Saturday night (Dec. 9) in the NBA featured a vintage performance by LeBron James and eye-popping stat lines from James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Both the 76ers and Knicks are looking to bounce back from losses, playing the second night of a back-to-back.

NBA Sunday marquee matchups (Dec. 10)

Celtics (22-5) vs. Pistons (14-11)

The Celtics remain atop the Eastern Conference standings but suffered a close loss at San Antonio on Friday (Dec 8). After Manu Ginobili put the Spurs up three in the final seconds, Kyrie Irving had a three-point shot rim out that could have sent the game into overtime.

The Pistons are free-falling, losing five games in a row. Their last four losses have all been by five points or fewer, so it's the fourth quarter play that's been the underlying issue. Detroit is talented enough to be a playoff team. Coach Stan Van Gundy will turn things around, but the Pistons lack a go-to scorer. The roster is made up of complementary players and they don't have that guy who can get easy buckets down the stretch.

Nuggets (14-11) vs. Pacers (15-11)

It's not a surprise that the Nuggets have struggled without Paul Milsap and Nikola Jokic, but it's the teams that can hold the fort with injured stars that have lasting success. Their recent wins haven't been impressive, but a victory on the road against the Pacers could be a spark.

Indiana snapped the Cavs' 13-game winning streak Friday (Dec. 8) night. Victor Oladipo scored 33 points to help the Pacers move into the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference. If Indiana keeps winning, Oladipo is going to be an All-Star this season.

76ers (13-12) vs Pelicans (13-13)

LeBron James got it done versus the Sixers Saturday (Dec. 9) night.

While Joel Embiid sat out, Philadelphia stayed with Cleveland until James flipped the switch and took over the game. If Embiid does play on Sunday (Dec. 10), he'll have his hands full with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.

The only thing consistent about the Pelicans is their inconsistency. Cousins' numbers don't always translate into wins, but he has been averaging 31.6 points and 13.0 rebounds over his last five games.

The rest of the Sunday NBA matchups

Raptors (16-7) vs. Kings (8-17)

The Kings earned a come-from-behind victory over the Pelicans on Friday (Dec. 8). Zach Randolph had 35 points and 13 rebounds in the overtime win, along with this incredible quip to DeMarcus Cousins just prior to a foul shot.

The Raptors continue to reel off wins under the radar. They are currently on a five-game winning streak, and over that time Kyle Lowry is averaging 19.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.6 assists.

Mavericks (7-19) vs. Timberwolves (15-11)

Dallas has been playing feisty lately. While wins remain something of a stranger, the Mavs have been playing relatively close games, which is a major upgrade from their 2-14 start to the season.

The Timberwolves have been alternating between wins and losses over their last ten games. Minnesota won its previous game over the Clippers on Wednesday (Dec. 6), but can further separate themselves in the muddled Western Conference by winning games against bad teams.

Hawks (6-19) vs. Knicks (12-13)

The Knicks blew a very winnable game against the Chicago Bulls Saturday (Dec. 9) night. They're a borderline playoff team, but losses to teams like the Bulls and Hawks will quickly send them into the lottery again. Atlanta is capable of beating bad teams. They've taken down the Knicks once this season, will they do it again?
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