NBA Games of the Week

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 30, 2009

NBA Games of the Week

Lakers at Bobcats

Their first meeting in January left the Lakers bruised with a rare home loss and the Bobcats battered after Gerald Wallace suffered a collapsed lung when he was fouled hard by Andrew Bynum. A rare double-revenge game awaits.

Heat at Mavericks

Mavericks fans probably are conditioned to hear a referee's whistle every time they see Dwyane Wade after his one-man parade to the foul line pushed Miami over Dallas in the 2006 Finals. Times have changed but old feelings die hard.

Cavs at Magic

Looking for an Achilles heel in LeBron James' run to the Eastern Conference title perhaps more dangerous than Boston? Try Orlando, which beat up on the Cavs when the two met in Orlando and lost by only four when the two met in Cleveland in March. Another convincing win over the Cavs could send the kind of message that makes LeBron sweat -- a little.

Rockets at Lakers

Fueled by Ron Artest's trash talk, Kobe Bryant thrashed the Rockets with 18 fourth-quarter points to pace the Lakers to a 102-96 win in Houston. Will Artest take a more verbally restrained approach this time? Will it even matter?

Jazz at Hornets

From most accounts, Deron Williams and Chris Paul have tired of their comparisons in the media. Fine, we'll just enjoy the importance of the on-court showdown between the two with a playoff seed in the balance.