Preview Roundups
December 27, 2014
Toronto at L.A. Clippers 3:30 PM ET
After their six-game road trip got off to a rough start, the Toronto Raptors hope their defense provides a bit more resistance Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Raptors allowed the Chicago Bulls to score a franchise-record 49 points in the fourth quarter in Monday's 129-120 loss. They had won their previous six games, although Toronto has now allowed at least 100 points in three consecutive games and 12 of its last 16 contests.
Orlando at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The teams scuffling at the bottom of the Southeast Division standings square off Saturday when the Charlotte Hornets host the Orlando Magic. The Hornets, looking to bounce back from a 98-75 loss at Oklahoma City on Friday, aim for their third straight win at home, where they are a respectable 7-9. Orlando has dropped three straight on the road and has dropped seven of its last nine overall.
Boston at Washington 7:00 PM ET
After coasting to a physical road win, Washington returns to the nation's capital looking to snap a two-game home slide when it hosts Boston on Saturday. In a game that featured an altercation involving star point guard John Wall, the Wizards cruised past New York 102-91 in a Christmas Day matinee at Madison Square Garden. Wall was unbothered by the incident, finishing off an impressive 24-point, 11-assist performance that further cemented him as an early MVP candidate.
Memphis at Miami 7:30 PM ET
The month of December has not been kind for Miami, but the Heat came up big on Christmas Day against the Cleveland Cavaliers in LeBron James' return to the city he brought two NBA titles. The Heat look to build upon that momentum when struggling Memphis visits Saturday in a battle of teams that play at the slowest pace in the NBA. Miami could be catching the Grizzlies at the right time, as Memphis dropped its fourth straight Friday, falling 117-111 in overtime to Houston.
New Orleans at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis will get his first opportunity to play an NBA game in his hometown when the Pelicans travel to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. Davis, who came into Friday leading the league in rebounding and fourth in scoring, missed last season’s meeting in Chicago with a broken hand and the year before with a concussion. Davis had 24 points, eight rebounds and six blocks when these teams met in New Orleans in February.
Indiana at Brooklyn 8:00 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets look to extend their season-high winning streak to four games when they host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. Jarrett Jack scored 27 points and the Nets rallied from 11 down in the fourth quarter to beat Boston 109-107 on Friday afternoon without a double-figure effort from any of their top three scorers. Brooklyn attempts to snap a four-game losing streak against Indiana, which gave up a season-high 119 points at Detroit on Friday night for its 11th loss in 14 games.
Atlanta at Milwaukee 8:30 PM ET
A night after embarrassing an Eastern Conference contender on its home court, the Milwaukee Bucks will try to prove it was no fluke when they host the Atlanta Hawks in the second game of a home-and-home set Saturday. The Bucks clobbered the Hawks 107-77 Friday, getting a season-high 24 points from Jared Dudley. Atlanta will try to return the favor in Milwaukee, where it has won in its last four trips dating to March 2012.
Philadelphia at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz won three of the last four on a six-game road trip and are coming off a five-day layoff when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. The Jazz are hoping to still have some of the momentum around from a 97-91 win at Memphis on Monday as they start a stretch of three games in four days. The 76ers put together strong defensive efforts in back-to-back wins but fell apart on that end at Portland on Friday.
New York at Sacramento 10:00 PM ET
Two teams in downward spirals will try to change directions when the Sacramento Kings host the New York Knicks on Saturday night. The Kings lost for the seventh time in the last eight games Friday against the Phoenix Suns, one day after the Knicks lost their sixth consecutive contest and 16th out of 17 in front of a national Christmas Day audience against the Washington Wizards. At least the Knicks are getting away from Madison Square Garden, where they’ve lost eight in a row.
Minnesota at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors are stumbling all of a sudden with three losses in their last five games. The Warriors will try to avoid their first three-game slide of the season when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Golden State put in a lackluster performance in a 115-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday and were no better in the same building during Thursday’s 100-86 loss to the Clippers.