Hello everyone! There’s a busy 10-game NBA schedule tonight, and all of them feature as least one former University of Kentucky Wildcat! There are even two nationally televised games on ESPN tonight. Let’s have a look at what’s in store for us.
7:00pm ET on NBA League Pass: Atlanta Hawks (9-2) at Charlotte Hornets (7-3). This should be a great game between two teams that are perched at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, with Dwight Howard coming back into his own with the Hawks, and the duo of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (please stay healthy!) and Kemba Walker making things happen for the Hornets.
7:00pm ET on NBA League Pass: Phoenix Suns (3-8) at Indiana Pacers (6-6). The Pacers have been on a rollercoaster as of late, taking an L from the Philadelphia 76ers, then defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers (albeit without LeBron). They’ll face Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker (fresh off that ejection from the game on Wednesday), Brandon Knight and Tyler Ulis. If those Western Conference tipoffs are too late for you, tune in for this game and enjoy the Suns.
7:30pm ET on NBA League Pass: Detroit Pistons (6-6) at Cleveland Cavaliers (9-2). DeAndre Liggins played 27 minutes in the Cavs’ game on Wednesday night at Indiana, his only playing time during the last five games, and he may have picked up those minutes because LeBron did not play. The question is, will he continue to see playing time, or will he pick up more DNPs? I would hate to see him end up in the D-League again, after his hard work and dedication have finally landed him back on an NBA roster, and with the Cavs, no less.
8:00pm ET on ESPN: Golden State Warriors (9-2) at Boston Celtics (6-5). Any game against the Warriors is difficult, but if you’re missing a key player or two due to injuries, that makes it so much worse. Last we heard, Al Horford still had not cleared concussion protocol, and Jae Crowder is definitely out with that sprained ankle. It’ll be tough for the Celtics. James Young has picked up minutes in the Celtics’ last five games, so expect to see him check in at some point.
8:00pm ET on NBA League Pass: Portland Trail Blazers (7-6) at New Orleans Pelicans (2-10). Help for Anthony Davis is coming in the form of Jrue Holiday, who is set to return after a long absence from the team as he helped care for his wife Lauren and their newborn baby. The family is doing well and they’ve sent Jrue back to the bayou. He will be sorely needed as Portland pulls in with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The Pels will have a tough time keeping this one close, and if Anthony does not play due to that injured quad, then the outlook will be even more bleak. Hoping for the best, but remaining realistic.
8:00pm ET on NBA League Pass: Brooklyn Nets (4-7) at Oklahoma City Thunder (7-5). Russell Westbrook has been letting the league know here at the outset of the season that he is still the man he’s always been, no matter who is with him on the court as teammates, and it’s made for some very exciting basketball. The Thunder welcome one of the worst teams in the East, the Nets. My prediction, and I could be wrong, is that Enes Kanter may see more playing time as the Thunder lead grows larger in this one.
8:30pm ET on NBA League Pass: Memphis Grizzlies (6-5) at Dallas Mavericks (2-8). Memphis is coming off a big win against the Clippers on Wednesday night, with Andrew Harrison making some huge plays down the stretch. I’m hoping he will be able to show out again tonight against a Dallas team that’s been bitten by the injury bug: looking at the game notes, Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams are both questionable, and they just lost JJ Barea for a while to a calf injury, too.
9:00pm ET on NBA League Pass: Toronto Raptors (7-4) at Denver Nuggets (4-7). Another tough game for the home team in this matchup. The Raptors are one of the best teams in the East right now, and Denver is struggling. Regardless of who wins, you’re guaranteed to see three former Cats: Toronto head coach Dwane Casey is bringing Patrick Patterson with him to face off with Jamal Murray. The Nuggets are coming off a win against the Suns, breaking a four-game losing streak, so here’s hoping they will carry that momentum into this challenge.
10:30pm ET on ESPN: Los Angeles Clippers (10-2) at Sacramento Kings (4-8). The Clippers are at the top of the Western Conference, and all of their starters are healthy. The Sacramento Kings are also healthy, but are struggling mightily again this season. DeMarcus Cousins and Willie Cauley-Stein will absolutely have their hands full with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin. DMC is (arguably) the best big in the NBA, but Jordan gives him a run for his money each and every time these two teams meet. Bonus: DMC very publicly dislikes Chris Paul. Expectations for this game: The Clippers will flop a lot, and DeMarcus will pick up a technical foul (hopefully not more than that).
10:30pm ET on NBA League Pass: San Antonio Spurs (9-3) at Los Angeles Lakers (7-5). The Lakers have honestly been one of the more surprising teams here in the early days of the season, carried by their young nucleus of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. This will be their first regular season game with the older, much more experienced Spurs. I predict that the Spurs will win this one; the question is by how much. You cannot make any mistakes against the Spurs because they will punish you with flawless execution on the other end.
There you have it, a review of the full slate of tonight’s NBA games. Enjoy!