Preview Roundups
January 14, 2015
San Antonio at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs just had a long winning streak against one Eastern Conference opponent come to an end are hoping to keep another intact. The Spurs will try to secure their eighth straight win in the series and fourth on the road when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. The Hornets are coming into the game on a roll with a season-best five-game winning streak and are opening a four-game homestand.
Houston at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
Dwight Howard looks to continue his dominance against his former team when the Houston Rockets travel to Orlando to face the Magic on Wednesday. Howard and the Rockets head to Florida aiming for their fifth straight win overall and their fifth in a row against the Magic. Orlando snapped a six-game skid with a stunning 121-114 road win over Chicago on Monday, shooting a season-high 59.3 percent despite playing without two of its top four scorers in Tobias Harris (ankle) and Evan Fournier (knee).
Memphis at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
Kevin Garnett will have to sit and watch as his Brooklyn Nets teammates try to snap a six-game slide Wednesday against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies. Garnett was suspended one game by the NBA on Tuesday for head-butting Houston's Dwight Howard in the first quarter of Brooklyn's 113-99 home loss Monday. The Grizzlies, who are fourth in the Western Conference, have dropped three straight on the road.
New Orleans at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
Qualifying for the playoffs is suddenly a reality for the rejuvenated Detroit Pistons and they’ll try to draw a little closer when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. Detroit was 5-23 after losing to the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 21, leaving it seven games behind Brooklyn, but the Pistons have rallied to win nine of the last 10 and stands two games behind the Nets for eighth place in the East. Detroit hasn’t qualified for the postseason since the 2008-09 season.
Philadelphia at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
DeMar DeRozan is hoping to make his long-awaited return for Toronto when it hosts Philadelphia on Wednesday. The star swingman has not played since Nov. 28 due to a groin injury, watching from the sidelines as the Raptors have gone 12-9, including losses in five of the past six games. Leading scorer Kyle Lowry was held to 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting and had seven turnovers as Toronto fell 114-111 to Detroit on Monday, dropping to 1-2 thus far on its six-game homestand.
Washington at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
Washington and Chicago are among the teams at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and the Wizards and host Bulls are just a half-game apart as they square off Wednesday. Washington moved into second place in the East with an impressive 101-93 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, while Chicago sits in fourth after falling 121-114 to the Orlando Magic on Monday. The Atlanta Hawks continue to lead in the East and possess a four-game lead over the Wizards.
Atlanta at Boston 8:00 PM ET
Atlanta tries for the second time in the span of a month to record a 10th straight victory when it continues a four-game road trip at Boston on Wednesday. The Hawks, who had a nine-game winning streak stopped Dec. 13 in Orlando, picked up their ninth consecutive win Tuesday in Philadelphia, pulling away for a 105-87 final. Al Horford's triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists helped Atlanta survive the absence of star point guard Jeff Teague, who was given a night of rest.
Dallas at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets should certainly have the fresher legs when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. Both teams are coming off wins against the Sacramento Kings, only Denver’s victory came four days earlier and the Nuggets have been resting up while Dallas played twice, including an overtime game Tuesday night in Sacramento. The Nuggets have won four in a row overall and can match their longest winning streak of the season with a win against Dallas.
Miami at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The NBA-best Golden State Warriors can make some franchise history when they host the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The Warriors will be looking for their 15th straight home victory, which would tie the franchise record set by the 1989-90 squad, and eighth in a row overall. The Heat just finished sweeping through Los Angeles but it came at a cost, with Dwyane Wade leaving Tuesday’s 78-75 win over the Lakers due to a hamstring injury.
L.A. Clippers at Portland 10:30 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers became the NBA first team to reach 30 wins and look to begin adding to the total when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Portland defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 106-94 on Sunday to secure its 30th win and post the third-best start in franchise history. “It’s a great accomplishment to have 30 wins in 38 games,” star point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. “We’ve just got to keep the same mentality that we’ve had."