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NBA Basketball Picks
The first two NBA games of the day are dandies, as the surging Suns go to San Antonio to play a suddenly old Spurs squad – but both these teams, led by a couple aging vets, have a lot to play for as playoff spots loom. The next game is one of the best of the month as the two best teams in the West go head to head in L.A. as the Lakers host the Nuggets in what has to be considered the odds on favorite for the Western Conference Finals, known out west as “The Real Championship” – Here are my picks!

Phoenix Suns (+4) @ San Antonio Spurs (2-28: 1:00 PM ET – ABC): The Suns have looked pretty good lately and Amare Staudamire usually plays the Spurs better than anyone – he just gets his motor going against Timmy Duncan and company. That should be huge, because lately the Spurs have looked pathetic, and people can say what they want about age and injuries and inconsistent play being the biggest culprit, but I’ve been watching some games, and I see Tim Duncan getting old – on both sides of the floor. Still a very good player, but Tim can’t win by himself like he used to be able to do, and because of that the Spurs are 1-3 over their last 4 games, and Detroit and Philadelphia were two of the teams that kicked them around. I like the Suns.

Denver Nuggets @ L.A. Lakers (-6) (2-28: 3:30 PM ET – ABC): The Nuggets have been the better team lately, but is that enough to beat the Lakers in L.A.? I don’t think so. Not this time. The Nuggets have been okay over their last few games, but before that it was struggle-city, and it’s not like beating up Boston, Golden State, and Detroit (their current win streak) is that amazing. Already this season, teh Nuggets have ousted the Lakers twice, but Kobe’s back and healthy and Odom is playing well, Gasol and Bynum are going to give the Nuggets front line trouble – yes, the Lakers are getting healthy, and that spells trouble for the rest of the west. In L.A., with the Lakers needing this one more, I see them winning and covering.

NCAA Basketball Picks
The Big 10 didn’t have a place in my 4 amazing games for Saturday, but they are rocking Sunday all by themselves in my College Hoops ticket. The Boilermakers have to play without one of their top games, and Robbie Hummel is out for the season, and Michigan State is looking for a big win to boost their resume…

Michigan State Spartans (+4) @ Purdue Boilermakers (4:00pm ET, 2-28): Purdue managed a win even when Hummel went down against Minnesota, but it was tight, and they needed every ounce they had to beat a pretty decent, but unranked Golden Gophers team. The 14th ranked Spartans need this one bad, and I’m wiling to bet that Purdue struggles in their first game without Hummel. That will be enough, and the Spartans pull the upset over the 3rd ranked Boilermakers.