Ten meetings are scheduled for Monday evening. We hope you got the week off to a good start. If not, take a deep breath and think about what to expect for the next few hours. Make yourself comfortable and we present you the daily menu!
Following a Sunday with six very nice matches, ten new matches will take place from 1:30 am. Twenty teams on the floors of the NBA and several beautiful duels, here we are well served!
1h30 : Hawks – Lakers : we start strong! Indeed, this poster between Hawks and Lakers promises us many beautiful things. Things are going better on the Hawks’ side in recent days thanks to several long-awaited reinforcements. Unfortunately, we will have to do without De’Andre Hunter (knee), very hot lately. On the other hand, Trae Young, uncertain since he was hit in the ankle, should be there to give us a show. The leader of the Aiglons will face the Lakers of LeBron James. Rajon Rondo will find part of the squad with which he was crowned last October. The Californian train resumed its route against the Celtics (96 to 95) after two defeats, and for sure, the Angelinos would like to start the month of February by launching a new series.
Hawks injury report for tomorrow’s game vs. LA Lakers:
Onyeka Okongwu (left Achilles soreness) is probable.
Trae Young (left knee soreness) is probable.Bogdanovic (avulsion fracture, right knee), Dunn (right ankle surgery) and Hunter (right knee discomfort) are out.
— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) January 31, 2021
1h30 : Heat – Hornets : as expected, Jimmy Butler replayed and the Heat regained victory after five losses. The Miami boss (30 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists) did not spare his efforts for his recovery against the Kings (105 to 104). Directly decisive, Jimmy B allowed us to confirm his importance within the group of the recent NBA finalist. Despite several absences and many uncertainties, including Tyler Herro, Avery Bradley and Goran Dragic, the desire of the Floridians to continue at home will be very strong. Even more so if the Hornets have to do without Terry Rozier, embarrassed by his ankle. LaMelo Ball is ready to take over if necessary, just coming out of a 27-point and 9-assists game against the Bucks (126 to 114). Well come on LaMelo, make us the same match again to see please!
Moe Harkless (thigh), Meyers Leonard (shoulder) and Chris Silva (hip) have been ruled out.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 31, 2021
2h00 : Bulls – Knicks : Logically beaten by the Clippers last night (115 to 129) but far from being disappointing, the Knicks of Tom Thibodeau have a series of good games. Faced with the Bulls, direct opponents for a qualification in the Playoffs, the confrontation will be quite different. Defeated in their last three games, the Taureans are not in their best period, despite a very good Zach LaVine and the rise of Lauri Markkanen. The absence of Wendell Carter Jr. weighs in the racket, especially for a group far from having an irreproachable defense. This difference between the two teams could weigh in their opposition during the night to come.
2h00 : Thunder – Rockets : it does not laugh at all in H-Town! The Rockets seem to have digested the departure of James Harden well and have just completed five successes with the manner. The new project executives (Christian Wood, John Wall and Victor Oladipo) are all ready to play and complement each other quite well. Despite everything, the element that we will have especially in the eye evolves on the side of the Thunder. Our Frenchie Théo Maledon has just come out of his best career match against the Nets. Despite the 125 to 147 defeat, his 24 points at 8/9 including 6/6 at 3 points must have made him score points before the return of George Hill, who was hit on the thumb. It is therefore impossible not to hope for a new perf ‘like this from our new tricolor jewel. We will be there !
2h00 : Cavaliers – Wolves : the day after the Wolves’ success against the Cavaliers (109 to 104), the two teams already meet. Almost complete, Cleveland was surprised by a team still private Karl-Anthony Towns and led by rookie Anthony Edwards and Michael Beasley (23 points each). The unfortunate KAT, away from the prosecution for fifteen days because of COVID could also replay this night. Another loss, the third in a row, would be a terrible operation for the Cavaliers. So let’s expect a revengeful group, determined to give up their place in the Playoffs in the East as late as possible!
2h00 : Bucks – Blazers : If the participation of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the match against the Blazers is currently uncertain, we should see the Greek on the floor tonight. We expect a lot from the Greek Freak, maybe even too much, and that’s why it’s still hard to be seduced by his start to the 2020-21 season. Despite a new statistical line very full (34 points, 18 rebounds and 9 assists), he and his Bucks have lost, for the eighth time already, against the Hornets (114 to 126). At the same time, deprived of the support of his lieutenants CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic, Damian Lillard (44 points and 9 assists) was able to lead his team to incredible success against the Bulls (123 to 122). Giannis therefore has the opportunity to send a big message to his detractors tonight and tell them to put it on the back burner, at least for a few days!
2h00 : Pelicans – Kings : wouldn’t we be entitled to a duel of eternal disappointments? If one is perhaps naive to expect something from the Pelicans and Kings, seeing them so low in the Western Conference standings not surprising everyone, far from it, we can regret their too inconsistent start to the season. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson (more than 23 points average each) make stats but without real impact, just like poor De’Aaron Fox opposite, far too lonely to lead his team to success in each game. All is not to throw so far on both sides, the teams showing all the same to be a real scratching hair in a good evening. Hopefully this is the case in both camps tonight, just to give us a good match.
2h30 : Mavericks – Suns : we were talking about disappointment, and here is a very nice one. Beaten by the Suns two days ago (105 to 111), the Mavs still conceded their fifth defeat in a row. Luka Doncic made his stats but failed to lead his team to success. If the group was not spared by injuries until then, it is now complete and therefore has no excuse in the event of another setback. Time is running out, and we must now move on to get back as quickly as possible within a Western Conference which does not wait for the Texans. Bad news for Dallas: Devin Booker could make his comeback tonight after having the last three games with hamstring pain.
2h30 : Spurs – Grizzlies : the Spurs concluded a rather positive month of January (9 wins and 7 losses) with a very ugly defeat against the Grizzlies (112 to 129). After completing the first month of the year 2021 in the company of the Oursons, the Texans find them elsewhere to start February. Behind the inevitable Ja Morant, the Grizzes hope to continue their streak of six successes started before their forced break due to COVID and why not settle even more comfortably within the Top 8 of the Western Conference. It is not forbidden to dream!
3h00 : Nuggets – Pistons : but what has Nikola Jokic just offered us? How not to wait for the Serbian pivot at the turn at the end of his match with 47 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists ending the series of eleven victories of Jazz last night (117 to 128). Facing the Pistons, we see more of the glutton chained with a second crack performance, rather than collapsing completely. Afterwards, with the NBA, you can never be sure of anything. So that’s a great reason to watch this game between the Nuggets and our friends from Detroit, not that bad apart from their disgusting record (5 wins and 15 losses).
This first evening of the first week of February is therefore very busy. No one is going to complain and everyone will undoubtedly be in front of their post at 1:30 am to watch the Hawks and Lakers fight. Several other enticing duels will take over thereafter.
Sources texte : Rotoworld, NBC Sports et Basketball Reference
