Two games that should pique your interest come your way this Sunday. You have the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers, two of the best squads in the East, in a battle that could be a potential playoff preview down the road. In the other game, you have two struggling teams in the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers hoping to make a strong push in the tail-end of the season.
The Beasts of the East: Heat vs Sixers
Philadelphia is 4-0 since James Harden made his debut as a Sixer. Overall, the team has won five straight, proudly holding a 39-23 record. The Harden-Joel Embiid has certainly grabbed the NBA spotlight. The stepbacks are in full effect. The isos, crossovers, and post-ups have come by and large. The free throws, of course, have also arrived in bunches.
Embiid and Harden are the newest one-two punch to be reckoned with, but Tyrese Maxey’s rise as a star role player is also a welcome sight in Philly. In the Sixers' comeback win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, Maxey took centerstage with 33 points, five triples, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Add the shooting of Georges Niang and Tobias Harris, plus the defense of Matisse Thybulle and Danny Green, the Sixers have all the tools of a championship contender.
But the top spot in the East currently belongs to Miami. The Heat have been victorious in five of their last six games, including recent wins over fellow East contenders Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets. Save for a meltdown against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat have been on a tear. They own a 42-22 record, losing only twice in their last 12 games.
The key for Miami is its depth. Even though there are several players listed as either questionable or out in the game against the Sixers, including Kyle Lowry (personal), Jimmy Butler (toe), and PJ Tucker (knee), the Heat continually get a ton of production from different players.
The Heat will be the perfect test for the new-look Sixers.
Old Rivals Meet Again: Lakers vs Warriors
A game with LeBron James and Steph Curry is always worth a watch. The two headliners have been the focal points of the NBA in the last decade and they continue to put their imprint on the game today.
Although the Warriors still hold a solid 43-20 record, they have been stumbling as of late. They’ve lost seven of their last 10 games, including the last three. The main piece missing for them has been Draymond Green, their facilitator on offense and anchor on defense. The last time we saw Green on the court was his brief appearance during Klay Thompson’s return. That was two months ago.
Green has been ailing a disc injury on his back and without him, it’s clear that the Warriors are struggling. Golden State is 14-12 without its star forward. Of course, there’s no need to panic yet at The Bay. The Warriors are still headed to the playoffs as one of the top seeds with Green hoping to make his return sooner than later.
The Lakers’ woes, meanwhile, have not stopped throughout the season. A year of injuries and inconsistencies have significantly hurt LA’s chances of making it into the postseason. They are 27-35, clinging on to the ninth seed with the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs right on their heels.
The LeBron-led squad has lost four straight, including two against their neighborhood rival, the Clippers. With Anthony Davis still out with an ankle injury, there’s no telling how the Lakers will finish their remaining games.
The last time these two teams met last February, it was a narrow 117-115 victory for the Warriors after James failed to tie the game at the line, making one of three free throws.
It’s the Lakers versus the Warriors for the third time this season. Despite their recent struggles, we can always expect a fun matchup between the two.
Where to watch
Catch the Heat and the Sixers at 9:00 AM on TV5, and check the Lakers and the Warriors at 9:30 AM on NBA TV Philippines (available on Smart GigaPlay app and Cignal TV).
