Hockey is taking center stage in February, and it isn’t even an Olympic year. But the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off is a big hit because the United States and Canada are in the final.

It figures to be an intense environment in Boston on Thursday night as the Americans look to repeat their 3-1 round-robin victory over Canada on Saturday. The real deal is what happens in the rematch.

Kevin Durant is back in the town of his college stardom when the Phoenix Suns play the San Antonio Spurs in Austin. Something says Durant will look to put on a real shooting show.

Also, the Lakers are struggling with their Luka Doncic experiment. A team like that ought to be able to beat the lowly Charlotte Hornets while adjusting to a new star. Now they’ll try to get it together against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Canada at United States

In the first matchup between these teams, there were three fights in the first nine seconds of the game. So you’ll know more bouts are at stake if somebody places a boxing ring on the rink. Either way, expect some more punches in this affair.

Canada struck first in that game, but you typically need to score more than once if you are going to beat U.S. goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck. Connor McDavid had the honors by beating Hellebuyck with a backhander, but he’ll need help from captain Sidney Crosby and others if Canada is to win this game.

Jake Guentzel scored twice, including one into an empty net, for the Americans, and Dylan Larkin had the other goal. This is the type of game where Auston Matthews figures to make his presence known.

The Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew, figure to cause a ruckus at some point. Added up, the Americans figure to win by one goal.

United States moneyline, -112 (DraftKings)

Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs

We first learned Durant was a future NBA star during his one season at the University of Texas, which is located in Austin. Durant expressed his delight at getting the opportunity to play a regular-season game in the city, and you know he will hoist shots from all over the arena.

Durant scored 34 and 37 points in the final two games before the All-Star break, but the Suns lost both to fall two games below .500. Overall, Phoenix has dropped six of its past seven games as it somehow struggles with Durant and Devin Booker on the same squad.

The Spurs are also in the midst of a dive with 10 setbacks in their past 14 games. San Antonio recently added point guard De’Aaron Fox to fortify a playoff push. In addition, All-Star center Victor Wembanyama is doubtful due to illness.

San Antonio will also play in Austin on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons. The Spurs will surely have better crowd support then, as Durant is the main attraction on Wednesday.

Kevin Durant to score 30-plus points, +170 (DraftKings)

Los Angeles Lakers at Portland Trail Blazers

Doncic is just three games into his Lakers stint, so there’s no reason to panic, right? He has missed 19 of 24 3-point shots while averaging 14.7 points. These three games are his first since injuring his calf on Christmas Day, so it stands to reason that he’d be a bit rusty.

But blowing a 13-point, third-quarter lead against the Hornets to lose 100-97 is an ugly setback. LeBron James missed two late 3-pointers on his sore left foot, and you have to wonder what his status will be against Portland — as in a minutes limit or a possible rest night.

The Trail Blazers lost all three games of a road trip right before the All-Star break after winning 10 of their previous 11 games. That was good progress for Portland, but one of the standouts during the run, Deandre Ayton, will miss at least three more weeks due to a calf injury.

A good break for the Trail Blazers is that rookie center Donovan Clingan signaled that he is ready for more playing time. He had 17 points and a career-best 20 rebounds against Denver star Nikola Jokic in Portland’s most recent game.

Lakers -3.5 points, -112 (DraftKings)