's no surprise that his presence is missed.
Having said that, it's only a matter of time before Brett Brown can get his players to click and the Philadelphia 76ers emerge as the new Golden State Warriors of the NBA.
They simply have too much star power not to succeed.
Brown will use the last month of the NBA regular season almost as a training drill, working out what is the best way to line up in the playoffs.
This fixture will certainly be a stern examination of their quality, with the road trip to Houston long been thought as one of the toughest in the league.
The Rockets have won six in a row, including victories over Golden State, Toronto and Boston in a superb run.
And the good news for Rockets fans is that while James Harden has been central, he hasn't overplayed his hand in these games.
There was a point in January, when Harden was on his 30+ point streak, where he looked selfish in attack, playing for his record rather than the team.
But this has been tweaked slightly by Mike D'Antoni, with players like Chris Paul taking on more of the scoring load.
With all their experience and quality, and with Harden in top form, the Rockets should be too strong for the Sixers here.
Key NBA Stat
The 76ers have won their previous 2 games against Houston: Philadelphia to win @ $
Free NBA Pick: No bet.
Reasoning: So much depends on whether Embiid starts. If he doesn't, the Rockets should win easily. If he does, Philly might pull off the upset
Mar 08, 2019 07:01 PM
AAP
Key NBA Stat
Free NBA Pick: Milwaukee to cover the -10.5 point line @ $1.92 
