Viewers on DStv and GOtv can look forward to thrills and spills from the world’s best basketball league, with ESPN and ESPN 2 the premier venues for coverage of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 2021-22 season will continue through the week of  Friday 14 to Thursday 20 January 2022.

DStv and GOtv is your home of the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.

The lone NBA Regular Season game set for broadcast this week sees the Sacramento Kings play host to the Houston Rockets at the Golden 1 Center on the morning of Monday 17 January (01:00 LIVE on ESPN).

The Kings are scrapping to get into Playoff contention, as they find themselves competing with the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs to finish in the top eight in the Western Conference.

Sacramento have unearthed a new star in Nigerian-American Chimezie Metu, who recently showed his Big Match Temperament with a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to see the Kings defeat the Dallas Mavericks.

epa09668758 Houston Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate (R) drives against Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija (L) during the first half of the NBA basketball game between the Houston Rockets and the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, USA, 05 January 2022. EPA/JIM LO SCALZO SHUTTERSTOCK OUT

“That was probably the best part, all the guys in your ear and everything. Block all that out and let muscle memory take over,” said Metu. “It was a great moment. Since I’ve been in the league, for sure one of the best moments I’ve had. For us to grind that one out, it felt good.”

Kings interim coach Alvin Gentry added, “Mezzie made a big shot out of the corner but it was [De’Aaron] Fox’s assist that really made the play. He turned the corner and went so quickly. He said, ‘I was either gonna dunk it and try to get to the line or if I saw them pull in so far I was going to try to hit the corner guy.'”

epa09644381 Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu (C) attempts a slam dunk against the Washington Wizards during the first half of their NBA game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, USA, 15 December 2021. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO SHUTTERSTOCK OUT

The Rockets, meanwhile, have endured a terrible season and find themselves fighting not to finish at the bottom of the Western Conference.

“We’ve got our guys out there and if they play hard then we feel like we have a chance,” Houston coach Brad Silas said. “Not to say they didn’t play hard because I thought we played pretty hard, but it was just a team that played well against us and we’re going to have to play a little bit better. It’s hard when you’ve got guys who haven’t played in the league before. We’ve been there, we were there last year. But they’re learning, they’re growing.”

Visit www.dstv.com and www.gotvafrica.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can stream the action on the DStv App.

NBA match broadcast details

All times CAT

Monday 17 January

01:00: Sacramento Kings v Houston Rockets – LIVE on ESPN