Preview Roundups
January 02, 2016
Brooklyn at Boston 3:00 PM ET
The Boston Celtics ended 2015 on a sour note, but it was a positive year overall for an up-and-coming squad. The Celtics will try to continue their climb up the Eastern Conference ladder in 2016, beginning with the opener of a home-and-home set with the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday at TD Garden.
Phoenix at Sacramento 5:00 PM ET
The Sacramento Kings are taking steps in the wrong direction and are coming off a home loss to the NBA-worst Philadelphia 76ers. The Kings will try to snap a three-game slide when they host the equally dysfunctional Phoenix Suns on Saturday.
Oklahoma City at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The streaking Oklahoma City Thunder look to defeat Charlotte for the
10th consecutive time when they visit the Hornets on Saturday. Four of
the victories have come in Charlotte, and the Thunder won last season's
two meetings by an average of 15 points.
Detroit at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers’ inconsistency at the defense end is keeping the team from moving forward in the standings. The Pacers will try to bounce back from a terrible performance on the defensive end when they host the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
Orlando at Cleveland 7:30 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers may be in the midst of their big run to separate from the rest of the Eastern Conference with eight victories in 10 games. The Cavaliers look to continue that roll and their dominance over the vastly-improved Orlando Magic, who pay a visit on Saturday after dropping the first two meetings this season by a combined 49 points.
Milwaukee at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves are having some trouble scoring and the Milwaukee Bucks can’t seem to stop anyone at the defensive end. The Bucks will try to ride Khris Middleton’s hot streak to a second consecutive win when they visit the Timberwolves on Saturday.
New Orleans at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks will try to bounce back from a rocky road loss when they put a pair of home winning streaks on the line against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. The Mavericks have won five straight at home and have claimed six in a row against the Pelicans at American Airlines Center.
Houston at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The Houston Rockets are the only team to defeat San Antonio over the
past three-plus weeks and look to hand the Spurs their first home loss
of the season on Saturday. San Antonio is 19-0 at home this season and
has won 10 of its last 11 overall games with the loss coming against the
Rockets on Christmas Day.
Memphis at Utah 9:00 PM ET
Memphis center Marc Gasol isn't operating at the efficient pace of last
season's career-best 17.4 scoring average but has strung together seven
good efforts entering Saturday's road game against the Utah Jazz. Gasol
is matching last season's scoring performance during the hot stretch and
registered 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals in
Tuesday's 99-90 overtime victory over the Miami Heat.
Denver at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors recently suffered their second loss but still have a winning streak to protect when they return home. The Warriors will try to push their streak to 34 straight home wins when they host the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
Philadelphia at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers just completed the first 5-0 road trip in
franchise history and now start a stretch of home games against the
woeful Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Los Angeles plays six of its next
seven games at Staples Center and begins the extended time on the
home floor with a team it has beaten seven consecutive times.