Where to Watch the Wildcats: NBA Games on December 20, 2016
Hello everyone! Here we are again on a cold winter day… well, at least it’s cold here in Kentucky… and it’s time to snuggle in with a warm blanket and watch some basketball. Here’s a rundown on where you can see some former University of Kentucky Wildcats this evening.
7:00pm ET on NBA League Pass: New Orleans Pelicans (9-20) at Philadelphia 76ers (7-20). The situation with Nerlens Noel and the Sixers has become very interesting in the last week, with the team announcing that Nerlens will no longer be in the rotation, and Jerry Colangelo claiming that this is “not a benching.” We are unlikely to see what I think would be an entertaining matchup of Anthony Davis vs Nerlens Noel tonight. We probably will see a lot of Terrence Jones, though, because Tyreke Evans is out for tonight’s game; Reke just came back from injury and the Pels don’t want to use him too much.
7:00pm ET on NBA League Pass: Los Angeles Lakers (11-19) at Charlotte Hornets (15-13). We’ve got Julius Randle and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist playing in this one. Aaron Harrison is with the D-League’s Greensboro Swarm right now. D’Angelo Russell may be back tonight to give Kemba Walker a run for his money. This should be a fun game between two younger teams. The Hornets have the playoffs in their sights, so expect them to put up a fight.
7:30pm ET on NBA League Pass: Brooklyn Nets (7-19) at Toronto Raptors (19-8). Former Cat Dwane Casey is leading his team, including fellow former Cat Patrick Patterson, up that hill to the playoffs again, and they should have no trouble defeating the Brooklyn Nets to add another game to the win column.
7:30pm ET on NBA League Pass: Orlando Magic (12-17) at Miami Heat (9-19). Jodie Meeks has returned to the active roster for the Magic, so expect to see him come off the bench and put up some threes like he did when he played for Kentucky. He’s shooting .387 from the arc according to the Magic’s game notes, but he’s only played 10 games; he missed 19 games while healing a broken bone in his foot.
8:00pm ET on NBA-TV: San Antonio Spurs (22-5) at Houston Rockets (21-7). The Rockets’ Clint Capela has sustained a pretty serious injury, and speculation is that Kyle Wiltjer could step into that gap and get some more minutes. He played in one game during the Rockets’ last five, the blowout vs the Kings on Dec. 14. I would not expect the team to sub him in vs one of the top teams in the Western Conference, but you never know. His bench celebrations are honestly what he’s becoming best known for anyway.
8:00pm ET on NBA League Pass: Cleveland Cavaliers (19-6) at Milwaukee Bucks (13-12). DeAndre Liggins has been getting some serious minutes for the Cavs, the most coming in their game vs the Grizzlies on Dec. 13, with 32:19. When you get minutes with Cleveland, that is really saying a lot about you as a player. If the game gets away from the Bucks, you might see Liggins get extended minutes when the starters are subbed out.
8:00pm ET on NBA League Pass: Boston Celtics (15-12) at Memphis Grizzlies (18-11). In the Celtics’ last five games, James Young picked up five DNPs (Coach’s Decision), so don’t count on seeing him tonight, but you probably will see his former Kentucky teammate Andrew Harrison. Fun fact from the Grizzlies’ game notes: Andrew Harrison leads all NBA rookies in minutes per game this season (he’s considered a rookie because until this season, he played in the D-League). With all of the injuries to the Grizz’ roster, that will continue to increase.
10:30pm ET on NBA-TV: Utah Jazz (18-10) at Golden State Warriors (24-4). One lone Wildcat in this one, Trey Lyles. The Jazz will have their work cut out for them facing the Warriors. These two teams are on NBA-TV for a reason, though: the Warriors are the Warriors, but also, the Jazz will very possibly make it to the playoffs this year. Rudy Gobert is being lauded as a candidate for defensive player of the year.
10:30pm ET on NBA League Pass: Denver Nuggets (12-16) at Los Angeles Clippers (20-8). The Nuggets’ Jamal Murray had a slow start, but he’s coming along now. He’s listed in the game notes as probable for tonight’s game, with right foot soreness. He was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October/November. He had a tough game last night vs the Mavs, so we’ll see how he does in this tough matchup… going from playing the Mavs to playing the Clips on a back-to-back is being catapulted from the bottom of the Western Conference to the top.
10:30pm ET on NBA League Pass: Portland Trail Blazers (13-16) at Sacramento Kings (10-17). Skal was reassigned to the D-League’s Reno Bighorns today, so we won’t see him tonight, but we will definitely see DeMarcus Cousins and Willie Cauley-Stein. Here’s hoping that DeMarcus’ performance will help folks forget the recent off-court issues that everyone is talking about. He beasts in every game, regularly adding double-doubles to his collection, and the Blazers are a tough foe, so this should be a good game.
So, there you have it, a primer for your NBA viewing this evening. Enjoy!
