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After an exciting start to the regular season, there are more great games coming this week. Let’s take a look at the games to watch from each day this week.
Monday October 23rd
Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets (8PM EST)
The Grizzlies come into this game against their division rival Rockets undefeated. The Rockets are also undefeated and both have beat big time favorite Golden State in the young season. It will be an interesting matchup to see if the Grizzlies domination of the Warriors was more to do with home cooking or if they are being overlooked in the West. I mean we are only three games into the season and Curry threw his mouthpiece. The Grizzlies hurt the Warriors in transition and seem to be a team that can put some points on you. The Rockets can match that and look to be a team that can defend now when needed with the addition of Luc Mbah a Moute and PJ Tucker.
Tuesday October 24th
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Clippers (10:30PM EST)
The Clippers are going to play a real basketball team on Tuesday night. They started their season with beat-downs of the Lakers and Suns, but the Jazz are a different type of team. They defend and they are deep. They are 2-1 on the young season and have beat the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder to start the season. The Jazz could be turn out to be much better than people thought. The Clippers are going to have a tough test and it is unclear if rookie Milos Teodosic will play after an injury during the Suns game. Blake Griffin has been magnificent to start the season putting up 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game so far in the 2017-18 season.
Wednesday October 25th
Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors (10:30PM EST)
This will be the 2nd game of the Raptors' western road trip. They will play the Spurs on Monday and then travel to Oakland to play the Warriors. This game will be interesting depending on what happens during Golden State’s game on Monday against the Mavericks. Golden State has struggled so far this season losing to the Rockets and Grizzlies and having some trouble with the Pelicans. The Raptors have looked good so far this season putting beat downs on the Bulls and Sixers. They beat up the Sixers so bad, Markelle Fultz wanted to play baseball. This is going to be a good early season test for them.
Thursday October 26th
New Orleans Pelicans at Sacramento Kings (10:30PM EST)
DeMarcus Cousins’ return to Sacramento will be interesting. I am not sure how the crowd will react to him, he was traded after all. He did not have nice things to say after that trade. This will also be a chance to watch the young bigs of Sacramento in Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere matchup with Cousins and Anthony Davis. Sacramento rookie De’Aaron Fox is another good reason to tune in. The rookie has looked good in his first few games putting up 13 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. He could be a great one. New Orleans is 0-2 as I write this with two games leading into this game against the Lakers and the Trail Blazers. If they only get one of those games, this one takes on added significance for them. They have been doomed by bad starts in years past and they need to avoid that at all costs.
Friday October 27th
Washington Wizards at Golden State Warriors (10:30PM EST)
John Wall and Stephen Curry matching up is a reason to tune in. The Wizards have looked good this season and have shown an ability to buckle down and win close ones. In addition Otto Porter and Kelly Oubre Jr. have looked great so far this season putting together some solid basketball to go with the amazing play of John Wall and Bradley Beal. The Warriors are going to get every team’s best and the Wizards are a good team.
Saturday October 28th
Cleveland Cavaliers at New Orleans Pelicans (7PM EST)
The Cavaliers have looked great so far this season, with LeBron James continuing to dominate in his 15th season. However, there are few teams that have the frontcourt of the Pelicans. The Cavaliers are small and sacrifice rebounding for spacing. This matchup will be interesting for the matchups on both ends of the court. Can Anthony Davis defend the Cavs on the perimeter? Can the Cavaliers hold their own on the glass against Davis and Cousins?
Sunday October 29th
Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets (6PM EST)
Both of these teams score the ball and it should be a fun matchup. The Nets have scored over 120 points in both of their games so far this season and the Nuggets can score as well. This will be a good test for the Nuggets. It will be important for them to win games that they need to win. They will have to feast on the East if they are going to get themselves into the playoffs. D’Angelo Russell has looked very good so far for the Nets and it will be interesting to see if he can continue his play at point guard scoring 21 points and dishing out 7 assists per game leading into this game.