With only two and a half weeks until the end of the regular season, both the intensity and the number of national TV games are ratcheting up. We still fortunately have a nice slate of League Pass games for the week ahead including some matchups that will have a major effect on seeding. 

Monday

Celtics @ Timberwolves: The Wolves have started rolling pretty well and got a nice win over the Thunder last week. Plus, it’s Ricky Rubio. 

Tuesday

Bulls @ Wizards: This game features two of the most entertaining players of the last month: John Wall and Nate Robinson. While the Bulls have plenty to play for and the Wizards are actually hurting their draft chances with wins, look for this to be surprisingly competitive. 

Thursday

Mavericks @ Nuggets: While OKC vs. San Antonio rightfully deserves most of the press on Thursday, I am intrigued by this one because of the urgency for both teams. We could see dramatically more of Andre Miller due to Ty Lawson’s injury, making for a pretty old PG duel with Mike James.

Friday

Bucks @ Knicks: Brandon Jennings dropped 35+ at the Garden against the most prominent team to pass on him in the draft in each of the last two seasons. Can he make it a third?

Thunder @ Pacers: While this could be a potential letdown game for OKC the night after their big tilt with the Spurs, it has major consequences for both potential 2-seeds. Paul George has a major challenge on both ends of the floor here while Serge Ibaka will need to be a difference-maker on defense in order for the Thunder to get a big road win.

Grizzlies @ Lakers: Despite not being a likely playoff matchup anymore, this game has plenty of juice because of its importance for each squad. Memphis has had a rough go of it recently but needs to snap out of that funk in order to get out of the 4/5 slugfest while the Lakers just want a spot at the table. Tony Allen guarding Kobe Bryant will be awfully fun to watch. 

Saturday

Rockets @ Nuggets: Possibly my two favorite teams to watch over the course of the season. James Harden and the shooting barrage of the Rockets might need more oxygen to function in Denver but seeing them try to fly will be a blast.

Sunday

Jazz @ Warriors: The rest of the week could do a lot to clarify the significance of this one, though it looks likely that it will carry some weight in terms of the playoffs. Both teams have deep frontcourts when everyone is healthy and I’d like to see Gordon Hayward and Harrison Barnes spend some time guarding each other on both ends of the floor.