Preview Roundups
January 03, 2015
Charlotte at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The Orlando Magic's home court has not given them an advantage, but they hope to change that when the short-handed Charlotte Hornets visit Saturday. The Magic have lost three straight and nine of 11 at home, where they're a dismal 4-11 this season. The Hornets, who are without star center Al Jefferson (groin), have lost five straight following a season-high four-game winning streak.
Boston at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
Derrick Rose isn't going to change. The cold-shooting Rose and his teammates seek a ninth win in 10 games when the transitioning Boston Celtics visit Saturday. The talented Rose has shot just 14-of-60 over the past three games, but half of those hoops came in the second half of the 106-101 win over Denver on New Year's Day.
Miami at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The one good thing about playing back-to-back games in the NBA is the chance to quickly wipe away a bad performance from a team’s memory. The Houston Rockets will try to do just that when they host the Miami Heat on Saturday. The Rockets went into New Orleans on Friday and suffered their largest defeat of the season 111-83 as James Harden was limited to 11 points and they were thoroughly beaten on both ends of the floor.
Utah at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves are close to getting three injured starters back, but their return for Saturday’s game against the visiting Utah Jazz remains a stretch. The Jazz, meanwhile, lost starting center Enes Kanter to an ankle injury in Friday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He has been ruled out for Minnesota and Patrick Christopher, starting at shooting guard in place of Rodney Hood, who had been starting in place of Alec Burks, suffered a dislocated right kneecap in the same game.
Washington at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
Struggling San Antonio hopes to draw upon its remarkable run of success against Washington when the teams tangle in Texas on Saturday. The Spurs, who have lost seven of 10 even after an overtime win against New Orleans on Wednesday, have won 16 straight against Washington dating to 2005, their longest active winning streak against any team. The streak at home is up to 13 games since the Wizards' last triumph in San Antonio on Dec. 11, 1999.
Memphis at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies are enjoying a franchise-best 24-8 start and look to add another win to the ledger when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. Memphis has fed on Western Conference opponents and improved to 16-4 against such clubs by posting a 109-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Denver has lost three consecutive games with the first two coming at home to drop its mark to 9-8 at the Pepsi Center.
Atlanta at Portland 10:00 PM ET
Two of the league’s best 3-point shooters this season will take the floor Saturday night when the Portland Trail Blazers host the Atlanta Hawks. Portland shooting guard Wesley Matthews has made a league-leading 101 baskets from beyond the arc, nine ahead of Atlanta sharpshooter Kyle Korver, who leads the league at 51.7 percent from long range. Matthews is shooting 26-for-52 from long range in the past five games, while Korver is 13-for-31 in that span.
Philadelphia at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers look for their 11th victory in their last 12 home games when they entertain the lowly Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Los Angeles is playing the fifth game of a nine-game homestand and is 14-4 at home overall this season despite not yet hitting its stride. Philadelphia has just four victories – all on the road – and lost 112-96 to the Phoenix Suns on Friday for its fourth straight defeat.