THURSDAY 14TH JANUARY NBA ACTION PREVIEW (6 GAMES)
3:00 PM ET - Orlando Magic (20-18) vs Toronto Raptors (24-15)
3:00 PM ET - Orlando Magic (20-18) vs Toronto Raptors (24-15)
Hype Ranking: 4th
Key Matchup: Channing Frye vs Luis Scola - which stretch four will provide better production for their team when it counts?
Game Notes: Playing in London, the Magic and the Raptors are both fighting, albeit for something different. The young Magic are surging towards their first playoff appearance since Dwight Howard left town and the Carroll-less Raptors are trying to stay afloat and keep their top four seed without their superb wing defender. Rest assured, both teams will fight it out for the affection of the fans in London.
7:00 PM ET - Philadelphia 76ers (4-36) vs Chicago Bulls (22-15)
Hype Ranking: 6th
Key Matchup: Jahlil Okafor vs Pau Gasol - Okafor is an excellent interior scorer. Can Gasol and Chicago's other big men find a way to stop him?
Game Notes: The Sixers have been an atrocity this season, as shown by their historically bad record. However, acquiring point guard Ish Smith, alongside making some front office and coaching adjustments, has seemed to be a move that could help the franchise gain some respectability by producing some, if not a lot, of wins now. The Bulls need to have their scouting report ready for Smith now because the last time they met, he wasn't on the roster. The Sixers may be bad but they fight hard and the Bulls must be ready to fight back just as hard.
8:00 PM ET - Memphis Grizzlies (21-19) vs Detroit Pistons (21-17)
Hype Ranking: 3rd
Key Matchup: Marc Gasol vs Andre Drummond - Last year, Marc Gasol was the league's best center. This year, he has underwhelmed and Drummond is one player that is now gunning for that crown with his tremendous rebounding skills. If Gasol can keep Drummond off the boards, it will give the Grizz a better chance at walking out with the win.
Key Matchup: Marc Gasol vs Andre Drummond - Last year, Marc Gasol was the league's best center. This year, he has underwhelmed and Drummond is one player that is now gunning for that crown with his tremendous rebounding skills. If Gasol can keep Drummond off the boards, it will give the Grizz a better chance at walking out with the win.
Game Notes: The last time these two teams met, Memphis' Matt Barnes sinked a half court shot for the win in front of a shocked Detroit crowd. We can only hope for a similar climatic finish. They are two teams with similar records but Detroit is the team with so much to lose with how things are shaking up East. The Pistons will need the best of Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond to topple the grit 'n' grind of these Grizzlies.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
8:00 ET - San Antonio Spurs (34-6) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (27-9)
8:00 ET - San Antonio Spurs (34-6) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (27-9)
Hype Ranking: 1st
Key Matchup: Kawhi Leonard vs LeBron James - Duh. Two superstars and MVP candidates going head to head for the first time this season. If Kawhi can shut down LeBron, then the Spurs should have no problems shutting down the Cavs unless Kyrie explodes for 50+ again.
Key Matchup: Kawhi Leonard vs LeBron James - Duh. Two superstars and MVP candidates going head to head for the first time this season. If Kawhi can shut down LeBron, then the Spurs should have no problems shutting down the Cavs unless Kyrie explodes for 50+ again.
Game Notes: Need I say much? The game of the night features two of the league's best three teams giving each other all they've got. A potential Finals matchup, it will be interesting to see how Leonard and James and Love and Aldridge matchup against one another. Whichever player of Kawhi, Kyrie, LeBron, Love, Aldridge, Parker and Duncan has the bigger game, their team should come out on top somehow (see: Kyrie Irving lighting up the Spurs for 57).
9:00 PM ET - Utah Jazz (17-21) vs Sacramento Kings (15-23)
Hype Ranking: 2nd
Key Matchup: Gordon Hayward vs Rudy Gay - Both forwards can get points up in a hurry but who will do just that and lead their team to victory?
Key Matchup: Gordon Hayward vs Rudy Gay - Both forwards can get points up in a hurry but who will do just that and lead their team to victory?
Game Notes: Two teams with playoff aspirations come into this game desperate for a win, the Jazz to increase their lead on the eighth seed and the Kings to come one game closer to it. Neither team has touched the playoffs in a while and you can be sure that they are hungry for that spot and will stop at nothing to obtain it. This should be an intense game that could have serious implications in the Western Conference playoff picture down the road.
10:30 PM ET - Golden State Warriors (36-3) vs Los Angeles Lakers (9-31)
Hype Ranking: 5th
Key Matchup: Klay Thompson vs Lou Williams - Lou Williams has been on a tear lately, highlighted by a career-high 44 points againt the Thunder this past week. Can Klay shut him down and prevent a close game like what the Thunder had to deal with because of Lou Will?
Key Matchup: Klay Thompson vs Lou Williams - Lou Williams has been on a tear lately, highlighted by a career-high 44 points againt the Thunder this past week. Can Klay shut him down and prevent a close game like what the Thunder had to deal with because of Lou Will?
Game Notes: In the last game of the night, the league's best team is pitted against its second worst team. If Kobe plays, it will indeed be his last game in the Bay Area and the Oracle crowd will be sure to send him off in the appropriate fashion. There isn't much to see here except Golden State most probably bouncing back from only their third loss of the season and seeing if Kobe will be okay to play his final game in Oakland.
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