Why these games matter for seven underrated NBA title contenders

Last year, a dark horse contender pulled off consecutive upsets to win the NBA championship. Who could be this year's Raptors?

Friday night's action featured three of those dark horses: the Houston Rockets. Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.

Saturday's games will show us a handful more:

• Miami Heat vs. Denver Nuggets (ESPN, 1 p.m. ET)

• Utah Jazz vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET)

• New Orleans Pelicans vs. LA Clippers (ESPN, 6 p.m. ET)

• Philadelphia 76ers vs. Indiana Pacers (7 p.m. ET)

• Toronto Raptors vs. Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET)

We asked our experts to break down the leading contenders outside the big three -- the Bucks, Lakers and Clippers. Here's how these seven…