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NBA League Pass Watch Guide: Week 3

10 can’t-miss games on NBA League Pass in Week 3 of the 2024-25 season.

Donovan Mitchell

The third week of the regular season begins with a full 15-game slate on Monday — all on League Pass — with a game tipping off every 15 minutes before the league takes a break on Election Day (Tuesday) to encourage everyone to get out and vote.

1. Bucks at Cavaliers: Monday, Nov. 4 (7 ET)

On Saturday versus the Cavs, Damian Lillard (41 pts, 9 ast, 10 3s) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (34 pts, 16 reb, 9 ast) combined for 75 points for the Bucks, but Donovan Mitchell (30 pts) sank a go-ahead jumper with 0.3 seconds left to improve Cleveland to 7-0. Now looking to match their best start in franchise history at 8-0 (set in 1976-77), will the Cavs claim another dub, or will Milwaukee get its revenge?

2. Magic at Thunder: Monday, Nov. 4 (9:15 ET)

The league’s only other remaining unbeaten team — the Thunder — are 6-0 for the first time in franchise history since moving to Oklahoma City ahead of the 2008-09 season. Now, they seek their first 7-0 start since 1993-94 (when they were the Sonics) against Franz Wagner and the Magic.

3. Pacers at Mavericks: Monday, Nov. 4 (9:45 ET)

In a matchup between two 2024 Conference Finalists, Luka Dončić and the Mavs (4-2) will look to win their second game in two days as they host Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers (2-4). Last season, Indiana took both matchups between the two clubs, but Dončić averaged 36.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game.

4. Lakers at Grizzlies: Wednesday, Nov. 6 (8 ET)

Entering Monday, the Grizzlies have won two straight games, with Ja Morant averaging a near triple-double (22.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 13.0 apg). Meanwhile, Anthony Davis enters Monday posting 31.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, joining Shaquille O’Neal as the only Lakers to average 30+ points, 10+ rebounds and 2+ blocks over the first six games of a season (since blocks and steals were first recorded in 1973-74). Who will stay hot on Wednesday?

5. Thunder at Nuggets: Wednesday, Nov. 6 (9 ET)

In a heavyweight duel between last year’s top two seeds in the West, Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets will host Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder for the second time this season. On Oct. 24, OKC beat Denver on its home floor, 102-87, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (28 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast) and Chet Holmgren (25 pts, 14 reb, 5 ast, 4 blk) combining for 53 points. Will the Thunder strike again? Or will the Nuggets retaliate?

6. Heat at Suns: Wednesday, Nov. 6 (9 ET)

If the team names alone don’t make this a scorching matchup, then the star power on the court certainly will. Led by the trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, the Suns enter the week second in the West at 5-1. Meanwhile, behind Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, the Heat are fourth in the East at 3-2. Phoenix swept the two-game season series last year; can they keep that hot streak alive?

7. Raptors at Kings: Wednesday, Nov. 6 (10 ET)

The fact that Saturday’s game between the Raptors and Kings needed overtime to decide a winner shouldn’t come as a surprise – it was the third time in their last five meetings that the game was decided by five points or less. After taking the L in Toronto, the Kings don’t need to wait long to try to avenge the loss in Sacramento against DeMar DeRozan’s former team. How has DeMar fared against the Raptors? In 18 career games, he’s averaged 23 points (third-highest scoring average against any opponent) and 5.7 assists (highest assist average against any opponent).

8. Warriors at Cavaliers: Friday, Nov. 8 (7:30 ET)

Meeting in four straight NBA Finals (2015-2018) will forever link these two franchises even as the players on the court begin to change. The Cavs (7-0 to open the week) have already topped the best start from the LeBron era (6-0 in 2016) and could match the longest in franchise history on Monday (8-0 in 1976). If they do, then this game against Golden State – who enters the week at 5-1 and on a three-game win streak without Steph Curry – could establish a new franchise-best start for Cleveland.

9. Bucks at Knicks: Friday, Nov. 8 (7:30 ET)

Last season, the Bucks won the first three games of the season series with the Knicks — extending their head-to-head win streak to nine straight games dating back to 2021 — before New York snapped the streak on Christmas Day and followed it up with another win in the season’s final week. Can the Knicks (3-2 to open the week) continue their win streak against the Bucks (1-5)?

10. Bulls at Hawks: Saturday, Nov. 9 (7:30 ET)

These teams last met in the SoFi Play-In Tournament opening game between No. 9 Chicago and No. 10 Atlanta, where the Bulls ended the Hawks’ season behind Coby White’s career-high 42 points. Chicago’s postseason hopes were dashed two days later with a loss to Miami for the second straight season. The rosters have adjusted slightly since that Play-In matchup – Chicago added Josh Giddey while losing Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan; Atlanta added Dyson Daniels and No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher while losing Dejounte Murray – but the two teams enter the week in familiar territory, hovering around that Playoff vs. Play-In line at fifth and seventh in the East, respectively.

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