Basketball
↵Atlanta Hawks at Philadelphia 76ers, 7, SportSouth: If you’re like me, every time you see the Sixers on the schedule the Allen Iverson muscle in your brain whirs itself to life. It’s a pain constantly reminding yourself that AI stopped playing for Philly like four years ago, which makes the rest of your brain feel old, as it’s been listening in on this conversation. Evan Turner and company kept it competitive against the Heat, so don’t expect a pushover.
↵Orlando Magic at Miami Heat, 8, ESPN: The 1-1 undefeated Heat face a tough test against the defending division champs in what’s sure to be called a *heat*ed cross-state rivalry. Even though neither team has ever given a sideways whistle about the other, they both have world-famous celebrities on their rosters now. Do you understand?
↵Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns, 10:30, ESPN: With Kobe Bryant dinged up and Andrew Bynum out, Pau Gasol will have to keep doing much of the heavy lifting. Also, tune in just to watch Josh Childress’ glorious hairstyle and nauseating jumper in action just for old times’.
↵Football
↵West Virginia Mountaineers at Connecticut
 Huskies, 8, ESPN2: Coach Eric Taylor discovers Smash Williams is once again the only player on the team who ever actually gets in trouble besides Riggins, who is 47 years old. Julie Taylor joins a nunnery, pierces her labrum — no, not her labret — and robs a hospital. Tami Taylor gets promoted only to solve a series of promotion-worthy crises when three students ring her doorbell at 3, 4, and 5 a.m., respectively. I don’t know why ACC football on Thursday night is totally acceptable to me, but Big East football on Fridays is the silliest thing in the world.
↵Golf
↵Nationwide: Tour Championship
, 2, Golf
↵Champions: AT&T Championship
, 4:30, Golf
↵Hockey
↵Buffalo Sabres at Atlanta Thrashers, 7:30, Fox Sports South: Having topped the hottest team in New York, the Thrashers return home to take care of business against the young season’s least impressive Empire State squad.
↵Racin’
↵NASCAR: Truck, qualifying, 4:30, Speed