Sunday Night Basketball Preview
The inaugural Sunday Night Basketball features an exciting doubleheader, showcasing four of the NBA’s 10 All-Star starters.
The first match pits All-Star guards, and former teammates, Luka Dončić and Jalen Brunson, as the Knicks face the Lakers at 7 PM ET. The late game features the last two Kia NBA MVP winners, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from OKC and Nikola Jokić from Denver, clashing at 9 PM ET. Here are three key storylines to watch this Sunday night.
Lakers at Knicks | 7 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
LeBron’s Madison Square Garden Return: LeBron James and the Lakers are set for their annual visit to Madison Square Garden to battle the Knicks. LeBron comes into this game with a 23-8 regular-season record and 1-1 postseason record at MSG, averaging 28.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in 33 appearances. Fans are eager to see what he delivers in his 34th game at The Garden.
Brunson vs. Dončić, Round 3: Luka Dončić and Jalen Brunson, former Dallas Mavericks teammates, will face off for only the third time since Brunson signed with New York in 2022. Dončić has won the previous two encounters; both players are among the league’s top scorers, with Dončić leading at 33.7 points per game and Brunson ranking eighth with 27.6 points per game.
Knicks Looking to Maintain Momentum: After a rough 2-9 stretch from Dec. 31 to Jan. 19, the Knicks have bounced back with a five-game winning streak, highlighted by a franchise-record 54-point victory. The turnaround is credited to improved defense and balanced offense, with Brunson leading the charge at 23.6 points per game during the streak, while OG Anunoby has also made significant contributions.
Thunder at Nuggets | 9:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
Playoff Rematch in Focus: The Thunder take on the Nuggets in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Semifinals, where OKC triumphed in a thrilling seven-game series. This matchup marks their first meeting since that pivotal playoff series and is part of four encounters scheduled for the remainder of the season.
Nuggets’ Resilience Without Jokić: The Nuggets, who were holding the third spot in the West when MVP Nikola Jokić was sidelined with a knee injury, went 10-6 in his absence. Key performances from Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson helped keep the team afloat. Jokić returned with a strong showing against the Clippers, and his next test will be against the Western Conference-leading Thunder.
Thunder’s Mixed Bag: After starting the season with an impressive 24-1 record, the Thunder’s performance has dipped, going 14-10 in their last 24 games. The decline is attributed to issues in clutch situations, which they will look to rectify in this crucial matchup against Denver.
