NBA Preview Jan. 12-18: Schedule, Highlights and More

With the NBA season in full swing, here's a look ahead at this week's national TV schedule, along with highlights and more.

The NBA is back for its first post-bubble season, and although games have been cancelled and teams have been shorthanded due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the league has had no shortage of excitement or drama. However, the results are hard to parse: there’s no team in the league with fewer than three losses with about 10 games in the books. On the flipside, it feels like no team is out of it and anything is possible, especially with teams like the Phoenix Suns and the Charlotte Hornets climbing the ranks of the usual contenders.

Sling has you covered as we get into the meatier section of the schedule. In addition to the nationally televised games available to Sling Orange subscribers on ESPN and TNT, you can catch even more action by subscribing to NBA TV with Sports Extras. And if you’re an out-of-market fan, check out our League and Team Pass options to watch every game from your favorite team.

With that in mind, here’s a look at this week’s national TV schedule on Sling, along with our pick of the best game of the week, the best dunks and assists, and much more, below.

NBA National TV Schedule Jan. 12-18

Upcoming Game of the Week

Dallas Mavericks at Milwaukee Bucks

Fri. Jan. 15, 7:30pm ET, ESPN

Slovenia’s Luka Dončić joined Dallas the season after Dirk Nowitzki retired and it looks like the Mavericks may have found yet another European superstar. On Monday, Dončić was named Western Conference Player of the Week after leading his team to three straight wins while averaging a triple-double (30.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 11.3 assists). On Friday night, he and the Mavs travel to Milwaukee to take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the 7-4 Bucks, who are starting to find their groove after an offseason overhaul of the roster.

Sling TV Performance of the Week

Steph Curry went off for 38 points in ESPN's Friday nightcap against the Clippers. The performance came after Curry was named Western Conference Player of the Week, and he’s off to a great start in his return from last season’s injury, as he’s currently second in the league in scoring (28.6 points per game) and made three-pointers (42).

Dunk of the Week

If you search “Derrick Jones Jr. dunk” in YouTube, all sorts of delightful videos will surface, including a few that argue he’s the best dunker in the NBA (Jones Jr. has a trophy from the 2020 dunk contest to support this argument). After moving from Miami to Portland in the offseason, “Airplane Mode” continued to live up to his nickname with this elegant but forceful high-flyer against the Bulls.

Smart Choice Assist of the Week

Denver’s Nikola Jokic is an incredibly special player. In addition to his excellent range and a ball-handling style best described as “ungainly finesse,” his court vision is unrivaled for a big man, as evidenced by this incredible bounce pass to JaMychal Green. Through 10 games, Joker is off to a historic start: With 244 points, 112 rebounds and 104 assists, he just joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to have a 200-100-100+ stat-line through the first 10 games of the season.

LOL of the Week

This one’s a bit of an oldie, but we have to give a shout out (and our sympathy) to Thomas Bryant of the Washington Wizard s, who accidentally (?) dunked on the wrong basket in his team’s loss to the Magic.

To get the most NBA basketball on Sling, sign up for Sling Orange +. Blue with Sports Extra using the link below.

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