Preview Roundups
January 09, 2015
Boston at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
Boston continues a multi-game road trip while Indiana returns from one when the teams meet Friday in Indianapolis. The Celtics snapped a four-game road slide and a three-game losing streak overall with an 89-81 win at Brooklyn on Wednesday to begin their three-game excursion. Avery Bradley scored 21 points and the Celtics forced 18 turnovers while allowing their fewest points since Dec. 8, 2013.
Philadelphia at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets look to get back on track when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. The Nets have dropped three straight - including two in a row during their three-game homestand - since clawing their way back to .500 for the first time since November, but relief could come in the form of a Philadelphia team that they have beaten four consecutive times. Brooklyn has failed to score more than 90 points during its skid and hopes to avoid its seventh loss in its last 11 home games.
Atlanta at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
The Detroit Pistons have been one of the NBA's hottest teams over the past two weeks, but they'll have to contend with a club that has been surging for much longer when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. The Pistons have won seven straight — the longest current streak in the league and Detroit's longest in six years. The Hawks have been even hotter, winning six straight and 20 of 22 to take over the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Memphis at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies have more than doubled their season loss total in the last 10 games and they’ll try to avoid another setback when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. Memphis is coming off a 10-point loss Wednesday against the resurgent Atlanta Hawks, but a couple other losses in the last three weeks haven’t been so easy to accept. The Grizzlies also went down to the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz, two of the bottom teams in the West, taking some of the shine off their 21-4 start.
Utah at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are back on the court together but both have suddenly gone ice cold. The two stars will try to rediscover their shooting strokes when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Utah Jazz on Friday. The Jazz showed their ability to slow down a strong offensive team in a 97-77 pasting of the Chicago Bulls on the road Wednesday and are getting strong interior defense from Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert.
Chicago at Washington 8:00 PM ET
The NBA's top road team meets one of its best home squads when Chicago visits Washington for the second time in just over two weeks. The Bulls stormed into the nation's capital on Dec. 23 and walked away with a 99-91 win, part of a 14-4 effort away from home thus far. That was part of a 10-1 surge for Chicago that came to a grinding halt with an ugly 97-77 home loss to Utah on Wednesday in the Bulls' worst offensive showing in nearly a year.
Minnesota at Milwaukee 8:30 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves haven't won in nearly a month, but the Milwaukee Bucks have waited nearly as long for a victory on their home floor. Something has to give when the clubs square off Friday in Milwaukee. The Timberwolves have lost 13 straight since Dec. 10 — tied for the sixth-longest skid in club history — while the Bucks have lost four straight at home dating to Dec. 13.
Phoenix at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The streaking Phoenix Suns look for their fifth straight victory when they visit the struggling San Antonio Spurs on Friday. Phoenix edged the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-111 on Wednesday for its 10th win in 12 games and has scored 100 or more points in 10 consecutive contests. San Antonio has been dealing with injuries and has lost nine of its last 14 games after falling 105-104 to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
Denver at Sacramento 10:00 PM ET
Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins appears in line for another big game when his team hosts the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Cousins reached double figures in points and rebounds for the 15th time in his last 17 appearances in a 21-point win Wednesday night against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder and will be up against a team that just traded its starting center. Jusuf Nurkic made his first career start Wednesday, a few hours after Timofey Mozgov was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers are retooling their roster but are still missing the biggest piece as LeBron James continues to rehab knee and back injuries. The Cavaliers expect to be without James again but could have new addition Timofey Mozgov available when they face the daunting task of a visit to the NBA-best Golden State Warriors on Friday. The Warriors have won 13 straight home games and are crushing teams on their current five-game winning streak.
Orlando at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers will be aiming to bounce back from a severe beating when they host the Orlando Magic on Friday. The Lakers were annihilated by the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, trailing by as many as 43 before losing 114-89 and embarrassing coach Byron Scott. “They are a very good team but I don’t consider them a physical basketball team,” Scott told reporters. “But they came out and punched us and we were soft. Period.”