Back to regular programming. Now that the In-Season Tournament is over, everyone can go back to the “normal” feel of the NBA schedule. No more seeing those bright courts and no more comparing the point differential statistics among the teams. It is time to move on and move forward.
Here are some of the best games in the upcoming week.
December 12: Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks
Who can forget the last time these teams met? The Lakers fought back to erase a 20-point deficit only to lose by three points. Ouch! Kyrie Irving came up with the clutch three-pointer to put the Mavericks ahead by one. Irving would then add two more free throws for the game’s final score. Fans can only hope that another classic game will emerge from this matchup.
The first ever In-Season Tournament Champions: Your Los Angeles Lakers pic.twitter.com/qst33lhZm2
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 10, 2023
December 13: Brooklyn Nets at Phoenix Suns
Mikal Bridges, who improved as a leader after leaving the Suns, returns to Arizona to face his former team. We can also say that Kevin Durant, who used to play for the Nets, will be preparing to host his former teammates. Any or both of those stories will easily make this game a must-watch. Do you think we’ll see one-on-one battles between Bridges and Durant?
December 13: Indiana Pacers at Milwaukee Bucks
An In-Season Tournament rematch. When the Pacers beat the Bucks last week, a scene caught Damian Lillard’s eye. After Tyrese Haliburton hit a crucial long-range shot, he looked at his wrist as if mocking Lillard’s “Dame Time” celebration. Well, the Bucks won’t wait very long to meet the Pacers again. Maybe the Bucks will be defending Haliburton better this time around.
TY TIME ⌚️ pic.twitter.com/p4G4LX6tIR
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 8, 2023
December 14: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers
The last time they met, Stephen Curry and his fellow Warriors blew a 22-point lead. What stood out was how late the Clippers got their first lead of the game. When Paul George hit a three-pointer with around nine seconds remaining, it gave his team a one-point lead. That was enough for them to win the match as Draymond Green missed a potential game-winning shot for the Warriors.
December 15 and 17: Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics
After a surprising loss to the Magic in Florida last month, the Celtics will now host Orlando’s team for two straight games. The difference now is that the Celtics will have Jrue Holiday. Holiday missed the first meeting when he had to recuperate from an ankle sprain. Boston also has to plan for Moritz Wagner, a former Celtic who scored 27 points in 24 minutes last time they met.
Bleacher Report’s Updated End-of-Season Record Prediction in the East:
1. Celtics (60-22)
2. Bucks (56-26)
3. Sixers (53-29)
4. Cavs (49-33)
5. Magic (48-34)
6. Pacers (47-35)
7. Heat (47-35)
8. Knicks (47-36)— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) December 11, 2023
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