There are five games on tonight's NBA schedule, all of them early, so you can watch your hoops live and still see tonight's episode of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (who knew old people were so friggin' funny, amiright?)

Only one national TV game and only one local L.A. TV game, and they're the same game -- Rockets and Lakers from Houston, on NBA-TV tonight. So for those of us without League Pass, that's your only choice.

• Brooklyn at Philadelphia, 4:00 PM
• Miami at Indiana, 4:00 PM
• Phoenix at Milwaukee, 5:00 PM
• LA Lakers at Houston, 5:00 PM, NBATV, Time Warner Sports
• Atlanta at Minnesota, 5:00 PM

Aside from the obvious interest that some (not all) citizens of Clips Nation have in wanting to the Lakers to lose, there are a few other Clipper implications in tonight's schedule. Miami currently holds the best record in the East, so any Heat losses are welcome for their influence on home court advantage in the event of a Clippers-Heat NBA Final (I can't believe I just wrote that without a hint of irony). Minnesota at home against Atlanta is an interesting game as it relates to the Wolves' efforts to remain in the Western Conference playoff race while working their way through another Kevin Love injury.

The Lakers of course are in major trouble tonight, as they'll be playing without their top three big men. Dwight Howard (torn labrum), Pau Gasol (concussion) and Jordan Hill (hip injury) are all out for the team's Texas two-step in Houston and San Antonio, almost guaranteeing two more losses against the red-hot Rockets and the white-hot Spurs. The game could be wildly entertaining though. Houston plays at the fastest pace in the league, and meanwhile if the Lakers are going to have any chance, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash will both have to go nuts scoring the ball. So it should at least be fun. I haven't seen Houston since they started their recent run of great play, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they're all about.

That's what I know about tonight's games. Have fun on the thread. Talk amongst yourselves.