Trent Reinsmith
The NBA is now in Week 21 of the 2021-22 NBA season. With that, the 2022 NBA playoffs are quickly closing in and teams are jockeying for position. As for teams who are on the playoff bubble, every game from this point forward is meaningful. With that in mind, it’s time to look at the two most important games on the NBA schedule for Tuesday, March 8, 2022.
In the first game, the Brooklyn Nets, who remain one of the favorites to win the 2022 NBA title, are looking to hold on to their playoff spot. They play the team who is on the rise in the Charlotte Hornets. In the second game, we look at the slumping Golden State Warriors vs. the resilient Los Angeles Clippers.
Before we look at the two biggest games on tonight’s NBA schedule, be sure to check out the best NBA betting sites and our NBA Finals betting guide.
Brooklyn vs. Charlotte
- Date & Location: Tuesday, March 8 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: Bally Sports-SE-CHA, YES, NBA League Pass
| Teams |  |  |  |  |  |
| Brooklyn Nets | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Charlotte Hornets | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
The Brooklyn Nets and the Charlotte Hornets are the No. 8 and No. 9 teams in the Eastern Conference. The clubs meet tonight in North Carolina. The Nets and Hornets have identical records at 32-33 and are fighting for a playoff spot. This is the second meeting of these teams in the 2022 season. The Hornets won the first game, which took place in Brooklyn, 111-95.
The Nets and Hornets are struggling. Charlotte is 4-6 in their past 10 games and Brooklyn is 3-7. On a positive, the Hornets have won their past two games. Brooklyn is on a four game losing skid and is 1-6 in their past seven outings and has lost 17 of their past 20.
Kevin Durant was important to the Nets in the first meeting between these two teams. He scored 38 points in that game. He will have just as much pressure on him in this game as he did in the first meeting. Durant needs to carry the Nets on his back. Miles Bridges is leading the Hornets. His play over the team’s past games has exceeded his average season scoring. Bridges is averaging 21 points per game over that six-game run.
With the slide the Nets are on, it’s hard to have confidence in them.
Pick: Charlotte to beat Brooklyn.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State
- Date & Location: Tuesday, March 8 at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: TNT, NBC Sports Bay Area
| Teams | | | | | |
| Los Angeles Clippers | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Golden State Warriors | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
The Golden State Warriors hold down the No. 2 spot in the NBA’s Pacific Division heading into tonight’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, who are No. 3 in the division. The Clippers have a lot of ground to make up if they hope to catch Golden State, but the teams are heading in opposite directions as of late. Golden State is 2-8 in their past 10 outings and the Clippers are 7-3.
The Clippers and Warriors have met three times during the 2022 NBA season. Golden State won the first two games of the series, 115-113 and 105-90, but the Clippers earned the victory in the most recent meeting, defeating Golden State 119-104 on February 14.
Golden State will have rested starters for this game as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins stayed at home for the team’s Monday matchup in Denver. That fact should help the Warriors a great deal. Los Angeles saw a five-game winning streak end on Sunday with a 116-93 loss to the New York Knicks. The Clippers are without Paul George, Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard. Those are huge losses for the Clippers. However, Reggie Jackson has stepped up. Jackson scored 36 points in a win over the Lakers last week. Jackson is going to need to put up huge numbers for the Clippers to beat Golden State.
I think the injuries to the Clippers and the fact that Golden State will have rested stars are going to be the differences in this game.
Pick: Golden State to beat Los Angeles Clippers.
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