What to Watch, You NBA Sicko: Jan. 19 - Jan. 25
The best viewing experiences the NBA has to offer...this week
Monday - January 19
Early Slot: Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers (2:30 PM) NBC/Peacock
The two best teams of the 2024-25 season are two of the hottest teams in the league. They’re both 7-3 over their past ten games, with some impressive wins on their ledger. The Cavaliers split their baseball series against the Pistons and Timberwolves, while the Thunder just beat the Rockets and Spurs back-to-back. Unfortunately, Cleveland is down Darius Garland again, but the Thunder will also be without Jalen Williams.
Late Slot: Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (8:00 PM) NBC/Peacock
The Celtics might be four and a half games behind the East-leading Pistons, but they’re neck-and-neck in net rating. In fact, when factoring in opponent quality, you could make the argument that the Celtics have the slightly better underlying metrics. Regardless of where you stand, this is a heavyweight Eastern Conference fight, and it looks more and more like a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview.
Tuesday - January 20
Early Slot: San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets (8:00 PM) NBC/Peacock
The Rockets and Spurs feel like they’ve been scuffling as of late, but that’s more due to the high baselines they established over the season’s first 30 games. The Spurs are 6-4 over their past ten games, while the Rockets are 5-5. That’s not the level they can play at, but even the best teams have stretches where they’re basically .500. These are still two of the best teams in the league, and it pits the league’s best offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding teams against each other.
Late Slot: Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors (10:00 PM)
It’s a rematch of the 2019 NBA Finals. While the Warriors still have some of the connective tissue from that Finals team, the Raptors are a brand new unit. The Warriors own the superior net rating (+3.0 to +1.3), but both teams are tied in the loss column at 19. Unfortunately, the Warriors will be on the second night of a back-to-back, which could see them punt the game. However, if they don’t, their rest disadvantage should bridge the quality gap.
Wednesday - January 21
Early Slot: Atlanta Hawks at Memphis Grizzlies (8:00 PM)
This is a bet that the Ja Morant we saw in London will make the trip across the pond. The Grizzlies have been mediocre to bad all season, but that’s because Morant has been largely unavailable and mostly awful. If he can sustain any level of performance, the Grizzlies become a much more dangerous team. The Hawks are now well below .500, but that’s all because of their home record. They’re 7-12 at home and 13-12 on the road, and are one of two teams with a winning record on the road but not at home.
Late Slot: Oklahoma City at Milwaukee Bucks (9:30 PM) ESPN
The Bucks, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return, have continued to struggle, which is not what you want to hear when you’re about to face the Thunder. I have little faith that the Bucks can make this a game, but Giannis always gives them a chance. These are the perfect nightcap games. Tune in to see if a star can pull off the impossible, and if they can’t, you can head to bed at a normal time.
Thursday - January 22
Early Slot: Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic (7:00 PM)
The Hornets have been playing much more inspired ball as of late. They’re 5-5 over their past ten, with all of their wins coming by at least 10. In fact, the Hornets’ penchant for blowing out the opposition is how they have 0.0 net rating despite a 16-27 record. Meanwhile, the Magic aren’t just 5-5 over their past ten, they’re 11-11 over their past 22. Hopefully, the Magic can finally get and stay healthy, but if not, they’d better watch out. The Hornets are as likely to sting as they are to be swatted away.
Late Slot: Miami Heat at Portland Trail Blazers (10:00 PM)
The Trail Blazers are surging. They’re 10-3 over their past 13 games and have hit .500 for the first time since mid-November. The Heat haven’t been as hot, but they did just beat the Thunder. Despite the Blazers’ recent surge, I’m not convinced they’ve suddenly become a juggernaut. They’ve only outscored their opponents by a grand total of 33 points over this 10-3 stretch. These are two solidly mediocre sides who play fast and physical as hell, which should make for a fun matchup.
Friday - January 23
Early Slot: Houston Rockets at Detroit Pistons (7:00 PM) Prime
Offensively, the Pistons and Rockets are remarkably similar. They’re first and second in offensive rebound rate, are 15th and 16th in effective field goal percentage, 21st and 24th in turnover percentage, and ninth and 16th in free throw to field goal ratio. The Rockets’ absurd edge in offensive rebounding is why their offense ranks fourth, and the Pistons 12th, but both of these attacks are powered by the boards. If you like physical, grind-it-out basketball, this is the game for you.
Late Slot: Toronto Raptors at Portland Trail Blazers (10:00 PM)
Thanks to the Blazers’ recent uptick and homestand, they’re a late slot mainstay this week. The Raptors and Blazers feel very evenly matched to me, and stylistically, they’ve both attempted to ramp up the defensive pressure to mixed results.
Saturday - January 24
Early Slot: Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves (5:30 PM) ABC
The Wolves are probably the least discussed good team in the league, while the Warriors are the most discussed mediocre one. However, the Warriors have been trending up, while the Wolves have been treading water. Regardless, any game with Steph Curry and Anthony Edwards has the chance to be special.
Late Slot: Miami Heat at Utah Jazz (9:30 PM)
When the Utah Jazz are whole, they’re a fun bad team. Hopefully, Lauri Markkanen will have recovered from tankilitis, and we can be treated to two of the league’s fastest teams at close to full strength.
Sunday - January 25
Early Slot: Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies (3:30 PM)
I doubt Nikola Jokic will be back, but January 25th is awfully close to four weeks. In his absence, Jamal Murray has solidified his All-Star case, and Peyton Watson has made himself tens of millions in the offseason. The Grizzlies are one of the biggest wild cards in the league. Some nights, they look like a real playoff team, and other nights, they look like they’re in a rebuild.
Late Slot: Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Clippers (9:00 PM)
The Clippers have been one of the best teams in the league over the past month. Since December 20th, they’re 12-2 with a net rating of +9.8, and have done well to put their abysmal start in the rearview. The Nets, despite a strong month of December, have regressed back to their lottery-bound ways. However, they’ve just been a regular bad team over the past month, and aren’t the auto-W they were to start the season. Both of these teams turn the ball over with abandon, which could lead to a parade of transition slams.
For any inquiries about work, discussion, and the like, you can email me at nevin.l.brown@gmail.com.