Tuesday’s three-game NBA slate delivered a couple of upsets and one convincing road performance. The Detroit Pistons kicked things off with a 121-113 win over the Boston Celtics, a result that stands as the day’s most pleasant surprise. In the afternoon matchup, the Philadelphia 76ers quieted Madison Square Garden with a 106-100 road victory over the New York Knicks, handing the home side a tough loss. To close out the night, the Oklahoma City Thunder continued to look like a legitimate force, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 116-104 on the road.
The XO Sports model went 1-for-3 on the day. The lone correct call was Detroit covering at home against Boston, which the model picked with a 55% probability. The bigger misses came on the two marquee road victories. The model backed the Knicks heavily as its top pick of the day with a 77% probability, but Philadelphia had other plans. Oklahoma City also defied the model’s prediction, which had San Antonio winning at home. A tough day overall, but the model’s Detroit read showed its ability to spot value in lower-profile matchups.