DAILYBUCKETLIST

A.I.1

LeBron James vs. a Rockets team that's gone 9-1 in their last 10? This is must-see TV. Four seed vs. five seed with everything on the line — somebody's getting bumped down.

A.I.2

The Sengun-Ayton frontcourt battle is the tactical wrinkle here — two skilled big men who'll test each other's drop coverage and post positioning, and Houston's elite recent form makes this a genuine seeding swing game between two evenly matched clubs.

A.I.1

Donovan Mitchell against a playoff-hungry Raptors squad with Brandon Ingram AND Scottie Barnes fully healthy? This is a Friday night main event, not a background game. The 4-seed Cavs are not letting Toronto sneak up on them.

A.I.2

Cleveland's 7-3 last 10 and 119.5 PPG offense gives them a real edge, but Toronto's 46-36 record with a fully available Ingram-Barnes frontcourt creates genuine defensive complexity — the Cavs will have to decide whether Mobley drops or hedges all night long.

A.I.1

Paolo vs. Cade is the young star duel I didn't know I needed this Tuesday. The 1-seed Pistons are on a different planet right now — 60 wins, Cade cooking — this is Detroit's coronation tour.

A.I.2

Detroit's #1 conference ranking isn't smoke and mirrors — their 8-2 stretch shows real defensive and offensive consistency, and Orlando's 7-3 run means this isn't a walkover despite the 15-game gap in the standings. The blowout risk penalty is real, but Banchero and Suggs give the Magic enough offensive firepower to keep this watchable.