:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9220527/20130129_kkt_am8_146.0.jpg)
With just three games last night and a mere two tomorrow night, tonight in the NBA is as busy as it ever gets. Fully 28 out of 30 NBA teams are in action tonight, with only Oklahoma City and Denver taking the night off (thanks again NBA -- it's not enough that the Clippers have to play in Denver on a back-to-back; you also gave the Nuggets a night off before the game). The Clippers don't tip off until 7:30, so until then if you're watching NBA games you can chat with other citizens of Clips Nation on this thread.
Brooklyn at Charlotte, 4:00 PM
Utah at Cleveland, 4:00 PM
Boston at Indiana, 4:00 PM
Philadelphia at Atlanta, 4:30 PM
Orlando at Miami, 4:30 PM
New York at Detroit, 4:30 PM
Portland at Memphis, 5:00 PM
LA Lakers at New Orleans, 5:00 PM, Time Warner Cable
Washington at Minnesota, 5:00 PM
Houston at Dallas, 5:30 PM
Chicago at San Antonio, 6:00 PM, ESPN
Toronto at Phoenix, 6:00 PM
Milwaukee at LA Clippers, 7:30 PM, Prime Ticket
Sacramento at Golden State, 7:30 PM
The Lakers are playing at New Orleans, a difficult back-to-back from a travel perspective after they lost in Oklahoma City last night. Although the Lakers record has been much improved lately, the dirty secret is that they're not playing that much better -- they've just been winning close games that they lost earlier in the season. This is a game they need to win if they want to catch Utah or Golden State or Houston. If you're tracking the race for the eighth seed, the Jazz are in Cleveland, the Rockets are in Dallas and the Warriors are hosting the Kings.
The only national TV game features the Spurs hosting the Bulls. In their first game without Tony Parker, all San Antonio did was beat Detroit by 39. Chicago's better than Detroit -- but Chicago's not particularly good, at least not lately. So don't be surprised if the Spurs keep rolling, Parker or no Parker.
The Grizzlies are hosting Portland in the other game with playoff implications for the Clippers. The Grizzlies have won nine of their last 10 (against weak competition, but still, it's a nice run) and are tied with the Clippers in the loss column, a game and a half back in the standings.