Could this be the week that the Philadelphia 76ers finally trade disgruntled Ben Simmons? The All-Star remains away from the team and the Sixers have started fining him game checks again ($360,000 per) until he cooperates with club physicians on his mental health and fulfills other basketball-related obligations. The Sixers have struggled to find a trade package that meets their asking price. Here’s a look at two intriguing NBA matchups this week.

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A 29-point, 18-rebound performance lands Giannis at the top of Sunday's #NBAFantasy leaderboard! ? pic.twitter.com/CO9M0HZXHC

— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) November 8, 2021

Charlotte Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

• When: Monday, November 8th, 2021. 10:30pm ET
• Where: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, California
• TV: NBA TV
• Radio: 102.5 FM (Hornets) // 710 ESPNLA (Lakers)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: TBA

The Lakers catch a bit of a break in that it’s the second of a back-to-back for Charlotte, although the Hornets didn’t have to travel after visiting the Los Angeles Clippers in the same building on Sunday night. Charlotte remains without forward PJ Washington due to injury. He has been diagnosed with a hyper-extended left elbow. Coming off the bench as a key reserve, Washington is averaging nine points and 4.4 rebounds per game, shooting 36.4% from 3-point territory and 48.1% overall.

The Lakers will not have LeBron James for Monday and apparently quite a while longer. He has been sidelined with an abdominal injury and apparently it’s even worse than the Lakers first thought as he could miss 1-2 months. James has logged six games (all starts) so far this season, his 19th in the NBA. He is averaging 24.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and seven assists per game.

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel stated over the weekend that the team believed it would be “at least a week” for James’ return. He described his injury as “hopefully … something that’s minimal.” The one season James has not suffered a significant injury with the Lakers included a four-month break at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic — essentially a standard offseason — before the league resumed play in the bubble.

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis left Saturday’s game due to a stomach illness and is also dealing with a sprained right thumb. The good news is that the illness is not COVID-related but Davis is in question for Monday. He missed 36 out of 72 games in 2020-21 because of various injuries. Because of Davis’ uncertain status, there is no early line on this game.

The Lakers and Hornets have met 61 times in all, with the Lakers leading the all-time series 38-23. At Staples Center, the Lakers are 13-7 all-time against the Hornets. Lakers guard Malik Monk was drafted by the Hornets with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and played for the team from 2017-21. If Davis plays, back LA but Charlotte if not.

NBA Betting Pick: Lakers

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers

• When: Tuesday, November 9th, 2021. 10:00pm ET
• Where: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, California
• TV: TNT
• Radio: Rip City Radio 620 (Trail Blazers) // KLAC 570 AM (Clippers)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: TBA

This is the late game on Tuesday’s TNT national TV doubleheader. The Blazers are under a microscope right now with president of basketball operations Neil Olshey under investigation with employees alleging a toxic, hostile work environment where staff members have been subjected to intimidation and profanity-laced tirades, among other bullying tactics. The Trail Blazers announced earlier Saturday that they had retained an outside law firm, O’Melveny & Myers, to “conduct a full, fair and independent review.”

Olshey was hired by the Trail Blazers to run their front office in June 2012 after serving as the LA Clippers’ general manager for parts of two seasons. A few weeks after getting the job, Olshey oversaw Portland’s selection of Lillard with the No. 6 pick out of Weber State, a little-known mid-major program in Ogden, Utah. This offseason, Olshey made the controversial hire of coach Chauncey Billups amid concerns about his involvement in a 1997 rape allegation. Billups spent the 2020-21 season as an assistant coach for the Clippers.

Tuesday’s game is the third of four meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Clippers this season. The season series is tied, 1-1. They last played on Oct. 29 and Portland won 111-92 at home. Damian Lillard led Portland with 25 points to go with four rebounds, six assists and one steal. For the Clippers, Paul George had 42 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.

Lillard has averaged 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in two games against the Clippers this season. CJ McCollum has averaged 17.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. George is averaging 28.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 4.50 steals vs. the Blazers.

Los Angeles will be a short home favorite Tuesday as long as George doesn’t sit out for some reason. Back the Clippers if George is in there.

NBA Betting Pick: Clippers

READ MORE: Top 2021 NBA Week 5 Betting Picks

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