Preview Roundups
January 27, 2017
Sacramento at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
The Sacramento Kings are displaying signs of life during an eight-game road trip and aim to record their third consecutive victory when they visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday. Sacramento improved to 2-2 on the excursion with a stunning 116-112 overtime win over the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Brooklyn at Cleveland 7:30 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to slump and dropped six of their last eight games entering Friday's home contest against the woeful Brooklyn Nets. Cleveland lost its last three games and the latest setback was a dreadful 116-112 home overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
Orlando at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics avoided a four-game losing streak with one of their biggest wins of the season and now eye a soft portion of the schedule, beginning Friday at home against the Orlando Magic. The Celtics, who play nine of their next 12 games against teams that entered Thursday with a losing record, snapped their three-game slide with a 120-109 home win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
Milwaukee at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers' meltdown over the last two weeks seemed like the perfect opportunity for the Toronto Raptors to jump up and claim the top spot into the Eastern Conference, but instead they've gone into a funk as well. The Raptors will try to snap a season-long five-game slide when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
Charlotte at New York 7:30 PM ET
The New York Knicks are apparently intent on getting star forward Carmelo Anthony out of town, though he seems to be the least of their problems at the moment. The Knicks will try to fight off the trade rumors and earn a fifth win in the last 19 games when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
Houston at Philadelphia 8:00 PM ET
The Philadelphia 76ers are expecting star center Joel Embiid to return to the lineup Friday, when they aim for their third three-game winning streak this month while hosting the Houston Rockets. Embiid (knee) missed three games in a row but the surging 76ers are proving they can survive without his emerging talents, knocking off the Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks in a back-to-back earlier this week.
Miami at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
Dwyane Wade's old team is visiting just as his new team seems to be coming apart. Wade and the Chicago Bulls will try to heal some of the fractures within the team and bounce back from a tough loss when they host the Miami Heat on Friday.
San Antonio at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs hope to have star small forward Kawhi Leonard back on the floor when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. Leonard missed the past two games with a left hand injury after a tremendous roll in which he scored 30 or more points in six consecutive contests.
Washington at Atlanta 8:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards are quietly making a steady climb up the standings in the Eastern Conference and are winners of nine of their last 11 games. The Wizards will try to pull one game closer to the No. 4 spot in the East when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
Memphis at Portland 10:00 PM ET
Memphis center Marc Gasol is on a tear and he aims to top 20 points for the sixth consecutive game when the Grizzlies begin a six-game road trip by visiting the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Gasol established career bests of 42 points and five 3-pointers in Wednesday's 101-99 over the Toronto Raptors.