The Jazz (117.2) and Hornets (113.2) enter their Monday game with the top two offensive ratings in the NBA.
Monday, December 20
Charlotte at Utah, 9:00 p.m. ET
The Jazz host the Hornets in a meeting of the teams with the two most efficient offenses in the league: Utah leads the NBA with an offensive rating of 117.2, followed by Charlotte in second at 113.2. The other side of the ball has been a completely different story so far this season: Utah ranks sixth in the league with a defensive rating of 106.8, while Charlotte is last at 114.8. The Hornets will need a strong defensive effort if they hope to snap a seven-game losing streak to the Jazz that dates back to February 2018.
San Antonio at LA, 10:30 p.m. ET
In their first meeting of the season on Nov. 16, Paul George scored 34 points to lead the Clippers to a 106-92 win over the Spurs. San Antonio got 26 points from Dejounte Murray, but their 92 total points is their second-lowest total of the season. Overall, LA has won three straight over San Antonio and seven of their last nine matchups dating back to January 2019.
Tuesday, December 21
Portland at New Orleans, 8:00 p.m. ET
Since returning to the lineup after missing five games with a lower abdomen strain, Damian Lillard has averaged 30.2 points, 6.6 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game over the past five games for the Blazers. After dropping seven straight games, the Blazers enter Week 10 having won two in a row as they look to get their season back on track.
Wednesday, December 22
Cleveland at Boston, 7:30 p.m. ET
Cleveland enters Week 10 riding the longest active win streak in the NBA with six straight and will put that streak on the line Wednesday night in Boston. The Cavs and Celtics split a two-game series in mid-November, with both games decided by six points or less. The Cavs trailed in both games – overcoming a 19-point deficit in their win on Nov. 13 – and having their rally cut short by the Celtics in a loss two days later. What do these teams have in store for Round 3?
Thursday, December 23
Oklahoma City at Phoenix, 9:00 p.m. ET
OKC’s last two games have come down to the final possession as they have six games so far this season decided by three points or less; the Thunder are 4-2 in those games. The Suns on the other hand have only two games decided by a single possession as they enter Week 10 with seven wins by 20 points or more – tied with Golden State for the second-most such wins in the league behind only Utah’s 9. This is the first meeting of the season between these teams, but their three games last season saw two decided by five points or less and one Suns blowout by 37 points.
Memphis at Golden State, 10:00 p.m. ET
Ja Morant is listed as questionable for Memphis’ game against OKC on Monday as he has not played since suffering a knee injury on Nov. 26. Hopefully he’s able to return against the Thunder, but if not, Thursday’s game against the Warriors looks promising. The Grizzlies have gone 10-2 in his absence to climb to fourth place in the Western Conference. Sitting two spots ahead of the Grizzlies in the West are the Warriors, who enter Week 10 at 24-6 on the season, but have gone just 6-4 in their last 10 games.
Sunday, December 26
Philadelphia at Washington, 6:00 p.m. ET
The Sixers and Wizards both find themselves in the middle of a crowded pack in the Eastern Conference entering Week 10. The Wizards got a much-needed win in Utah on Saturday after they had dropped four straight and seven of their previous eight games. The Sixers have lost three in a row and four of their past five games entering Week 10. This Sixers have won five straight meetings with the Wizards dating back to December 2019.
Denver at LA, 9:00 p.m. ET
Reigning league Kia MVP Nikola Jokic is putting up better numbers this season than he did when he won the top individual honor a season ago. Jokic enters Week 10 averaging 26.3 points (6th), 13.5 rebounds (2nd) and 7.5 assists (10th), while shooting a career-best 59% from the field (8th). No other player in league history has averaged at least 26 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists over the course of a season; Oscar Robertson came closest in 1961-62 when he averaged at triple-double with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists. In three games against the Clippers last season, Jokic averaged 22.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists as the Nuggets won two of the three games. What will he have in store for their first meeting this season.
