New Orleans Pelicans (29-38) vs. Sacramento Kings (28-39), 1:30 ET, NBA TV
- New Orleans won the first meeting of the season with Sacramento, 117-115 on Jan. 4, behind 24 points and 10 assists from Lonzo Ball. His last assist came on the game-winning layup by JJ Redick with 1.1 seconds left. This was Ball’s third 20+ point, 10+ assist double-double of the season.
- Sacramento is one of three teams, along with Washington and Memphis, still looking for their first win of the NBA restart. The Kings’ defensive rating (117.9) ranks 21st out of the 22 teams Orlando.
- Brandon Ingram is averaging a team-high 20.3 points in New Orleans’ first three games of the restart.
- The Pelicans earned their first win of the restart on Monday against Memphis; Zion Williamson had 23 points in 25 minutes, after averaging just 14.5 minutes in New Orleans’ first two games in Orlando.
- Zion Williamson leads all players in field goals made per game inside of five feet (8.0). In 22 games played, 83.2% of his field goal attempts (273 out of 328) come inside the restricted area, and 28.9% of his made field goals have been dunks (55 out of 190).
Miami Heat (43-25) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (54-14), 4:00 ET, TNT
- Miami is one of two teams (along with Denver) to have beaten Milwaukee twice this season as the Heat lead the season series 2-0. Miami has averaged 118.0 points per game against the league’s top ranked defense.
- Goran Dragic has averaged a team-high 20 points in two games against Milwaukee this season, while Bam Adebayo has stuffed the stat sheet against the Bucks with 16.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.0 blocks per game.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo has averaged 21 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 1.5 blocks in two games against Miami this season. Khris Middleton has averaged 18.5 points, but shot just 34.4% against Miami, which is his second-lowest FG% against any opponent this season.
- Milwaukee (26.6) and Miami (27.8) allow the fewest and second fewest FGA from within 5 feet per game. In Miami’s 2 wins against Milwaukee this season, Giannis Antetokounmpo has shot 16-21 from within 5 feet but taken 4 fewer FTA per game and shot 0-8 on wide open threes, resulting in a scoring average of 8.6 PTS per game below his normal average.
- Duncan Robinson leads all players in 3-pointers made (213) and field goals made (216) on catch-and-shoots this season. His 68.3 effective field goal percentage ranks fourth among the 214 players that have attempted at least 100 catch-and-shoots this season.
LA Clippers (45-22) vs. Dallas Mavericks (41-29), 6:30 ET, TNT
- The Clippers lead the season series with the Mavericks 2-0 with both games played in Dallas. Kawhi Leonard has averaged 32.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals against the Mavs this season.
- Luka Doncic has averaged 29.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists in two games against the Clippers this season. However, he has shot just 40% from the field and 15% (3-20) from beyond the arc.
- There are three players that have averaged at least 30 points and 10 rebounds since the restart began and two play for the Mavericks: Luka Doncic (34 PPG, 13.7 RPG) and Kristaps Porzingis (30.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG) are joined by Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid.
- In their first three games of the restart, Paul George (27.0) and Kawhi Leonard (26.3) have accounted for 46.8% of LA’s total offense (53.3 of 114.0 points scored per game). Luka Doncic (34) and Kristaps Porzingis (30.3) have combined for 51.1% of Dallas’ points.
- For the season, Luka Doncic ranks third in the NBA in points scored as the ball handler in pick and roll plays with 13.9 per game. Lou Williams leads the Clippers and ranks 8th in the league at 9.3 points per game. Of the 15 players with at least 500 such plays, Doncic ranks third in eFG% (56.6%) and second in free throw rate (16.2%).
Los Angeles Lakers (51-16) vs. Houston Rockets (42-25), 9:00 ET, TNT
- The Lakers are coming off a 105-86 loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday, with the 86 points representing a season-low scoring output. The Lakers are 0-4 this season when being held under 95 points, with two of those games coming in the restart.
- The Rockets and Lakers have split the first two games of the season series with each team winning on the road. LeBron James has averaged 24.5 points, 13.5 assists and 7.0 rebounds in two games against the Rockets this season. The 13.5 assists are his second-highest average against any opponent this season.
- Russell Westbrook has averaged a team-high 38.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists in two games against the Lakers this season. The 38.0 points are his second-highest average against any opponent, while his 62.7% shooting is the highest mark against any team this season.
- This season, the Rockets averaged 39.5 3-point attempts per game against the Lakers, one of only four teams to allow fewer than 40 attempts to Houston. Through the first three games of the restart, the Rockets have averaged 54.0 3-point attempts and shot the long ball at 36.4%.
- Anthony Davis played in only one game against Houston this season, and even though the Rockets got the win, they could not stop Davis as he finished with 32 points on 14-21 FG, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. While PJ Tucker held Davis to 4 points and 40% shooting, his next five most frequent matchups allowed Davis to score 26 points on 10-11 shooting.
