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The NBA will feature eight games tonight, including two that will be covered on national TV. With action heating up, most of these matches help determine how the play-in tournament and the playoffs figure themselves out.
Two games that start at 7:00 PM ET open tonight’s schedule. The Cleveland Cavaliers and host Charlotte Hornets will slug it out in North Carolina. Having the same tip-off schedule will be a head-to-head encounter between the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards.
The rematch of the 2021 NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns begins at 10:00 PM ET. The same goes for the tussle between the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers.
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NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will be on national TV to take on the Toronto Raptors
Nikola Jokic, who could win a third straight NBA MVP trophy this season, leads the Denver Nuggets versus the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Denver is amid a three-game losing skid and will be looking to snap out of it against the Raptors.
Despite their recent slump, the Nuggets (46-22) still hold a 4.5-game edge over the Memphis Grizzlies (41-26) for the best record in the Western Conference. Jokic has been playing lights out and will be raring to keep the Grizzlies at bay with a win tonight.
The Toronto Raptors, on the other hand, are looking to nail a play-in spot. They hold a 32-36 record, which puts them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The Washington Wizards (31-37) are a game behind them in 11th place while the Indiana Pacers (31-38) are trailing them by 1.5 games.
Toronto’s chances of entering the top six look over as they have to overhaul the New York Knicks' (40-30) seven-game lead.
NBA TV will televise the game nationally while SN and ALT will cover the match locally.
The Milwaukee Bucks head to the Footprint Center in Arizona to battle the Phoenix Suns
The Milwaukee Bucks will cap off their three-game road trip with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Milwaukee owns the best record in the league and is looking to keep it that way with a victory over the host team.
Both teams will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back set, so the deeper team might have a slight edge. Phoenix will not have Kevin Durant, who injured his left ankle a few days ago.
The Bucks could also opt to sit two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo as he has just returned from a three-game absence due to a sore right hand. He did play last night against the Sacramento Kings. Milwaukee could choose to be extra cautious with him and keep him on the bench.
NBA TV airs the game nationally while Bally Sports Arizona and Bally Sports Wisconsin handle local coverage.
Other NBA Games
The matchup between the LA Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans begins at 8:00 PM ET. New Orleans will be looking to tie the season series (2-1) on their home court tonight. Spectrum SportsNet and Bally Sports New Orleans cover the game locally.
The New York Knicks versus Portland Trail Blazers will cap off tonight's schedule. Coverage begins at 10:00 PM ET via local channels ROOT-SP+ and MSG.
