San Antonio (13 - 7)

Expert Pick
100% ····················>< 0%

Houston (13 - 5)

Battle of Texas


The rivalry of these 2 teams of Texas in the NBA is well documented, they don't like each other, and their rivalry dates all the way back to 1976 and still continues to this day. Here in the NSL it's no different for the fans, the GMs have no issue with one another, but the fans hold this matchup to a higher standard. These 2 teams hold the highest rated players in the game with both Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo rated at a historic 98 overall. They're 2 of the most dominant franchise cornerstones of the NSL. Coming into this matchup Giannis is ranked as the #1 player in the league, leading the MVP ladder and the current leader in points per game averaging a career high 48 points per game. Jokic comes into this game as the #5 rated player in the league, the #1 rated Center, 10th on the MVP ladder and leading the league in rebounds at 18 rebounds per game. The history of the rivalry These 2 have met twice in the NSL playoffs, the first time back in 2022/2023 where the 2 seed spurs dispatched of the 7 seed Rockets with a dominant 4-0 sweep. Then the next season fate matched them again however this time as the 6 seed Rockets took revenge with a 4-2 series over the 3 seed Spurs. These 2 matched up again for the first time this season just last week where the Houston Rockets took the first game of the season series with a 126-114 win on the back of a Tyrese Maxey masterclass where he put up 45 points on 50% from the floor. The Matchups Tyrese Maxey vs Zach Lavine Traditionally this isn't a position Lavine has played in the NSL usually run as a small forward or shooting guard. He's an elite 3 level scorer and high-level athlete but playing in the same team as Giannis means he gets a lot less opportunity especially when he's expected to playmake. Tyrese Maxey in 2k reminds me a lot of Iverson, has blistering pace and is elite at finishing at the rim however he can also shoot at an elite level from all 3 levels. I think Tyrese Maxey will be too much for Lavine in this matchup. Tyrese Haliburton vs Eric Gordon Unfortunately for Houston and Haliburton they have an elite scoring point guard already, so Haliburton doesn't get to utilize his best ability being running the offense. His counting stats and shooting splits are way down across the board this season due to this. I think he is the best player on the roster for this position other than Lavine who looks to be set for the PG role. Gordon is still shooting the lights out at his advanced age shooting 49/46 to this point of the season. Haliburton will have more impact even if he isn't as efficient as Gordon, he's the "star player" after all. Alec Burks vs Jerami Grant Alec Burks is having a career glitch year for the Rockets this season in the running for a most improved player award at the age of 33. His numbers have leaped up to near 17ppg, 4apg, 4rpg on 42/41/89 splits. Jerami Grant is a career underperformer in 2k, he never really gets the tendencies needed to impact the game as much as he does in the NBA and this year is no different even with the superstar buff playing next to Giannis. Alec Burks will outperform Grant despite Grant being the better rated player. Julian Champaigne vs Giannis Antetokounmpo I don't think this matchup is really that much to write about. Julian is a fresh 2k player he doesn't really impact the game all that much his best asset is his shooting and usually playing at PF he'd be able to take advantage of the matchup, with who he has on the other side he might not do much of anything. Giannis is the perennial player of the competition there's no one better he will play with his food. Giannis by a landslide. Nikola Jokic vs Myles Turner Turner also isn't doing all that much on offense, he seemed like a player that would suit playing with Giannis and play to his strengths on that end creating space and shooting the ball from deep but so far hasn't done much. Jokic is one of the best players in the game despite his own GMs comments on him, he impacts every single aspect of the game at a high level and is a complete player. Jokic big time.

The rivalry of these 2 teams of Texas in the NBA is well documented, they don't like each other, and their rivalry dates all the way back to 1976 and still continues to this day. Here in the NSL it's no different for the fans, the GMs have no issue with one another, but the fans hold this matchup to a higher standard. These 2 teams hold the highest rated players in the game with both Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo rated at a historic 98 overall. They're 2 of the most dominant franchise cornerstones of the NSL. Coming into this matchup Giannis is ranked as the #1 player in the league, leading the MVP ladder and the current leader in points per game averaging a career high 48 points per game. Jokic comes into this game as the #5 rated player in the league, the #1 rated Center, 10th on the MVP ladder and leading the league in rebounds at 18 rebounds per game.

The history of the rivalry
These 2 have met twice in the NSL playoffs, the first time back in 2022/2023 where the 2 seed spurs dispatched of the 7 seed Rockets with a dominant 4-0 sweep. Then the next season fate matched them again however this time as the 6 seed Rockets took revenge with a 4-2 series over the 3 seed Spurs. These 2 matched up again for the first time this season just last week where the Houston Rockets took the first game of the season series with a 126-114 win on the back of a Tyrese Maxey masterclass where he put up 45 points on 50% from the floor.

The Matchups
Tyrese Maxey vs Zach Lavine
Traditionally this isn't a position Lavine has played in the NSL usually run as a small forward or shooting guard. He's an elite 3 level scorer and high-level athlete but playing in the same team as Giannis means he gets a lot less opportunity especially when he's expected to playmake. Tyrese Maxey in 2k reminds me a lot of Iverson, has blistering pace and is elite at finishing at the rim however he can also shoot at an elite level from all 3 levels. I think Tyrese Maxey will be too much for Lavine in this matchup.

Tyrese Haliburton vs Eric Gordon
Unfortunately for Houston and Haliburton they have an elite scoring point guard already, so Haliburton doesn't get to utilize his best ability being running the offense. His counting stats and shooting splits are way down across the board this season due to this. I think he is the best player on the roster for this position other than Lavine who looks to be set for the PG role. Gordon is still shooting the lights out at his advanced age shooting 49/46 to this point of the season. Haliburton will have more impact even if he isn't as efficient as Gordon, he's the "star player" after all.

Alec Burks vs Jerami Grant
Alec Burks is having a career glitch year for the Rockets this season in the running for a most improved player award at the age of 33. His numbers have leaped up to near 17ppg, 4apg, 4rpg on 42/41/89 splits. Jerami Grant is a career underperformer in 2k, he never really gets the tendencies needed to impact the game as much as he does in the NBA and this year is no different even with the superstar buff playing next to Giannis. Alec Burks will outperform Grant despite Grant being the better rated player.

Julian Champaigne vs Giannis Antetokounmpo
I don't think this matchup is really that much to write about. Julian is a fresh 2k player he doesn't really impact the game all that much his best asset is his shooting and usually playing at PF he'd be able to take advantage of the matchup, with who he has on the other side he might not do much of anything. Giannis is the perennial player of the competition there's no one better he will play with his food. Giannis by a landslide.

Nikola Jokic vs Myles Turner
Turner also isn't doing all that much on offense, he seemed like a player that would suit playing with Giannis and play to his strengths on that end creating space and shooting the ball from deep but so far hasn't done much. Jokic is one of the best players in the game despite his own GMs comments on him, he impacts every single aspect of the game at a high level and is a complete player. Jokic big time.

Spurs Star

Myles Turner
Nels simply needs to figure out how to get more from Turner. If he's going to continue with Lavine at point he needs more scoring from either Grant or Turner and Grant will never be a scorer in this game. If Turner can score 20 Spurs win.

PPG 8.3

RPG 7.0

APG 1.5

SPG 1.1

BPG 2.0

FPG 1.9

TPG 0.5

PPG 28.2

RPG 3.8

APG 3.2

SPG 0.8

BPG 0.3

FPG 2.1

TPG 0.9

Rockets Star

Tyrese Maxey
Maxey is the key to the game every game for Houston, Jokic can dominate but they give up so much defensively that you need another dominant scorer to help take the offense to a height high enough to win games. If Maxey scores 40 Houston win.

X-Factor
The bench, for the Spurs they need to be able to put up points, the Houston starting can be negated by Giannis and Turner, but their bench is a much stronger offensive unit, and they outscored them last game. If the Spurs are to win, they need to get a lift from their bench For the Rockets it comes from the play of their guards, they have the formula down right now just need them to keep scoring.

X-Factor

The bench, for the Spurs they need to be able to put up points, the Houston starting can be negated by Giannis and Turner, but their bench is a much stronger offensive unit, and they outscored them last game. If the Spurs are to win, they need to get a lift from their bench

For the Rockets it comes from the play of their guards, they have the formula down right now just need them to keep scoring.

Injury Report
Injured Players: Gary Harris (Hamstring) - 5 NBA Games missed this season	Injured Players: DeAnthony Melton (Back/Knee Acl) - 14 NBA Games missed this season James Wiseman (Achilles) - 22 NBA Games missed this season Jose Alvarado (Hamstring) - 11 NBA Games missed this season

Prediction
I think the Spurs are outmatched this season, in terms of star power Houston have them 2 to 1. With the next best role player also going in Houston's favour. Houston by 8

		Comments (3)
Nels 12/11 12:11 am	The will is greater than the skill
Vitticus 12/10 11:32 am	Think I got lucky last week. San Antonio could have a team full of G League players and still beat me with Giannis no matter how much talent I acquire.
Nels 12/09 06:36 am	Thanks for the write up Dyl. I think we’re outmatched too. Jokic had foul trouble last time we played and we still couldn’t get the job done on home court. Good luck Vitt

	SAC	98
	LAC	103

	CHA	110
	PHO	113

	LAL	97
	SA	121

	IND	110
	LAL	107

	GS	101
	CLE	107