We’ve got two key NBA games tonight on NBC and Peacock with playoff implications and teams hoping to get right before the postseason begins next month. Plus, two of our reporters give an early look at the Sweet 16.
Roundball Rock
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic face off tonight (8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock) in a battle of teams with seasons that have so far been varying levels of disappointing.
The Cavaliers were a juggernaut last year, only to become a victim of the Indiana Pacers’ magical playoff run. Cleveland has been pretty solid after a slow start, but the fact that the team traded All-Star guard Darius Garland for James Harden is a clear indicator that the team knew the status quo would not be enough. Will Harden, who has a checkered postseason history, be enough to get the Cavs over the top?
The Magic, meanwhile, were supposed to be one of the teams that could enter the Boston Celtics-shaped vacuum at the top of the East. Instead, the Celtics are in second with Jayson Tatum having missed most of the season, while Orlando is fighting for its life in play-in territory. The Magic also took a big swing for their title hopes, trading for guard Desmond Bane before the season. The results have been mixed.
Ultimately, both Cleveland and Orlando entered this year with high expectations, and the gambles they’ve taken on their rosters indicate neither will be satisfied with another short playoff appearance.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets are what I consider the most fascinating team entering the playoffs. With Nikola Jokić in the lineup, they are legitimate championship contenders when healthy — and that’s a key caveat, because it’s happened so rarely. That’s changing, though, after key role players Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson returned Sunday.
In the season’s final three weeks, I’m watching to see whether the Nuggets can remain healthy and play better defense, for prolonged stretches. If they can, Denver can compete with the likes of Oklahoma City and San Antonio in the West.
Sweet 16
We’ve got a couple of days before the men’s tournament resumes. To get you ready for the Sweet 16, our reporters did this text exchange (actually, it was on Slack) about what stands out to them.
Andrew Greif: Rohan, we’re down to the Sweet 16 in the men’s and women’s tournaments. Is there one game you’re circling to watch, in particular?
Rohan Nadkarni: Andrew, I find myself endlessly fascinated by Rick Pitino and St. John’s, who are in a monster matchup with Duke. The contrast of the old-school Pitino trying to take down a blue blood in Duke, which is trying to re-create some Coach K magic with Jon Scheyer, should be fun to watch.
What’s a storyline that has you excited for the weekend?
Greif: It feels fitting for this moment in college sports that the last “Cinderella,” by seed, left is Texas, one of the wealthiest athletic departments in the entire country. The No. 11 Longhorns are only the sixth team to make the Sweet 16 after playing their way into the 64-team field via the “First Four” round. Big budgets for staff and NIL have proven to be no guarantee of March Madness success but it seems telling that every team left comes from a major conference.
Lastly Rohan, if you could show someone just one highlight from the first weekend, what would it be? I’ll go first: Vanderbilt’s in-and-out buzzer-beater-that-wasn’t that nearly knocked off Nebraska.
Nadkarni: I would show everyone the terrible defense by the Florida Gators that led to a game-winning three by the Iowa Hawkeyes. How are you trailing someone in the backcourt in that situation? This would in no way be to troll my brother, a Florida grad who was definitely watching.
What We’re Watching
The two games on NBA on NBC’s “Coast 2 Coast” highlight what to watch tonight.
All times are Eastern:
- 8 p.m.: Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, on NBC and Peacock
- 11 p.m.: Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns, on NBC and Peacock
What We’re Reading
The Lakers are heating up and LeBron James’ adjustment from being the star to ceding control to teammates is a big reason why. Louisa Thomas in The New Yorker examines James’ changing game.
Sweet moment when Texas Rangers pitcher Carter Baumler found out he made the opening day roster during a surprise mound visit.
It’s never too soon for LA28 news: Organizers for the Games unveiled the event’s visual identity yesterday.
The Warriors’ Moses Moody needed to be stretchered off after suffering a gruesome knee injury.
Details on Travis Kelce’s contract to return to the Chiefs were revealed yesterday.
