It’s a great day to be an NBA fan. Five games on the ledger today and with them comes a multitude of great storylines to look out for.
For one, we’ve got a battle in New York as the Brooklyn Nets take on the New York Knicks. The Knicks have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA as of late, having won eight of their last ten games. No team has a better record than them in that span. The Nets meanwhile, are on the opposite side of the spectrum, losers of eight of their last ten. The Nets currently sit a game behind the Atlanta Hawks for 10th-place in the Eastern Conference and that final play-in spot. There’s still a lot of season left to play but there’s certainly a sense that every game matters right now.
The night will conclude with a classic Crypto.com Arena battle between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. Amid D’Angelo Russell trade rumors, it appears the guard will get at least one more game in Laker yellow. The Clippers have won eight of their last ten games though, but the Lakers were one of those two losses. Could another victory be in the cards?
Here’s everything to know about tonight’s games.
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Denver Nuggets at Indiana Pacers:
How to watch:
- Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
- Time: 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
- TV: Bally Sports
Despite the addition of Pascal Siakam, the Pacers have lost both games he has played with Indiana. So long as Tyrese Haliburton remains out, the Pacers will struggle to live up to the expectations they have placed upon themselves, and playing the Nuggets certainly won’t help.
New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets:
How to watch:
- Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT
- TV: TNT
The Brooklyn Nets are playing pretty well given their subpar record. Brooklyn currently ranks 19th in the NBA on offense and 17th on defense. The Knicks have been outstanding during their three-game win streak. They’ve been dominant on defense, ranking third in the league in defense during that stretch, allowing only 110.6 points per game.
Utah Jazz at New Orleans Pelicans:
How to watch:
- Where: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA
- Time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
- TV: Bally Sports New Orleans
The Jazz have lost each of their last two games, dropping to .500 and needing to gain ground on the teams in front of them. The Pelicans are one of those teams. The Pelicans do not have a huge lead over the Jazz, so tonight could be a massive game down the line.
Portland Trail Blazers at Oklahoma City Thunder:
How to watch:
- Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
- Time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
- TV: Bally Sports Oklahoma
After a massive win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder look to stay hot. Although the Trail Blazers have won two of their last three, they are coming off a 24-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Portland has lost seven of their last ten, including a 62-point loss to Oklahoma City on Jan. 11. This could be another tough one.
Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers:
How to watch:
- Where: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA
- Time: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
- TV: TNT
Amid rumors of trading D’Angelo Russell away, it appears the Lakers will still have the former All-Star on the squad for their matchup against the Clippers. The Clippers have won eight of their last ten, but one of their two losses during that stretch was a 106-103 defeat at the hands of these same Lakers.
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