Top 10 Must-See Games on NBA League Pass in Week 9

Who currently holds the longest active win streak in the Eastern Conference? The Miami Heat, currently in fifth place, are aiming for their fifth consecutive victory as they face off against Cade Cunningham and the Pistons tonight. Throughout their winning streak, Miami has been averaging 122.8 ppg, which is 10.5 points above their season average. Tyler Herro has been leading the charge with an impressive 26.3 ppg during this stretch.

1. Heat at Pistons: Monday, Dec. 16 (7 ET)

2. Cavaliers at Nets: Monday, Dec. 16 (7:30 ET)

Cleveland’s 22-4 record matches the 2008-09 Cavs for the best start through 26 games in franchise history. That team pushed its start to 26-4, which led to a league-best 66 wins and a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Leading the league in field goal percentage (50.3%) and 3-point percentage (39.3%), will this season’s Cavs take another step toward matching their historic pace?

3. Nuggets at Kings: Monday, Dec. 16 (10 ET)

Two of the most versatile bigs in the league go head-to-head as reigning MVP Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets visit Domantas Sabonis and the Kings. While Jokić leads the NBA in triple-doubles (nine), Sabonis leads the NBA in double-doubles (22) and joins Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only players averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

4. Warriors at Grizzlies: Thursday, Dec. 19 (8 ET)

If you like offense, you came to the right place. On Sunday, the Warriors (27) and Mavs (21) set the NBA record for 3s in a game with 48. On Wednesday, Stephen Curry and company will meet Ja Morant and the Grizzlies, who lead the NBA in scoring (122.1 ppg) and have won 10 of their last 12 games.

5. Hawks at Spurs: Thursday, Dec. 19 (8 ET)

In their first game back since falling to the Bucks in the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals, Trae Young and the Hawks will face Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, with Atlanta aiming for its eighth win in 10 games. Young is averaging 21.5 points and a league-leading 12.1 assists this year, on pace to join Magic Johnson, Kevin Johnson and Isiah Thomas as the only players in NBA history to average at least 20-plus points and 12-plus assists in a season.

6. Clippers at Mavericks: Thursday, Dec. 19 (8:30 ET)

Speaking of hot streaks, after a 5-7 start, Dallas has won 12 of its last 14 games, surging from 12th to fourth in the West. Over that stretch, the Mavs lead the league in scoring (123.9 ppg), topping 120 points 10 times, including Sunday’s record-breaking 3-point shootout with Golden State. Luka Dončić headlined that game with a 45-point triple-double. Up next, he’ll face James Harden as the Mavs host the Clippers in the first leg of a home-and-home.

7. Pacers at Suns: Thursday, Dec. 19 (9 ET)

That same night, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the Suns face Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and the Pacers in Phoenix. The Suns are 13-2 with Durant (25.7 ppg) in the lineup, as he and Booker (25.4 ppg) combine for over 50 points per game. On the other side, Haliburton is heating up, averaging 21.3 points and 9.3 assists in his last four games, fueling three Pacers wins.

8. Bucks at Cavaliers: Friday, Dec. 20 (7:30 ET)

Following Tuesday’s Emirates NBA Cup Championship against the Thunder, the Bucks will battle the Cavs in a showdown between East powers. After a 2-8 start, Milwaukee has turned its season around with 12 wins in its last 15 games. But the Bucks are 0-2 against the Cavs this year, with Cleveland taking the two matchups by a combined three points. Who will take Round 3?

9. Lakers at Kings: Saturday, Dec. 21 (6 ET)

An in-state rivalry tips off a 12-game Saturday slate, as Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox and the Kings host LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers in Sacramento. Sabonis dropped a triple-double against the Lakers on Oct. 26, but James outshined him with 32 points, 14 boards, and 10 assists in a 131-127 Los Angeles win. Will we get more fireworks in the rematch?

10. Warriors at Timberwolves: Saturday, Dec. 21 (8 ET)

In a can’t-miss matchup between two of the most electrifying guards in the game, Anthony Edwards and the Wolves will face Steph Curry and the Warriors for the third time this month. In its past six games, Minnesota’s earned five wins while holding its opponents to 90.5 ppg. The Wolves’ one loss in that span? To Golden State, as the two sides split their first two matchups.