Talking points ahead of this weekend’s live NBA action on Sky Sports | NBA News

Sky Sports’ weekend NBA action is just around the corner, so we’ve taken a look at the teams involved, the permutations, where you can access coverage and live streams, and so much more. Scroll on down to peruse.

Saturday’s NBA action

Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers

Where to watch: Sky Sports Main Event HD (00:30), Sky Sports Arena HD (00:30)

The 76ers will be hoping the news surrounding the Lakers injury list is true. They have Lebron James down as questionable with ankle issues and would’ve watched the in-explosive-form Anthony Davis exit the game early in Wednesday’s defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers as a result of flu-like symptoms.

Against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, rumour turned into fact as both sat out of the action while their team caved to a 126-113 defeat.

If the pair are unable to make it for the weekend clash too, it simplifies the winning equation for their opponents. They’ve already struggled enough in attack without Tyrese Maxey, despite the return of James Harden after a month-long injury absence.

With no James or Davis on court, the chances of them being whitewashed, or worse, subject to a 55-point performance, becomes null. All they have to do is *score more*.

Expect a tight game, but one where the 76ers should be able to edge it if they can get past a weathered Lakers side, one that will most likely want to rotate anyway as they face the Detroit Pistons the very next day.

San Antonio Spurs vs Miami Heat

Where to watch: Sky Sports Main Event HD (22:00), Sky Sports Mix (22:00)

What to predict in a game where on team is clearly committed to the “Great Tankathon”?

Indeed, the Spurs couldn’t have been more vocal about their attempts to snap up Victor Wenbanyama, and in doing so, they might forgive us for so vocally predicting their downfall this weekend.

Especially against this particular Heats outfit, who are finally putting the pieces together with five wins in their last six games.

The most recent came in a surprising overtime victory over the league’s best team, the Boston Celtics.

It wasn’t a sole effort. Instead, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, and Jimmy Butler snapped up 20 + points, sharing the spoils, which seemed to be the perfect approach to deny the Celtics another swashbuckling win.

If fit and healthy, this particular quartet should be more than enough to deliver the Spurs exactly what they seem to crave: another defeat.

Sunday’s NBA action

Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors

Where to watch: Sky Sports Arena HD (01:30)

It’s a repeat of last summer’s NBA playoff finals clash, though this time around, a much different affair.

The Warriors rallied past the Celtics in that game, and since then there’s been a notable drop-off. Meanwhile, in Boston, things couldn’t be rosier. Indeed, the Celts have the best league record and arguably the best attacking duo in the form of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

The Warriors have just come off back-to-back defeats, first against the Utah Jazz, where Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins all sat out, and then to an undermanned Indiana Pacers, with rookie Andrew Nembhard overpowering both Lebron James and Curry in the space of a week.

If Curry can remain fit, as well as Green, who has working on a recurring back problem, then perhaps there might be a chance for them to outscore their opponents. Any slip ups and the house of cards come tumbling down.

Our predictions point to an overtime win for the Celtics.

Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Pelicans

Where to watch: Sky Sports Arena HD (20:30)

The Phoenix Suns are in freefall, and they know it.

Against the Boston Celtics, they barely registered 100 points.

In the clash with the Dallas Mavericks, they never recovered from going behind by 15 points in the first quarter, allowing Luka Doncic to walk all over you like that should be criminal.

But perhaps they can be forgiven. It is a lot easier to swallow such stinging truths when you know that your top players, Chris Paul (heel), Torrey Craig (groin) and Cam Johnson (knee) remain side-lined.

Well, Paul was back amongst the starters, and yet proved no more fruitful than any of the others against the Celts on Thursday. There’s no clarity on whether a rushed return could help power the Suns to a much-needed win, especially with the Pelicans in the kind of form they are in.

Leading their attacking charge is Jose Alvarado, who scored a season-high 38 points in less than 27 minutes off the bench against the Denver Nuggets.

Indeed, with Alvarado’s help, they have won nine of their last 11 games, and currently rank second in the Western Conference. It’s impressive enough without considering that they’ve done it with injuries.

If they can get past Nikola Jokic and co without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, this weekend’s game against the Suns should be a breeze.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Detroit Pistons

Where to watch: Sky Sports Arena HD (23:00)

It’s a pretty quick turnaround for the Lakers after their clash with the 76ers the day before.

Which obviously means that this could be the perfect chance for the Pistons to steal a win against a much-rotated (and perhaps injury-laden) Lakers side.

With Bojan Bogdanovich leading the charge, anything is possible. The Pistons star proved as much when he did everything needed against the Miami Heat on Tuesday to secure the win for his team.

Bogdanovic scores 28 points in the second half, with 14 of those coming in the fourth period. Netting seven three-pointers in the final seven minutes of the game proved to be the perfect finishing touch.

If the Lakers are slightly depleted, then our projections tip the Pistons in favour of victory.