Several great matchups are on the schedule in the NBA this Friday night as the top teams continue to separate themselves from the rest of the league. Here’s a look at a few of the exciting matchups on tap for tonight.

Lakers Continue Road Trip In Atlanta

The Los Angeles Lakers travel to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday in the NBA. LA has struggled recently on the road, losing four of their last five away from home and five of their last six games overall. 

The Lakers are 14-21 and are last in the Pacific Division standings. They’re 3.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the final playoff position in the west. On Wednesday night, they lost their second game of the road trip 122-98 against the Miami Heat.

The Hawks have also been struggling and are dealing with injuries to key players. Clint Capela is out for tonight’s matchup with a calf injury. In addition, Trae Young is probable against LA after missing the last game with an injury, and De Andre Hunter is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. 

Atlanta has lost two straight and three of the last four after the Brooklyn Nets came to town on Wednesday and beat them 108-107. The Hawks have fallen to second in the Southeast Division and are a game behind the Miami Heat. 

Expect Young to be back in the lineup to lead the Hawks to a home victory.

Wolves And Bucks Try To End Recent Skids

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks meet on Friday night at Fiserv Forum. Minnesota is 16-19 and is looking to break a four-game losing streak. They are fourth in the Northwest Division and trail the Denver Nuggets by 6.5 games. The Wolves were beaten for the third straight game on the current road trip by the New Orleans Pelicans 119-118 on Wednesday as Zion Williamson burned them for a career-high 43 points. 

Milwaukee also finds itself amid a four-game losing streak after being one of the most dominant teams in the league for the first half of the season. They’re 22-12 and barely holding on to their lead in the Central Division, where they lead the Cleveland Cavaliers by one game. In their most recent matchup, Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers in their 119-113 loss to the Bulls with 45 points, 22 rebounds, and seven assists. 

The Bucks recover to get their fourth straight win at home.

Miami Seeks Fifth Straight Road Win In Denver

The Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets clash for the first time this season on Friday night at Ball Arena. Miami is 18-17 and tries to keep their winning momentum with a third straight win and fifth in a row away from home. The Heat recently moved ahead of the Atlanta Hawks and are first in the Southwest Division standings. 

Jimmy Butler has sat out in alternating games with an ankle injury in recent contests is probable for tonight’s game. They beat the Lakers at home 122-98 on Wednesday before starting this five-game road trip. 

Denver had won five in a row before losing to the Sacramento Kings in the second of two straight games at Golden 1 Center, 127-126 on Wednesday. The Nuggets still have a four-game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers in the Northwest Division and are tied with New Orleans for the top spot in the conference.  

Denver bounces back with their seventh straight home win.