The NBA season gets back under way after an emotional and entertaining All-Star Weekend in Chicago, as Philadelphia 76ers host Brooklyn Nets. Team LeBron edged out Team Giannis 157-155 in the revamped All-Star Game, which included Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
The All-Star Weekend has gifted basketball fans numerous highlights over the years, while commemorating the end of the regular season in the most spectacular way possible. Even though the format changed last year – the Conference All-Star battle was replaced with team Giannis versus team Lebron – one contest that will always be phantasmagoric is the Slam Dunk Contest.
The final match before the beginning of the NBA All-Star Weekend sees Boston Celtics host Los Angeles Clippers at TD Garden, with each team placed third in their respective conferences. The visitors’ away form has been shaky of late, while Boston are seeking a seventh straight home victory.
The top two teams in the Western Conference go head to head at the Pepsi Center, as second-placed Denver Nuggets host leaders Los Angeles Lakers. Denver have a superb home record of 21-6, while the Lakers have the second best away record in the NBA, with 22 wins from their 27 road trips.
Philadelphia 76ers can gain huge momentum if pulling off a victory at Eastern Conference leaders Milwaukee Bucks, but we fear that outcome is unlikely. The visitors have been in wretched form on their travels, losing on each of their last four road trips and in eight of their last 10 away from Wells Fargo Center.
Golden State may find it tough to extend a run of eight straight head-to-head wins over Brooklyn but the Warriors can be competitive at Barclays Center. Having struggled badly on the road for most of this season, Steve Kerr’s side now travel to the Big Apple on the back of big wins in Cleveland and Washington.
Utah Jazz travel to the injury-hampered Denver Nuggets as these teams face off for the first time this season at the Pepsi Center. Both teams are locked on 32-15 in their battle for top spot in the Northwest division, with the winner also set to move up to third place in the Western Conference.
As we’re slowly approaching the end of the first half of the 2019/20 NBA season, past fan speculation has either come true or remains highly creative fiction. Let’s have a look at players and teams that have surprised everyone for either the right or – occasionally – the wrong reasons.
Moda Center will host a potential battle between the NBA’s two most in-form scoring guards as James Harden’s Houston travel to Damian Lillard’s Portland. Lillard poured in 50 points and 13 assists during the Trail Blazers’ 139-129 victory against Indiana last time out, with CJ McCollum adding 28.
Los Angeles Lakers will look to return to winning ways against the struggling New York Knicks in order to strengthen their grip at the top of the Western Conference. The Lakers suffered a heavy defeat at the Boston Celtics last time out but will fancy their chances at Madison Square Garden.
The Los Angeles Lakers are sitting pretty at the top of the Western Conference but face a tough test tonight when they head to Boston. The Celtics are fourth in the East with only five home defeats and the Lakers are starting as only slight favourites.
The Eastern Conference leaders pit their wits against their third-placed rivals as the 2019-20 NBA season enters the second half of the campaign. Milwaukee Bucks sit seven games clear at the top of the table, with Miami Heat’s young stars their closest rivals and Boston Celtics not far behind.
Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets look pretty evenly matched heading into their showdown at American Airlines Center and a tight tussle is expected. The visitors have won two more matches than their opponents in assembling a 25-11 record, but that is largely down to their impressive home form.
Dallas superstar Luka Doncic will again be missing when Boston visit American Airlines Center but we still feel the Mavericks are a value pick at home. The Celtics are coming off back-to-back losses to Philadelphia and Indiana, which left their record on the road this season at a moderate 7-6.