Preview Roundups
January 23, 2015
Toronto at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors look to break out of their worrying slump when they conclude a three-game road swing against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. The Raptors have lost eight of their last 11 games and are coming off a 92-86 setback to the Memphis Grizzlies in which it set season lows for points scored, field goal percentage (31.8) and 3-point field goal percentage (17.9). Toronto has won the last six meetings with the 76ers - including the last two by an average margin of 24 points.
Oklahoma City at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
Atlanta has barely been challenged during a franchise record-tying 14-game win streak, but a quest for a new team standard will come against one of the league's hotter teams. The Hawks aim for a record 15th straight victory Friday at home against Oklahoma City, which has won four in a row of its own. Atlanta's dominant run continued with a 110-91 win over Indiana on Wednesday, when it improved to 2-0 on a seven-game homestand and had its 14th straight game in which it held a double-digit lead.
Charlotte at Cleveland 7:30 PM ET
After a first half of extreme ups and downs, the Cleveland Cavaliers hope they have finally found the winning formula. Cleveland seeks a fifth straight win when it hosts the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. The Cavaliers started 5-7, won 12 of 15 and lost 10 of 12 prior to their latest streak, and in between lost Anderson Vareajo to injury, traded Dion Waiters and added J.R. Smith, Timofey Mozgov and Iman Shumpert to a team anchored by James, Kyrie Irving and underperforming Kevin Love.
Indiana at Miami 7:30 PM ET
A third straight series between the two teams in the Eastern Conference finals doesn’t appear likely as the Indiana Pacers prepare to visit the Miami Heat on Friday. Injury-plagued Indiana has dropped six straight contests – four of them on the road -- and owns 20 fewer wins than it had after 44 games last season. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade continue to put up big numbers, but Miami has lost three of its last four to drop six games under .500 – its lowest point this season.
Orlando at New York 7:30 PM ET
After enduring 16 straight losses, the New York Knicks aren't interested in volunteering for more, no matter the reward. The Knicks, who own the worst record in the NBA, aim for a season-high third straight victory when they host the Orlando Magic on Friday. The Magic have dropped three straight and nine of their last 11.
Chicago at Dallas 8:00 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls temporarily halted their troubles and get another opportunity to prove they are back on their game when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Chicago dropped six of eight games and was shaky defensively before putting together a strong effort in a 104-81 rout of the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. Dallas has won three straight games and has been one of the better teams in the tough Western Conference all season.
New Orleans at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans got some bad news Wednesday when it was announced that Jrue Holiday, who has already missed five games, will be out another two to four weeks with a right-leg injury. With Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon taking on bigger roles, the Pelicans look to get back over .500 for the first time since Jan. 2 when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. The Hornets are trying to stay relevant in the West and need this win before returning home for nine of the next 10 games.
L.A. Lakers at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
Kobe Bryant’s physically challenging season has become even tougher to endure as an MRI exam revealed he tore the rotator cuff in his right shoulder when Los Angeles lost to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. Bryant left the team and returned to Los Angeles and will miss the contest when the Lakers visit the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. “It felt fine when I went up, didn’t feel too good when I came down,” Bryant told reporters after the team’s sixth straight loss.
Boston at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The Boston Celtics just did something for the first time in the Brad Stevens era and are hoping to turn that momentum toward the rest of their road trip. The Celtics will try to pull to 2-1 on the trip when they visit the struggling Denver Nuggets on Friday. Evan Turner buried a 3-pointer with one second left to give Boston a 90-89 win in Portland on Thursday, snapping a string of 24 straight road losses against Western Conference teams.
Houston at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
The road has been unkind to Houston of late, while Phoenix is making big strides at home. The Rockets will try to reverse their fortunes away from home against the surging Suns when the teams meet Friday night in Arizona. Despite a 33-point performance from James Harden, Houston dropped the opener of a three-game road trip with a 126-113 loss at Golden State on Wednesday, falling to 3-5 over its last eight games on the road.
Sacramento at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors don’t seem to have many weaknesses and are crushing opponents of late. The Warriors will look to extend their franchise record to 18 straight home victories while pushing their NBA-record to 11 straight home wins by 13 or more points when they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday. The Kings are losers of five in a row and have dropped the two meetings this season with Golden State by an average of 19 points.