The biggest game of the 2015-16 NBA season thus far is finally here. That's right, the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors have their first matchup of 2016 and the season. These two teams have been far and away better than everyone else during this campaign, and it'll certainly be a spectacle to watch them. Don't miss any of the action; below is the live stream link, TV schedule, betting line, a preview and prediction.
Game Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel: NBA TV, Sportsnet One, CSN Bay Area or FSSW
Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, Calif.
Live Stream: NBA League Pass ($6.99 for individual game)
Free Live Stream: Stream2U
Betting Line: -5 GS; 210 O/U
Just look at those records. Combining for a 78-10 record, this is the first time two teams with these good of win percentages have played before the All-Star break in NBA history. That's simply amazing, and the consistency that these two teams have displayed is unlike any other.
There is one bummer, however, from a fan's perspective: Tim Duncan is sitting out with knee soreness.
That said, Duncan has only averaged 25.9 minutes per game. While he's obviously been effective during that time, it's clear that the Spurs are still a great team even when he's on the bench. Their top-four scorers will still be there, in Kawhi Leonard (20.0 PPG), LaMarcus Aldridge (15.9), Tony Parker (12.7) and Manu Ginobili (10.3). Basically, all Duncan being out means is that Aldridge, David West and Boris Diaw will all play a few more minutes collectively.
Golden State, on the other hand, should have a full compliment of players for this game. Stephen Curry is coming off of a dominant triple-double in which he put up 39 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, and he leads the fast-paced Warriors into battle tonight. But Curry is trying not to treat this game like any other.
"It's going to be a fun game," Curry said via NBA.com. "It's just another regular-season game against a great team that we have to protect home court. In order to do that, we've got to be at our best for sure. You've got to assume they will."
Neither of these two teams appear to be too overwhelmed by any big game, especially in the regular season, but they will certainly be giving it their all -- as they do every other night. Expect an entertaining game, but given the home-court advantage with the bonus that Duncan is out, and the Warriors should be able to pull this one out for the W.
Prediction: Warriors 101, Spurs 95
