A pair of teams on opposite ends of the standings in the Western Conference are facing off on Friday, Jan. 17 when the San Antonio Spurs host the Memphis Grizzlies at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
The game is scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ESPN. Fans looking to watch this NBA game can do so for free by using DirecTV Stream, which offers a free trial. They can also watch with FuboTV, which offers $30 off your first month, or SlingTV, which doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available.
The Grizzlies are third in the West and hold a 26-15 record entering this matchup. The Spurs are 12th in the West and one game below .500 at 19-20.
Who: Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs
When: Friday, Jan. 17 at 9:30 p.m. EST
Where: Frost Bank Center in San Antonio
Stream: FuboTV; Sling; DirecTV Stream (free trial)
Betting: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
What is FuboTV?
FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial and $30 off the first month for new customers.
What is DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz.
What is SlingTV?
SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation.
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Butler not on Heat injury report, suggesting he’s expected to play Friday
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler is expected to play for Miami again Friday when it hosts the Denver Nuggets, a game that would be his first since the Heat confirmed that he wants a trade and that they are trying to accommodate that request.
Butler was suspended by the Heat for their most recent seven games, the club citing conduct that it deemed detrimental to the team. Miami went 3-4 in those contests.
And when the suspension was issued, it wasn’t clear if Butler would play for Miami ever again. But with no trade in place — and evidently without one in the foreseeable future, either — the Heat did not list Butler on their injury report for the game with the Nuggets.
In short, if he’s not on that list, it means the Heat expect Butler to play.
Butler was not with the team on its six-game road trip to Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland and then Los Angeles for games against both the Clippers and Lakers. The Heat did not practice Thursday and were planning a walk-through Friday afternoon before the Denver game.
Butler was expected to meet with some team officials Thursday and Friday. It’s likely that he will also meet with coach Erik Spoelstra, given comments Butler made in his most recent session with reporters after a loss to Indiana on Jan. 2. He expressed frustration with his role and said he’s lost his on-court “joy” in Miami.
“What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said. “I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
The relationship between Butler and the Heat — a talking point for weeks now — has never been worse. The Heat lost to Indiana 128-115 on Jan. 2, Butler scoring exactly nine points and playing exactly zero seconds in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game.
The next day, the Heat issued the suspension and reversed course from a statement team president Pat Riley made in December vowing that Butler would not be traded. The team has been engaging in trade talks since.
But trading Butler is complicated, with new rules in the collective bargaining agreement putting more issues in place for teams to address when acquiring big contracts — and he’s making nearly $49 million this season, with an option to make $52 million next season.
He’s 35 years old and is averaging 17.6 points this season. On the one hand, that’s his lowest average since his third season in the NBA more than a decade ago. On the other, he’s shooting a career-best 55% this season.
Butler was the best player on two Heat teams that went to the NBA Finals. He was eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension starting last summer. The relationship between Butler and the Heat soured when that deal was not offered to him.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
