Preview Roundups
December 30, 2016
Chicago at Indiana 4:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers are losers of four straight games and are hoping a stretch with four of five games at home can turn their fortunes. The Pacers, who are 11-5 in their own building, will begin that stretch by hosting the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
Brooklyn at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards are winners of two straight and eight of 11 and get a chance to move to the .500 mark when they host the lowly Brooklyn Nets on Friday. The Nets dropped six of their last seven games and followed up a win on a last-second shot with a loss on a last-second shot in the last two contests.
Miami at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics have been one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference over the second half of December but suffered a bit of a derailment when they matched up with the conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers. Boston looks to get back on track one night later when it hosts the Miami Heat on Friday in the opener of a four-game homestand.
New York at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans knew over a week ago that it was time to make a move if they intended on being in the playoffs in the Western Conference, and the team responded with wins in four of the last five games. The Pelicans will try to push their winning streak to four in a row when they host the New York Knicks on Friday.
L.A. Clippers at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers are struggling with a season-worst four consecutive losses and they will attempt to halt the skid when they visit the Houston Rockets on Friday. Los Angeles is just 8-10 since winning 14 of its first 16 games while the Rockets are soaring with a 13-2 mark in December.
Milwaukee at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks own two of the most exciting young rosters in the NBA, but only one of them is consistently finding the way into the win column. The Bucks will try to pull over .500 and win for the third time in four games when they visit the Timberwolves on Friday.
Detroit at Atlanta 8:00 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks have won six of the last seven games in which they have scored 100 or more points, and have an opportunity to continue flourishing offensively when they host the Detroit Pistons on Friday. While the Pistons have surrendered just 98.5 points per game, they are mired in the midst of a 1-6 stretch during which Detroit has allowed 109.4 points per contest.
Portland at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
LaMarcus Aldridge is on a terrific two-game roll and the San Antonio power forward covets another stellar outing when the Spurs host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Aldridge averaged 30 points on 25-of-32 shooting during the span, scoring a season-high 33 against Chicago on Christmas Day and following up with 27 on 10-of-12 shooting in Wednesday's 119-98 rout of the Phoenix Suns.
Philadelphia at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets are starting to make headway in their quest for a Western Conference playoff spot and look to keep it going when they host the struggling Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. The Nuggets knocked off the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota by a combined six points to win the last two games and have won five of seven to climb into a tie for eighth in the West.
Dallas at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors won the opener of a stretch in which nine of 10 games are at home and strive to claim another victory when they host the lowly Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Golden State improved its NBA-best record to 28-5 by shooting 56.8 percent from the field during Monday's 121-111 win over the Toronto Raptors.