I feel like it was just yesterday we were making fun of the NBA In-Season Tournament and how dumb of an idea it was. Well, it’s officially been a month since that happened and we are finally at the end of the group stage of play.

We’ve actually enjoyed this tournament throughout and I’m kind of sad to see the cartoon-looking courts go.

Every single weekday, the guys at Section 400 will take you through the upcoming night’s slate of games, no matter how incredible, or how disgusting, it looks.

Today’s slate is decent, with the aforementioned NBA In-Season Tournament wrapping up to go along with some College Basketball and NHL action.

Let’s dive right in.

The best.

• (NBA) Bucks vs. Heat
• (NBA) Rockets vs. Mavericks

While there are plenty of crazy scenarios tonight for teams hoping to make it to the knockout stage of the In-Season Tournament, these two games have the most important, and direct, implications.

The “East Group B” leading Bucks travel to Miami to take on the 2-1 Miami Heat on TNT at 7:30. Giannis and the Bucks have a stronghold on the group and should find themselves into the knockout round, but Jimmy Butler and the Heat can shock them if they can pull off a win of at least 13 points (it will probably have to be more because the Knicks host the horrendous Hornets).

For a full breakdown of all the chaos going on in the East, read our guide for tonight here. 

If you don’t feel like becoming Alan from the Hangover and running all the numbers in your brain, the Rockets vs. Mavericks game is for you! This one is pretty simple. The Rockets trail the Pelicans in “West Group B” but have the head-to-head tiebreaker over them. A Houston win puts the Rockets at 3-1, giving them the Group B crown and knocking the Pelicans not only out of the group lead, but out of the tournament as well.

I should touch on the Sixers because I know our reader base is about 50% Philly scum. In order for Embiid to stay alive in hopes of capturing his first championship, you’ll need the Heat, Knicks, Cavs, Celtics, and Nets to all lose. Good luck.

*oh and the Knicks and Heat have to lose by a decent margin.

The best of the rest.

• (NCAAB) ACC/SEC Challenge
• (NBA) Rest of In-Season Tournament

The ACC/SEC Challenge begins tonight with a banger of a game on ESPN at 7:30 eastern.

The Kentucky Wildcats, who we are very high on, play host to the Miami Hurricanes in a game with an over/under of 164.5 points.

We’ve said a lot about the prowess of the young Kentucky offense led by Antonio Reeves and Rob Dillingham, but the Miami offense is no slouch either. The Hurricanes come into this one averaging 89 points per game this season behind the excellent play of guards Wooga Poplar, Matthew Cleveland, and Nijel Pack.

It’s a shame this game is going to have to split viewers with the NBA action, because it’s going to be an up-and-down thriller.

As stated above, the rest of the In-Season Tournament action is more confusing than intriguing. I will say the Celtics host the Bulls in a game they need to win by 23 points, so that could create some entertaining television.

The rest.

• (NHL) Golden Knights vs. Oilers
• (NCAAB) Rest of slate

On the ice, the Oilers host the Golden Knights in the game of the day. Edmonton got off to a horrible start this season but has figured it out somewhat as they try to climb back into the playoff hunt.

Vegas has been the complete opposite, struggling as of late after opening the season without a loss through 10 games.

As for college basketball, I have my eyes on the Syracuse Orange (-1) hosting the LSU Tigers in the ACC/SEC Challenge. This line doesn’t make much sense. LSU has looked decent as of late but has been riddled with inconsistencies so far this season, while Syracuse challenged themselves last week in the Maui Invitational and is hungry for a Power 5 win.

The Orange win this one by at least 6.

 

Contact/Follow us on all socials “linktr.ee/viewsfrom400” for all our coverage, posts, and takes from the best part of the stadium. You can also follow Brian on Twitter/X @TheRealBHauch