Preview Roundups
November 08, 2014
Portland at L.A. Clippers 3:30 PM ET
Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers called out his team after their latest sub-par effort, and the competition won’t get any easier when the Portland Trail Blazers pay a visit Saturday afternoon. The Clippers are coming off a 121-104 loss to the Warriors on Wednesday night after allowing Golden State to shoot 58.1 percent from the floor. Portland, meanwhile, is fresh off a 108-87 win against visiting Dallas, its second straight blowout win after dropping the Cavaliers two nights earlier.
Washington at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
With added motivation after a humiliating loss, the Washington Wizards may never find a better time to end a long losing skid at Conseco Field House when they play the undermanned Indiana Pacers on Saturday. The Wizards have dropped 12 straight regular-season contests here since a 98-95 win April 18, 2007. The Pacers, who have had a winning record at home each season since 1989-90, are 1-2 at Conseco this year and have lost five straight overall after a 101-98 loss to Boston on Friday.
New York at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
The only good thing about playing on back-to-back nights in the NBA is the opportunity to quickly wipe away a bad loss. Both teams will look to do just that when the New York Knicks visit the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. The Hawks battled all the way into double overtime at Charlotte on Friday only to lose on a last-second 3-pointer, while the Knicks were run off the floor by rival Brooklyn in suffering their third straight setback.
Minnesota at Miami 7:30 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves are prepared to press on without star point guard Ricky Rubio when they finish a three-game road trip at Miami on Saturday. Rubio left Friday's overtime loss in Orlando just before halftime with a sprained left ankle, leaving the arena on crutches just a week after signing a four-year, $55 million extension. Without its floor general, Minnesota fizzled down the stretch, scoring a total of 26 points between the fourth quarter and overtime in a 112-103 setback.
Boston at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The surging Chicago Bulls seek to match their home play with their performance away from the United Center when the Boston Celtics visit Saturday night. The Bulls improved to 4-0 Friday away from the Windy City after holding off Philadelphia 118-115 for their best road start since the 1996-97 squad opened with six straight triumphs. Boston, entering after a 101-98 home win versus Indiana on Friday, has been blown out in the first quarter in each of its first two road games this season.
Golden State at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The NBA will have one fewer undefeated team on Saturday, when the Houston Rockets host the Golden State Warriors. The Rockets have been the most dominant team over the first two weeks of the season, winning all six of their games by double digits while showing off a much-improved defense. The Warriors are putting up 109.5 points behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson while winning their four games by an average of 15.8 points.
Memphis at Milwaukee 8:30 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies look to keep alive the best start in franchise history and remain one of the league's few unbeaten teams when they visit Milwaukee on Saturday. The Grizzlies lost all of a 14-point second-half lead in Oklahoma City on Friday night before rallying to take a 91-89 victory and match Houston for the best record in the league. Mike Conley finished a 20-point effort with a last-minute 3-pointer that gave Memphis the lead for good.
New Orleans at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs have yet to get things in order but will be vying for their eighth consecutive home win over New Orleans when they host the Pelicans on Saturday. The defending champions, who are just 2-2, didn't suffer their second defeat last season until the 15th game. “We are a sum-of-the-parts team,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. “We have to have all our parts to be at our best. We can’t rely on one player. We have to do it as a group.”