NBA preview, 16-22 April 2021

Viewers on DStv can look forward to thrills and spills from the world’s best basketball league, with ESPN 2 the premier venue for coverage of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 2020-21 season will continue through the week of Friday 16 to Thursday 22 April 2021.

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The first of five live NBA Regular Season games this week arrives on the evening of Friday 16 April, as the Utah Jazz host the Indiana Pacers (21:00 CAT LIVE on ESPN 2). This will be quickly followed on the early morning of Saturday 17 April by the Philadelphia 76ers taking on the LA Clippers (01:00 CAT LIVE on ESPN 2) and the New York Knicks visiting the Dallas Mavericks (03:30 CAT LIVE on ESPN 2).

The 76ers have been flying in the Eastern Conference and are looking to button up small details to ensure they come out of the Regular Season as one of the top seeds to go all the way in the Playoffs.

Philadelphia will be happy to have Joel Embiid back from a recent knee injury, with the power forward looking to get back up to speed as soon as possible: “It felt great [to be back]. Just trying to get my rhythm back. I’m going to blame the brace I was wearing. I just felt like I didn’t have my rhythm all game. It felt like I wasn’t smooth. I hate the brace.”

The Knicks will be back in action on the evening of Sunday 18 April with a home clash against the New Orleans Pelicans (19:00 CAT LIVE on ESPN 2), before the week’s live NBA action is rounded out with a clash of the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets (21:30 CAT LIVE on ESPN 2).

The Heat look strong contenders to reach the Playoffs from the Eastern Conference and have put together a good run of form in recent times, with Miami newcomer Victor Oladipo claiming he feels right at home with his new team. “It’s a culture. It’s a way of life and it’s playing for something bigger than yourself. It’s sacrifice, it’s winning at the ultimate level. That’s what I’m used to. That’s what I flourish in,” he explained.

“I feel like being a part of this and walking around that locker room every day and seeing those championships, and walking around and seeing what winning looks like, it’s going to help me be a better player, be a better person, and help me help this team win at the highest level.”

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NBA match broadcast details

Friday 16 April

21:00 CAT: Utah Jazz v Indiana – LIVE on ESPN 2

Saturday 17 April

01:00 CAT: Philadelphia 76ers v LA Clippers – LIVE on ESPN 2

03:30 CAT: Dallas Mavericks v New York Knicks – LIVE on ESPN 2

Sunday 18 April

19:00 CAT: New York Knicks v New Orleans Pelicans – LIVE on ESPN 2

21:30 CAT: Miami Heat v Brooklyn Nets – LIVE on ESPN 2