Preview Roundups
December 20, 2016
New Orleans at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The Philadelphia 76ers are a team on the rise now that they're building around rookie center Joel Embiid and are fighting through some squabbling to get into the win column. The New Orleans Pelicans, who visit the 76ers on Tuesday, were supposed to be a team on the rise as well but instead continue to display inconsistency as they drift toward the Western Conference basement.
L.A. Lakers at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets avoided being swept on a five-game road trip with a victory in the finale and will try to turn that into a winning streak when they return home to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. The Hornets will play four of their last six games this month at home, with the two road contests at sub-.500 foes Brooklyn and Orlando.
Brooklyn at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors bounced back from a tough loss in the best way possible - by crushing their next opponent. The Raptors will try to bring the same level of intensity back home when they make a brief stop to host the Brooklyn Nets before embarking on a six-game road trip that will take them through Golden State and San Antonio.
Indiana at New York 7:30 PM ET
The New York Knicks expect to have point guard Derrick Rose back in the lineup Tuesday night when they attempt to snap a three-game losing streak against the visiting Indiana Pacers. Rose (back) missed three games and most of a fourth during the Knicks' recently completed five-game road trip but was a full participant in Monday's practice.
Orlando at Miami 7:30 PM ET
The Orlando Magic came into this season with very high expectations and have yet to show on a consistent basis that they are a playoff caliber team through 29 games. Orlando followed a promising 4-1 road trip with five losses in the last seven games and looks to begin turning things back in a positive direction Tuesday when it visits the similarly disappointing Miami Heat.
Cleveland at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
Cleveland forward LeBron James has been an NBA superstar for more than a decade and the Milwaukee Bucks have a player who may someday also be known as one. Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to make another statement when the Bucks host the Cavaliers on Tuesday in the first contest of a home-and-home set.
Boston at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
After an impressive winning streak playing mostly with a shorthanded, makeshift lineup, the Memphis Grizzlies have started to struggle with a full complement of players. The Grizzlies will try to rebound from an ugly home loss when they host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.
San Antonio at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Houston Rockets are the hottest team in the NBA with 10 consecutive victories but they still trail the San Antonio Spurs by 1 1/2 games in the Southwest Division. Houston attempts to pick up more ground on Tuesday when it hosts the Spurs, who have won four straight contests and 17 of their last 19.
Denver at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers received a huge blow when it was announced that power forward Blake Griffin needs arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and will be sidelined three to six weeks. Griffin will undergo the procedure Tuesday, hours before the Clippers host the Denver Nuggets.
Utah at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors are enjoying a four-game winning streak and just put together one of their most impressive performances of the season. The trick now is to maintain that same level of focus and not look ahead as the high-scoring Warriors try to solve the best defensive team in the league when they host the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.
Portland at Sacramento 10:30 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers have been major disappointments so far this season and try to avoid suffering their seventh defeat in eight games when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. Portland star point guard Damian Lillard called out his teammates after Saturday's contest when the Trail Blazers were routed 135-90 by the Golden State Warriors.