NBA Friday: Rookie Matchups to Keep an Eye on
With every team in the NBA having surpassed the 60-game mark, we're rolling down the stretch into what will be an exciting playoffs.
It's been a great season for NBA newcomers, as the rookies this season have continued to show out and some providing massive roles and contributions for their respective teams.
On Friday night, there'll be a few first-year player matchups to highlight. Let's take a look at a few you shouldn't miss:
Wizards vs. Hornets
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In the first scheduled matchup on the night, it will be Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets heading on the road to take on Bilal Coulibaly and the Washington Wizards.
On a four-game losing streak, Miller has posted 26 and 18 points in his last two outings, and continues to fortify himself as one of the best scorers in his class. Despite just a 7-24 record on the road, this one will be one for Charlotte to lose against a struggling Washington team.
The Wizards are currently on a 13-game skid, having not won a single game since the end of January. For Coulibaly, he's still providing promise in his role as an active rookie defender while also continually contributing to the scoring column.
Thunder vs. Heat
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In the 7 p.m. slot, Thunder rookies Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace will see the Miami Heat and Jaime Jaquez Jr. for the second time this season, which Oklahoma City had Miami's number in the previous matchup.
This is the start of a four-game home trip for the Thunder, returning from a four-game road stretch where they finished 2-2. Oklahoma City remains in a sword fight for the top spot in the West with the Minnesota Timberwolves but still sit in second, making these upcoming games at home important down the stretch.
For Miami and Jaquez Jr., they enter off a loss to the Dallas Mavericks, having gone 7-2 in their last nine outings. Last meeting, it was a good performance for Jaquez despite the loss – putting up 21 points and shooting 60% from three.
Toting the line as a six-seed bouting with the Philadelphia 76ers, they'll need to come out of Oklahoma City with a win to help solidify themselves in the middle of the East.
Trail Blazers vs. Rockets
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In the late game of the night, we have a pending matchup between the Portland Trail Blazer's Scoot Henderson and the Houston Rockets' Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.
Henderson, who hasn't played since mid-February since before the All-Star break due to an injured adductor, has since been upgraded to a game-time decision as of Thursday. If he doesn't return tonight, he will be coming back soon.
17-44 on the season and 2-11 in their last 13 games, a depleted Portland team will hope to have him back in pursuit of a home victory on Friday night.
Houston has strung together some strong performances of late sitting six games outside of Play-In contention at the 12 seed, consecutively defeating the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs before dropping a narrow game to the fourth-seeded L.A. Clippers.
Thompson has really come alive in the back half of the season for the Rockets, assuming a bigger role and providing a great source of rebounding, slashing and perimeter defense. For Whitmore, his scoring production off the bench, notching 17 and 19 points in their most recent outings versus L.A. and San Antonio.
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