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NBA, Tanner Horelick

Thursday’s NBA Matchup to Watch (Thunder vs Cavaliers)

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Oklahoma City Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers

(8-13)                                     (13-7)

Start Time: 8:00 PM EST

TV Channel: TNT

Preview: LeBron vs Kevin Durant; they’ve combined for the past three MVP awards (two going to LeBron) and are always a show to watch whenever they play. Both teams started off the year disappointingly but have battled back, each on their own respective win streaks. Immediately when the Cavs started off the new season on a bad note, fingers were flying about whose fault it was and how the Cavs would never contend for a championship. Now Cleveland is 20-games in to the season and all that talk has stopped. They’ve looked hot recently, winning their last 8, and coming off a good win vs the Wizards in which LeBron hit a clutch three to give the Cavs the lead in the final minutes. OKC hasn’t looked terrible as of late either since getting back MVP Kevin Durant, and have won a decent streak of 3-games. It’s no doubt that KD is still lingering with injuries and is not yet back to his MVP-caliber ways, but has been getting the job done and helping the Thunder win some games. Both the Cavs and Thunder look to be back to their Championship-contending ways and will look to battle each other in what looks to be an exciting game in their first matchup since LeBron’s return home.

Prediction: I think the Cavs are going to continue their winning ways and defeat the Thunder in a game where LeBron and Kevin Durant will battle each other all night long. Look for LeBron to have a big game and make a statement about who is the real MVP now.

Points Per Game Leaders:

OKC – Russell Westbrook (24.3 PPG) CLE – LeBron James (24.8 PPG)

Rebounds Per Game Leaders:

OKC – Serge Ibaka (7.5 RPG) CLE – Kevin Love (10.0 RPG)

Assists Per Game Leaders:

OKC – Russell Westbrook (6.6 APG) CLE – LeBron James (7.7 APG)

NBA, Tanner Horelick

Monday’s NBA Matchup to Watch

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Washington Wizards vs Miami Heat

(10-5)                                 (9-7)

Preview: The last time these teams faced each other, the Heat won by a score of 107-95 behind a huge game from F Chris Bosh. Bosh put up 26 points and 15 rebounds in a game where 3 Heat players got 20+ points (Norris Cole, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh). That game was on October 29th, however, a time when star SG Bradley Beal had not yet returned since fracturing his wrist in the pre-season. With Beal back, the Wizards now have one of the best backcourts in the NBA and will surely put up a better fight than in their last game against the Heat. These two teams stack up very neck-and-neck with each other as they both allow and score around 96 points per game. You may not think it’s a high a number on the offensive end, and that’s because it isn’t. Miami and Washington rank 22nd and 19th in the NBA in points per game but they make up for it on the defensive end coming in at 7th and 9th in points allowed per game. These teams seem very close to each other, but when you look at points and rebounds it becomes a whole other story. The Heat rank dead last in rebounds per game (36.9 RPG) while the Wizards sit at 14th (42.3 RPG). With assists, Miami is at 18th (20.8) and the Wizards dish out the 4th most assists in the NBA (24.4 APG). While it may not some like much, these few points, assists, and rebounds can really help when it comes down to the final stretch of a tight game.

Prediction: I believe that the Wizards will get back at the Heat and hand them their 8th loss as those poor numbers at rebounds and assists will most likely hurt Miami in close games. If the Wizards are able to grab some offensive boards, these “few” rebounds that might seem meaningless, will really hurt the Heat when they get some easy second-chance points shoved in their face.

Points Per Game Leaders:

MIA – Chris Bosh (21.6 PPG) WAS – John Wall (18.1 PPG)

Rebounds Per Game Leaders:

MIA – Chris Bosh (8.8 RPG) WAS – Marcin Gortat (8.9 RPG)

Assists Per Game Leaders:

MIA – Dwyane Wade (6.2 APG) WAS – John Wall (9.1 APG)