The NBA schedule offers a compelling slate of games tonight, , culminating in a primetime doubleheader on ESPN. The action kicks off with the Dallas Mavericks visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves at , followed by a highly anticipated matchup between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers at .
The Timberwolves, riding high after Anthony Edwards’ recent MVP performance at the NBA All-Star Game, aim for a third consecutive victory. They’ll face a Mavericks team currently navigating a challenging stretch, having lost nine straight games. Dallas will be without Cooper Flagg due to a foot injury.
Later in the evening, all eyes will be on the battle for Los Angeles. The Lakers, reportedly, will have Luka Dončić back in the lineup after a four-game absence due to a hamstring injury. They’ll host a Clippers squad led by Kawhi Leonard, who has been playing well since returning from a knee injury. The Clippers have won the last two meetings between the teams this season.
Elsewhere in the league, the Cleveland Cavaliers continue their impressive run, boasting an NBA-best 18-5 record since . They are currently 4-0 in the James Harden era, and will be on the road against the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets and Cavaliers are both playing on the second night of back-to-backs.
The Miami Heat (29-27) travel to Atlanta to take on the Hawks (27-30) in a crucial Eastern Conference contest. The season series is tied at one game apiece, with Atlanta securing a victory earlier this month.
In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets, coming off a difficult loss, will visit the Portland Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers have been playing well recently, winning four of their last five games.
Other games on the schedule include the Pacers at the Wizards, the Jazz at the Grizzlies, and the Nets at the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams remain out for Oklahoma City’s game against Brooklyn.
The NBA.com live blog will provide updates and highlights from all nine games throughout the night. Fans can also catch the Timberwolves-Mavericks and Lakers-Clippers games on ESPN, and the Cavaliers-Hornets game on NBA League Pass.
