Sky Sports’ weekend NBA motion is simply across the nook, so we have taken a take a look at the groups concerned, the permutations, the place you may entry protection and stay streams, and a lot extra…

Saturday’s NBA motion

Boston Celtics vs San Antonio Spurs

Where to look at: Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Arena (11pm)

The San Antonio Spurs might want to take a web page out of Oklahoma City Thunders’ ebook if they’re to discover a strategy to defeat the Boston Celtics this weekend.

Indeed, Mark Daigneault’s workforce beat the highest seed within the Eastern Conference 150-117 on Tuesday evening, with out their talisman Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They went on to set a franchise level file, with 4 gamers racking up 20+ factors.

It’s fairly the defeat to dish out to arguably the league’s greatest workforce, however the Celtics have not been serving to themselves, particularly with the current drop off of their three-point taking pictures.

They had been taking pictures at 40.9 per cent within the opening stretch of the season, however within the pre-Christmas droop, fell to 32.5 per cent. Sprinkle in some mid-range regression, and also you present opposing forwards with the hope of springing traps inside the paint.

Can the Spurs use this to their benefit? They have been unable to reveal as such in opposition to the New York Knicks, with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle scoring freely from all angles of the court docket.

More worryingly, they have been unable to complete their very own possibilities. Spurs had a number of possibilities to internet a three-pointer and take the sport to extra time in opposition to the Knicks within the fourth quarter and failed to take action – one thing they can not afford in opposition to MVP contender Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown.

The Celtics ought to have the ability to safe victory on this event, however Gregg Popovich is not going to make it straightforward for them.

Sunday’s NBA motion

Orlando Magic vs Golden State Warriors

Where to look at: Sky Sports Arena (01:30am)

Here’s a query to think about: what occurs when a Stephen-Curry-less Golden State Warriors locks horns with an Orlando Magic aspect lacking 4 suspended gamers after their brawl in final week’s sport versus the Detroit Pistons?

Well, the truth that the previous still won against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night ought to function a reminder that although they’re undermanned, Paolo Banchero remains to be able to making game-changing performs.

The rookie ahead snapped up 25 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists that night, with Gary Harris and Terrence Ross every including 18 factors too.

All this scoring makes you marvel the place this model of the Magic has been hiding. Will they have the ability to get previous the Dubs, and Draymond Green’s impeccable defending? The Warriors have solely allowed 96.9 factors per 100 possessions within the large man’s final 132 minutes.

They could have the means to maintain Banchero quiet, however they must discover a strategy to rev up their very own assault after the midweek defeat to the Pistons.

It was Saddiq Bey who sunk a three-pointer with 2.3 seconds left on the clock, sealing the Warriors’ destiny. Clutch moments have been shut encounters for Steve Kerr’s aspect. If the Magic can preserve firing away within the fourth quarter, they could simply have the chance to ship one other blow to their opponents’ waning playoff hopes.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Toronto Raptors

Where to look at: Sky Sports Arena (8:30pm)

The Raptors are in bother, they usually realize it. With 18 completely different beginning line-ups of their final 36 video games – and nonetheless looking for solutions – there is not any means they are going to have the ability to combat off a match Damian Lillard and Pascal Siakam, proper?

Well, the Blazers’ 106-113 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday evening may present some perception into the right way to dismantle a workforce working with the league’s most improved protection.

For starters, get your self an Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. These two actually did the majority of their harm in opposition to the Blazers within the fourth quarter, however extra compellingly, by dominating the rim and rebound defence, instigating fast attacking patterns within the course of.

Though Lillard and co have developed extra energy in the right way to fight groups such because the Raptors, it is clear that there are nonetheless some points to clean out within the clutch moments.

Expect a tense game this weekend, that the Blazers will edge with their superior health and physique.

Brooklyn Nets vs Miami Heat

Where to look at: Sky Sports Arena (11pm)

All good issues should come to an finish. If you are a Brooklyn Nets fan, it will not be an particularly thrilling feeling having had your 12-game win streak snapped by the 17-21 Chicago Bulls. Especially when one of your star players, Kevin Durant, put up 44 points.

It was an odd defensive show on Wednesday evening from the Nets, who gave the Bulls all of the house and time on this planet, permitting DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams to every rating 22 factors as they tried to hit their opponents on the counter. Instead, what unravelled was a free-scoring contest, which the Bulls edged 121-112.

This weekend’s opposition, the Miami Heat, are within the troublesome place of being the primary workforce Durant and co will play on the opposite aspect of that memorable defeat. And if stats are something to go by, it might be a protracted night on the FTX Arena.

For starters, the Nets have a ruthless effectivity in relation to taking pictures, ending on over 40 per cent of their photographs from the deep. Kyrie Irving has led that cost, particularly in fourth quarters, giving his workforce top-of-the-line clutch charges within the league.

The Heat, nevertheless, are the most effective clutch workforce within the league. Combine that with their spectacular turnover file and also you get an exciting affair.

Our projections level to a different late win for the Brooklyn Boys.

Click here to check out our 2023 All-Star predictions