Preview Roundups
March 11, 2015
Sacramento at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets look to rebound after matching their season-low offensive output when they host the up-tempo Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. The Hornets suffered a 95-69 defeat against Washington on Monday – scoring 23 in the second half -- to end a five-game win streak. Mo Williams is averaging 21.4 points in his first 10 games with Charlotte and tries to take advantage of Sacramento, which allowed a season-high 130 at Atlanta on Monday for its fourth straight loss.
Chicago at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The Philadelphia 76ers might be a couple years away from being a playoff contender, but they'll try to play spoiler for the second straight game Wednesday. The 76ers aim for back-to-back wins over Eastern Conference contenders when they host the Chicago Bulls, who are without three of their top scorers. The Bulls have dropped three straight but are still fighting for the No. 2 seed in the East.
Memphis at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics took care of one of the teams in front of them in the playoff race with a win over the Miami Heat on Monday, but the road only gets more difficult. The Celtics will try to keep moving up the standings when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. The Grizzlies own the second-best record in the West and are trying to stay within shouting distance of the Golden State Warriors for the top spot.
Brooklyn at Miami 7:30 PM ET
The Miami Heat look for a season sweep when the Brooklyn Nets visit Wednesday. The Heat, however, will be without center Hassan Whiteside, who was suspended for the game after receiving a flagrant-2 foul for shoving Boston's Kelly Olynk in the back in Monday's loss. The 7-footer has been a revelation, averaging 14.3 points and 13.6 rebounds in his last 17 games, but he has been ejected in two of his last four games and was benched in a third after a verbal exchange with coach Erik Spoelstra.
Orlando at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks look to turn their fortunes around after losing seven of the last nine games when they host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. The Bucks managed to score 100 for only the second time in 10 games, but allowed 43 points to Anthony Davis in a 114-103 loss to New Orleans on Monday. Milwaukee takes on an Orlando team that lost at Indiana 118-86 on Tuesday, but got leading scorer Nikola Vucevic back in the lineup after he missed two games with an ankle injury.
L.A. Clippers at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
Two of the matchup's biggest stars won't be on the court, but the stakes will be high when Oklahoma City hosts the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Both teams are trying to stay afloat in the loaded Western Conference with their star players — Clippers forward Blake Griffin and Thunder forward Kevin Durant — sidelined. The Clippers are fifth in the West while the Thunder are tied with New Orleans for the final playoff spot.
Atlanta at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets are coming off a win against the NBA’s first 50-loss team this season, and on Wednesday they will host the league’s first 50-win team when they host the Atlanta Hawks. Denver has won three of five overall and has scored in triple digits in all three. The Hawks rested three starters last weekend and paid the price in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, so they regrouped Monday and made a franchise-record 20 3-pointers against the Sacramento Kings.
Minnesota at Phoenix 10:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns will be without starting point guard Brandon Knight when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Knight sprained his left ankle in Monday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors and could the miss the final four games of the five-game homestand. Knight was acquired to be the main ball-handler at the trading deadline when the Suns revamped their backcourt by shipping Goran Dragic to Miami and Isaiah Thomas to Boston.
Detroit at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Detroit Pistons are watching their season fall apart and are unlikely to get any help on their current road trip. The Pistons could not find a way around one of the worst teams in the league to start the trip Tuesday and will try to snap a seven-game slide against the best when they visit the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. Detroit is 5 1/2 games out of the No. 8 spot in the East, while the Warriors lead the West by 5 1/2.
Houston at Portland 10:30 PM ET
James Harden seems to enjoy playing against the Portland Trail Blazers this season and he’ll get another shot Wednesday when the Houston Rockets continue their four-game road trip. Harden scored 44 points on 14-for-26 shooting in the first meeting this season — a 15-point win by the Rockets on Dec. 22 — and matched his season high with 45 points in the second matchup Feb. 8, an 11-point Portland win that also took place in Houston. Both teams have been off since Saturday.