After a disappointing 4-8 showing on Friday, Ethical Sports Takes bounced back in a big way on Saturday, finishing with six correct predictions, one loss, and one mulligan.
It was a strong night of basketball, featuring several competitive matchups, a Denver comeback, and some impressive performances from teams looking to build early-season momentum.
Let’s break down how each prediction turned out.
Miami Heat vs. Charlotte Hornets
EST Pick: Miami Heat — Incorrect
Final Score: Charlotte Hornets 115, Miami Heat 110
The Hornets handed EST its only counted loss of the night, defeating Miami by five points.
I expected the Heat to take care of business against Charlotte, but the Hornets had other plans. Miami couldn’t do enough to secure the victory, and Charlotte deserves credit for getting the job done.
Not the start I wanted, but fortunately, things improved considerably from there.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
EST Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers — Correct
Final Score: Cleveland Cavaliers 125, Brooklyn Nets 121
Cleveland delivered, although Brooklyn certainly made things interesting.
The Cavaliers managed to hold off the Nets in a four-point contest. It wasn’t a comfortable victory, but a win is a win.
EST gets its first correct prediction of the night.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
EST Pick: Philadelphia 76ers — Correct
Final Score: Philadelphia 76ers 127, Milwaukee Bucks 116
Philadelphia continues to impress early in the season.
The 76ers defeated Milwaukee by 11 points, putting together another strong offensive showing.
I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Philadelphia so far, and this victory only strengthens my confidence in the team.
Another correct prediction for EST.
Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls
EST Pick: Washington Wizards — Correct
Final Score: Washington Wizards 124, Chicago Bulls 120
Washington came through in a competitive four-point victory over Chicago.
The Wizards scored 124 points and did enough down the stretch to walk away with the win.
This was another close matchup, but Washington rewarded my confidence.
Three consecutive correct predictions following the Miami loss.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks
EST Pick: San Antonio Spurs — Correct
Final Score: San Antonio Spurs 122, Dallas Mavericks 106
San Antonio delivered one of the more convincing victories of the evening.
The Spurs defeated Dallas by 16 points, putting together an impressive performance against their Texas rivals.
Unlike some of the other games on Saturday, this one finished with a comfortable margin.
Another correct prediction.
Houston Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks
EST Pick: Houston Rockets — Correct
Final Score: Houston Rockets 121, Atlanta Hawks 114
Houston continued its strong start with a seven-point victory over Atlanta.
The Rockets scored 121 points and secured another important early-season win.
I backed Houston to get the job done, and the Rockets delivered.
Five correct predictions on the board.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Denver Nuggets
EST Pick: Denver Nuggets — Correct
Final Score: Denver Nuggets 141, New Orleans Pelicans 135
What a game in Denver!
The Nuggets found themselves trailing by 16 points at halftime, but I wasn’t ready to count them out.
Denver fought back and eventually defeated New Orleans in a high-scoring contest that saw both teams surpass 130 points.
This was arguably my favorite correct prediction of the night. Even when Denver was down big, I believed it had enough to turn things around.
Six correct predictions secured.
Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns
EST Pick: Golden State Warriors — Mulligan
Final Score: Phoenix Suns 131, Golden State Warriors 122
I had no idea Stephen Curry wasn’t playing when I made this prediction. Nobody in their right mind would pick the Warriors without Steph. Without him, Golden State is a lottery team, plain and simple.
His absence completely changes the outlook of this matchup, so I’m giving myself a mulligan on this pick.
Phoenix won the game, but I’m not counting this one against my record.
Final Thoughts
EST Daily Record: 6-1-1 (One Mulligan)
After Friday’s disappointing 4-8 performance, Saturday was exactly the bounce-back I wanted.
Six correct predictions across eight games is a strong result, particularly with several matchups decided by single digits.
Denver’s comeback was the highlight, while Philadelphia, San Antonio, and Houston delivered impressive victories.
The only counted miss came from Miami, which fell to Charlotte.
EST Overall Season Record: 20-15-1
Now the focus shifts to Sunday’s seven-game slate as EST looks to keep the momentum going.
Stay tuned to Ethical Sports Takes for more NBA predictions, recaps, and analysis.
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