It has been said many times that the NBA regular season is a marathon, not a sprint. Finishing strong is better than having a hot start. Some teams, like the Utah Jazz, had a fast start and then slowed down as the months passed. Well, we are nearing the end of the marathon, and it is time to see which teams will be gearing up for a strong finish.
Mar. 20: Golden State Warriors @ Houston Rockets
Can the Golden State Warriors win this road game? Coach Steve Kerr is probably wondering why his squad is having difficulty winning on the road. With a bad road record, Kerr is looking forward to an easy road win in Houston to break the jinx. The only problem is that the Rockets recently beat the Boston Celtics inside the Toyota Center. So maybe playing against the Rockets might not be a guaranteed win after all.
Mar. 21: Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans
For the Hawks and the Pelicans, winning on this day will be a huge help when it comes to claiming their Play-In Tournament spots. The Hawks will be facing the worst team in the East when they host the Detroit Pistons, while the Pelicans will go against the underachieving San Antonio Spurs. The Pistons and the Spurs are strong contenders for the worst team in the league this season.
Mar. 22: New York Knicks @ Miami Heat
The Miami Heat and the New York Knicks have played against each other twice this season. Both games were decided by two points, with Julius Randle’s clutch three-pointer being the difference maker in the second meeting. That game just happened earlier this month, so fans inside Miami’s arena will have that loss fresh in their minds. Can Randle continue his heroic efforts in front of a hostile crowd?
Mar. 22: Golden State Warriors @ Dallas Mavericks
Any concerns that Stephen Curry’s injury might hinder him were put to rest when he scored 50 points against the Los Angeles Clippers a few games ago. He even added eight three-pointers just to prove that everything was back to normal again. That is why this game has some sort of value for Curry. The last time he faced the Mavericks, he injured his left leg and had to be sidelined for a month.
Mar. 22: Phoenix Suns @ Los Angeles Lakers
Both teams had to hit the trade market hard after realizing that their roster needed changes in order to have a deep Playoff run. The Lakers got players like D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley, while the Suns added another scorer in Kevin Durant. The excitement level of this game would surely go through the roof if both Durant and LeBron James were available to play. If not, fans will have to wait another two weeks before these teams meet again.
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