Preview Roundups
November 17, 2014
Dallas at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
Coming off a dominant homestand, Dallas hits the road for the first time in 10 days when it visits Charlotte on Monday. After a loss to Miami to begin the four-game stretch at home, the Mavericks won the final three games by an average of 25 points, including the the franchise's largest win ever Thursday against Philadelphia. The impressive run at American Airlines Center was capped by a 131-117 win over Minnesota on Saturday that stands as Dallas' best offensive showing since April 5, 2009.
Denver at Cleveland 7:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers look to win their fifth straight game when they host the Denver Nuggets on Monday. The Cavaliers have scored 110 or more points in each game during the streak and exploded for a season-high 127 in a 33-point win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Hoping to continue its climb up the Central Division standings, Cleveland won its only game against the Nuggets last season and has won the last three in the series.
Phoenix at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns both learned in their last game the damage one bad quarter can do, and they'll try to put together a more complete effort when they square off Monday in Boston. The Celtics suffered their second straight defeat when they let a 19-point lead slip away in a 122-121 loss to Cleveland on Friday. The Suns also have dropped two straight after opening their six-game road trip with a 120-107 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Miami at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
Miami will have little time to recover from an ugly home loss before it visits Brooklyn on Monday in the first meeting between the teams since the Eastern Conference semifinals. Playing without star swingman Dwyane Wade and with leading scorer Chris Bosh going 2-for-17 from the floor, the Heat lost all of a 12-point lead before dropping a 91-84 decision to Milwaukee on Sunday. Wade is still considered day-to-day but has missed two straight games with a hamstring issue.
Orlando at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
The Detroit Pistons look to take advantage of a favorable schedule over the next 23 days with the first of nine home games in that span when they host the Orlando Magic on Monday. Detroit dropped four of its last five contests and will attempt to find answers on the offensive end where it are 29th in the league in shooting percentage at 41.8. Orlando has showed signs of improvement since a 0-4 start -- winning four of its last seven -- and Victor Oladipo is back in the lineup.
Houston at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The top spot in the Western Conference — and the Memphis' franchise-record 19-game home winning streak — will be on the line when the Grizzlies host the Houston Rockets in an early-season showdown Monday. The Grizzlies look to finish a sweep of their four-game homestand and remain unbeaten in the regular season at FedEx Forum since Feb. 11. Meanwhile, the Rockets are 6-0 on the road, matching their longest winning streak away from home since an eight-game stretch to start the 1996-97 season.
Philadelphia at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The Philadelphia 76ers are looking for their first victory, and it could be tough to come by when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. Philadelphia’s 0-9 start is its worst since the 1972-73 squad lost its first 15, and the 76ers let a late lead get away in Friday’s 88-87 loss to the Houston Rockets. Philadelphia has lost 10 straight visits to San Antonio and the last six overall meetings.
New Orleans at Portland 10:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers have won four in a row and six of seven heading into their game Monday against the visiting New Orleans Pelicans, but they could be without their starting forwards for a second consecutive game. LaMarcus Aldridge is recovering from a respiratory illness that kept him out of Saturday’s win against the Brooklyn Nets. Nicolas Batum has missed the last three games with a knee injury.
Chicago at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
Derrick Rose is unlikely to be in uniform when the Chicago Bulls open a seven-game road trip by visiting the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. Rose injured his left hamstring Thursday after previously missing time with two sore ankles and once again will miss a showdown with Los Angeles point guard Chris Paul. Chicago is 5-0 on the road, while the Clippers are 4-2 at home after recording a 120-107 win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.