NBA schedule 2014: LeBron James, Heat visit Knicks
There are 12 games on the NBA slate Saturday, but LeBron James in Madison Square Garden highlights the night.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN; 8:30 p.m. ET
LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in Madison Square Garden. Forget New York's record, that both teams are 5-5 in their last 10 or that the Knicks season is a beautiful train wreck. This is the two-time defending champions in an arena built for legendary performances, one that hosted a 62-point haymaker from its prodigal star less than two weeks ago.
The Heat have struggled a bit by their standards, and there are some people really questioning how they are going to recoup from aging, battered bones and a recently porous perimeter defense. But it's hard to put anything past James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, provided they are all healthy.
New York has won its last three games after Anthony’s heroic performance. Was that game a kickstart for the Knicks? Saturday night should help answer that question.
Appetizer
League Pass; 7 p.m. ET
Kevin Durant's 30-point game streak ended Friday night, but it didn't really matter against an over-matched Nets team. The Thunder have won 10 straight and are arguably the league's hottest team. The Wizards are middling around, but seem to have a chance against anyone. They beat a hot Suns team and then beat the Warriors a few nights later. Sandwiched in between those two nice wins was a loss against the Jazz, though, just to remind us that they are still Washington.
Dessert
League Pass; 10 p.m. ET
The Raptors travel to Portland for the second of a five-game road swing. They’ve won five of their last six games and look like they are going to make some noise in the playoffs. Are they on Indiana or Miami’s level? No, but they aren’t an easy out, and that’s more than most Eastern teams can say. Portland has hit a bit of a wall, losing four of six. In its last two losses, it has failed to score 90 points, something unexpected of the league’s best offense.
More: Raptors HQ Blazer's Edge
Other games
League Pass; 7:30 p.m. ET
League Pass; 7:30 p.m. ET
League Pass; 8 p.m. ET
League Pass; 8 p.m. ET
League Pass; 8 p.m. ET
League Pass; 8 p.m. ET
League Pass; 9 p.m. ET
League Pass; 10:30 p.m. ET
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