Lakers vs Clippers: Los Angeles derby live on ESPN 2 on DStv this weekend

Viewers on DStv can look forward to action from the world’s best basketball league, as the first week of the NBA’s restart runs from Friday 31 July to Thursday 6 August 2020.

The first live match sees the LA Lakers take on the LA Clippers in the ‘City of Angels derby’ early on the morning of Friday 31 July (03:00 AM LIVE on ESPN 2), while the evening of the same day sees the Brooklyn Nets face Orlando Magic (07:30 PM LIVE on ESPN 2).

epa08098364 Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz (R) in action against Washington Wizards guard Ish Smith (L) during the second half of the NBA basketball game between the Orlando Magic and the Washington Wizards at CapitalOne Arena in Washington, DC, USA, 01 January 2020. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER SHUTTERSTOCK OUT

The Lakers, of course, are led by LeBron James, a player NBA legend Scottie Pippen sees as the “most dominant player” and a man who could lead the team to the first Championship since 2010.

“I have to put my trust in the Lakers,” Pippen said. “At the beginning of the season I was really focused on the Clippers thinking that they had all the momentum. But I with some of the issues that we’ve been hearing coming out of the bubble, I see that LeBron James’ leadership, his ability to manage players is gonna be a winning way here”.

epa08242481 Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (R) celebrates with guard Avery Bradley (L) after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics after the NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA, 23 February 2020. EPA/ALEX GALLARDO SHUTTERSTOCK OUT

“Because he’s the most dominant player in our game right now. In terms of having no Kevin Durant in the game LeBron James is the most dominant player. I think he’s that X factor that lead his team to a championship through his leadership and through his athleticism. Obviously, he has Anthony Davis on his team as well.”

The morning of Sunday 2 August sees the LA Clippers back in action as they take on the New Orleans Pelicans while evening of the same day sees the Boston Celtics face the Portland Trail Blazers (08:30 PM LIVE on ESPN 2).

epa08174287 Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens reacts during the NBA game between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, USA, 28 January 2020. EPA/RHONA WISE SHUTTERSTOCK OUT

Celtics coach Brad Stevens will be glad not to be coming up against Oklahoma Thunder’s Steven Adams, who dominated his side in a recent pre-season game.

“You know, we’re gonna have to do better as a team. Obviously Enes [Kanter] did a pretty good job when he was in there, but he didn’t play against Adams a ton. He obviously hurt us. That strength and that physicality is a problem and good news is I don’t think nobody gets any stronger than Steven Adams.”

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The evening of Tuesday 4 August is headlined by the Milwaukee Bucks v Brooklyn Nets (06:30 PM LIVE on ESPN 2), while early Wednesday 5 August features the Portland Trail Blazers taking on the Houston Rockets (02:00 AM LIVE on ESPN 2).

epa08279703 Interim head coach for the Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn reacts during his teams game against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half during the NBA basketball game between the Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, USA, 08 March 2020. EPA/JASON SZENES SHUTTERSTOCK OUT

The Rockets recently received praise from Nick Nurse, the coach of the defending NBA champions Toronto Raptors, after a pre-season friendly between the teams.

“Houston kind of allows you to play, you know, a whole game against, uh, you know constant switching and it’s not that easy to play offence against because their premise is, you know they’re gonna do whatever they can to keep two in front of the ball, to keep it out of the paint so you work pretty hard to conjure up some offence at times and it’s good practice to kind of make the guys work their way through that,” said Nurse.

epa08544650 (FILE) – Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook reacts during the NBA basketball game between the Houston Rockets and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, USA, 02 March 2020 (re-issued on 14 July 2020). US basketball player Russell Westbrook of the Houston Rockets was tested positive for the coronavirus COVID-19 disease, Westbrook confirmed on late 13 July 2020. EPA/JASON SZENES SHUTTERSTOCK OUT

The first week of live NBA action is capped off by the Sacramento Kings facing the New Orleans Pelicans on the evening of Thursday 6 August (06:30 PM LIVE on ESPN 2)