Preview Roundups
February 08, 2013
Brooklyn at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards have developed a habit of knocking off top-quality competition. The Brooklyn Nets, who visit Washington on Friday, are hoping to avoid becoming the latest victims. The Wizards had dropped four straight before returning home on Monday and knocking off the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks in back-to-back games. The Nets picked up a win on Wednesday but have lost four of their last seven.
L.A. Lakers at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
A matchup with the Charlotte Bobcats has almost been a gimme for most NBA teams since the last week of November. It normally would be considered an automatic W for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Not anymore. The Lakers will look to bounce back from their worst defeat of the season when they continue their seven-road road trip Friday night in Charlotte. Los Angeles had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 116-95 thumping in Boston on Thursday night.
Toronto at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
Earlier this week, the Indiana Pacers became the only team to play three games in three nights this season - and escaped with three impressive victories. The Pacers come off a well-deserved day of rest looking to extend their winning streak to six as they host the struggling Toronto Raptors on Friday night. The Pacers concluded their busy three-day stretch with a thorough 88-69 drubbing of the Philadelphia 76ers. Toronto has dropped two straight, including a narrow loss to Boston on Wednesday.
New Orleans at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
The rebuilding effort of the New Orleans Hornets is a work in progress and, given their young lineup, it’s hardly a surprise. So any chance the Hornets have at building momentum goes a long way toward the future development of the team. The Hornets will try to win back-to-back games for the first time in three weeks when they open a three-game road trip against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. New Orleans has lost its past four games away from home. Atlanta is a pedestrian 5-5 in its past 10 games.
San Antonio at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs may have Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili back when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday. Even if both stars remain sidelined, it is hard to bet against the Spurs, who have won 11 straight, including the 104-94 opener of their nine-game road trip Wednesday in Minnesota. Duncan (knee) and Ginobili (hamstring) watched as Danny Green erupted for a career-high 28 points, going 8-for-12 from long distance. The Pistons have lost three straight.
Orlando at Cleveland 7:30 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to take advantage of a golden opportunity to snap a 10-game losing streak against Orlando when they host the injury-ravaged Magic on Friday. Orlando has lost seven straight on the road and 11 in a row overall - both season-worst streaks - but it hasn't lost to the Cavaliers since Feb. 11, 2010, and has won 17 of the last 23 regular-season meetings, including seven of the last 10 in Cleveland. The Cavaliers have won two straight and five of seven.
L.A. Clippers at Miami 8:00 PM ET
It looks like a potential NBA Finals matchup on paper - and key players should be back in the fold on both sides of Friday's game between the Los Angeles Clippers and host Miami Heat. The Clippers were without superstars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul for Wednesday's 86-76 win over Orlando, though both practiced Thursday and hope to return. Miami is coming off a win over Houston that came without the services of Chris Bosh, who sat out due to illness but should be back Friday.
Golden State at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors have had their defense abandon them in the first two stops of a four-game road trip. They will be looking for a better effort on that end when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. The Warriors allowed the Houston Rockets to match an NBA record with 23 3-pointers in a 140-109 loss on Tuesday and were blown out 119-98 at Oklahoma City on Wednesday. The Grizzlies have stumbled to back-to-back losses as well.
Portland at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Houston Rockets are holding on to the final playoff slot in the Western Conference and will face their closest pursuer when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. It's the third game in a grueling four-day stretch for the Rockets, who posted a record-setting victory vs. Golden State on Tuesday night before dropping a narrow decision at Miami 24 hours later. Houston hit 23 3-pointers in rolling up 140 points vs. the Warriors and is averaging 118.5 points in its last six games.
Phoenix at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won back-to-back games for the first time since mid-January and now look to beat the visiting Phoenix Suns for the ninth straight time on Friday. Oklahoma City had gone three weeks without consecutive victories until beating the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors earlier this week. Phoenix is experiencing a miserable season and is just 5-21 on the road. The Suns are 4-5 under interim coach Lindsey Hunter.
New York at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Atlantic Division-leading New York Knicks will try to avoid a second consecutive disappointing loss when they travel to Minnesota to face the short-handed Timberwolves on Friday. New York will look to rebound after having a five-game win streak snapped with a 106-96 loss at Washington on Wednesday. The Knicks have won three straight meetings, including a 94-91 win at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 23 and a 100-98 victory in their last trip to Minnesota.
Chicago at Utah 10:30 PM ET
The stingy defense of the Chicago Bulls has disappeared heading into Friday’s game against the host Utah Jazz. Chicago has been near the top of the charts for fewest points allowed all season but has been torched for 239 total points in back-to-back losses to the Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets. Chicago allowed a season-worst 128 in Thursday’s loss to the Nuggets. That output is the highest against the Bulls in Tom Thibodeau’s three seasons as coach.