5 NBA games to watch this week
Tuesday: San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks,
8 p.m. ET (TNT)
If you're concerned about seeding in the Western Conference, then there isn't much margin for error. Ask the Dallas Mavericks, who've lost two straight and dropped to seventh. The Spurs, on the other hand, sit sixth after winning 10 of 12.
With six games separating seeds No. 2 through 7, the next three weeks will be interesting. The Mavericks' issues of late were well-chronicled Monday, and much of it has been centered around Monta Ellis's performance the past two games. However, Dallas has been slipping as a team in March.
| Mavericks | ORtg | DRtg | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 107.3 | 103 | 4.3 |
| March | 102 | 105.7 | -3.8 |
The Spurs are doing that thing they do every season when they make people remember them, and are fresh off a victory over the East-leading Atlanta Hawks.
The Mavs and Spurs actually play twice this week - they meet again in San Antonio on Friday. Going into Tuesday, the season series is square at a game apiece.
Tuesday: Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers, 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
With the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament taking center stage Thursday, the TNT doubleheader moves to Tuesday night. The only meeting between the Warriors and Blazers so far this season happened in November, with one more to come on April 9.
Wednesday: Miami Heat at Boston Celtics,
7:30 p.m. ET
When the Heat and Celtics played two weeks ago, they were both fighting for their playoff lives in the bottom tier of the Eastern Conference standings.
They still are. Boston lost Isaiah Thomas to a back injury in that game, and it's possible he'll make his return to the lineup on Wednesday.
Wednesday: Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The Spurs are a hot commodity this week and collide with another hot team Wednesday night in San Antonio. For all the turmoil surrounding the Thunder, with Kevin Durant's status now up in the air and Serge Ibaka out four-to-six weeks, OKC has won eight of 11 - including against quality, ableit undermanned, opponents like the Hawks and Bulls.
The Spurs on the road will be a stiff test for the Thunder. Their only other meeting this season came on Christmas Day with Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker out of action. Russell Westbrook had 34 points and 11 assists in that Thunder victory.
Friday: Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies,
8 p.m. ET
It's a battle of the teams with the two best records in the league's superior conference, as well as contrasting styles. The Grizzlies dealt the Warriors their third defeat of the season back on Dec. 16.
The Warriors were without Andrew Bogut at the time, someone they could definitely use inside against the Grizzlies. In that December victory, Memphis also got a season-high 16 points off the bench from Vince Carter.