Today’s Games (All times are Eastern):
| Time (ET) | Visitor | Home | Prediction |
| 1:00 PM | Miami Heat | Boston Celtics | Heat |
| 3:30 PM | Oklahoma City Thunder | Los Angeles Lakers | Lakers |
| 6:00 PM | Detroit Pistons | Orlando Magic | Magic |
| 6:00 PM | New Orleans Hornets | Memphis Grizzlies | Grizzlies |
| 6:30 PM | Atlanta Hawks | New York Knicks | Hawks |
| 7:30 PM | Phoenix Suns | Dallas Mavericks | Mavericks |
| 9:30 PM | Portland Trail Blazers | Los Angeles Clippers | Clippers |
Ray Allen will return to Boston for the first time since taking his talents to South Beach when the Boston Celtics host the Miami Heat in today’s NBA Game of the Day. The Heat and the Celtics battled for seven games in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals. During that series, Allen was a member of a Celtics team that had its season ended by the eventual NBA Champion Miami Heat. But by the beginning of the 2012-2013 season, he had switched sides, and Allen helped the Heat to an opening night victory over the Celtics.
That opening night matchup was played in Miami, and today, the 10-time All-Star who helped the Celtics to the 2008 NBA Championship will return to the TD Garden for the first time since taking less money to join the rival Heat as a free agent over the summer. How Celtics fans, many of whom who have branded him a traitor, will receive Allen this afternoon remains to be seen. If the frosty manner in which Kevin Garnett treated him in that opening night matchup is any indication, Allen’s reception by the Boston faithful will be—shall we say—less than gracious. However, Boston fans are not a monolith and there will probably be some cheers—along with some boos—for the man who spent five years in Celtics green and helped Boston to its 17th NBA championship. Allen also helped the Celtics win all nine of their regular-season home games against the Heat during his tenure with the team.
These two teams have met in the postseason each of the last three years, and provided that the 20-23 Celtics can hold onto a playoff spot in the East, there is a strong possibility that the teams will meet in this season’s playoffs as well.
The Heat (28-12) and Celtics seem to be heading in different directions. Miami has won four in a row and sits atop the Eastern Conference standing. After six straight losses (culminating with Friday night’s disappointing double overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks after blowing a 27-point lead), Boston has dropped to three games below .500 and is losing its hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
The Celtics have the longest active losing streak in the NBA and have not tasted victory since defeating the league-worst Charlotte Bobcats back on January 14.
Yesterday’s Results:
| Visitor | Home | Prediction | Result |
| New York Knicks 80 | Philadelphia 76ers 97 | 76ers | 76ers |
| Chicago Bulls 73 | Washington Wizards 86 | Bulls | Wizards |
| Cleveland Cavaliers 99 | Toronto Raptors 98 | Raptors | Cavaliers |
| Minnesota Timberwolves 101 | Charlotte Bobcats 102 | Bobcats | Bobcats |
| Brooklyn Nets 106 | Houston Rockets 119 | Nets | Rockets |
| Golden State Warriors 102 | Milwaukee Bucks 109 | Warriors | Bucks |
| Phoenix Suns 99 | San Antonio Spurs 108 | Spurs | Spurs |
| Sacramento Kings 93 | Denver Nuggets 121 | Nuggets | Nuggets |
| Indiana Pacers 110 | Utah Jazz 114 | Pacers | Jazz |
| Los Angeles Clippers 100 | Portland Trail Blazers 101 | Trail Blazers | Trail Blazers |
Random NBA Fan’s Record in Yesterday’s Games: 5-5
Random NBA Fan’s Record for the Season: 412-238
1 comment
click for fan team shop says:
January 27, 2013 at 9:25 pm (UTC -7)
Go go go Miami Heat..