With the arrival of March, many people instantly think of the “March Madness” craze that is attached to college basketball, but there is still plenty of madness going on as it concerns the professionals entering the season’s final full month. Within each conference, there is still plenty to be determined — not to mention potential history at stake as it relates to the unstoppable Golden State Warriors — which should ensure a wild final full month in the Association. That being said, let’s take a look at some of the hottest NBA tickets on tap for March:
3/19/16 – Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs, AT&T Center | Avg: $976.47 | Get-in: $214
If it weren’t for the Warriors’ historic run this season, the entire basketball world would be talking about the San Antonio Spurs, and rightfully so. While the Warriors are 53-5 entering March, and on pace to set a new mark for best record in an NBA season, the Spurs have been cruising along as well throughout the campaign, being a remarkable 50-9, which surprisingly only puts them a few games back of Golden State’s monumental performance. In the process, it also has them trailing for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, which adds even more importance to this mid-March bout.
These two teams met once earlier this season on Jan. 25, and surprisingly, it wasn’t even close, as the Warriors trounced the Spurs, 120-90. That game, however, took place at Oracle Arena, so fans can bet San Antonio will be looking for revenge on their own home court at the AT&T Center. It’s just another reason why this contest is the most expensive NBA game throughout all of March, and why the entire basketball world will be anticipating this one in, whether it be in person or on television. Without question, this is one of the select games people have circled on their basketball-viewing calendars.
While it’s extremely pricey, featuring a get-in price that would top the average ticket price for most games left on the schedule, fans will be relieved to know they can at least save a considerable amount on their parking. ParkWhiz.com boasts unbeatable parking in San Antonio prices, with spots starting from $13.
3/6/16 – Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, Staples Center | Avg: $657.09 | Get-in: $239
It’s no surprise to see the NBA-best Warriors on this list more than once, as they have been consistently involved in the league’s most expensive games all throughout the campaign. And of course, when you add in the fact that this will be Kobe Bryant’s final time facing them, the presence of this game on March’s priciest games of the month is an absolute no-brainer.
Yes, the Lakers have been long gone from even sniffing a playoff berth in the Western Conference, but with Bryant’s career winding down, they’re actually one of the teams everyone will be watching — along with Golden State, of course — as fans brace for the final stretch of The Black Mamba’s Hall-of-Fame career. Though this rivalry has become laughably one-sided, especially this season in which the Warriors have gone 3-0 against the Lakers while winning each contest by 18 points or more, all the focus will be on Bryant, as he tries to lead his squad to a monumental upset in his last ever meeting with the Dubs. No matter the result, it will be a special occasion to take in, while in the process, the Warriors will be seeking to nail down another ‘W’ on their way towards potential history.
There’s no doubt that ticket prices will remain sky-high in the days leading up to this ballgame, but luckily, fans can save notable amounts on their Staples Center parking. ParkWhiz has spots around the arena starting from just $4.
3/26/16 – Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden | Avg: $639.08 | Get-in: $162
Surprisingly, the Warriors aren’t involved in the NBA’s third-most expensive game in March. That distinction belongs to another huge showdown, this one pitting two Eastern Conference squads that seem to be headed in opposite directions. The Cavaliers, of course, currently hold onto the No. 1 seed in the East, though they have the Toronto Raptors right on their backs. The Knicks, meanwhile, have been fading since a promising start, but even so, they regularly draw a packed house when taking the floor at the World’s Most Famous Arena, especially when opposite a top contender like Cleveland.
All things considered, it’s no wonder this game appears on the list. The Cavs are loaded with starpower, led by LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love, so a lively atmosphere and crowd would clearly be expected when heading to The Big Apple. The Knicks have some notable talent of their own, paced by superstar Carmelo Anthony and rising rookie Kristaps Porzingis. While they’re outmatched on paper overall, New York actually does have a shot at pulling out the win here. They’re 0-2 versus Cleveland this season, but the two losses were by a combined 13 points, as each outing resulted in a tight contest. Odds are the Cavs take this game seriously, though, as they continue to try and lock down home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. This undoubtedly should be a good one at the end of March.