Following a week off for the Labor Day Weekend, we begin games in the month of September, as teams look to establish themselves in the league standings. For one of the few times all year, all six games feature divisional matchups, which means plenty of opportunities to shake up the standings. The Lakers will be on their second consecutive doubleheader, while the Celtics will play their first back-to-back of the season. Read up on all of the Week 4 matchups!
12:30 pm - Lakers @ Warriors
Week 4 kicks off with a bang, as the Lakers (4-0) and Warriors (3-1) lock horns in the game of the week matchup. The Lakers come into this one as the lone undefeated team in the K1 League, looking to stay on top of the West division. Since knocking off the defending champion Spurs in Week 1, the Lakers have not looked like the same team, struggling against the Nets in Week 2, and nearly falling to the winless Suns in Week 3. While we expect the full Lakers team to show up and to be ready to go, one thing is very clear - if they don't bring their A-game, this Warriors team is playing as well as any team in the league and will be difficult to slow down. With the exception of a bad first half against the Spurs, the Warriors are scoring the basketball in bunches, averaging more than 77 points per game through their first four contests. Their high-powered offense has been led by Martavius Laster (20.3 ppg), Tyree Mosley (14.8 ppg), and Sammie Hines (14.0 ppg). The Lakers will counter with their three leading scorers, Tone Brooks (18.0 ppg), LJ Harris (14.3 ppg), and Andre Robertson Jr. (12.3 ppg). We know this is the first game of the day, but do not show up late on Sunday, as the Warriors open up as 1.5 point favorites in one of the league's biggest matchups of the year.
1:30 pm - Lakers @ Suns
The Lakers will be on the second game of a doubleheader as they take on the Suns (0-3), and will potentially be bringing all sorts of emotions with them into this game. Regardless of how their first game against the Warriors turns out, we know that the Lakers will want to play better than they did a week ago against the Suns (0-3). For this Suns team, who had a lead against the undefeated Lakers with just seconds to go in their 54-53 Week 3 loss, they will hope to replicate some of the same things that kept them in their last contest. Point guard Michael Lonergan Jr. has done a little bit of everything so far this year, averaging 10.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg, and 4.3 apg. Brothers Devonte Barnes and Ferra Johnson have also provided some scoring to the lineup, as Barnes impressed with a 22-point performance of his own in Week 3. If the Suns hope to play the Lakers close again, they may need big man Dylan Winker on the scene, as well as guard Miyon Dabney, who was also absent in Week 3. Look for the Lakers to use their depth in this one, and to make at least one shot from behind the long line, something they failed to do in Week 3 against the Suns (0/16 from three point range). Although the Lakers will be on the second game of a doubleheader, we do expect them to shoot better in this one and to potentially distance themselves some from the Suns. The Lakers open up as 8.5 point favorites in a rematch of Week 3's thriller.
2:30 pm - Heat @ Bulls
There is still a lot of uncertainty in the East Division, as several teams look capable of making a run at the divisional crown. Sunday should tell us a lot, as the Heat (2-1) and Bulls (1-2) face off in the first of three consecutive matchups between teams from the East. This one figures to be an interesting matchup, as once again the Bulls will lineup much differently than their opponent. Big man Seth Johnson for the Bulls, who comes in as one of just two players in the K1 League averaging a double-double (16.3 ppg and 10.3 rpg), should have ample opportunities against an undersized Heat team. The question will be, can the Bulls get him the ball inside? The Heat pressure the ball better than anyone in the K1 League, and as a result lead the league in steals per game. Featuring a guard-heavy lineup, the Heat will look to bother the guards of the Bulls, who on the contrary, would rather methodically get the ball up the court, and work through scorers Johnson and Bobby Crivokapich - two guys who are both capable of scoring in the post. JJ Calvin and Blake Graham will do their best to defend Johnson and Crivokapich, despite giving up a few inches. One other note on the Heat, that cannot go unmentioned, is the spectacular play so far of guard Terrell Hendrix, who leads the league in scoring at nearly 21 ppg. Hendrix has scored at least 17 points in all three of his contests, and is shooting above 50% from the field. Even if the Bulls are able to take care of the ball and can get it into the hands of their playmakers, do they have the athletes to slow down this high-powered Heat team? Time will tell, but the Heat open up as 6.5 favorites.
3:30 pm - Celtics @ Bucks
Both the Celtics (1-2) and Bucks (2-1) will look to rebound from Week 3 losses as they square off for the first of two matchups in the next three weeks. For the Celtics, who got off to a slow start against the Heat in a 58-52 loss, a second half surge should give them confidence coming into this matchup. Mendi Naylor was terrific, scoring 16 points, and showing his ability to get to the rim. While he comes into this one averaging 13 points per game, the Celtics do not have another player averaging more than eight points per game. In fact, only two other teams in the K1 League average fewer points per game than the Celtics do. And despite their ability to rebound the ball as well as any team, the Celtics will need someone to step up and score the basketball alongside Naylor. For the Bucks, they will look to clear the air following a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Spurs. Shooting just 17/57 from the field against the Spurs, the Bucks will need Kale Maupin to be a factor on both ends of the court. Although he is only averaging 11.3 points per game, he has still been one of the most valuable players in the entire league. He is one of just two players to average a double-double, and he is leading the entire league in both rebounds and assists. The Bucks will look to get him the ball as often as possible, alongside Jordan Logan and Darien Bosby, who are also averaging double digits in points per game. As the Bucks prepare for five of their next six contests against East Division opponents, they continue their pursuit of an East Division championship as 7.5 point favorites against the Celtics.
4:30 pm - Celtics @ Nets
The Celtics are right back on the court in the second game of a doubleheader against the Nets (1-2) who are fresh off of their first win of the season. We have already mentioned the early-season scoring troubles for the Celtics, and that is something that we will continue to monitor as they look to find their groove in the K1 League. If there is something to be excited about for the Celtics in their matchup against the Nets, it's their ability to rebound the ball. The trio of Jay Slone, Jonathan Townsend, and Row Gebre has been quite effective on the glass. Slone comes into the game leading the league in offensive rebounding, while Townsend is in the top ten in defensive rebounding. This definitely gives the Celtics a good chance against the Nets, who have been undersized in the majority of their contests. Without Maurice Terrell and TJ Wicks, the Nets have had to adapt to their new-look for the Fall League. Red Binion returned to the court a week ago and was fantastic, leading the way with 18 points and five assists. Ronnie Jackson also comes into the contest averaging 18 points per game. Mook Lawrence averages 14 ppg and 7.7 rpg, while Jerry Wills has turned back the clock and been a big factor for the Nets, primarily on the block. Not only is he averaging 10.3 ppg and 5.7 rpg, but he leads the K1 League in blocks per game. The experience of the Nets definitely gives them an edge on Sunday, but look for this Celtics team to compete for all 40 minutes, especially on the glass. The Nets enter this one as 9.5 point favorites.
5:30 pm - Spurs @ Mavericks
The Mavericks (0-4) continue a very difficult stretch of the schedule with an early-season rematch against the defending champion Spurs (3-1). For the Spurs, who were victorious in Week 2 against the Mavericks by a score of 96-61, they will look to use their extreme depth against a Mavericks team that has struggled to defend in their past three contests. After holding the Bulls to 55 points in a Week 1 loss, the Mavericks have given up an average of more than 90 points per game in their last three contests. Although several players for the Mavericks are scoring the ball well, they are going to have to clean up the defensive end of the court on Sunday if they want to compete with the Spurs. Braijon Thomas is averaging an even 20 ppg, while Jamari Washington is averaging 14.8 ppg. Both Antwan Peterson and Pat Allen are nearly averaging a double-double of their own. But once again, the Mavericks primary issue has lied on the defensive end of the court, not so much on offense. Their challenge will be slowing down the dynamic offense of the Spurs, who put up 75 points on the Bucks a week ago. The Spurs have five players that average double players a game in Dennis Koger (17.3 ppg), Ray Lawrence (13.3 ppg), Chris Green (12.7 ppg), Trey Johnson (12.3 ppg), and Ryan Kvasnicka (10.0 ppg). Expect both teams to score a lot in this one - the Spurs open up as 15.5 points favorites.