Preview Roundups
January 26, 2015
Portland at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
LaMarcus Aldridge is back and Portland is ready to renew its push toward the top of the Western Conference. The Trail Blazers had lost five of six games - including two straight with Aldridge on the sidelines nursing a thumb injury - before their big man returned to score 26 points in a 103-96 win over Washington on Saturday. Aldridge was originally set to undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in the thumb but his surprising and solid return has dramatically altered the outlook for Portland.
Sacramento at New York 7:30 PM ET
Teams that are out of the playoff picture in the middle of the season square off Monday when the New York Knicks host the Sacramento Kings. The Knicks have recorded just eight wins all season and three occurred during a winning streak that was halted by the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. The Kings were hoping to make a move up the Western Conference standings, but an early-season illness to star center DeMarcus Cousins derailed those hopes.
Orlando at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies look to enhance their best start in franchise history when the struggling Orlando Magic pay a visit Monday night. The Grizzlies have won six of their last seven contests, including a 106-96 victory at Orlando on Jan. 16, and limited the last two opponents to an average of 84.5 points. The Magic coughed up a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter in Sunday’s 106-99 loss to Indiana for their fifth straight defeat and attempt to snap a seven-game skid against Memphis.
Philadelphia at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans are winners of three straight and have climbed two games over .500 behind a healthy Anthony Davis. The Philadelphia 76ers, who visit the Pelicans on Monday, were lucky enough to miss Davis when the teams met Jan. 16 and ended up with a 96-81 victory. The 76ers have dropped five in a row since that win and are averaging 85 points in those games to bring their streak to 21 straight without reaching the century mark.
Minnesota at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
After holding their own throughout a tough stretch of the schedule, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be expected to cruise past their next two opponents. The Thunder look to snap a two-game skid and move back above .500 when they host the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. The Timberwolves have dropped four straight and 20 of 22 and own the worst record in the NBA.
Boston at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Boston Celtics are turning some heads on their road trip and will try to keep up their high level of play when they visit the Utah Jazz on Monday. The Celtics dropped 24 in a row on the road against Western Conference teams before edging Portland and Denver, and they gave the NBA-best Warriors all they could handle in a 114-111 loss Sunday. The Jazz won’t be intimidated after blasting an Eastern Conference team Saturday.
Denver at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The last two opponents for the Denver Nuggets played in another city the night before, making the change in elevation even more difficult for the visitors, but the Nuggets couldn’t take advantage and lost both games. Now it’s Denver's turn to play on tired legs when it takes on the host Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, 24 hours after losing in overtime to the visiting Washington Wizards. The Nuggets have lost six in a row overall, matching their longest losing streak of the season.