Preview Roundups
November 21, 2014
Orlando at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets — then known as the Bobcats — were the surprise of the Eastern Conference a year ago, a role the Orlando Magic would like to fill this season. The upstart Magic aim to continue their ascent toward playoff contender status when they travel to face the Hornets on Friday. The Southeast Division rivals split four games last season with each team winning once at home and once on the road.
Phoenix at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
Phoenix has done well to take advantage of lesser opponents so far during its season-long six-game road trip and it has a great chance to keep alive that trend on Friday with a visit to winless Philadelphia. Following a setback at the Los Angeles Clippers to begin the sojourn, the Suns rallied to knock off Boston and then eked out an 88-86 victory in Detroit on Wednesday. Phoenix held the Pistons to a 37.9 percent mark from the floor to post its best defensive showing since March 14.
Detroit at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks look to get back on track after two straight rough outings on the defensive end when they host the struggling Detroit Pistons on Friday. The Hawks gave up an average of 120.5 points and allowed better than 54 percent shooting in losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland after building a four-game winning streak. The Pistons are hungry for a victory after dropping six of their last seven, and shot 37.9 percent from the field in an 88-86 loss to Phoenix on Wednesday.
Milwaukee at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
With a big game looming in Cleveland on Saturday after a signature win against Memphis, the Toronto Raptors seek to close out their longest homestand of the season with six wins in seven tries when the weary Milwaukee Bucks visit Friday. Toronto is coming off a hard-fought 96-92 win Wednesday over the team with the best record in the NBA. The Raptors just might catch a break Friday since Milwaukee had to expend a lot of energy in a 122-118 triple overtime win in Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Boston at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies hope to get some reinforcements back Friday as they look to continue their party when the Boston Celtics roll into town. The Grizzlies are off to an NBA-best 10-2 start and have a league-best 47-17 record during the calendar year, and their 20 straight wins at home is a franchise record. However, on Wednesday, without five key players due to illness, Memphis had its overall four-game win streak snapped in a 96-92 lost at Eastern Conference-leader Toronto.
San Antonio at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
After a few bumps in the road early on, San Antonio is beginning to look like the defending NBA champions again. The Spurs, winners of five of their last six games following a 2-3 start, look to keep their surge going Friday at shorthanded Minnesota in the finale of a two-game road trip. The first half of the quick trip saw Tim Duncan and Boris Diaw lead a balanced attack with 19 points apiece in a solid 92-90 win at Cleveland.
Brooklyn at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
The undermanned Oklahoma City Thunder are still putting up a fight but are falling short during a four-game losing streak that has dropped them to the bottom of the Western Conference. The Thunder will try to pull out of the funk when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. The Nets are coming off a triple-overtime loss to former head coach Jason Kidd and the Milwaukee Bucks and have lost five in a row overall.
Cleveland at Washington 8:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers haven't lived up to expectations thus far, but only one of their defeats has come against a fellow Eastern Conference team. The Washington Wizards will try to change that when LeBron James and the Cavaliers visit the nation's capital on Friday. While Cleveland has struggled to a .500 record through 10 games, Washington sits atop the Southeast Division and has the third-best record in the East.
L.A. Lakers at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers are riding high after their first back-to-back wins of the season as Nick Young’s return provides a spark off the bench. The Lakers will look to wrap up a perfect 3-0 road trip when they visit the red-hot Dallas Mavericks on Friday. The Mavericks are winners of five straight and are leading the NBA in scoring at an average of 108.9 points behind Monta Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki.
New Orleans at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets will attempt to stretch their home winning streak over New Orleans to six games when they host the Pelicans on Friday. One of Denver’s home victories last season over New Orleans was by 30 points and the Nuggets haven’t lost at home to the Pelicans since the 2011-12 campaign. Denver has currently won two straight games while New Orleans posted a road win in Sacramento on Tuesday.
Utah at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors are winners of three straight games and are lighting up the scoreboard. The Warriors will try to make it four in a row when they host the Utah Jazz on Friday. Golden State has had four days off since ripping the Los Angeles Lakers 136-115 on Sunday behind Stephen Curry’s 30-point, 15-assist effort and are taking on a Jazz squad that has won two of three.
Chicago at Portland 10:30 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls could again be without point guard Derrick Rose and forward Pau Gasol when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Rose (hamstring) and Gasol (calf) both missed Thursday’s 103-88 loss to Sacramento when coach Tom Thibodeau decided neither player was ready to return to action. The red-hot Trail Blazers are in the midst of a five-game winning streak and have won six consecutive contests against the Bulls.