The trade deadline looms over this whole week as we all experience a deadline with games all around it rather than the All-Star break. The second half of the week could be totally changed by what precedes it but Celtics at Raptors is the Game of the Week no matter what. 

Monday

Wizards at Pacers, 7 p.m.: Washington has won four straight without John Wall and will need to score to beat the Pacers. Indiana’s issues on the defensive glass could be a factor since a few extra possessions can make the difference.

Jazz at Pelicans, 8 p.m.: Cousins’ injury has shifted Anthony Davis to play center, so we should get more of him and Rudy Gobert squaring off. This will also hopefully be the first game for Nikola Mirotic as a Pelican, which add another dimension, especially since Utah was another rumored suitor for him.

Hornets at Nuggets, 9 p.m.: Charlotte has won three straight but will be on the tail end of a back-to-back after coming back to beat Phoenix on Sunday. Nikola Jokic’s ability to create shots for himself and teammates all over the floor will take Dwight Howard out the paint.

Tuesday

Cavs at Magic, 7 p.m.: This could end up being the final game for the Cavs in this iteration and the Magic have played Cleveland surprisingly well this season, including two close games in January.

Celtics at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. (Game of the Week): Likely the League Pass Game of the Year on paper, as these have been the two best teams in the Eastern Conference so far and look like they could be battling for the #1 seed well into April. Kyrie Irving will hopefully be back to make this one close to full strength.

Bucks at Knicks, 7:30 p.m.: Milwaukee eked out a win at home in Jabari Parker’s return last week and now the Knicks will look to return the favor. Giannis and Porzingis are such a fascinating matchup for each other and that should continue here.

Wednesday

Nets at Pistons, 7 p.m.: Winning home games against non-playoff teams is essentially a pre-requisite for teams trying to work their way in from the outside and the Pistons are looking to keep up momentum after winning their first two games with Blake Griffin. 

Rockets at Heat, 7:30 p.m.: An interesting clash of styles, especially since Miami has a series of different defensive guards they can throw at James Harden and Chris Paul. The Heat have also been one of the league’s best clutch teams so far but Houston will challenge that reputation if this one stays close.

Pacers at Pelicans, 8 p.m.: Another intriguing home game for New Orleans against a dangerous opponent. Victor Oladipo will challenge their perimeter defenders and Indiana’s collection of shooters will reduce the amount of help available at the rim.

Thursday

Knicks at Raptors, 7:30 p.m.: The games on deadline day begin with two teams that have their own trade history but likely will not be continuing it this season. Hopefully Frank Ntilikina gets to share the floor with Kyle Lowry to test the rookie’s defensive mettle yet again. 

Hornets at Trail Blazers, 10 p.m.: Kemba Walker vs. Damian Lillard should produce plenty of fireworks and both teams will look to their traditional centers to help control the action on both ends of the floor.

Mavericks at Warriors, 10:30 p.m.: A potentially entertaining contest as Dallas played Golden State well in early January despite Stephen Curry scoring 32 points. There is also a chance this ends up being Dirk Nowitzki’s final game at Oracle Arena, the site of some memorable games in his storied career (and one big dent in the wall).

Friday

Pelicans at 76ers, 7 p.m.: Davis vs. Embiid is more than enough but these two teams create challenges for each other and Jrue Holiday also gets the chance to play against his former team in a season where both squads have playoff aspirations.

Pacers at Celtics, 7:30 p.m.: The last time these two teams played, Boston won with a wild comeback on a shocking Terry Rozier steal and dunk. This will also be an interesting challenge for Brad Stevens as he will likely try to give new addition Greg Monroe some minutes with the second unit. 

Nuggets at Rockets, 8 p.m.: Expect lots of points in this playoff preview, especially if Houston can ensnare Jokic in their high pick-and-roll actions. Denver will need big games from their guards on both ends of the floor to pick up another significant win against a top-tier opponent.

Bucks at Heat, 8 p.m.: These teams have played twice in the last three weeks and Miami came out on top both times. Jabari Parker adds a different dimension to the Bucks’ attack and has looked good since returning. 

Saturday

Pelicans at Nets, 6 p.m.: Brooklyn has been on a skid but still has the ability to challenge anyone, especially a team like New Orleans that is in flux after injuries and new additions. Plus, the first-ever Okafor vs. Okafor game as Emeka’s 10-day contract coincides with a game against Jahlil.

Clippers at 76ers, 7 p.m.: The Clippers could look dramatically different by this point but as of this writing DeAndre Jordan and Joel Embiid could still be facing off.

Lakers at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.: It would be great if Lonzo Ball could be back from his knee injury in time to square off against fellow lottery pick Dennis Smith Jr but this game will be intriguing either way. 

Sunday

Raptors at Hornets, 1 p.m.: The welcome return of staggered Sundays starts with a high-powered point guard matchup that could be a playoff preview if Charlotte builds on some recent success.

Knicks at Pacers, 5 p.m.: Another worthwhile earlier game, especially since New York’s big front line brings an element Indiana will try to counter with floor spacing. 

Jazz at Trail Blazers, 9 p.m.: A great way to end the week as the Jazz have looked great in recent weeks while the Blazers have improved their offense after a rough start to the season. Jusuf Nurkic will have his hands full with Rudy Gobert but the backcourts will likely decide the outcome as both teams rely heavily on their guards to create shots for themselves and teammates.