Preview Roundups
February 23, 2015
Milwaukee at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls are trying to hold off the hard-charging Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference while the Milwaukee Bucks lurk a few spots back, waiting for the teams ahead to stumble. The Bucks will try to force the action themselves when they visit the Bulls on Monday. Milwaukee is enduring the second night of a back-to-back against some of the best the East has to offer and fell at home to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.
Minnesota at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Houston Rockets have slipped toward the middle of the Western Conference playoff pecking order but hope to take advantage of a long home stand that continues Monday against Minnesota. The Rockets, who are third in the crowded West, opened a five-game stand with an impressive win over Toronto on Saturday. The Timberwolves have the worst record in the West but won four of their last six and came out of the All-Star break with a 111-109 win over Phoenix on Friday.
Toronto at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
All-Star Anthony Davis will be a bystander when his New Orleans squad returns home to take on Toronto on Monday night. While the Pelicans were able to snap a four-game losing streak in convincing fashion with a 105-91 victory at Miami on Saturday, they did so after losing Davis and reserve sharpshooter Ryan Anderson to early injuries. Davis aggravated a shoulder issue that caused him to miss two games before the All-Star break and he is expected to be out up to two weeks this time.
Brooklyn at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets dropped the first three of their eight-game road trip before the All-Star break but are having better luck against weaker competition. The Nets will try to make it two wins in a row when they visit the struggling Denver Nuggets on Monday. The Nuggets are playing the second night of a back-to-back after being crushed 119-94 at Oklahoma City on Sunday and have dropped eight of nine.
Boston at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns fell out of the top eight in the Western Conference as a result of their current four-game losing streak and they’ll try to avoid dropping further down the ladder when they host the Boston Celtics on Monday. The Suns must move forward with a new point guard after Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas were traded last week and Brandon Knight was acquired in another deal. Thomas was dealt to the Celtics and made his team debut Sunday in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
San Antonio at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs resumed play after the All-Star break with back-to-back road losses and attempt to get back in the victory column when they visit the Utah Jazz on Monday. San Antonio is in the midst of its nine-game rodeo road trip and is 2-3 five games game into the annual excursion after losses to the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. Utah began play after the break with a convincing 92-76 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Memphis at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies attempt to ride the momentum of an impressive comeback when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. Memphis trailed by 13 points in the fourth quarter on Sunday before rallying for a 98-92 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers to record its 40th victory of the season. Los Angeles has rolled off four consecutive wins with center DeAndre Jordan excelling by averaging 20.8 points and 20 rebounds during the stretch.