There’s a succulent lineup of games come Friday night in the NBA, with several vegetables you’ll have to eat in order to get to the dessert ahead. Nevertheless, we’re here to tell you which dishes to look forward to and which should be left under the table for the dog to help clear.
2014 NBA schedule: Heat take on resurgent Nets in Brooklyn
After losing Thursday night in New York the Miami Heat look to bounce back against the Brooklyn Nets.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Appetizer: Dallas Mavericks vs. New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. ET (League Pass)
It doesn't get much more fun for true NBA fans than a game like this. Dallas still has one of the best players in the league in Dirk Nowitzki, and Anthony Davis is... well, have you seen Anthony Davis?
Dallas sits at eighth in the Western Conference with New Orleans threatening just four games behind. Early predictions were that these were two of the teams that would be battling for the last playoff spot in the West and a win for either team has real implications.
Davis will be a treat for those who have yet to see much of him. Over the last five games, he is averaging 17.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and three blocks per-game.
Main Course: Miami Heat vs. Brooklyn Nets
8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Miami lost in embarrassing fashion to the New York Knicks on Thursday, and they'll be looking to make sure they don't start a slide against a resurgent Brooklyn Nets team on Friday.
Chris Bosh was particularly ineffective and that can't be the case against the Nets if Miami wants to win. Meanwhile, the Nets have won four games in a row.
More: Hot Hot Hoops NetsDaily
With Brook Lopez and Deron Williams injured, Brooklyn has gone to a smaller lineup which is similar to many of Miami's rotations. If anything, you know Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will dust themselves off to play the Heat.
Dessert: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
This game sure did look a lot better at the start of the season than it does now, but it still should make for an interesting game as the two teams from L.A. go head-to-head.
The Clippers will look to avenge a season-opening loss to the Lakers on Friday. The Lakers will try to stop the bleeding on a terrible stretch of 10 games in which they’ve gone 1-9.
Really, we're all just hoping that Blake Griffin does something like this again:
The rest of the games
Bobcats vs. Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET
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