What to look at this week in NBA: Triple serving of Warriors and final group stage video games

We’ve had enjoyable these previous six weeks, however December is the NBA’s first signature month. There’s the in-season match end and the Christmas Day slate. And apparently, Dec. twenty first is World Basketball Day? We are going to rejoice accordingly.

Right here’s your viewing information to the week forward in skilled basketball — which includes a decisive Orlando Magic-New York Knicks Cup matchup, nationwide appears to be like on the upstart Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets, and three prime-time Golden State Warriors video games.

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Full NBA nationwide TV schedule

For video games Dec. 2-6, all occasions Jap

* denotes NBA Cup sport

NBA Cup video games to look at

Orlando Magic at New York Knicks

Time: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT

The film trailer logline: A torrid offense meets a smothering protection in Midtown Manhattan. Issues will get attention-grabbing.

The Magic have been in New York since Friday, they usually look fairly snug — maybe they’re impressed by Met Opera revival season, or possibly the Wagner brothers discovered one of the best greenback slice within the metropolis. Orlando’s protection appeared hellacious in consecutive wins at Brooklyn, forcing 20 turnovers Friday and holding the Nets to 38 % capturing Sunday.

The 15-7 Magic enter this week first in factors allowed per sport and third in defensive ranking. They’ve endured by Paolo Banchero’s absence, climbing to 3rd within the Jap Convention. Franz Wagner is a budding star, averaging profession bests in factors, rebounds, assists and steals. His utilization charge is greater than that of Anthony Edwards and Jayson Tatum, and his sport is shrewd and dogged on each ends of the ground.

Granted, the Knicks are much better than the Nets. They arrive in at 12-8, fourth within the East, and there’s a affected person swagger to their offense. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities are attempting to turn into the primary guard-center teammates to every common 25 factors per sport since Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant 20 years in the past. New York is first in offensive ranking and second in true capturing share. This staff is hooping.

New York’s struggles have come on the opposite facet, an uncommon growth for Tom Thibodeau-coached groups. The Knicks have been tenth in defensive ranking final yr and are twentieth proper now. These blemishes are particularly pronounced in clutch minutes, the place the staff is twenty seventh in plus-minus and second-to-last in 3-point protection.

Each groups are 3-0 in Cup play, tied atop East Group A. Tuesday’s winner hosts a quarterfinal. However these two sides don’t share the identical stakes. Barring a blowout of historic proportions, Orlando would nonetheless get a wild card berth by level differential. New York’s slimmer margins of victory would put it on the skin wanting in, even at 3-1.

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

• G — Anfernee Hardaway
• G — Steve Francis
• F — Evan Fournier
• F — Trevor Ariza
• C — Patrick Ewing

Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets

Time: Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET
TV: TNT

The film trailer logline: Stephen Curry. Nikola Jokić. Coming to a theater close to you!

Two of the league’s finest groups roll into this matchup on slight downturns. The Nuggets (10-8) have gone 2-3 since Jokić returned from a private absence, and the Warriors (12-7) are 5-5 of their final 10 video games. However these crews are among the many most entertaining watches within the sport and title contenders at full energy. Denver enters Tuesday’s contest with seven consecutive head-to-head wins.

The league’s reigning MVP presents a uniquely disorienting problem for Golden State’s stout protection. Jokić is a basketball fever dream, on the verge of averaging a 30-point triple-double with unparalleled effectivity. He’s main the league in offensive win shares for a fifth straight season.

Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun have each performed above expectations this season. The previous has hit 4 or extra 3-pointers in six video games. The latter has a newfound tenacity across the rim and is within the 94th percentile for factors per shot, in keeping with Cleansing the Glass. However Jamal Murray is significantly slumping to the worst capturing marks since his rookie marketing campaign. And the protection appears to be like off with out Aaron Gordon (calf).

This Warriors squad isn’t precisely the Curry-centric staff we’ve come to know in previous iterations. Don’t get it twisted — Curry continues to be an all-universe participant who distorts house and makes volcanic highlights. However he’s taking his fewest shot makes an attempt per sport since 2011-12. Andrew Wiggins appears to be like rejuvenated, averaging greater than 21 factors per sport in his final six outings and placing up one of the best 3-point subject aim share of his profession. And Buddy Hield needs to be on the shortlist for Sixth Man of the Yr. He’s wanting like a long-lost Splash Brother, or a minimum of a Splash Cousin, at 44 % behind the arc.

Golden State has already locked up West Group C. Denver is pursuing a wild card spot based mostly on level differential.

Most essential commerce: Jul. tenth, 2013 — in a dense and consequential three-team take care of Utah, the Warriors acquired Andre Iguodala, whereas the Nuggets bought Randy Foye and a commerce exception. Iguodala declined Denver’s contract supply throughout free company and was thus routed to the Bay through sign-and-trade. Simply two years later, Golden State raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy, and Iguodala was named Finals MVP.

Different nationwide video games

Denver Nuggets at Cleveland Cavaliers

Time: Thursday, 7 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV

The Cavs are a pressure, main the East at 18-3 and third within the league in internet ranking. They’re capturing 51 % as a staff, which is brain-melting stuff. They’re on tempo for one of the best mark in 30 years. For reference, the 72-win Warriors shot 48.7 % in 2015-16. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley going to battle with Jokić ought to make for nice tv. Cleveland performs with the league’s sixth-fastest tempo, whereas Denver is tenth.

All-time collection: Nuggets lead 54-44. Denver’s longest successful streak is 9 video games, which it held from 1981-85.

Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors

Time: Thursday, 10 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV

Ime Udoka’s Rockets outfit is among the largest surprises of this nascent season. Houston enters the week at 15-6, second in defensive ranking with the second-best mark on Basketball Reference’s easy ranking system. Jalen Inexperienced and Fred VanVleet are capturing underneath 40 % from the sphere, and the staff is twenty sixth in 3-point share, however the protection is impressed. Tari Eason leads all of basketball in defensive ranking; Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson rank third and fourth. The Warriors have gained 14 — 14! — straight video games towards the Rockets. The final one was a banger, a 127-121 extra time end on Nov. 2.

Buzzer beaters: The Warriors have three towards Houston: Rick Barry (1974), Sonny Parker (1981), and Stephen Curry (2022). The Rockets have two towards Golden State: Hakeem Olajuwon (1992) and Moochie Norris (2000).

Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics

Time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

At 16-4, Boston is second in internet ranking — Oklahoma Metropolis is first — and off to a greater begin by 20 video games than final yr’s title staff. 5 Celtics are averaging 15 or extra factors, and Jayson Tatum is third in MVP odds on BetMGM (+425). Giannis Antetokounmpo is correct behind him, fourth at +650, and the Bucks are 10-9 after a dire 2-8 begin. December was Damian Lillard’s finest statistical month final season, and he appears to be like to be rounding into his typical excellence. Doc Rivers returns to town the place he gained his championship ring.

If there have been a rivalry trophy, it will be: The Don Nelson Large Blind

Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors

Time: Friday, 10 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

Minnesota continues to be in quest of its finest self. The Timberwolves gained 56 video games final season however enter December underneath .500 at 9-10. Anthony Edwards is balling out, and Julius Randle is having his best capturing season since 2017-18. However the staff is final in quick break factors, twenty sixth in turnover share and has a destructive rebounding differential. Draymond Inexperienced caught a five-game suspension final yr for head-locking Rudy Gobert. These groups don’t like one another.

Wildest second: Avert your eyes, Minnesotans. Wolves common supervisor David Kahn held the fifth and sixth picks within the 2009 Draft. They went with two level guards, Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn. Warriors GM Larry Riley took Stephen Curry with the following choice.

(Photograph of Andrew Wiggins: Ezra Shaw / Getty Pictures)