The Celtics are 10-2 since the All-Star break with Jayson Tatum averaging 32.3 points per game during that time.
Monday, March 21, 2022
Los Angeles at Cleveland, 7:00 p.m. ET
The last time LeBron James played in Cleveland, he hit the game-winning shot in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. Over the course of his career, LeBron has played 17 games against the Cavaliers and has a career scoring average of 29.1 points per game against his former team – his highest scoring average against any opponent for his career. The Lakers enter the Week in a battle with New Orleans for the No. 9 spot in the West Play-In, while the Cavs are trying to stay out of the East Play-In, clinging to a one-game lead over Toronto.
Boston at Oklahoma City, 8:00 p.m. ET
At 10-2 (0.833), the Celtics have been the best team in the East (and second in the NBA behind 11-2 Minnesota) since the All-Star break. Jayson Tatum is averaging 32.3 points since the break, tied with LeBron James for the highest scoring average in the league among players that have played more than five games. Boston’s resurgence goes back to the start of the new year as they are 27-9 (0.750) in 2022, second only to Phoenix (31-6) during that time.
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:00 p.m. ET
The Bucks enter Week 23 holding just a half-game lead over both Philadelphia and Boston for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Chicago is currently fifth in the East and has dropped three straight games entering the week. The Bucks won the first two meetings against the Bulls by a total of 10 points; this is the first of two remaining matchups between the teams down the stretch (March 23 and April 5).
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Sacramento at Indiana, 7:00 p.m. ET
This is the first meeting between the Kings and Pacers since the trade deadline deal that sent Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb to Sacramento in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield. Sabonis’ status for this game remains unclear as he exited the Kings’ 127-124 loss to Phoenix on Sunday with an apparent knee injury.
Phoenix at Minnesota, 8:00 p.m. ET
The Suns and the Timberwolves will meet for the third and final time of the regular season on Wednesday. Phoenix has the longest active win streak in the league with five straight wins, while Minnesota has won four straight and nine of their last 10 entering Week 23. Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns have both averaged 29 points in the first two meetings – both won by the Suns.
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Cleveland at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. ET
This showdown between Cleveland and Toronto will be a battle for the guaranteed playoff spot (No. 6) and having to face the Play-In Tournament (No. 7) in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs enter the week with a one-game lead over the Raptors and own the head-to-head tiebreaker (lead season series 3-0), so the Raptors must finish with a better win-loss record than the Cavs to overtake them in the standings, and can gain a full game with a win on Thursday.
Friday, March 25, 2022
Utah at Charlotte, 7:00 p.m. ET
The Hornets enter Week 23 having won four games in a row – all by double digits. Charlotte is a game over .500, despite being winless in seven overtime games this season. The last team to start a season with seven straight OT losses was the 2002-03 Bulls (finished 1-8 in OT games); the last team to start with eight straight OT losses was the 2001-02 Clippers (finished 3-10 in OT games).
Saturday, March 26, 2022
San Antonio at New Orleans, 5:00 p.m. ET
This is a must-win matchup for San Antonio if they hope to earn the final spot in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament. A win on Saturday would clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Pelicans (3-1), who the Spurs trail by 2.5 games entering Week 23.
Milwaukee at Memphis, 8:00 p.m. ET
Ja Morant missed Sunday’s game against the Rockets with right knee soreness, but the Grizzlies still won to improve to 14-2 without their All-Star guard. Memphis is hopeful that Ja will return by this weekend for a showdown against the defending champs, but as the season has proven, you can’t count out the Grizzlies even if Ja is sidelined.
Sunday, March 27, 2022
Los Angeles at New Orleans, 7:00 p.m. ET
The Lakers and Pelicans enter Week 23 with matching 30-41 records and are likely to meet in the Nine-Ten Game in the West Play-In Tournament. The teams are five games back of the No. 8 Clippers and 2.5 games ahead of the No. 11 Spurs. By winning the first meeting of the season back on Feb. 27, the Pelicans currently hold No. 9 and the Lakers are No. 10. Sunday’s meeting is the first of two remaining games between these teams (March 27 and April 1), which means the head-to-head tiebreaker is still up for grabs.
