There's a belief that the NBA produces a somewhat predictable postseason. The thought is that across a seven-game series, the best team has a longer sample to prove its worth than in, say, the single-elimination format of football. Hot pitching and goaltending can produce wild results in baseball and hockey, but basketball is widely considered to be a more stable sport. The best team, more often than not, will emerge victorious.

The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to be without star Giannis Antetokounmpo as they open their first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, per ESPN. It was reported earlier that he was doubtful for Game 1, according to Shams Charania, but it sounds as though he may actually miss some more time with a calf strain. Antetokounmpo missed the Bucks' final three regular-season games after getting injured on April 9. 

Team USA didn't even medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, and with the Olympics looming, USA Basketball was determined not to let that happen again. Superstars around the league have expressed interest in playing this summer in Paris, and according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Team USA has already picked the 12 players it wants to bring to Paris over the summer. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers (42-24) and the Houston Rockets (31-35) collide in a cross-conference battle on Saturday. The Cavaliers are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Rockets are in the 11th spot in the West, trailing the 10th seed by 3.5 games. Ty Jerome (ankle), Evan Mobley (ankle) and Max Strus (knee) are out for Cleveland, while Dean Wade (knee) is questionable. Steven Adams (knee), Tari Eason (tibia), Alperen Sengun (ankle) and Cam Whitmore (knee) are out for Houston.

LeBron James may be 21 years into arguably the greatest NBA career any player has ever had, but all good things come to an end eventually. Whether it's in one year or several, James will eventually play his final NBA game, and as he claimed at All-Star Weekend, he's not exactly sure how he wants that to play out.

A Central Division showdown has the Chicago Bulls (26-28) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (35-17) squaring off on Wednesday. The Cavaliers are currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Chicago is sitting in the ninth spot. Cleveland seems to have the Bulls number as of late as it's won six straight games over Chicago. On Jan. 15, the Cavaliers defeated the Bulls 109-91. Patrick Williams (foot) is out for Chicago, while Alex Caruso (toe) is questionable. Darius Garland (illness) is questionable for Cleveland.

Thirteen games will make up Wednesday's loaded NBA slate ahead of 2024 All-Star weekend. We have our eyes on one moneyline pick, a spread pick, and one plus-money prop ahead of the action. Are you looking to find an edge? Here are three options we feel are worth considering:

The Bulls are on the road but looking no worse for wear. Sitting on a score of 90-83, they have looked like the better team, but there's still one more quarter to play.

Fortunes may be turning around for the Kings after losing four in a row. They have a bit of a cushion as they currently lead the Hawks 87-69.

The NBA got a bit of history on Monday night when Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns became the fourth pair of players to each score 60 or more points on the same day. Embiid's 70-piece went about as expected. Though the opposing San Antonio Spurs kept it a bit closer than Embiid would have liked, his Philadelphia 76ers ultimately escaped with the win. At that point, like 63 of the first 83 scorers in NBA history to reach 60 points in a game, Embiid was a winner on his historic night.