Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic — the most recent MVPs — meet for the first time this season Sunday on NBA League Pass.
Monday, January 24
New York at Cleveland, 7:00 p.m.
This is the second meeting between the Knicks and Cavs this season. Cleveland won in New York on Nov. 7 behind a career-high 37 points from Ricky Rubio, who is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in December. The Cavs (28-19) remain in the top five in the Eastern Conference entering Week 15, while the Knicks (23-24) are just outside the play-in field.
Tuesday, January 25
Sacramento at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
How will Jayson Tatum follow up his 51-point game on Sunday? He facing a Kings defense that allows the second-most points per game (114.5) in the league this season. Meanwhile, the Kings will look to snap a three-game overall losing streak and an eight-game road losing streak that dates back to Dec. 10.
Minnesota at Portland, 10:00 p.m.
If the season ended today, this would be the No. 7 vs. No. 10 matchup in the Western Conference Play-In. The Wolves are looking to end a three-year playoff drought; they have just one playoff appearance in the past 17 seasons. Meanwhile, the Blazers have made the playoffs for eight straight seasons – the longest active streak in the NBA. Portland has stayed in the play-in mix despite missing Damian Lillard; can they continue to do so as he is expected to miss extended time?
Wednesday, January 26
Denver at Brooklyn, 8:00 p.m.
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic was back on top of the latest edition of the Kia MVP Ladder as he continues to have an amazing season (26.1 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 7.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 57.3 FG%) for the shorthanded Nuggets. This is the second game of a six-game road trip for the Nuggets, who are 11-12 on the road so far this season. They will face a Nets team with only one of the Big 3 as Kyrie Irving will miss the home game.
Friday, January 28
Utah at Memphis, 8:00 p.m.
The first meeting of the season between these teams was decided by a Jaren Jackson Jr. 3-pointer with 5.7 left on Nov. 22 in Salt Lake City as the Grizzlies prevailed 119-118. Memphis is 4-2 on the season in games decided by three points or less; the Jazz are just 1-5 in those games.
Minnesota at Phoenix, 9:00 p.m.
Another matchup where the first meeting was decided by a single possession as the Suns held off the Wolves, 99-96, on Nov. 15 in Minnesota. It was Phoenix’s only win in three games decided by three points or less this season (1-2); the Wolves have more experience in tight games as they are 3-3 on the season in games decided by a single possession.
Saturday, January 29
Sacramento at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
There has been plenty of chatter of potential trades between the Kings and Sixers as the trade deadline approaches on February 10. With Sacramento in Philadelphia this weekend, the Sixers front office (and fans) will get an in-person look at the potential pieces in play next month.
Toronto at Miami, 8:00 p.m.
The Heat (30-17) enter Week 15 as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference standings as they have won seven of their past nine games; a run that included a 104-99 win over the Raptors on Jan. 17 behind a triple-double fro Jimmy Butler and 14 points and nine boards from Bam Adebayo in his first game back after missing six week due to thumb surgery. Miami is 16-5 at home this season (third-best mark in the league), while the Raptors have played .500 ball on the road (10-10).
Sunday, January 30
Los Angeles at Atlanta, 1:00 p.m.
The Hawks enter Week 15 riding a four-game win streak – the longest active streak in the East and second only to Phoenix’s six straight for the entire league. The Lakers won the first meeting with the Hawks, 134-118 on Jan. 7, behind a combined 61 points from LeBron James (32 points) and Malik Monk (29 points) as four Lakers scored 21 or more points.
Denver at Milwaukee, 7:00 p.m.
The NBA MVPs are set to meet for the first time this season. This is the second meeting of the season between the Bucks and Nuggets, but Nikola Jokic missed the game on Nov. 26 – a 120-109 win for Milwaukee with Giannis posting 24 points, 13 boards and seven assists in just 30 minutes. Giannis and Jokic are the only two players currently averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists this season.
