Preview Roundups
November 24, 2014
L.A. Clippers at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers get a break from the Western Conference grind when they continue a seven-game road trip with a visit to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. After winning the first two games on the trip over Eastern Conference foes, the Clippers were pasted 107-91 at Memphis on Sunday. They have a chance to rebound with their next two games against teams near the bottom of the standings in the East in Charlotte and Detroit.
Orlando at Cleveland 7:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers continue the search for answers to producing their best form consistently when they welcome the Orlando Magic on Monday night. The Cavaliers seemed to be moving forward with a four-game winning streak while sneaking over the .500 mark, but they have dropped four straight since. “We’re a very fragile team right now, we were a fragile team from the beginning,” Cleveland’s LeBron James told reporters after a 110-93 home loss to Toronto on Saturday.
Portland at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The winless Philadelphia 76ers are trying to halt their run toward futility but have a tough chore on Monday when they host the Portland Trail Blazers. Philadelphia’s losing streak is at 13 games, just two shy of the franchise mark for consecutive losses to start a season and looming ahead is the NBA mark of 0-18 by the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets. Portland is on the other end of the spectrum with seven straight wins after defeating the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
Phoenix at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors are quietly establishing themselves as a legitimate threat to win the Eastern Conference. The Raptors, who own the best record in the East, will try to win their fifth straight when they host the Phoenix Suns on Monday. The Suns are riding a four-game winning streak of their own and are looking to complete a 5-1 road trip after ripping through some of the lesser Eastern Conference teams.
New York at Houston 8:00 PM ET
After both teams snapped two-game skids Saturday, the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets look to keep things headed in the right direction when they square off Monday in Houston. The Rockets, who are coming off a 95-92 home win over Dallas despite playing without star center Dwight Howard, have won nine straight in the series dating to Jan. 26, 2009. The Knicks haven't won at Houston in even longer, losing nine straight dating to Nov. 18, 2004.
Indiana at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers are getting used to playing shorthanded and they may find themselves short two more players when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Center Roy Hibbert (ankle) and guard Rodney Stuckey (wrist) were injured during Saturday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns and both players were termed questionable by coach Frank Vogel. Indiana is already without starters Paul George (leg), David West (ankle) and George Hill (knee).
Chicago at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls have been a contender in the Eastern Conference for years, but always with the qualifier “if healthy.” The injury-depleted Bulls will try to avoid a third straight loss when they continue their road trip at the Utah Jazz on Monday. Taj Gibson was the latest to join the injury list when he was sent home from the road trip after suffering a sprained ankle in the third quarter of Friday’s 105-87 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.