The 11 Biggest Games Down the Stretch of the 2014-15 NBA Season
With the 2015 NBA All-Star Game in the rear-view mirror, an action-packed home stretch will soon be upon us.
And over the next two months, the association's second act will produce a drama quotient so high, it could easily be mistaken for a Hollywood blockbuster. Jockeying for playoff position will intensify, rivalries will escalate and madness will ensue.
Taking those unpredictable factors into account, there's a prime group of games that deserves fans' undivided attention as the regular-season slate gets set to wind down.
In late February, teams will look to burst out of the post-All-Star gates with aplomb and set a fierce tone. Come March, the battle for postseason position will be cranked all the way into fifth gear. Then in April, the finish line will come into view as declarative on-court statements are made to cap things off.
Focusing on the league's most prominent title contenders and playoff hopefuls, sink your teeth into a comprehensive viewing primer for the most compelling games that lie ahead.
All statistics courtesy of NBA.com and current as of Feb. 16 unless noted otherwise.
Feb. 19: San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Clippers
1 of 11
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: TNT
Season Series: Los Angeles 2-1
Why waste time?
When the NBA returns from its week-long hiatus on Feb. 19, there will be intrigue galore. Not only do the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder open Thursday night's action on TNT, but the San Antonio Spurs will have a chance to shimmy up the standings.
Trailing the Los Angeles Clippers by a half-game for the Western Conference's No. 7 seed, San Antonio can start its second-half surge by hopping into the sixth seed.
It's a tremendous opportunity for the Spurs, too, because it was announced Feb. 9 that Blake Griffin would be sidelined due to elbow surgery and re-evaluated three weeks later, at the earliest.
In the Clippers' 20-point victory over the Spurs on Jan. 31, Griffin torched San Antonio by dropping a game-high 31 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
However, the Clippers have been steady in small samples without Griffin. After getting walloped by the Thunder on Feb. 8, L.A. rattled off wins over the Mavericks and Houston Rockets without the league's only 20-point-, seven-rebound-, five-assist-per game player.
Feb. 20: Toronto Raptors at Atlanta Hawks
2 of 11
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: Fox Sports South, Rogers Sportsnet One
Season Series: Toronto 2-1
Discount the Toronto Raptors at your own peril. While the Atlanta Hawks have run roughshod over seemingly every Eastern Conference foe this season, the Raptors represent one of the few exceptions.
To date, the Hawks have have 11 losses; the Raptors are responsible for nearly 20 percent of them. In fact, Toronto is the only team with more than one win against the Hawks this season.
Not only did Toronto take care of Atlanta, 109-102, on opening night, but it has also snagged a rare win on the Hawks' home court. Through 54 games, the Eastern Conference leaders have lost just three games within the friendly confines of Philips Arena.
And among teams that have played the Hawks at least twice, the Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers are the only ones averaging better than 105 points.
Although the top seed remains 6.5 games out of the Raptors' reach, a season-series victory over Atlanta would make them unwelcome competition come playoff time.
Consider it a statement game.
Feb. 26: Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers
3 of 11
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: TNT
Season Series: Golden State 1-0
If you want storylines, this titanic clash has them.
Possible NBA finals preview? Check. Offensive fireworks? Check. MVP candidates? Check and check.
While the Golden State Warriors handled the Cleveland Cavaliers, 112-94, on Jan. 9, LeBron James was still nursing a variety of bumps and bruises on the bench. Shortly thereafter, he returned and the Cavaliers started to flourish.
Since James' return, the Cavaliers own the league's second-best net rating at plus-9.4 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com. Only the Warriors have been better.
But offensively, Cleveland's had the league's most potent attack during that span, posting an offensive rating of 112.6—two points better than the Warriors.
Seeking a split of the season series on their home floor with a national audience watching, expect the Cavaliers to come out seeking to prove their place in the NBA's title conversation with authority.
Feb. 26: Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix Suns
4 of 11
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: TNT
Season Series: Oklahoma City 2-0
Too early for "must-win" labels?
Nope.
In a cutthroat Western Conference playoff race, every game should be considered a must-win for the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder. That sentiment will ring particularly true when the two clash in the desert.
After snatching the first two games of the season series in Oklahoma City, the Thunder will need to pad their road resume. A paltry 12-17 in opponents' buildings, the Thunder still need to prove they can establish a rhythm with their full cast of characters back healthy.
That will be particularly important Feb. 26, since said showdown kicks off a three-game road trip that includes clashes with the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers.
Just a half-game back of Phoenix, circle the last Thursday in February as Oklahoma City angles to capture ownership of a season-series victory.
The Thunder and Suns will meet one last time March 29 at Talking Stick Resort Arena, as well.
March 3: Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls
5 of 11
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: CSN+, CSN Chicago
Season Series: Washington 2-1
Get the hand wraps, mouth guards and gloves ready, because this one's going to be a knock-down, drag-out affair.
Not only do the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls have a history that dates back to a physical 2014 playoff series, but they're vying for home-court advantage in the first round of the postseason as we speak.
Entering the All-Star break, Chicago sat a single game up on the Wizards. But that could all change in a hurry as the resurgent Cavaliers aim to rub elbows with the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors.
In addition to the postseason consequences, meetings between Chicago and Washington are locks to provide glimpses of brilliant point-guard play.
And even though Derrick Rose and John Wall will have action moving fluidly from end to end as they knife into the lane, don't expect easy looks to proliferate a matchup between these contenders.
Washington remains one of the league's stingiest teams—posting the NBA's fifth-ranked defensive rating (100.0) through 54 games. And even though Chicago has regressed on that end, the Wizards are averaging just 99.3 points in three games against the Bulls this season.
March 8: Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors
6 of 11
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: ABC
Season Series: Tied 1-1
Golden State Warriors players have been quick to shoot down talk of a rivalry with the Los Angeles Clippers, but past battles exemplify why future clashes are must-see TV.
Combo-forward Draymond Green explains, via USA Today's Sam Amick:
"(But) one (playoff) series isn't going to change the way we feel about playing against them and the way they feel about playing against us. Those games have been intense since I came into the league (in 2012), and they're going to continue to be intense, so that one series isn't necessarily (where) we're saying, 'Yeah, we've got Bogut back, so let's see what they can do with us now.' Because we're always confident in ourselves, especially playing against them.
"
Green's certainly onto something there. With Bogut in the lineup, the Warriors squashed the Clippers, 121-104, on Nov. 5. Without him, the Clippers emerged victorious, 100-86, on Christmas Day.
That's a trend the Warriors are all too familiar with. When Bogut's protecting the rim, the Warriors allow just 93.7 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com. During his time on the bench, that number falls just shy of 100.
The Clippers will have more to worry about than Bogut's presence, though.
March 8 represents the front end of the four-to-six week timetable bestowed upon Blake Griffin after undergoing elbow surgery. If he's able to make a triumphant return, the Clippers' top-ranked offense will receive a major boost in time for a crucial stretch-run litmus test.
March 11: Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers
7 of 11
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: ESPN
Season Series: Tied 1-1
The last time the Houston Rockets were at Moda Center, things didn't go so well.
And for nearly a year, they've avoided making a return trip. But that trend will be disrupted when the Portland Trail Blazers play host to the Western Conference's No. 4 seed in mid-March.
Houston won't just be playing for revenge, either. The Rockets and Blazers sit side by side in the postseason picture, and a season-series victory for either party could represent a boon when the bracket is made official come late April.
The matchup to watch, of course, will center around the two men pictured above.
James Harden has been a scoring machine against the Blazers this season, averaging 44.5 points over two games. Conversely, Damian Lillard has scored 20.5 points per contest while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 10 percent from three.
Harden will need to hope Dwight Howard has returned from a knee procedure in time to help, though. Despite dropping 45 points and making 23 trips to the free-throw line, Harden couldn't carry Houston past Portland on Feb. 8.
March 18: Atlanta Hawks at Golden State Warriors
8 of 11
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: Fox Sports South, CSN Bay Area
Season Series: Atlanta 1-0
The Atlanta Hawks held serve in their Feb. 6 contest with the Golden State Warriors, but combatting a raucous Oracle Arena crowd will make a sweep of the season series exponentially more difficult.
If the opening statement was any indication, though, Atlanta certainly has the depth necessary to match Golden State shot for shot once again.
"Atlanta’s aggressiveness led to a 33-10 disparity in free-throw points, but the Hawks’ 15-of-27 three-point shooting showed how well they can play the space, pass and fire style the Warriors have patented," Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding wrote following the win.
As the season's first half proved, Atlanta can shoot just about any opponent out of the gym. However, these Warriors are hardly an average foe.
Not only do the Hawks and Warriors rank first and second in some configuration in just about every shooting and passing metric, but Golden State's top-rated defense has been three points better per 100 possessions than Atlanta's.
In a battle of shooting stars and disciplined defenses, expect tactical wizardry to rule the day.
March 22: San Antonio Spurs at Atlanta Hawks
9 of 11
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: Fox Sports South, Fox Sports Southwest
Season Series: San Antonio 1-0
The Atlanta Hawks have flown to their perch atop the Eastern Conference standings embracing a collective approach popularized by the San Antonio Spurs.
The ball moves fast, open shots are prioritized ahead of individual stat stuffing and the team always comes first.
"I think that we have a system established here and we have a group of guys that understand the concept of teamwork and doing things as a team," Al Horford said in December, according to CBS Sports' Ken Berger. "When you have a group of guys like that, it makes everything easier."
In a matchup that pits star pupil (Mike Budenholzer) against seasoned professor (Gregg Popovich), it'll be fascinating to see how San Antonio East and San Antonio West gear up to defend each another.
San Antonio squeaked past Atlanta, 94-92, on Nov. 5, but that was three games into the regular season. Now the Hawks' identity is set in stone, and they're widely considered title contenders of the highest caliber.
Depending on how high the Spurs can vault up the Western Conference pecking order by March 22, this could wind up being the premier showdown of the season's home stretch.
April 5: Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers
10 of 11
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: ABC
Season Series: Cleveland 2-1
With bragging rights and a possible Central Division title on the line, the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers shouldn't disappoint on April 5.
As Bleacher Report's Sean Highkin wrote, Cleveland's rapid development has its ceiling vaulted a few notches higher than Chicago's as the teams' rivalry begins to evolve:
"The Cavs’ turnaround since James’ return is why you’d be hard-pressed not to view them as the team with the best opportunity to do damage in the playoffs. They have the best player in the world, and as long as James is playing at his peak level, it’s very hard for anyone to beat them in four of seven games.
The Cavs are closer to figuring out their lingering problems than the Bulls, who still have yet to put together a lengthy stretch with their full complement of players. There’s still a good chance they get there by April, but they have a lot of catching up to do.
"
So far, Cleveland's gained the upper hand. Not only did it dispatch Chicago on Halloween, but a Jan. 19 meeting saw all five Cavaliers starters finish in double figures.
Chicago won the most recent clash, 113-98, thanks to the collective brilliance of Derrick Rose, Tony Snell and Pau Gasol, but Cleveland was without the services of Kevin Love due to an eye injury.
Given the playoff implications and home-court advantage that will be at stake, all eyes should be on Quicken Loans Arena as the regular season winds down.
April 13: Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors
11 of 11
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Viewing Information: NBA TV (National), CSN Bay Area, SportSouth
Season Series: Memphis 1-0
Three teams are undefeated against the Golden State Warriors this season: The Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies.
Now, that qualifier might not be accurate April 13, since the Grizzlies and Warriors will meet March 27 for the second time this season, but it's worth noting given the regularity with which Golden State has pounded the opposition.
Not only does Memphis possess the defensive fortitude necessary to combat Golden State's wicked blend of inside and outside scoring, but it has the guns to keep pace offensively.
Entering the All-Star break, Memphis' offensive rating of 104.6 ranks No. 11 overall, ahead of the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder. For a team playing at the league's fifth-slowest pace, that's remarkable.
Passing Golden State atop the standings would require some form of injury-induced or anomalous regression from the Warriors, but by standing up to the Warriors' full squad, Memphis can solidify its position as the clear-cut second-in-command team out West.
