NBA Sunday

[Raji]

Denver Nuggets at Cleveland Cavaliers (-1 ½, 204 ½)

Carmelo Anthony returned from injury last week and has improved with every game since then. The Nuggets have also looked a lot better, winning three of four since his return and four of five overall.

Anthony’s recent surge led him to score a career-high 49 points to lead the Nuggets past the Wizards on Friday night. He has now managed at least 25 points in every game since his return, and is averaging 26.2 per game for the season.

If he can continue that form, Denver has a great chance to extend a developing streak against Cleveland. The Nuggets have won and covered in three straight games against the Cavs, including a blowout 122-100 win as a 9-point home favorite on Nov. 12.

Pick: Cavs

San Antonio Spurs at Boston Celtics (-1, 178)

Boston center Kendrick Perkins left Friday night’s win over Minnesota with a strained left shoulder and will likely miss the visit of San Antonio on Sunday. That’s a huge blow for a Celtics’ front line that is already without the influential Kevin Garnett.

Perkins is averaging 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season, while Garnett has put up 19.2 points per contest and has team highs in rebounds (9.9) and blocks (1.4). The Celtics managed to pull out a last-second win over the Timberwolves, but the Spurs will represent a much bigger challenge.

They come to Boston in one of their best spells of the season and have won four straight games, while covering the spread in three of them. San Antonio has a good recent record against the Celts, and has covered the spread in seven of the last nine meetings.

Pick: Spurs

Washington Wizards at Phoenix Suns (-12, 210 ½)

The Wizards are on a season-high six-game losing streak and are in the midst of a challenging road trip that has not started too well. They could also be without one of their best players for a second straight game when they travel to Phoenix.

All-Star Caron Butler is struggling with a hip injury and missed Friday’s 111-100 loss to the Nuggets. He was also out for three games last week, during which the Wizards went 1-2. The forward is averaging 21.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Washington is not only losing at the moment, its losing big. The Wizards have failed to cover the spread in six straight games, losing by an average of 16.8 points over that time. They are 1-3 ATS in their last four against Phoenix.

Pick: Suns

Raji