Photo Credit: Eric P. Mull- Presswire

Last week on ESPN Australia the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics got fiery and ferocious in their match up. Providing plenty of fireworks.

This week the Los Angeles Lakers face the team that ended it all for them last season, traveling to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder.

CHICAGO BULLS @ CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Time & Date: Thursday December 6 from Quicken Loans Arena

Coverage: LIVE 12:00 pm AEDT (See TV Guide for other games and times)

Both teams will be without their floor generals Derrick Rose and Kyrie Irving, which makes this game won and lost under the basket.

With the Cavaliers at home they will do everything humanely possible to take a win as it’s not everyday you see a Rose-less Chicago.

Watch For: Anderson Varejao and Joakim Noah, two of the best scrappers in the league go head to head, whoever gains the advantage significantly helps their team.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS @ OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Time & Date: Saturday December 8 from Chesapeake Arena

Coverage: LIVE 1:30 pm AEDT (See TV Guide for other games and times)

Christmas is coming early this year as Kevin Durant and The Oklahoma City Thunder pit themselves against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Thunder kicked the Lakers out of the playoffs 4-1 last season and which prompted the Lakers trade for Dwight Howard. OKC added Kevin Martin and now both teams are filled with stars from 1 through 5.

Watch For: A willingness and determination to get the job done. The Lakers are plotting a strike of revenge while the Thunder want to keep face. Don’t forget about the shot blocking and if Kobe or Durant get hot look out!

These are the games you can catch throughout this week on ESPN Australia via Foxtel.

Who’s likely to be man of the match from the Thunder, Lakers game and how many rebounds will the beast Anderson Varejao pull down? My guess is 50.