Friday Fire: Embiid returns as the Sixers heat up, and the Thunder keep rumbling
Star Guard Saturday: One night, three matchups and six electrifying playmakers
Big Men Battle: AD & Sabonis clash inside for the second time in three days
Beasts In The East: Keys to watch as the top six teams in the East take the floor tonight
Twelve games tip off today, including an interconference clash on NBA TV as the Pelicans host Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks, who are seeking a third straight win (8 ET).
Happy World Basketball Day! Today, the NBA family comes together to celebrate basketball's power in uniting and connecting people worldwide. See how hoopers around the globe are celebrating below:
Join the global celebration! Share how you're honoring the day by using the hashtag #WorldBasketballDay.
The Bucks rolled into Friday on fire, winning 12 of their last 15 games, leading to a trip to the Emirates NBA Cup championship, where they knocked off the West-leading Thunder to hoist the Cup.
But then the Cavs, sitting atop the East standings for nearly two months, reminded the league why they own the best record in the NBA.
Cavaliers 124, Bucks 101: Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and 14 boards, but it wasn't enough to take down Cleveland, as Donovan Mitchell (27 pts) led six scorers in double figures, and the Cavs sank 20 3s to earn a statement dub. | Recap
What It Means: The Cavs' victory pushed their record to 24-4, staying on pace with their 2008-09 squad as the best start in franchise history. They also improved to 15-1 at home.
76ers 108, Hornets 98: After suffering a sinus fracture last Friday, a masked Joel Embiid returned with a bang, notching 34 points, nine assists and two blocks to lead Philly past Charlotte, marking the Sixers' fourth win in five games. | Recap
Thunder 104, Heat 97: After winning in Orlando on Thursday, OKC took down the Heat in Miami as Jalen Williams dropped a season-high 33 points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 25 to stave off Tyler Herro (28 pts) and company. | Recap
Saturday's slate features some of the best guards in the NBA going head-to-head, from all-time bucket-getters to electrifying dime-droppers.
Let's turn on the tape and break down a specific skill set to watch in each matchup:
Clippers at Mavericks (8:30 ET) | James Harden vs. Kyrie Irving
Two generational scorers, Harden and Irving have feasted in isolation for years, but they're also among the best finishers in the paint -- standing out not only among guards but all players.
Kyrie's Creativity: Despite being undersized at 6-foot-2, Irving's post-up game is elite, as he utilizes ball fakes and masterful footwork to create space
Prepare for takeoff. While Young leads the NBA in assists per game (12.2), Morant is averaging a career-high (8.1). Tonight, fans can expect some high-flying lobs, as they rank first (41) and second (31) in alley-oop assists.
Warriors at Wolves (8 ET) | Steph Curry vs. Anthony Edwards
In Year 5, Ant is having a Steph-like season from 3, hitting a career-high 4.3 triples per game -- the second-most in the NBA. Ranked fourth in the league? Curry, with 4.0 3s an outing.
More Must-See Matchups: Another duel of elite guards takes place tonight as Devin Booker and the Suns host Cade Cunningham and the Pistons (9 ET).
Plus, the NBA's second all-time assist leader, Chris Paul, will lead the Spurs against the Blazers (8:30 ET).
To open Saturday's slate, two of the most dominant bigs in the NBA -- Domantas Sabonis and Anthony Davis -- will clash for the second time in three days as the Kings host the rival Lakers (6 ET).
Known for their physicality, Sabonis leads the league with 24 double-doubles this season, while Davis is the only player averaging 25+ points, 10+ rebounds and 2+ blocks.
In their head-to-head battles, Davis (23.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg) has outscored and outrebounded Sabonis (15.0 ppg, 10.8 rpg), but the Kings hold a 10-2 record against the Lakers with both stars in the lineup.
Flipping The Script: Sacramento swept Los Angeles last season, but the Lakers have taken both matchups this year, including a 113-110 win on Thursday.
The driving force? Davis, who posted 21 points, 19 rebounds and a season-high six blocks.
The Lakers shot just 40.4% from the field -- their second-lowest mark this season -- but outrebounded the Kings 53-43, with 35.8% of their boards coming from Davis.
On the other side, Sabonis tallied 18 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists for Sacramento, but both he and Kings coach Mike Brown demanded more intensity.
Tonight, Sacramento aims to make a statement while preventing its first season series loss to Los Angeles since 2019-20. With Sabonis and Davis each looking to impose their will -- the battle begins inside.
The top six teams in the East -- Cleveland, Boston, New York, Orlando, Milwaukee and Miami -- all take the floor on Saturday.
Below is one winning key to watch for each team tonight.
76ers at Cavaliers (8 ET): After earning a big win over the Bucks on Friday, the Cavs face another tough test against a rejuvenated Sixers squad with Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Joel Embiid starting to gel after four games together.
Knicks at Pelicans (8 ET, NBA TV): Coming off a 26-point win against the Wolves in Karl-Anthony Towns' return to Minnesota, the Knicks will look for a third straight win as they visit the Pelicans.
Celtics at Bulls (8 ET): After Thursday's loss to the Bulls in Boston, the Celtics will aim to avoid their first back-to-back defeats since April 11 as they face Chicago again -- this time, at the United Center.
Heat at Magic (7 ET): In another in-state rivalry matchup tonight, the Magic host the Heat, with both teams coming off a loss to the Thunder. A win for Orlando would snap a three-game skid.
Wizards at Bucks (8 ET): Looking to bounce back from last night's loss, Giannis and the Bucks will host Jordan Poole and the Wizards.