News Archive

5 Can't-Miss Matchups: Kemba Walker vs. Russell Westbrook

All-Star guard showdown among this week's matchups to watch

With NBA All-Star 2020 approaching, this week’s schedule features several compelling matchups, with most taking place on Monday and Tuesday.

The clash between point guards from Team Giannis and Team LeBron headline this week’s set of can’t-miss matchups when Kemba Walker and Russell Westbrook square off Tuesday night in the second game of a double-header on TNT (9:30 ET).

* * *

1. Kemba Walker vs. Russell Westbrook

Tuesday, Feb. 11 (9:30 ET, TNT)

Last regular season meeting: Nov. 23, 2018.

The win-loss record in this matchup looks lopsided, but the majority all of the games between these two took place when Walker played for the struggling Charlotte Hornets. Now, Walker is leading a Boston squad with three legitimate All-Stars (Jaylen Brown was snubbed). Westbrook has come out on top in this matchup on three consecutive occasions, including the 30-point double-double he racked up the last time he faced Walker. In the two games they met in 2018, they matched up head to head for just under 3:30. But in this one, the two All-Stars could see more one-on-one time considering the makeup of their teams.

Head-to-head stats below are via Basketball Reference.

Player W L PPG RPG APG
Russell Westbrook 10 3 24.6 6.6 7.8
Kemba Walker 3 10 16.4 2.8 4.8

2. Kawhi Leonard vs. Tobias Harris

Tuesday, Feb. 11 (7 ET, TNT)

Last regular season meeting: Feb. 3, 2019.

Leonard faces Harris and the squad he knocked out of the playoffs in 2019 coming off scoring a season-high 43 points without Paul George in the lineup on L.A.’s current four-game road trip going into the All-Star break. The 76ers, meanwhile, are an NBA-best 24-2 at home and have won nine straight at home. Leonard has won three of his last four matchups against Harris, who shot 27.8% in the last meeting between the players while committing three turnovers. Harris has put up 20 points or more in each of his last two outings.

Head-to-head stats below are via Basketball Reference.

Player W L PPG RPG APG
Kawhi Leonard 9 2 17.3 5.0 2.7
Tobias Harris 2 9 13.6 5.2 2.0

3. D’Angelo Russell vs. Kyle Lowry

Monday, Feb. 10 (7:30 ET, League Pass)

Last regular season meeting: Apr. 3, 2019.

Karl Anthony-Towns got his wish when Minnesota traded for Russell on Thursday at the NBA’s trade deadline. A right quadriceps contusion prevented Russell from making his debut on Saturday, but there’s a chance he’ll play his first game with the Timberwolves against Lowry and the Raptors. Lowry is 8-1 in matchups against Russell and has won three consecutive games in this series. In the last two meetings between these players, Russell committed seven turnovers compared to none for Lowry. Two of those Russell turnovers came with Lowry guarding him.

Head-to-head stats below are via Basketball Reference.

Player W L PPG RPG APG
Kyle Lowry 8 1 17.7 5.6 7.9
D’Angelo Russell 1 8 23.6 6.1 6.2

4. Jimmy Butler vs. Andrew Wiggins

Monday, Feb. 10 (10:30 ET, League Pass)

Last regular season meeting: Mar. 30, 2019.

Wiggins got off to a fast start with his new team, scoring 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting in his Warriors debut on Saturday. He’ll have his work cut out for him against Butler, who has come out victorious in the last two games between these players, including a 13-point double-double in the last matchup. Butler has missed two consecutive games due to a strained right shoulder, but he’s with Miami on its current five-game Western road trip. A MRI on Butler’s shoulder revealed no structural damage, but it’s unclear whether he’ll be available for this matchup against a reinvigorated Wiggins.

Head-to-head stats below are via Basketball Reference.

Player W L PPG RPG APG
Jimmy Butler 4 2 20.2 8.2 3.3
Andrew Wiggins 2 4 18.7 5.3 1.8

5. Spencer Dinwiddie vs. Victor Oladipo

Monday, Feb. 10 (7 ET, League Pass)

Last regular season meeting: Dec. 21, 2018.

Although these players have met on nine occasions, it’s important to keep in mind that Dinwiddie started in just three of the matchups. With Oladipo returning from a lengthy injury, the team held him out to rest Saturday against New Orleans. But Oladipo is expected come back for this one. He’s averaging 10.6 points since his return along with 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game. Oladipo has won seven-straight against Dinwiddie, who turned over the ball five times in the last meeting between the players while shooting 4 of 12.

Head-to-head stats below are via Basketball Reference.

Player W L PPG RPG APG
Victor Oladipo 7 2 23.9 4.9 4.0
Spencer Dinwiddie 2 7 8.9 1.9 5.3

Underrated matchup: LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Nikola Jokic

Monday, Feb. 10 (9 ET, League Pass)

Last regular season meeting: Apr. 3, 2019.

An All-Star reserve faces what could be viewed as an All-Star snub with Jokic and the Nuggets hosting the San Antonio Spurs. Aldridge is 10-3 in the regular season against Jokic, who has won three of the last five games between the two, including a near triple-double (20 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists) the last time these players faced off. Jokic is also 4-3 against Aldridge in the postseason, and the Nuggets are om a roll having reeled off a record of 23-8 over their last three games. The Spurs, meanwhile, are averaging 108 points per game during their current rodeo road trip while opponents are averaging 120.7 ppg.

Head-to-head stats below are via Basketball Reference.

Player W L PPG RPG APG
LaMarcus Aldridge 10 3 19.5 6.1 1.8
Nikola Jokic 3 10 19.0 8.2 5.8

* * *

Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here , find his archive here and follow him on Twitter .

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.

Latest