Where to Watch the Wildcats: NBA Games on October 26, 2016
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- Amy Combs
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This is the second night of the NBA regular season, and we have a full slate of games to enjoy. Fortunately, NBA League Pass is starting us off right with a free preview week! Find those channels in your lineup, install the NBA app in your mobile & streaming devices, and let’s go over a list of tonight’s games that feature former University of Kentucky Wildcats.
7:00pm ET on League Pass: Miami Heat at Orlando Magic. Jodie Meeks is on the roster for the Magic, but he’s still out, day-to-day, with that fracture in his right foot. Still, Miami has a dynamic young center in Hasaan Whiteside, and Orlando has the runner-up in the Slam Dunk Contest, Aaron Gordon. Worth watching, if you’d like.
7:30pm ET on League Pass: Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics. James Young is a shooting guard for the Celtics, so he could get some nice minutes off the bench. Brooklyn is widely panned as being one of the worst teams in the entire league right now. The Celtics’ home opener might be a blowout of epic proportions.
7:30pm ET on League Pass: Detroit Pistons at Toronto Raptors. According to the NBA.com game notes, Patrick Patterson is a probable starter at Forward for the Raptors, taking over minutes for Jared Sullinger, who just had left foot surgery. The last time Patterson started in a home opener was in 2013 with the Sacramento Kings. The Raptors were a strong playoff team in 2015-16, winning the Atlantic Division in the East. They have a great backcourt in Kyle Lowry & DeMar DeRozan. Former Kentucky Wildcat Dwane Casey is head coach of the Raptors, as well.
8:00pm ET on League Pass: Charlotte Hornets at Milwaukee Bucks. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist & Kemba Walker are working on making a real name for themselves as a backcourt threat in the East. MKG is a probable starter tonight. He played only seven games last season before his injury, but he’s coming back strong and ready to dazzle crowds again with his speed and pesky defense. Aaron Harrison is also available to provide solid substitution minutes off the bench.
8:00pm ET on League Pass: Minnesota Timberwolves at Memphis Grizzlies. This game has Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s a total beast, touted as the next Tim Duncan. Any time you can watch him, you should. The Timberwolves will have more games nationally broadcast this season, so if there’s a conflict with another game you want to watch, it won’t be as painful to choose between them. The Memphis Grizzlies also have Andrew Harrison on their roster, and he is available to come off the bench.
8:00pm ET on League Pass: Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans. This is the home opener for the Pels, and our first serious look at Anthony Davis. He alone is worth the price of admission. Davis missed a bunch of games last season with injuries, and he sustained a sprained ankle in the preseason during the Global Games in China. He’s fully healthy now, though, and ready to start tonight. Terrence Jones will come strong off the bench. Really looking forward to watching Davis & Jones again; maybe their 2012 NCAA Champion chemistry will be unchanged. Jamal Murray is the Nuggets’ first-round draft pick, wowing crowds with his three-point shooting. This should be a fun one to watch.
8:00pm ET on ESPN: Oklahoma City Thunder at Philadelphia 76ers. Nerlens Noel is out for the Sixers after a minor knee surgery, but Enes Kanter is healthy and ready to go, coming off the bench to provide strong minutes in the paint for OKC. Both teams have exciting players on their roster, the Thunder featuring Russell Westbrook, and the Sixers featuring Joel Embiid, who is finally seeing playing time after years of recovery from injuries. If for some reason you can’t access the NBA League Pass free trial, this game will definitely keep you entertained.
GAME OF THE NIGHT: 10:00pm ET on League Pass: Sacramento Kings at Phoenix Suns. This is our best game for seeing former Wildcats, featuring a whopping seven of them: DeMarcus Cousins, Willie Cauley-Stein, Skal Labissiere, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Devin Booker & Trey Lyles. This is the Suns’ home opener. Bledsoe & Booker are probable starters for the Suns, and Cousins is a probable starter for the Kings. Any time John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins & Eric Bledsoe play each other, they show out. Their competitive edge gets amped up just a little higher, because they are such good friends off the court, like brothers. Your toughest decision tonight as a viewer will be which League Pass feed to watch: home or away!
10:30pm ET on ESPN: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers. The Worldwide Leader has a second game for you tonight, with Kyle Wiltjer coming off the bench for the Rockets, and Julius Randle a possible starter for the Lakers. Houston has some serious three-point threats in Trevor Ariza, Ryan Anderson & Kyle Wiltjer, as well as superstar James Harden leading the team. The Lakers are very young, in rebuilding mode, and trying to find their identity after the retirement of Kobe Bryant. This should be another fun one to watch if you can’t take advantage of the free preview of NBA League Pass.
There you have it, a rundown of tonight’s full slate of games. Enjoy!
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University of Kentucky alumna. DeMarcus Cousins was my gateway into the NBA. Watching former Kentucky Wildcats thrive in the pros is the best.