NBA fans have enjoyed a glorious ride through the start of the 2015-16 season, one that has seen history being made by the defending champion Golden State Warriors and includes three elite teams that appear to be standing head and shoulders above the rest of the league.
Golden State has slowed down some since their blistering 24-0 start, yet even with four losses added to this year’s resume, they still could break the NBA single-season record and also remain in first across the entire league. That doesn’t mean the coming NBA week lacks for intrigue, however, as the Warriors get a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals with showdown No. 2 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and also need to worry about the San Antonio Spurs, who are suddenly just 1.5 games out of the Western Conference’s top spot.
As we’ve seen, anything can happen in any given week and even with the All-Star break approaching, we still have no clue how this year will finish out. That being said, this week offers up plenty to get excited about, so let’s touch on it by breaking down the top-priced NBA tickets, according to TiqIQ:
1/20/16 – Chicago Bulls vs. Golden State Warriors at United Center | Avg: $465.20 | Get-in: $115
Bulls tickets see quite the spike this Wednesday thanks to the arrival of Stephen Curry and the mighty Golden State Warriors. Everyone is accustomed to Warriors tickets being rather expensive, but when the two teams collide at the United Center this week, fans from both sides will be asked to pay just over $465 on average to catch The Splash Brothers against Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol. Fans can get in for a little cheaper than that, too, with a $115 get-in price tag. It’s certainly not a cheap contest to take in, but it could be worth the hefty price with Golden State being the best team in the league and the Bulls being one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. With a solid 16-7 home record, the Bulls might even stand a chance at staging the upset. Fans looking to make the trip for this clash in the Windy City can find Chicago hotels on Hipmunk starting at just $95.
1/22/16 – Golden State Warriors vs. Indiana Pacers at Oracle Arena | Avg: $407.76 | Get-in: $110
We see the Warriors again on this week’s list, as they come in both first and second. Their second-most expensive game does drop down a little in their matchup with the Pacers, but the scene reverts to California, where Paul George and co. travel to shoot for the upset win at Oracle Arena. That stage lifts Pacers tickets to $407 on average, while fans can get in the door for about $110. That’s what happens when games go down at Oracle Arena, where the defending champs haven’t lost a single game all year (19-0).
1/22/16 – Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center | Avg: $372.45 | Get-in: $96
The Kobe Bryant retirement tour returns home for a clash with one of his longtime rivals, the San Antonio Spurs. Lakers tickets continue to carry value despite the team not at all being in the playoff mix, and a huge reason is because of the franchise’s history and tradition. Bryant is the other key reason, as he continues to force his banged-up body on the court in his final farewell season. That won’t guarantee this game is competitive, but due to The Black Mamba’s pending retirement, it does make it a rare, must-see event. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili also are nearing the end of the road, while the star power of Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge is enough to draw everyone else in.
1/22/16 – New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Clippers at Madison Square Garden | Avg: $321.80 | Get-in: $75
Knicks tickets heat up a bit for a fun meeting with the L.A. Clippers on Friday night, when fans can bust through the doors for over $321 on average or hit the cheap seats for a very reasonable $75. Carmelo Anthony and international sensation Kristaps Porzingis are the main draws, but Lob City could also bring some added excitement with the potential return of elite dunker Blake Griffin. The Clippers have been a hot team even with Griffin missing time due to a quad injury, but if he’s back in the saddle for this one, New York will be facing the Clips at full strength. That may not lock the Knicks into the winning column, but it should solidify this as one of the top games of the week.
1/18/16 – Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena | Avg: $273.22 | Get-in: $105
A rematch of last year’s NBA Finals surprisingly comes in as the fifth-most expensive set of NBA tickets this week. The Warriors won the first meeting earlier this year in a game that had the vibe of a playoff atmosphere. That should be the same on Monday night, when the last matchup of the two-game series shifts to Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena. Fans are used to paying up for Warriors and Cavaliers tickets, so it’s actually quite surprising to see such a battle average out at barely $273. Fans can even hit the cheap seats for a respectable $105, making this a revenge game that all can afford (and enjoy). LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are a decent bet to notch up the season series, but even if they don’t, this could go down as the best bargain of the week.
