Preview Roundups
December 09, 2016
Orlando at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The first game back from a long road trip tends to trip teams up with some regularity, and the Orlando Magic proved the point emphatically on Wednesday. The Magic will try to bounce back from an embarrassing loss and earn their fourth win in five games when they head back on the road to visit the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
Miami at Cleveland 7:30 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers are responding to a three-game losing streak by putting their foot back down on the Eastern Conference and proving they are still the best team around this week. The Cavaliers return home in search of a third straight victory when they welcome the Miami Heat on Friday.
Toronto at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics will be without All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas for the second straight outing when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday. Thomas is ailing with a groin strain and underwent a platelet-rich plasma injection that will leave him sidelined again after he played in the previous 103 games.
Atlanta at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks are winning and have a star in the making in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who enters Friday’s home contest against the Atlanta Hawks off his second triple-double of the season. The only NBA player averaging at least 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals this season, the 22-year-old forward recorded his seventh career triple-double in Wednesday’s victory over Portland, Milwaukee’s fifth triumph in its past six contests.
Houston at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
Russell Westbrook is in the midst of an epic streak and aims for his seventh consecutive triple-double when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Houston Rockets on Friday. Westbrook is attempting to match Oscar Robertson (1961) and Michael Jordan (1989) for the second-longest triple-double streak in NBA history as well as lead the Thunder to their seventh consecutive victory.
Detroit at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
Andre Drummond is one of the top centers in the NBA and the 23-year-old All-Star looks for his sixth consecutive double-double when the Detroit Pistons visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Drummond scored a season-best 26 points and collected 20 rebounds in Wednesday's 87-77 loss to the Charlotte Hornets and his 11 20-20 outings since 2012-13 are the most in the NBA
Indiana at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks are by far the lowest-scoring team in the NBA at an average of 92.1 points - nearly six points fewer than the next club - and are coming off one of their worst losses. The Indiana Pacers, who visit the Mavericks on Friday, own one of the worst scoring defenses in the Eastern Conference but make up some of the difference with a potent offense.
Phoenix at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers are spiraling in the wrong direction with the momentum from a solid start evaporating, and they will try to regroup when they visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday. The Lakers have dropped a season-worst four straight games and seven of their last nine and were annihilated 134-95 by the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
New York at Sacramento 10:30 PM ET
The Sacramento Kings are feeling better about themselves after ending a five-game road trip with a 120-89 win at Dallas and will try to keep the momentum going when they host the New York Knicks on Friday. The Knicks knocked off the Kings at home on Sunday 106-98 but took a big step back on Wednesday.