Preview Roundups
December 31, 2014
Sacramento at Boston 1:00 PM ET
Boston attempts to snap a four-game losing streak when it hosts Sacramento in a New Year's Eve matinee. The Celtics will have had three full days off to stew over the latest setback, a 101-88 defeat in Washington on Saturday that left head coach Brad Stevens' team 1-4 since trading away point guard Rajon Rondo. Despite the slide and a rotation that changes on a game-by-game basis, some players still feel they are not far off.
Miami at Indiana 3:00 PM ET
Miami begins a road-heavy portion of its schedule Wednesday in Indiana, which might be a good thing for the struggling Heat. Despite 25 points from Dwyane Wade and 20 from Chris Bosh in his return from a calf injury, Miami dropped a 102-101 decision at home against Orlando on Monday, wrapping up a dismal 2-5 homestand that also featured losses to Utah and Philadelphia. "You’ve got to win those games, especially at home," Wade told reporters Monday.
New York at L.A. Clippers 6:00 PM ET
The New York Knicks are unsure whether they will have the services of standout forward Carmelo Anthony when they tackle the host Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Anthony’s left knee flared up and he didn’t play in the second half of Sunday’s 101-79 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. The injury-riddled Knicks have lost eight straight games while the Clippers have won nine of their last 10 home games.
Charlotte at Houston 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets have trouble winning in Houston and will be without center Al Jefferson when they visit the Rockets on Wednesday. Houston has won the last seven meetings and the Hornets will have a hard time ending that streak without Jefferson, who suffered a groin injury during Monday’s overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Houston has lost back-to-back games to the San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards and is looking to get back on track against Charlotte.
Milwaukee at Cleveland 7:00 PM ET
Injuries have been added to insult for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who limp home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. The Cavaliers have lost three of four since losing center Anderson Varejao for the season, and stars LeBron James (knee) and Kevin Love (back) are banged up. The Bucks hope to take advantage as they aim to end a streak of four straight losses in Cleveland.
New Orleans at San Antonio 7:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans look to beat the San Antonio Spurs for the third straight time when the Southwest Division rivals square off at the AT&T Center on New Year's Eve. The Pelicans snapped a five-game losing streak to the Spurs with a 100-99 win on Nov. 8 before repeating the feat with a 97-90 victory on Boxing Day. New Orleans is coming off a hard-fought 110-106 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night and hopes to end the calendar year by halting a two-game road skid.
Phoenix at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns look to return to winning ways when they stay on the road to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on New Year's Eve. The Suns saw their six-game winning streak come to an end after a 110-106 setback to the New Orleans Pelicans and they turn their attention to concluding their road swing with a 3-1 record. Phoenix snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Thunder last season and hopes to emerge victorious at Chesapeake Energy Arena for the first time since Dec. 19, 2010.