Preview Roundups
January 19, 2015
Minnesota at Charlotte 2:00 PM ET
An injury-stricken Charlotte squad may have to forge on without leading scorer Kemba Walker when it hosts Minnesota in a Monday matinee. Walker missed Saturday's 80-71 overtime win against Indiana - the Hornets' sixth win in seven games - due to a cyst in his left knee and it is unclear how long the soreness will linger for one of the league's hottest players. The veteran has averaged 29.8 points over his last six games, but now joins center Al Jefferson on the Hornets' ever-crowded injury list.
Philadelphia at Washington 2:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards stand second in the Eastern Conference at the midway point of their regular season and look to continue their surge toward the top when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday afternoon. The Wizards have won six of their last eight games after a victory at Brooklyn on Saturday to remain five games behind East-leading Atlanta. Philadelphia, which dropped its first 17 contests this season, has split its last eight games after a 107-89 loss at Detroit on Saturday.
Detroit at Atlanta 2:30 PM ET
The two hottest teams in the Eastern Conference go head-to-head Monday afternoon when the Atlanta Hawks host the Detroit Pistons. The Hawks have won 12 straight and 26 of 28 to move atop the East standings and continue their best start in franchise history. The Pistons, meanwhile, have won 11 of their last 13 following a 5-23 start and are within a game of the Brooklyn Nets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
Boston at L.A. Clippers 3:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers look to snap a rare home losing streak when they host reeling Boston in a Monday matinee. After a 126-121 loss to Cleveland on Friday, the Clippers had dropped two in a row at the Staples Center for the first time since the beginning of the 2012-13 season. Los Angeles, which bounced back with a 117-108 victory at Sacramento on Saturday, has also lost three straight at home against Eastern Conference foes as part of a 4-3 stretch overall.
Denver at Golden State 4:00 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors have been making history all season and will have a chance to do it again when they host the Denver Nuggets on Monday. The Warriors need one more victory to break the franchise record of 15 straight home wins set by the 1989-90 squad. Denver had been working on a winning streak of its own with five straight before running into trouble over the weekend in back-to-back losses.
Dallas at Memphis 5:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies are hoping to have second-leading scorer Mike Conley back when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Monday afternoon. Conley warmed up before Saturday’s game against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, but a sore right ankle kept the eighth-year point guard out a second straight game. Beno Udrih was more than serviceable as his replacement, making all seven of his field-goal attempts and scoring 17 points in the 102-98 victory, the fourth straight win for Memphis.
Indiana at Houston 5:30 PM ET
The Houston Rockets attempt to recover from a severe beatdown when they host the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Houston was obliterated 131-106 at home by the Golden State Warriors on Saturday in a performance that left coach Kevin McHale fuming. “We had nothing for them,” McHale told reporters. “It’s so disappointing. Even in the first quarter, we couldn’t get any stops. The third quarter was ridiculous. We turned it over. We had no fire. We had nothing.”
New Orleans at New York 5:30 PM ET
The New York Knicks need all the help they can get to snap a franchise-record 16-game losing streak, and they might be aided by injuries to key players when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. The Pelicans are likely to remain without star forward Anthony Davis and point guard Jrue Holiday, though their absence didn't stop New Orleans from a 95-93 win at Toronto on Sunday. The Knicks have lost 26 of their last 27 and have the worst record in the NBA.
Chicago at Cleveland 7:30 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers have put together back-to-back victories and attempt to post another win when they host the Chicago Bulls on Monday. Cleveland lost nine of 10 games – LeBron James missed eight of those with back and knee injuries – before moving back over .500 with wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. Chicago has lost five of its last seven games after falling to the Atlanta Hawks 107-99 on Saturday.
Toronto at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks are returning to the states after a successful trip to London and will host the struggling Toronto Raptors on Monday. The Bucks crushed the New York Knicks in front of the foreign crowd and will try to turn the same trick against the Raptors, who are losers of two straight and seven of nine. Toronto had little trouble the first time the teams met, handing Milwaukee its largest loss of the season 124-82 at home on Nov. 21.
Sacramento at Portland 10:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers have stumbled against a trio of the best teams in the Western Conference and will try to avoid a fourth consecutive setback when they host the Sacramento Kings on Monday. The Trail Blazers have been held under 100 points in losses to the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies over the last week and are stalled at 30 wins. The Kings are losers of three straight as well and are missing DeMarcus Cousins.
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix 10:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns aim to complete a four-game season sweep of Los Angeles when the Lakers visit on Monday. Phoenix posted a 20-point home victory over the Lakers in late October and was later victorious in both road contests. The Lakers are expected to be without guard Kobe Bryant when they try to avoid the sweep as Bryant has routinely been rested over the last month due to general aches and soreness.