Preview Roundups
November 09, 2014
Orlando at Brooklyn 3:30 PM ET
The young Orlando Magic found ways to win the last two games in dramatic fashion and look to build more confidence when they visit the Brooklyn Nets for a Sunday matinee. Rookies Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon combined for 32 points in Orlando’s 112-103 overtime victory over Minnesota on Friday and forward Tobias Harris told reporters both gave the team a spark. The Magic will get a test against veteran Nets, who have won three of their last four after dropping the season opener.
Utah at Detroit 6:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz followed one of the most surprising upsets of the young season with a disappointing loss their last time out, so they'll be eager to see which team shows up to begin a five-game road trip Sunday at Detroit. The Jazz knocked off LeBron James and Cleveland on Wednesday only to be blown out 105-82 by Dallas two nights later. Now they have to contend with a Pistons team that has won two straight following a three-game skid to start the season.
Sacramento at Oklahoma City 7:00 PM ET
The time may never be better for the surprising Sacramento Kings to win their first game ever on the road against Oklahoma City when they meet the depleted Thunder on Sunday. The Kings are 0-10 in Oklahoma City and haven't posted a road victory against the Thunder-Sonics franchise since March 30, 2008. Oklahoma City, which entered the season as a top title contender, has been decimated by injuries to MVP Kevin Durant, All-Star guard Russell Westbrook and others.
Philadelphia at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors are off to the quickest start in franchise history, and the Philadelphia 76ers don't appear to be a threat to slow them down. The Raptors host the winless 76ers on Sunday, and they've won four straight in the series, matching their longest winning streak against Philadelphia. Philadelphia native Kyle Lowry, who averaged 16.5 points and 10.5 assists against the Sixers last season, is coming off his sixth career double-double in Friday's 103-84 win over Washington.
Miami at Dallas 7:30 PM ET
Many who wrote off Miami in the wake of LeBron James' departure did so in large part because Dwyane Wade did not seem to be the same player he once was. Wade has shunned the naysayers early on and will attempt to keep his solid play going when he leads the Heat into a Sunday night matchup at Dallas. The 10-time All-Star, who was limited to 54 games last season, was dominant in Miami's 102-92 win over Minnesota on Saturday, going 11-for-16 from the floor en route to 25 points and eight assists.
Golden State at Phoenix 8:00 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors lucked out with a shorthanded Houston Rockets squad on Saturday but still took care of business to keep their undefeated record alive. The Warriors will try to move to 6-0 when they visit the Phoenix Suns in the second night of a back-to-back on Sunday. The Suns dropped a double-overtime thriller to Sacramento on Friday and have lost the first two of a five-game homestand.
Denver at Portland 9:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t started clicking on all cylinders yet and are hoping a three-game stretch that includes two games against Denver will be the impetus to stringing together a bunch of wins. The Trail Blazers are just 3-3 entering Sunday’s home game against the Nuggets and have yet to look like the team that racked up 54 victories and a playoff series last season. Denver has suffered four consecutive defeats since winning its opener.
Charlotte at L.A. Lakers 9:30 PM ET
There’s no question which team will have the momentum when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday afternoon. Charlotte is coming off a dramatic double-overtime win Friday night against the visiting Hawks, as Lance Stephenson banked in a straightaway 3-pointer at the buzzer to break the final tie. The Lakers, on the other hand, have lost their first five games, which represents the organization’s worst start since 1957.