Preview Roundups
December 14, 2014
Golden State at New Orleans 6:00 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors have passed every test thrown their way over the last month, and next up is navigating a back-to-back on the road. The Warriors will try to complete the back-to-back sweep and run their franchise-record winning streak to 16 straight when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. The Pelicans are winners of three of their last four games but could be missing a big piece Sunday in Anthony Davis, who is day-to-day with a chest injury.
Chicago at Miami 6:00 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls have been tougher on the road than at home, and they hope to continue that trend when they visit the Miami Heat on Sunday. Chicago aims to add to its 10-3 road mark, including a perfect 7-0 against Eastern Conference foes. The Heat have won three straight home games against the Bulls, but they're 4-6 at home this season and have lost five of their last six on their floor.
Utah at Washington 6:00 PM ET
After a signature win Friday, the Washington Wizards seek to continue the best home start in franchise history when the struggling Utah Jazz visit Sunday. The Wizards led wire-to-wire in snapping the Clippers' nine-game winning streak and improving to 11-2 at the Verizon Center this season. “We gave them a taste of that East Coast basketball tonight,” forward Paul Pierce told the Washington Post.
L.A. Lakers at Minnesota 7:00 PM ET
Kobe Bryant likely will move past Michael Jordan on the NBA's all-time scoring list Sunday in Minnesota, as the Los Angeles Lakers aim for a season-high third straight victory when they face the struggling Timberwolves. Bryant (32,284) needs only nine points to pass Jordan for third on the all-time list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. Minnesota has won three straight in the series, including a 120-119 win on Nov. 28 in Los Angeles.
Phoenix at Oklahoma City 7:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns hold the eighth and final playoff position in the loaded Western Conference, but the finally-healthy Oklahoma City Thunder are charging hard and can come within one-half game with a victory against the visiting Suns on Sunday. The Thunder started 3-12 due to injuries to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but with both returning, the club has won seven of eight to get themselves back in the playoff picture. Phoenix has started to sink, losing four straight and six of eight.
Toronto at New York 7:30 PM ET
The New York Knicks snapped a 10-game slide on Friday, and their reward is a date with the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks will try to earn back-to-back wins for the first time since Oct. 30 and Nov. 2 when they host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The Raptors are coming off a 106-94 win over the Indiana Pacers but are just 4-4 over their last eight as they navigate without DeMar DeRozan.
San Antonio at Denver 8:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs will try to regroup when they travel to the Denver Nuggets for a Sunday night game. The Spurs have lost two of their last three and both losses came against sub-.500 teams, the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers. San Antonio had a chance to move up the Western Conference standings during a four-game stretch against the three worst teams in the West and one of the worst in the East, but only went 2-2.