January 21, 2021 Results:

What we got right:

College Basketball:

Ouch again.

NBA:

Los Angeles Lakers at Milwaukee - If this game is an NBA Final preview it did not disappoint. This was physical, tight contest throughout and the Lakers had just enough to hold off the Bucks, 113-106. LeBron James led the way with 34 points for Los Angeles, who played the first of seven in a row away from Staples Center. Next up the Bulls in Chicago.

New Orleans at Utah - The Pelicans raced out to a 12 point lead after the first quarter, scoring 43 points in the opening frame. The Jazz held them in check the rest of the way and came back for the 129-118 victory for their seventh straight win. Donovan Mitchell scored a season-high 36 points in the win for Utah.

New York at Golden State - We thought the game was going to be a little more low scoring but we nailed the way it went. The Warriors wore down in the second half, scoring only 47 points, and the Knicks got the win 119-104. RJ Barrett had a career high 28 points for the Knicks, and they held the Warriors to 38% shooting from the field.

What we got wrong:

College Basketball:

Indiana at #4 Iowa - At the halftime break it was 37-31 Iowa and we were feeling pretty good about our pick. In the second half Indiana had a 50-32 advantage and won 81-69. Luka Garza had 28 points in the loss for the Hawkeyes, who went 5-23 from behind the three point line. Indiana’s defense did a great job of forcing tough shot for Iowa, and it led them to the upset win.

#24 UCLA at California - This game was a microcosm of the Pac-12 Conference in 2021. UCLA, coming in at 7-0 in the conference, barely won against a Cal team that was 2-6 against Pac-12 competition. This was a sloppy game for the Bruins, but a win is a win and they will take it. This game gave us more questions than answers about the Bruins, and the conference as a whole.