What to Watch, You NBA Sicko: Mar. 23 - Mar. 29
Monday - March 23
Early Slot: Los Angeles Lakers at Detroit Pistons (7:00 PM)
This Lakers and Pistons matchup will be a great litmus test for both sides. The Lakers have won nine in a row, with seven of those coming against playoff teams, but the Pistons, even down Cade Cunningham, bring a different kind of physicality to the game. While the Pistons’ offense falls off a cliff without Cunningham (121.87 → 111.54), their defense becomes even more ferocious (111.28 → 108.2). If the Lakers win this game and push their streak to ten, they’ll start to look like the team that puts everything together just ahead of the playoffs. Meanwhile, if the Pistons can steal a victory without Cunningham, they’ll feel great about their chances of holding onto the one seed in the East.
Late Slot: Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks (9:30 PM) Peacock/NBCSN
Unfortunately, all the games after 9:00 PM suck, but this one sucks the least. The Warriors will still be without Steph Curry, but winning this game would be huge. They’re 2-10 over their last 12 games, but they have a three-game tank cushion against the Mavericks, Nets, and Wizards that could give them a chance to get past the Trail Blazers and back into the nine seed. Dallas continues to play poorly, but they’re one of those bad teams that can make games feel competitive. They’ll end up losing, but they won’t feel like a plastic bag in a hurricane from the tip.
Tuesday - March 24
Early Slot: Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers (8:00 PM) NBC/Peacock
To follow up their seven-game winning streak, the Magic have lost four straight. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers, following a 2-3 stretch, have righted the ship, with three wins in a row. However, they haven’t looked like a convincing contender since their victory over the Pistons on March 3. While neither team needs to have it, this game definitely has massive vibes at stake. A win for Orlando gets them back on track, but a loss will all but undo the last remnant of their seven-game win streak. For the Cavaliers, a loss will only further the sinking feeling that they can’t compete with the best teams in the league, while a win makes them look like a contender for a day.
Late Slot: Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns (11:00 PM) NBC/Peacock
The Nuggets have been dropping winnable games for a month straight, but they finally have their whole roster healthy. With the return of Peyton Watson on Sunday, the Nuggets had the pleasure of playing Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Watson in the same game for the first time since November 21. Back then, the Nuggets were 12-3 and looked like a real threat to make a run. The Suns just ended a five-game losing streak with a 120-98 win over the Raptors. Injuries have really started to take their toll on the Suns. They’ve been without Dillon Brooks since February 22, Mark Williams since March 5, Devin Booker missed a few games at the end of February, and Royce O’Neal and Grayson Allen have been battling knee injuries. Even as the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Rockets have faltered over the past few weeks, the Suns haven’t been able to make up ground and are firmly entrenched as the seventh seed. However, the Suns still play incredibly hard, and that energy should make them a good matchup for a Nuggets team that routinely looks like they’re running on fumes.
Wednesday - March 25
Early Slot: Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics (7:00 PM)
According to the sports books, this is the most likely NBA Finals matchup. The Thunder are an NBA-best 56-15 and have managed that despite Jalen Williams missing the vast majority of the season, but he’s expected to return on Monday. Meanwhile, the Celtics are second in the East at 47-24, despite not having Jayson Tatum for the vast majority of the season. Not only is this a fantastic matchup and a potential Finals preview, but it is also a chance to see how Tatum and Williams look as they return from lengthy injury layoffs.
Late Slot: Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves (9:30 PM) ESPN
Right at this moment (March 23), the Rockets, Timberwolves, and Nuggets are all 12 and a half games back of the Thunder. The Rockets are 43-27, while the Wolves and Nuggets are 44-28. So, this game is massive from a seeding perspective. Unfortunately, we have no idea if Anthony Edwards will be healthy enough to suit up, which makes this a must-win for the Rockets. If you can’t pick off the competition when they’re wounded, you’re not a real threat to win a playoff series. If this game is close down the stretch, expect the world’s worst fourth-quarter offense.
Thursday - March 26
Early Slot: New York Knicks at Charlotte Hornets (7:00 PM) NBATV
Thursday has three games, and they all tip off at 7:00*. Fortunately, New York at Charlotte is a dynamite contest. As I’m sure you’ve heard, the Hornets have been excellent since the new year, while the Knicks have oscillated between “It’s so over” and “I’ve never been so back.” At the end of the day, the drama surrounding the Knicks is just a product of the insanity that is New York sports. The Knicks are fifth in the league in net rating at +7.0, just behind the Celtics (+7.5) and Pistons (+7.9) in the East, and are a clear threat to make it to the Finals. The Hornets have worked their way up to seventh in net rating at +4.2, thanks to a +10.8 net rating since January 1. These are two elite teams, and a Hornets victory will send the Knicks’ fan base spiraling.
*Subject to commercial delays. If your game doesn’t start within 10 minutes, take more commercials.
Friday - March 27
Early Slot: Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 PM) NBATV
The Heat are ninth in the East, but are only a game and a half out of fifth. They’re in no danger of falling out of the play-in, but the chance to secure the five seed is there for the taking. However, they’re only a game ahead of the Hornets in tenth. While seeding is probably overblown by fans, the difference between finishing tenth and fifth is so massive that the Heat probably need to be in playoff mode. So the flipside, the Cavaliers have at least the four seed locked up, and have an outside chance of stealing the three or two seed from one of the Celtics or Knicks.
Late Slot: Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers (10:00 PM) NBATV
If you want to stay up past midnight watching basketball on the East Coast, this is your best bet of seeing a compelling game. The Trail Blazers and Mavericks feel like similarly flawed teams. They can’t shoot, and their offense is always gummed up, but they’ll defend with energy and pressure the ball. It could be an unmitigated mess, but it may also be a fun game.
Saturday - March 28
Early Slot: San Antonio Spurs at Milwaukee Bucks (3:30 PM) Prime
The Spurs are good enough that they deserve to be watched at least once a week. While their showdown with the Giannis-less Bucks should be nothing but a formality, watching Victor Wembanyama terrify professional athletes is a sight to behold.
Late Slot: Philadelphia 76ers at Charlotte Hornets (6:00 PM)
The Hornets and Sixers have been going opposite directions for quite some time, but they still haven’t collided on record. The Sixers are seventh in the East at 39-32, while the Hornets are tenth at 37-34. This is a crucial game for both sides, and it seems like Joel Embiid should be back.
Sunday - March 29
Early Slot: Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (6:00 PM)
Currently, the Magic and the Raptors are only separated by a single game. Who knows how things will look come Sunday, but there’s every chance in the world that the winner of this game will be sitting in fifth in the East, while the loser will tumble to ninth. The Raptors have randomly been better on the road (20-16) than at home (19-15) this season, but I’d be willing to bet that’s a small sample blip. The Magic are still down Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, and Jonathan Isaac, and none have received a “proper timetable to return.” I know what that means, but I’m still not sure what they’re saying.
Late Slot: New York Knicks at Oklahoma City Thunder (7:30 PM) NBC/Peacock
Before the season, this was the pet NBA Finals pick. While the Thunder have done nothing but reinforce their status as the league’s best team, the Knicks have fallen behind their preseason projection. Granted, the optimism surrounding the Knicks centered on the weakness of their competition. In reality, the Knicks, owners of a +7.0 net rating and a 47-25 record, have been as good as we thought. The only problem is that the Pistons and Celtics have far exceeded our expectations. These are my favorite types of games. No one is going to overreact to a loss, but a win is as loud a statement as you can make.
For any inquiries about work, discussion, and the like, you can email me at nevin.l.brown@gmail.com.