San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs play a home-and-home series on Wednesday in San Antonio and Friday in Memphis. With the Grizzlies losing eight straight, the franchise decided to move on from head coach David Frizdale. As for the Spurs, since their four-game losing streak at the beginning of the season, they have won nine of their last twelve games.
The Grizzlies are going to play their first and second games against the Spurs this season under interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Bickerstaff will have a tough task of rallying the struggling team behind him and winning their next two games to get their season back on track. It’s significantly more difficult to win NBA games when your team cannot score 100 or more points, which the Grizzlies have not done since Nov. 15, six games ago.
The Spurs are still without their arguably best player Kawhi Leonard, who has not played yet this season due to a quadriceps injury. Head coach Gregg Popovich said he’s “very close” to making his season debut, but is still being limited in practices. San Antonio continues, however, to thrive this season with LaMarcus Aldridge as their leading scorer, but having Leonard back will take some of the workload off of Aldridge’s back.
The games will take place on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in San Antonio and on Friday at 7 p.m. in Memphis, Tennessee.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Trailblazers
If you can stay up late Saturday night, you will be treated to a great Western Conference matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Portland Trailblazers.
The Pelicans are being heavily tested seven weeks into the season after coming off a loss against the Golden State Warriors. In fact, their next five games are against teams that are in the top half of the Western Conference. Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins will have their work cut out for them, and fans will figure out how good this Pelicans team really is.
The Blazers have won seven of their last nine games thanks to CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard, averaging 47.2 points per game together this season. Portland has risen to a solid 13-8 record and fourth in the Western Conference, which is a lot better than expected.
The game will take place on Saturday at 9 p.m. in Portland, Oregon.
Golden State Warriors vs. Miami Heat
With the Golden State Warriors dinged up, the Miami Heat want to capitalize with a win at home on Sunday.
The Warriors were without Kevin Durant and Steph Curry in a tough home loss Monday against the Kings. Curry will most likely be to play this game despite a hand injury, as well as Durant with a minor ankle injury. The thought process was most likely to give their best players a rest day against one of the worst teams in the Western Conference.
Each game is critical for a team like Miami, standing at eighth place in the Eastern Conference, while trying to fend off teams behind them hoping to sneak into the top eight. Expect the Heat, including Goran Dragic, to bring their “A” game in this marquee week seven matchup.
The game is on Sunday at 6 p.m. at American Airlines Arena in Miami.
