Preview Roundups
November 01, 2014
Memphis at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
After finishing the biggest comeback in franchise history in their opener, Charlotte Hornets hope to carry the momentum into a matchup with the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. The Hornets rallied from a 24-point deficit for a 108-106 overtime win against visiting Milwaukee on Wednesday and are aiming for their first 2-0 start since 2007. The Grizzlies are 2-0 for the first time in history after rallying past Indiana for a 97-89 road win Friday.
Toronto at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors showed their balance in a season-opening victory and take to road for the first time when they face the Orlando Magic on Saturday night. The Raptors, who also play at Miami on Sunday, placed seven players in double figures scoring to beat Atlanta 109-102 on Wednesday and look to extend their winning streak against the Magic to eight games. Orlando lost 105-98 in its home opener to Washington on Thursday and turned the ball over 18 times in each of its two games.
Miami at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
Chris Bosh turned back the clock in the opener Wednesday and the Miami Heat look to make it two straight to start the post-LeBron James era Saturday when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers. Bosh scored 26 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in a game for the first time since joining the Heat in the 2010-11 season in the 107-95 win over the Wizards. Philadelphia, meanwhile, failed to reach the century mark for the second time this season in a 93-81 loss to Milwaukee on Friday.
Milwaukee at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards open up their home schedule Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks, hoping to take advantage of familiar confines a bit more than they did last season. The Wizards, who started their current campaign by splitting a pair of road games, had a losing record at the Verizon Center as late as mid-February during the 2013-14 season and finished 22-19 at home, the worst mark of any playoff team. Included in that run of mediocrity was an overtime home loss to the league-worst Bucks.
Dallas at New Orleans 7:00 PM ET
Anthony Davis enjoyed a memorable season-opening performance and so did new running mate Omer Asik as the New Orleans Pelicans look for a 2-0 start on Saturday against the visiting Dallas Mavericks. Davis had 26 points, 17 rebounds and tied his career high of nine blocks and Asik contributed 14 points, 17 rebounds and a career high-tying five blocks in Tuesday’s win over Orlando. “He does many things so I don’t have to do much,” Asik told reporters of Davis.
Indiana at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
Overlooked in Atlanta in the past by players with flashier games and over-hyped expectations, there is no question that Al Horford is the key to Atlanta making a push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference this season. Horford and the Hawks will suit up for a second time this season Saturday when depleted Indiana visits for the home opener. The Hawks, a 109-102 loser to Toronto on Wednesday, are catching the Pacers on the second night of a back-to-back after they lost 97-89 to Memphis.
Brooklyn at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
Someone will get their first win of the season Saturday when the Detroit Pistons host the Brooklyn Nets in their home opener. It's the start of a four-game homestand for the Pistons, who dropped games at Denver and Minnesota to start the season. The Nets aim for a split of their season-opening road trip after falling 121-105 at Boston on Wednesday.
Boston at Houston 8:00 PM ET
Following a very impressive road trip to start the season, the Houston Rockets look to continue their hot opening at home when they take on the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. The Rockets became the first team in the NBA with two victories, dispatching the Los Angeles Lakers in a primetime affair on opening night before posting a 104-93 win at Utah on Wednesday. Dwight Howard has produced a pair of double-doubles after recording 47 last season, good for fourth in the league.
Chicago at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
Two games into the season and the Chicago Bulls are already back to answering questions about the health of Derrick Rose. The Bulls hope to have the former MVP in the lineup when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Rose, who totaled 10 games the previous two seasons while dealing with knee injuries, left Friday’s home-opening loss to Cleveland in the fourth quarter with a left ankle injury and did not return.
Denver at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
Oklahoma City standout Russell Westbrook has joined the list of the wounded as the Thunder host the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. The point guard broke his right hand in Thursday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, raising Oklahoma City’s number of injured players to seven, a group that includes reigning MVP Kevin Durant. The initial prognosis is that Westbrook will miss between four to six weeks, and the Thunder’s goal will be to stay afloat until he and Durant return.
Phoenix at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns came up one win short of a playoff spot last season and appear determined to not let things come down to the final week again. The Suns will look to move to 3-0 when they visit the Utah Jazz for their first road game Saturday. Phoenix overcame a 15-point first-quarter deficit and swept aside the defending champion San Antonio Spurs on Friday while featuring a three-guard attack with Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas.
L.A. Lakers at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson became a much richer man this week and he should be eager to prove his worth when the Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Thompson signed a four-year, $70-million extension Friday, the maximum he could be paid under the new collective-bargaining agreement. Thompson is one of only five players in league history to shoot at least 40 percent from 3-point range in his first three years in the league.