NBA Games of the Week

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 8, 2008

NBA Games of the Week

Raptors at Cavaliers | Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)

Cleveland can set an unusual NBA record in this matchup: most consecutive victories by at least 12 points. The Cavs share the record of eight in a row with four other teams, an impressive measure of their dominance during a 17-3 start. LeBron James and the Cavs also are one the league's last two unbeaten team at home (11-0).

Magic at Trail Blazers | Tuesday, Dec. 9, 10 p.m. ET

This launches a stretch for Portland in which it plays 11 of 14 games at home, where it has yet to lose this season (7-0). The Magic, one of the league's best road teams, will seek to avenge last month's 106-99 loss to the Blazers in Orlando, where Portland overcame Hedo Turkoglu's 35 points and Dwight Howard's 29 points and 19 rebounds while playing without an injured Greg Oden.

Suns at Lakers | Wednesday, Dec. 10, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Shaq and Kobe meet up for the second time this season. The Lakers cruised past the Suns 105-92 in Phoenix on Nov. 20 despite Kobe's 8-of-23 performance from the field. On paper, Phoenix's visit stands as the toughest test for the Lakers on a four-game homestand, which continues against Sacramento, Minnesota and New York.

Hornets at Celtics | Friday, Dec. 12, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

James Posey is expected to receive his Celtics championship ring before the game. Then he'll quickly shift his focus to defending Paul Pierce and hitting clutch three-pointers for the Hornets, who signed the role-playing swingman away from Boston last offseason in hopes that he could do for them what he did for the Celtics in 2007-08.

Bulls at Grizzlies | Friday, Dec. 12, 8 p.m. ET

The Grizzlies entered the week ranked last in the NBA in attendance at 11,796 per game, but they figure to get a nice spike on this night as popular former University of Memphis standout Derrick Rose returns to the area. If the matchups fall right at certain times, the two early front-runners for Rookie of the Year -- Chicago's Rose and Memphis' O.J. Mayo -- could go head-to-head.

Warriors at Nuggets | Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 p.m. ET

If you like your basketball played in a hurry, this is for you. Golden State and Denver rank in the top six in pace, meaning possessions will come fast and furious if form holds. Keep an eye on two big men quietly producing big seasons: the Warriors' Andris Biedrins, who is averaging 15 points and nearly 12 rebounds, and the Nuggets' Nene, who leads the NBA in shooting at better than 63 percent.