The NBA slate on Sunday is mostly uninspiring, but there are some things to look forward to if you dig deep enough. Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony is the obvious match-up of the day, we root for ugliness in the Bulls-Lakers game and Chris Paul is expected to return.
Main Course
New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
ABC; 1 p.m. ET
Kevin Durant is leading the league at 31 points per game. Carmelo Anthony is second, netting 27.4 points a contest. Durant scored 54 points a few weeks ago against the Warriors. Anthony answered a week later with 62 points at the Garden. The pair split the last four scoring titles. What I'm saying is that watching these two go back-and-forth is well worth your time and putting the match up on a national broadcast is the perfect way to set the stage.
New York can't keep from tripping over its own feet: it wins five in a row, then drops five straight. It wins four straight contests, then stumbles through the next three. If the Knicks were more serious contenders, then this game would be better. For now, however, it's all about Durant and Anthony because the two are both fantastic offensive players.
Appetizer
Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers
ABC; 3:30 p.m. ET
This is admittedly not a very good national game. The Lakers are a mess on both ends and have dealt with a blunder of injuries and misfortune. The Bulls score at the league's third worst rate and does so with a bland, lack of creativity and players not suited to create efficient shots. Still, Los Angeles has won two straight games and the Bulls are in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff chase. At the very least, we can still root for all of the Lakers to foul out.
Dessert
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
League Pass; 9:30 p.m. ET
CHRIS PAUL BACK. Well, he's expected back and if that's the case then his return is well worth watching in the NBA's nightcap. It marks the end of Blake Griffin Ball, which is a fantastically fun form of dunking and passing and big man dribbling that has dominated Clippers opponents over the last month. That's sad. But, still, CP3 is back which makes Lob City complete and turns the Clippers from aesthetically pleasing to legitimate championship contenders.
Other games
Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics
NBA TV; 6 p.m. ET
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Brooklyn Nets
League Pass; 6 p.m. ET
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
League Pass; 6 p.m. ET
Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic
League Pass; 6 p.m. ET
Sacramento Kings vs. Washington Wizards
League Pass; 6 p.m. ET
More from SB Nation NBA:
• NBA newsletter: Good morning, it's a shakeup in Cleveland
• The Hook: Did Dan Gilbert's impatience doom Chris Grant?
• Doug Eberhardt: Please don't retire, Steve Nash
• The weird new NBA slam dunk contest format, explained
• Flannery: How far can John Wall carry the Wizards?