Preview Roundups
January 21, 2015
Miami at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
Something has to give Wednesday when the surging Charlotte Hornets host a Miami Heat team that has dominated them in recent years. The Hornets have won two straight and seven of eight to edge into the Eastern Conference playoff picture, but they've lost 17 of their last 18 meetings with the Heat. Miami is trying to avoid dipping six games below .500, which would match its low point of the season.
Utah at Cleveland 7:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers look to continue their recent resurgence when they host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. The Cavaliers have reeled off three straight wins - including an impressive 108-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls - after losing six in a row and hope to stay on the winning track by beating the Jazz for the fourth time in their last five tries. "We have a long way to go," Cleveland coach David Blatt told reporters. "But I feel that the ship is sailing in the right direction."
New York at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
After suffering through the worst first half in franchise history, the New York Knicks opened the second by snapping a franchise-record 16-game losing streak. The Knicks try for a winning streak for the first time since the season's first week when they visit the equally hapless Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. New York beat Philadelphia 91-83 on Nov. 22 and have won five of the last six in Philadelphia.
Indiana at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
Atlanta looks to match the longest winning streak in franchise history when it carries a 13-game run into a home matchup with sliding Indiana on Wednesday. The Hawks' pulled within a victory of tying their 14-game winning streak in 1993-94 with a 93-82 triumph over Detroit on Monday, their 27th win in 29 games overall. Their impressive balance was on display again as Paul Millsap and Mike Scott scored 20 points apiece to lead five players in double figures as Atlanta improved to 17-3 at home.
Orlando at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
Two teams well within reach of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference despite rough stretches meet when the Orlando Magic visit the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. The Magic stand 3 ½ games behind eighth-place Brooklyn after a 127-99 loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday – their eighth defeat in 10 games – although they showed promise with victories over Houston and Chicago recently. Detroit won only five of its first 28 games, but is 11-3 since to pull within 1 ½ games of a postseason berth.
Toronto at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The struggling Toronto Raptors made a change Monday and it paid off in snapping a two-game skid with a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Raptors seek a winning streak for the first time since late December when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. The Grizzlies had a four-game win streak snapped in a 103-95 loss to Dallas on Monday despite the return of point guard Mike Conley.
Dallas at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks look to keep pace in the tight race for the Southwest Division title when they hit the road to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Mavericks have won three of their last four games — including a 103-95 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies — to move within a half-game of the division leaders. Dallas has won five of its last seven on the road and hopes to continue its upward trend by beating the Timberwolves for the second straight time at Target Center.
L.A. Lakers at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
Two banged up teams will try to turn it around when the New Orleans Pelicans host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. The Lakers, who will try to avoid losing a season-high sixth straight game, suffered another significant loss when reserve forward Tarik Black was injured late in Monday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns. The Pelicans played the same day without their top two scorers in Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday and lost to the New York Knicks, ending their franchise-record 16-game losing streak.
Oklahoma City at Washington 8:00 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder are above .500 for the first time all season, but they'll have their work cut out to stay there. The Thunder continue a challenging five-game road trip Wednesday against the Washington Wizards, their second of four straight tests against teams in line for the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Wizards have won seven of nine to surge to second place in the East.
Portland at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
The Western Conference is full of teams with grand plans for the postseason, and the Phoenix Suns are quietly pushing their way into that group. The Suns will try to make another statement when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. Phoenix has won 13 of its last 17 and has taken the first three of its eight-game homestand, though the next five are all against teams with winning records.
Brooklyn at Sacramento 10:00 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets have lost eight of their last nine heading into Wednesday's game at the Sacramento Kings and suddenly have the surging Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons breathing down their necks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. The Kings, meanwhile, will be trying to avoid matching their season-long losing streak at five games. Sacramento blew a nine-point lead with 9 1/2 minutes left Monday at the Portland Trail Blazers and lost by four.
Houston at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors tend to respond to losses with a renewed focus, something the Houston Rockets were made aware of over the weekend. The Rockets will try to deliver some payback for that 25-point home loss on Saturday when they visit the Warriors on Wednesday. Golden State fell at Oklahoma City on Friday before bouncing back against Houston and followed that up with a 43-point demolition of the Denver Nuggets on Monday.