What to watch this week in NBA: Undefeated Cavs, sizzling Warriors and more Cup games

Jayson Tatum’s walk-off. Julius Randle’s buzzer-beater. De’Aaron Fox scoring 60 factors. Giannis Antetokounmpo with 59, solely made attainable by the Pistons clanking consecutive game-sealing free throws. Oh, and that battle of scorned Splash Brothers. To evoke Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon, what per week, huh?!

The carousel of drama rotates onward. And the NBA Cup is again, with a higher aesthetic sensibility than final yr’s nightmare. Right here’s your viewing information to the week forward within the NBA.

Full NBA nationwide TV schedule

For video games Nov. 18-24. All instances Jap.

* denotes NBA Cup recreation.

NBA Cup video games value watching

Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics

Time: Tuesday, 7 p.m. ETTV: TNT

Why it’s value watching: The perfect product sells itself. So long as your schedule permits for it and also you don’t have a kelly inexperienced allergy, there’s no motive to overlook this recreation. The Cavaliers are undefeated at 15-0 (!), and the 11-3 Celtics are the defending champions. These are the league’s high two groups in offensive ranking.

Donovan Mitchell needs to be locked in after taking a relaxation day on Sunday. Cleveland flaunted its well-rounded play in his absence, with 4 Cavs topping 20 factors in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets. Darius Garland has extra makes than misses this yr and touts a Curry-esque 45.5 3-point share on career-high quantity. After a half-decade of taking part in sluggish, grinding basketball, new coach Kenny Atkinson has this group seventh in tempo. Cleveland enters Tuesday tied with Hakeem Olajuwon’s 1993-94 Houston Rockets for the second-longest profitable streak to begin a season.

Tatum and Jaylen Brown are as formidable a duo as any within the sport, however Boston can also be a compelling watch due to the motion round these two. The Celtics play with a perpetual inexperienced mild from the perimeter — an absurd 56.3 p.c of their pictures are 3s, the very best within the league by a large margin. They’re third in factors per possession off screens, per Second Spectrum. They’re a wise and disciplined outfit, however they’re not joyless. With the sport on the road, Tatum will do the child dribbling within the driveway fadeaway for the win.

If there have been a rivalry trophy, it could be: The Jeff Inexperienced Thriller Field

Beginning 5 to put on every jersey (minimal 50 video games with every franchise):

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at San Antonio Spurs

Time: Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. ETTV: TNT

Why it’s value watching: This part could be a formality if Chet Holmgren have been wholesome. The nascent rivalry between him and Victor Wembanyama has decade-long endurance — two preternaturally expert seven-footers which can be contorting courtroom dimensions and reimagining franchise futures. Can somebody please hit pause, go to the sport settings and switch off accidents?

Because it stands, the banged-up Thunder are nonetheless top-of-the-line groups within the NBA. Oklahoma Metropolis is sixth in tempo but second in factors allowed, taking part in aggressive ball with out promoting out its protection. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having one other MVP-caliber marketing campaign, and Jalen Williams is the true deal as he ascends into his third professional season — the 6-foot-6 leavening power performs on the 2, 3 and 4 spots and is averaging greater than 20 factors per recreation. The Thunder are relentless in disrupting the pick-and-roll, with opposing ball handlers on the second-highest turnover fee and opposing screeners on the lowest capturing share.

The Spurs are displaying marked enhancements in Wembanyama’s sophomore season. His league-leading 3.7 blocks per recreation anchor a protection that’s fifth in whole scoring. A few of that may be attributed to a sluggish tempo, the hallmark of Chris Paul groups, however San Antonio has the younger and rangy expertise to disrupt Tuesday evening’s matchup.

Plus, the charcoal courtroom is on the shortlist for sleekest NBA Cup design. And even when the Spurs can’t make this one shut, nationwide audiences proceed to be gifted with celestial, inexplicably-awesome highlights.

If there have been a rivalry trophy, it could be: The 7-Foot Unicorn

Finest matchup: 2014 Western Convention Finals — San Antonio received, 4-2

Six Spurs averaged double-figure scoring, with 37-year-old Tim Duncan main the way in which at 17.8
Russell Westbrook averaged 26.8 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists and three.2 steals

Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans

Time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ETTV: ESPN

Why it’s value watching: The Warriors enter the week at 10-2, finest within the Western Convention. They’re fourth in offensive ranking and fifth in defensive ranking. Draymond Inexperienced loves displaying out on protection in opposition to this explicit opponent, for no matter motive. The crew is a delight to observe, even with Stephen Curry’s comparatively relaxed begin. Curry did weld a defining in-season match second final week. We’d prefer to assume he has one other in retailer.

The Pelicans are riddled with accidents. They’re with out three All-Star-level guys in Zion Williamson (hamstring), CJ McCollum (hip) and Dejounte Murray (hand), plus two gutsy defenders in Herbert Jones (shoulder) and Jose Alvarado (hamstring). Fantasy gamers can at the very least benefit from the stylings of Brandon Ingram, who’s on tempo for his most shot makes an attempt in a season. The navy courtroom with cherry purple trim is simple on the eyes. However be warned … the mascot, a sanguine toddler referred to as King Cake Child, is totally not.

If there have been a rivalry trophy, it could be: The Willie Inexperienced Clipboard

Most necessary commerce: On Feb. 24, 2005, New Orleans, again once they have been the Hornets, traded Baron Davis to Golden State in alternate for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis. Claxton averaged 11.3 factors and 4.9 assists along with his new crew, whereas Dale Davis was waived. Baron Davis, in the meantime, put up greater than 20 factors and eight assists per evening throughout 4 seasons within the Bay. He was the main scorer of the “We Consider” Warriors that upset MVP Dirk Nowitzki and the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks within the 2007 Playoffs.

Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets

Time: Friday, 10 p.m. ETTV: ESPN

Why it’s value watching: Nikola Jokić comes into this week with career-best averages in factors, assists, steals, blocks and 3-point capturing. He’s additionally a tenth of a board shy of his rebounding excessive. Jokić is a singular viewing expertise on this sport, sedately dictating tempo from the put up and unfurling environment friendly motion round his orbit.

And don’t sleep on Christian Braun, who has greater than doubled his scoring output from a yr in the past. About half of his pictures are coming 0-to-3 toes from the basket. He’s fearless on the rim and not too long ago turned four-time DPOY Rudy Gobert right into a spotlight accent.

For Dallas, Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving can hypnotize on any given evening. Dončić missed the Mavericks’ final contest with a knee contusion, however Jason Kidd stated he “ought to” be accessible this week. Irving is off to a torrid begin, with 54.5/52.1/85.1 p.c capturing splits by means of 13 video games. The Mavs are 2-6 in clutch video games thus far and have hit a paltry 29.2 p.c of their clutch 3s. Search for that mark to bend up towards the imply, particularly with P.J. Washington again within the lineup.

If there have been a rivalry trophy, it could be: Dream Catcher’s Saddle

Shut calls: 4 of the final seven head-to-head matchups have been determined by one basket, together with Nov. 10’s 122-120 thriller in Denver. Michael Porter Jr. hit the game-winning jumper with seven seconds left.

NBA Cup odds

As soon as once more, the Cup’s betting favourite hails from the Jap Convention, with bookmakers perceiving a neater path to the Las Vegas stage. The Knicks cleared the path at +500, weighed for his or her uninspiring group competitors (Hornets, Nets, 76ers and the Paolo Banchero-less Magic). The Cavaliers and Warriors observe at +650.

East Group B fields Antetokounmpo’s Bucks, Jimmy Butler’s Warmth and the upstart Indiana Pacers, who made it to the ultimate of the inaugural match. However the odds-on favourite to emerge right here is … the Detroit Pistons at +125, because of a 2-0 begin.

The Lakers are taking part in effectively this season, received their first Cup recreation and received the entire match final yr. However Los Angeles is a sizeable +325 to succeed in even the semifinals proper now.

Even with the Knicks as match favorites, Jalen Brunson sits at +1100 for Cup MVP odds. Karl-Anthony Cities is at +1400. The present leaders are Curry (+800) and Gilgeous-Alexander (+900).

Non-Cup watch

New York Knicks at Phoenix Suns

Time: Wednesday, 10 p.m. ETTV: ESPN

Why it’s value watching: The Knicks are nonetheless determining their protection, to the righteous fury of famous defense-lover Tom Thibodeau. However this crew certain can get buckets. New York enters the week second in efficient discipline objective and true capturing percentages. Six gamers common double-digit scoring. Cities has single-handedly received video games along with his stroke behind the arc — he has 5 video games with 30 or extra factors, together with 44 in Miami and a 46-piece in opposition to the Bulls final week. As a crew, the Knicks are capturing higher than 43 p.c on pictures 25 toes or additional, the most effective mark within the league.

The Suns are attractive on offense as effectively. No Kevin Durant (calf) is a letdown, however Devin Booker and Bradley Beal make for a enjoyable watch. And Tyus Jones has been the skeleton key, unlocking essentially the most environment friendly model of this top-heavy Phoenix squad. His 6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio helps shoulder the Durant absence.

It is a huge matchup for hoop heads a fan of orange. Someway, the Knicks, Suns and Thunder are the one three groups to make use of the identical colour because the ball they play with.

If there have been a rivalry trophy, it could be: The Stephon Marbury-Steve Nash Sliding Door

Buzzer beaters:

The Suns have hit one in opposition to the Knicks — Cameron Johnson (2022, 31-foot 3-pointer)
The Knicks have hit two in opposition to the Suns — John Starks (1997, 23-foot 3-pointer) and J.R. Smith (2012, 21-footer)

Different video games of be aware

Thursday’s NBA TV providing of the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons seems like a clunker. Don’t let your eyes deceive you. The Pistons are taking part in impressed basketball and hovering round .500. And LaMelo Ball is doing online game stuff off the dribble.

Saturday’s matchup between the Nuggets and Lakers (NBA TV) is filled with star energy. Denver has 4 straight head-to-head wins on this collection, plus is 8-1 in opposition to the Lakers within the playoffs within the final two years. Russell Westbrook returns to his hometown of Los Angeles after a deeply uncomfortable break up from the purple and gold.

Extra NBA tales

Will NBA enlargement carry the SuperSonics again to Seattle? ‘There’s simply an excessive amount of karma’

Julius Randle has his first Timberwolves second in buzzer-beating recreation winner

John Hollinger on the NBA Cup

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar checks in at No. 3 on ‘The Basketball 100’

(Photograph of Jaylen Brown and Evan Mobley: David Richard / USA TODAY Sports activities)