Preview Roundups
December 03, 2014
Chicago at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets haven't caught many breaks of late, but they might get one in the form of a weary Chicago Bulls team that will pay them a visit Wednesday. The Bulls limp into Charlotte a day after a 132-129 double-overtime loss to Dallas in which they let a three-point lead get away in the final seconds of regulation. The Hornets hope to take advantage as they aim to snap a nine-game losing streak.
L.A. Lakers at Washington 7:00 PM ET
With Kobe Bryant playing the role of distributor, the Los Angeles Lakers finally have a little life in them. The Lakers' mini push will be put to the test Wednesday at Washington, which has won the first two games of a four-game homestand. One game after recording a triple-double with 12 assists in an overtime victory against Toronto, Bryant handed out 13 more - a season high - in a 106-96 win at Detroit on Tuesday, helping Los Angeles to its second two-game winning streak since a 1-9 start.
Detroit at Boston 7:30 PM ET
One team is assured of snapping a long slide when the Boston Celtics host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. The Celtics dropped their fifth straight while falling just short in a 109-105 loss at Atlanta on Tuesday and will be enduring the second night of a back-to-back. The Pistons, who are playing two straight as well, are losers of nine in a row and have only the winless Philadelphia 76ers sitting between them and the worst record in the NBA.
San Antonio at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs look to win their ninth game in a row when they visit the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. The Spurs have won 11 of their last 12 games and beat the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday for their 16th consecutive regular season win over an Eastern Conference opponent. San Antonio is firing on all cylinders and hopes to beat the Nets for the eighth time in nine tries without peeking ahead to the mouthwatering matchup with the Southwest Division-leading Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 5.
Atlanta at Miami 7:30 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks hope to carry the momentum from a huge second-half comeback on the road when they travel to Miami for a matchup with the Heat on Wednesday. The Hawks rallied from a 23-point deficit to stun visiting Boston 109-105, their third straight win and their fifth in six games. The Heat look to bounce back from an embarrassing 107-86 loss at Washington on Monday and even the season series with Atlanta.
Memphis at Houston 8:00 PM ET
Houston will have had three full days of rest before a big matchup with first-place Memphis on Wednesday, but the Rockets seemingly are no closer to getting healthy. Star center Dwight Howard, who has missed six games with a knee injury since a loss to the Grizzlies on Nov. 17, remains doubtful despite being nearly two weeks removed from platelet-rich plasma therapy and undergoing on-court workouts for days. Point guards Patrick Beverley (hamstring) and Isaiah Canaan (ankle) are also doubtful.
Dallas at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks will need to dig deep for some extra energy when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. Dallas needed double-overtime to beat the host Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night and four of its five starters were forced to play at least 40 minutes, including 36-year-old Dirk Nowitzki, who logged 42. The Bucks also played on the road Tuesday night, losing by three points to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Philadelphia at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Philadelphia 76ers are on the verge of matching the worst start in NBA history and must beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday to avoid it. Philadelphia’s 0-17 start is tied for second, and a loss to the Timberwolves would match the 18 straight defeats of the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets. Minnesota has been struggling to win games and has lost 10 of 12, so perhaps the 76ers have a solid opportunity to notch a win.
Toronto at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz attempt to halt a six-game losing streak when they host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. The skid has dropped Utah eight games below .500, and being a porous 3-6 at home is keeping the Jazz from emerging from their slumber. Toronto broke a two-game losing streak Tuesday as point guard Kyle Lowry contributed 27 points and matched his season high of 13 assists in a 117-109 road victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Orlando at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The Orlando Magic dropped a heartbreaker at Golden State on Tuesday and will try to bounce back when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. The Magic had a win in their sights before Stephen Curry buried a game-winning 3-pointer, giving them their fifth loss in six games. The Clippers are winners of five straight and are dominating the competition with an average margin of victory of 17.2 points during the streak.