Author: Sacha Stermer

New York Knicks – Denver Nuggets: The Joker at MSG The Knicks welcome the Nuggets to Madison Square Garden in a heavyweight clash — East No.2 versus West No.3. On paper it’s the kind of marquee game that sells tickets: stars, tidy role players and a proper arena. Minor snag: both teams are on the…

Houston Rockets – Boston Celtics: Clash of contenders The Rockets host the Celtics in a heavyweight matchup between two of the season’s best. Houston sits 4th in the West and can leap to 3rd with a win; Boston are 3rd and hoping to push up to 2nd. Big stakes, big statements – exactly the sort…

Los Angeles Clippers – Cleveland Cavaliers: James Harden’s first game The Clippers host the Cavs at the Intuit Dome in a strange little subplot: both clubs just swapped point guards. James Harden heads to Cleveland in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the Clippers. Rare move. Could change the tone of this…

San Antonio Spurs – Oklahoma City Thunder: potential conference final? Fifth and final regular-season meeting between the Spurs and the Thunder, with a playoff rematch still on the table. San Antonio leads the series 3-1 and would win the tiebreaker if they catch OKC later. Fancy Game 5 of the season’s best matchup? San Antonio…

Portland Trail Blazers – Phoenix Suns: 7th vs 10th in the West Second meeting of the season between these two. Since Phoenix won in mid-November (127-110) the picture has shifted: the Suns have proven they belong in the West playoff mix, while the Blazers are carving out a Play‑In hunt. Still a decent matchup —…

Oklahoma City Thunder – Orlando Magic: another upset brewing in Oklahoma? First meeting of the season between the Thunder and the Magic at the Paycom Center. Plenty of question marks over who will suit up for Oklahoma City — and that could swing this one either way. Whatever the lineup, Orlando will need one of…

Detroit Pistons – Denver Nuggets: clash between the East’s top team and the West’s No.3 Detroit Pistons vs Denver Nuggets won’t set the highlight reels on fire in the minds of casual fans, but it’s one of the season’s most compelling matchups. The Pistons are bossing the East, while the Nuggets are still chasing second…

Los Angeles Clippers – Philadelphia 76ers: Kawhi and Harden vs Maxey and Embiid The Clippers host the 76ers in a showdown between two of the league’s hottest squads right now. L.A. might still sit low in the Western standings, but their form since late December reads like a proper playoff team. Philly, meanwhile, have Joel…

Charlotte Hornets – New Orleans Pelicans: LaMelo vs Zion The Hornets and Pelicans meet for the second — and final — time this season. New Orleans won the first game (116-112), but Charlotte has flipped the script with a hot January and looks like one of the league’s best right now. Should be a proper…