Preview Roundups
January 02, 2015
Cleveland at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The struggling Cleveland Cavaliers might have a tough time turning things around in the immediate future. The Cavaliers travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets on Friday and they'll be without star LeBron James, who is expected to miss two weeks because of knee and back strains. James won't be the only star who is sidelined, as Hornets center Al Jefferson is expected to be out four weeks with a groin injury.
Brooklyn at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
With Brook Lopez back in a starring role and a very impressive win in its pocket, surging Brooklyn is looking as if it wants to make some noise in the Eastern Conference. The Nets look to get back to .500 for the first time since they were 4-4 when they continue a three-game road trip at Orlando on Friday. Lopez made his first start in nearly a month Tuesday, pouring in 29 points to lead his team to an impressive 96-82 win over Chicago, which had won its previous seven.
Dallas at Boston 7:30 PM ET
Rajon Rondo enjoyed eight-plus seasons with the Boston Celtics, playing in four All-Star games and winning two assists crowns and one NBA title. On Friday, Rondo returns to the city that traded him two weeks ago when the Dallas Mavericks visit Boston. "Hopefully I won't be too emotional, try not to cry a little bit, but I'm very excited to go back," Rondo told reporters. "Those fans are amazing there. If I do [tear up], hopefully the camera isn't on me too much. I'm going to try to blink a lot."
Detroit at New York 7:30 PM ET
The New York Knicks look to turn their fortunes around when they host the Detroit Pistons on Friday. The Knicks have dropped 19 of their last 20 games - including nine in a row following their 99-78 setback to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday - and finished the month of December with a 1-15 record. New York hopes to begin the new calendar year on the right track by snapping an eight-game home losing streak and ending a two-game skid to the Pistons in the process.
Houston at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
Anthony Davis got the better of Dwight Howard in the last meeting between the two standout big men and is hoping for a repeat performance when the New Orleans Pelicans host the Houston Rockets on Friday. Davis put up 30 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in a win at Houston on Dec. 18 and is enjoying a run of four straight double-doubles. Howard is deferring most of the scoring responsibilities to James Harden, who is on a prolific pace.
Washington at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
Kevin Durant is back, Russell Westbrook is scrapping and Oklahoma City can once again set its sights on climbing the Western Conference ladder. Fresh off a rousing win in Durant's return from an ankle injury, the Thunder take on Washington on Friday in their final home game before a road-heavy portion of the schedule. Durant, who missed six games with the ankle issue, had 44 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in a 137-134 overtime win against Phoenix on Wednesday.
Indiana at Milwaukee 8:30 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers’ injury list is the shortest it has been all season and they look to continue climbing toward a playoff position with a four-game road trip that begins against the improving Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. The Pacers have won four of their last six games, including a 106-95 victory over Miami on Wednesday, after a 1-10 stretch. Milwaukee is on the upturn with three victories in four contests after Brandon Knight’s 26-point effort in the 96-80 triumph at Cleveland on Wednesday.
Philadelphia at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns have lost back-to-back games after putting together a six-game winning streak but have the perfect opponent arriving in town to get back to the winning side of the ledger. The dreadful Philadelphia 76ers land in Phoenix with just four victories over the first two-plus months of the season and were routed by 40 points by the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. The Suns lost 137-134 in overtime to the Oklahoma City Thunder on New Year’s Eve.
Atlanta at Utah 9:00 PM ET
Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver did well in their return to Utah last March and they’ll look to repeat that performance when the Atlanta Hawks visit the Utah Jazz on Friday. Millsap spent his first seven seasons with the Jazz before departing via free agency at the end of the 2012-13 season and Korver spent 2 1/2 seasons in Utah before he was traded to the Hawks in July 2012. Korver scored 26 points in Atlanta’s two-point win in Utah last March and Millsap had 23 points and eight rebounds.
Toronto at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The top two teams in their respective conferences will square off when the Golden State Warriors host the Toronto Raptors on Friday. The Raptors are getting a good idea of where they stand in relation to several other contending teams on the current road trip and are coming off an overtime loss at Portland on Tuesday. The Warriors put up one of their most dominating performances of the season in a win over Philadelphia on Tuesday and have won back-to-back games.
Memphis at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
Kobe Bryant will attempt to follow up a strong performance when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. The 36-year-old guard had 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday to become the second-oldest active player to post a triple-double behind San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (age 38). Bryant was recently rested for three games to allow soreness to heal but played 32 minutes against the Nuggets.