Preview Roundups
December 10, 2014
Boston at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets have had plenty of time to digest a win over the New York Knicks on Friday that snapped a 10-game slide. The Hornets will try to make it two straight wins when they host the suddenly frisky Boston Celtics on Wednesday. The Celtics endured their own long losing streak bridging November and December but pulled out of the slump with three straight wins before falling in double overtime at Washington on Monday.
L.A. Clippers at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers seek to stretch their winning streak to nine games when they open a three-game road trip by visiting the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. The Clippers got a rip-roaring performance from forward Blake Griffin in Monday’s 121-120 overtime victory to make it eight straight wins. Griffin scored a season-high 45 points and hit a 3-point basket that bounced off the rim before falling through the net at the buzzer.
Washington at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The Orlando Magic ended a grueling six-game road trip with two gutty victories and prepare to meet the top three teams in the Eastern Conference over the next four contests. Orlando faces the first of those major tests when the red-hot Washington Wizards pay a visit on Wednesday. Washington has won five of its last six overall and owns six consecutive victories against the Magic, including two this season.
Philadelphia at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks aim for their eighth straight victory when they host the improving Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. The Hawks, who are 9-2 at home, already have their longest winning streak in five years and are after their first eight-game run since 1997. The Sixers have won two of their last three after a 17-game skid to begin the season but have dropped four straight meetings with Atlanta.
Brooklyn at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
Chicago forward Pau Gasol is in the midst of a double-double roll and will look to notch his seventh in a row when the Chicago Bulls host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. Gasol is averaging 22 points and 14.7 rebounds during his hot streak and had 22 points and a season-best 20 rebounds against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. It is Gasol’s best double-double streak since a 10-gamer in Feb. 2012.
Portland at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers look to extend their winning streak to six games when they continue their road swing against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Trail Blazers have won 14 of their last 15 games — including a 98-86 triumph Tuesday over the lowly Detroit Pistons — and hope to record their eighth straight road victory Wednesday. Portland is 13-1 when scoring 100 or more points and cruised past Minnesota 107-93 on Nov. 30 and now aim to beat the Timberwolves for the fifth straight time.
New Orleans at Dallas 8:00 PM ET
Dallas has plenty of weapons in its league-leading offensive unit, but not everyone has been on the same page lately. The Mavericks will try to spread the wealth and get back to their winning ways when they host New Orleans on Wednesday night. Dallas has dropped two of its last three following a five-game winning streak, with several of its key players riding a roller coaster on the offensive side.
New York at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs hope to avoid being responsible for the end of two long losing streaks in as many nights when they host the struggling New York Knicks on Wednesday. The Spurs saw Utah snap a nine-game streak at their expense with a 100-96 win Tuesday. The Knicks will try to stop their own nine-game skid with their third straight victory in San Antonio.
Houston at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors have won a franchise-record 13 straight games but are just beginning the rough part of their schedule. The Warriors will try to make it 14 in a row when they face the team closest to them in the Western Conference in the visiting Houston Rockets. Both Golden State and the Rockets have made their way to the top of the standings by improving on the defensive end, and Wednesday’s game pits two of the top three defenses in the league.
Miami at Denver 10:30 PM ET
The Miami Heat will be playing their second road game in two nights, this time at altitude, but the Denver Nuggets might still have the heaviest legs when the teams meet Wednesday. The Nuggets lost in overtime Monday night against the Toronto Raptors — their second game in two nights — and four starters logged 44 minutes or more in the five-point loss, their fourth straight. Miami ended a four-game losing streak with a six-point win Tuesday night at the Phoenix Suns.