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After a fantastic batch of games yesterday, tonight’s slate has a lot to live up to.
Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers (7:00 PM EST)
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The Magic seem like they are just seconds away from completely imploding right now. They’re fresh off losing 4 out of their last 5 games and the schedule doesn’t get much easier in the next few weeks. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is also about to kick off a ludicrously hard stretch of schedule. Their next seven games are against the Magic, Bulls, Heat, Hawks, Lakers, Spurs and Clippers.
Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards (7:00 PM EST)
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In the first of a bunch of really fun point guard match-ups of the night, Derrick Rose’s Bulls meet John Wall’s sorry band of Wizardry. Chicago enters after having lost a heartbreaker to the Heat yesterday, and they’ll undoubtedly be looking to get back on track against one of the worst teams in the league. Chicago had a chance to steal a win out from under the Heat down the stretch, but Rose missed two crucial free throws and a leaner late and they Heat prevailed.
New Orleans Hornets at Miami Heat (7:30 PM EST)
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This is one of the most lopsided match-ups of the season and should be a blowout victory for the Heat. There’s some letdown potential after their emotional victory over the Bulls yesterday, but I expect they’ll take care of business.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets (8:00 PM EST)
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The second of our awesome point guard match-ups features rookie sensation Ricky Rubio against the ever-improving Kyle Lowry. Of course, Rubio has a fun friend to play with in Kevin Love, and Lowry gets to spin it with Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Samuel Dalembert, Chandler Parsons and others. Minnesota played the Lakers tough last night, but they’ll be looking for more than moral victories against Houston. Rick Adelman’s got these guys playing hard and tough and they think they can beat anybody. They’re a lot better than they had any business being coming into the year.
Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks (8:00 PM EST)
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Blehhhhhh. #FreeGregMonroe. #GetHealthyBogut. #BuyCaptainJack’sAlbum
San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies (8:00 PM EST)
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The Spurs are coming off a crazy loss against the defending-champion Mavericks yesterday in which their starters didn’t step on the floor for the final 19:44 except for an 11 second stint by Kawhi Leonard. Gary Neal, James Anderson, Danny Green, Matt Bonner and Tiago Splitter played all but 11 seconds and turned a 16-point deficit into a 1-point loss. Tonight, they try to avenge their first round loss to the Grizzlies and their starters will be fresh despite being on the second night of a back-to-back. Memphis has lost 3 in a row after their comeback victory over the Warriors last week and will be looking to get back on track.
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns (9:00 PM EST)
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In a point guard match-up that will be different than what was expected coming into the season, we get the patient, calculated deliveries of Steve Nash against the blur-quick dashes to the hoop of Rodrique Beaubois. Beaubois is really coming into his own lately in relief of the injured and ineffective Jason Kidd and he’s got 47 points and 19 assists over the last three games. Also intriguing will be how Dirk Nowitzki rebounds from an ineffective first game in his return from an injury. The three-point range of Phoenix’s power forwards will test Dirk’s ability to close out shooters as well.
Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz (9:00 PM EST)
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This game’s got the elite power forward match-up of the evening: LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Paul Millsap. Both are beasting from mid-range this season. Portland put on a hugely impressive performance against the Suns in their last game, holding them to just 71 points. Marcus Camby had 0 points and 20 rebounds in the game. Utah has lost 3 of their last 5 after winning 8 of their previous 9.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 PM EST)
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The last of our marquee point guard match-ups is probably the best. Chris Paul. Russell Westbrook. What makes this one best is the quality of their teammates. Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins are all noteworthy in their own right. The Clippers will try to attack the Thunder defense with their potent pick-and-roll attack with shooters like Billups and Butler leaking in behind the action. Durant, Westbrook and Harden will create all kinds of shots from crazy angles. Perkins, Ibaka and DeAndre Jordan will be blocking shots like nobody’s business.  This should be one of the funnest games of the entire season.
