Preview Roundups
December 07, 2014
Washington at Boston 1:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards look to win their fifth consecutive game when they hit the road to face the Boston Celtics in the front end of a home-and-home set. The Wizards have won their last three outings by double-digits - including a 119-89 victory over the Denver Nuggets - to remain one game ahead of the streaking Atlanta Hawks at the top of the Southeast Division. Washington has kept its head above water on the road with a 4-3 record and hopes to beat the Celtics for the third straight time.
Denver at Atlanta 3:30 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks seek a sixth straight win when the weary Denver Nuggets visit Sunday. The Hawks have been one of the better teams in the league of late, winning 11 of their past 15 after starting the season 1-2. The Nuggets are also playing better in recent weeks, winning seven of 10 since a 2-7 start.
Miami at Memphis 6:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies lost at home for the first time in 10 months and will look to start a new streak when the Miami Heat visit on Sunday. The Grizzlies’ 22-game run of home wins was halted 107-101 by the San Antonio Spurs on Friday and a struggling Miami squad attempts to make it back-to-back home losses for Memphis. Miami has lost three straight contests and was routed 109-85 by Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
Oklahoma City at Detroit 6:00 PM ET
With a return to health and a string of lesser opponents, Oklahoma City has seemingly righted the ship. The Thunder get another crack at one of the NBA's doormats Sunday when they visit Detroit, which has dropped 11 in a row and is off to the worst 20-game start in franchise history. Oklahoma City, in its second game since getting MVP Kevin Durant back from a broken foot, knocked off woeful Philadelphia 103-91 on Friday to pick up its third win in four games following a six-game slide.
Milwaukee at Dallas 7:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks will try to beat the Milwaukee Bucks for the second time in five days when the teams tangle Sunday in Dallas. Monta Ellis hit a buzzer-beater to lift the Mavericks to a 107-105 win over his former team Wednesday, capping a five-game winning streak that was snapped with a 118-106 loss to Phoenix two nights later. Milwaukee snapped a three-game skid with an impressive 109-85 win over Miami on Friday and sits sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Portland at New York 7:30 PM ET
Portland guard Damian Lillard sidestepped serious injury and will be in the starting lineup when the Trail Blazers visit the New York Knicks on Sunday. Lillard jammed his right hand late in Thursday’s victory over the Indiana Pacers and two examinations determined he sprained two fingers – the middle and ring. “I got fouled and got off-balance and my hand just got caught underneath me,” Lillard told reporters. “Jammed it pretty good. After that I was just trying to make sure it wasn’t broke.”
New Orleans at L.A. Lakers 9:30 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans will try to salvage a victory on their three-game road trip when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. New Orleans lost by 27 points to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday and by 20 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, but should matchup better against the struggling Lakers. Los Angeles is coming off a three-game trip in which it won the opener against the Detroit Pistons but lost the next two by double figures to the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics.