Preview Roundups
February 06, 2013
Boston at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
With trade rumors continuing to swirl around big man Kevin Garnett, the Boston Celtics will seek a fifth consecutive victory when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. Boston appeared dead in the water after dropping six straight games and losing Rajon Rondo to a season-ending knee injury, but the Celtics have displayed remarkable resilience by ripping off four straight wins without their All-Star point guard. Wednesday's game could mark the return of Toronto's Andrea Bargnani.
Indiana at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
You certainly can’t blame the Indiana Pacers if fatigue is starting to set in. But it certainly isn’t showing. The Pacers will look to wrap up the NBA’s only back-to-back-to-back set with another victory by traveling to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. The Pacers are coming off wins over the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks on consecutive nights, pushing them into sole possession of first place in the Central Division in the process.
New York at Washington 7:00 PM ET
Recent home wins over Miami and Oklahoma City have given the Washington Wizards plenty of confidence at the Verizon Center. They'll need every bit of it Wednesday night as they look to handle the visiting New York Knicks. Washington has lost 10 straight games to the Knicks in their head-to-head series, but may be in position to end the streak after winning six of their previous seven home games. New York has won five straight overall and is coming off a 99-85 win over Detroit on Sunday.
L.A. Clippers at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
Two teams dealing with major injuries meet up Wednesday when the Orlando Magic host the Los Angeles Clippers. Orlando has lost 10 straight games and 21 of 23 and is missing key players Glen Davis (foot), Jameer Nelson (forearm) and Arron Afflalo (calf). The Clippers have been without point guard Chris Paul (knee) for the last nine games and have gone 2-7 in Paul’s absence. Forward Blake Griffin is day-to-day after missing Monday’s loss to Washington due to a hamstring injury.
Charlotte at Cleveland 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Bobcats will try to avoid going winless on their five-game road trip when they wrap up the tour Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland will look for its second straight win to start a seven-game homestand that bridges the All-Star break. The Cavaliers have won four of six, including a shocking 115-110 victory over Oklahoma City on Saturday. The Bobcats have lost the first four game on the trip and seven of their last eight road games overall.
Memphis at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies are still waiting to get something positive out of the three players they acquired in a three-team trade last week. Coming off a loss a night earlier, the Grizzlies look to bounce back as they visit the Atlanta Hawks in a Wednesday night showdown. Both teams are playing the second half of a back-to-back. The Grizzlies fell 96-90 at home to Phoenix - their third loss in five games - while the Hawks are coming off a 114-103 defeat in Indiana and have dropped three of four.
Houston at Miami 7:30 PM ET
The Houston Rockets are coming off one of those nights they hoped would never end. They will be trying to carry their record-tying momentum to Miami on Wednesday when they visit the Heat. The Rockets matched an NBA record with 23 3-pointers in a 140-109 drubbing of the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. LeBron James and Heat present a much different challenge defensively, however. Miami has won seven of nine.
Brooklyn at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
The Detroit Pistons will try to continue their home-court dominance over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. The Pistons have won the past 10 meetings in Detroit and they could use another victory, having lost two straight and four of their last five overall. The Nets have lost four of six after a 92-83 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Brooklyn is trying to avoid a third consecutive road loss.
Phoenix at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
Two of the worst teams in the Western Conference will be on the same court when the Phoenix Suns visit the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday. Phoenix picked up a rare road victory by beating the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday and is just 5-20 away from home. New Orleans has lost four straight games and six of seven and ranks last in the Western Conference. The Hornets are just 7-15 on their home floor.
Golden State at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors are hoping to make like a baseball closer and forget the previous night as quickly as possible. The Warriors will be trying to bounce back from a drubbing in Houston when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Golden State allowed the Rockets to match an NBA record with 23 3-pointers in a 140-109 setback on Tuesday night. The Warriors had won four straight before beginning a stretch of four road games in five days at the Rockets.
Portland at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks will be out to avenge a galling defeat when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. When the teams met in Portland eight days ago, the Mavericks not only squandered a 21-point, third-quarter lead, they also watched Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge score five points in the final 4.9 seconds to pull out a stunning victory for his team. Portland has won two straight and five of seven.
San Antonio at Minnesota 9:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs have won 10 straight games and begin the nine-game rodeo road trip against a team they usually dominate. San Antonio visits Minnesota on Wednesday and will be looking to beat the Timberwolves for the 19th time in the last 21 meetings. The Spurs own the NBA’s best record entering the contest against struggling Minnesota, which has lost 12 of its last 14 games and badly misses All-Star forward Kevin Love (broken hand).
Milwaukee at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The injuries continue to pile up for the Utah Jazz, which could be especially troubling news in their next game. The Jazz will be tasked with slowing the lethal backcourt combo of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. Utah has been able to weather the storm with point guards Mo Williams and Earl Watson sidelined, but now presumed starter Jamaal Tinsley is dealing with a sore left ankle.