Preview Roundups
December 23, 2016
Chicago at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls appeared to right the ship with one of their most impressive performances on both ends in a 113-82 win over Detroit on Monday but went right back into the loss column by falling to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. The Bulls will try to ride the rollercoaster back up the hill when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
L.A. Lakers at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers will finish up what has been a very difficult road trip when they visit the Orlando Magic on Friday. A 115-107 loss in Miami on Thursday left the reeling Lakers with a 1-5 mark on their season-high seven-game trip, and it was their NBA-leading 14th road loss of the season.
Brooklyn at Cleveland 7:30 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a huge Christmas Day showdown on the horizon, which means they have to be careful not to overlook woeful Brooklyn when the Nets visit town on Friday. Cleveland has won eight of its last nine games entering the contest, which precedes Sunday's NBA Finals rematch against the Golden State Warriors.
Oklahoma City at Boston 7:30 PM ET
Two of the better point guards in the NBA square off on Friday when Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook matches up with Boston's Isaiah Thomas on the Celtics' home floor. Westbrook leads the NBA in scoring at 31.3 points per game while Thomas ranks seventh in the league with a 26.7 average.
Golden State at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors are well aware of the matchup that looms on Christmas Day but first they have Friday's road game against the Detroit Pistons, who have lost four consecutive games. The Warriors, who have won six straight games, will try not to look past the Pistons with the highly anticipated NBA Finals rematch against the Cleveland Cavaliers slated for Sunday.
Washington at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards feel like they can beat any team when John Wall and Bradley Beal are both healthy and playing well at the same time, and they continue to prove themselves right. The Wizards will try to pick up their seventh win in nine games when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
Houston at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies are fourth in the league in 3-point field goal defense, holding opponents to 33.5 percent from beyond the arc, and will put that defense to the test when they host the Houston Rockets on Friday. The Rockets lead the NBA in 3-point attempts (38.9 per game) and are sixth in accuracy while shooting 37.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Miami at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans were hoping to kick-start a turnaround in the opener of a five-game homestand, but once again they fell short. The Pelicans will try once more to create a spark when they continue their lengthy stay at the Smoothie King Center with Friday's visit from the Miami Heat.
Sacramento at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves posted consecutive victories for the first time this season and aim to make it three in a row when they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday. Minnesota took down the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks and won three of its past four games, accounting for one-third of the team's victories this season.
Atlanta at Denver 9:00 PM ET
After playing three times in four days, the Denver Nuggets hope a two-day break before hosting the Atlanta Hawks on Friday reinvigorates their offense. The Nuggets ran out of juice in Tuesday’s 119-102 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers, but return home having won four of their past six while averaging 115.6 points per game during that stretch.
Toronto at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz were establishing themselves as contenders in the Western Conference with wins in 11 of 13 games but suffered a bit of a course correction with two straight stomach-churning losses. The Jazz will try to bounce back and beat another top contender when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
Philadelphia at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
Rookie center Joel Embiid is expected to play in his career-best fifth straight game when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Philadelphia hasn't played since Tuesday - a 108-93 loss in New Orleans - and doesn't compete again until Monday in Sacramento, and the oft-injured Embiid might not be rested until the 76ers conclude their road trip with back-to-back contests in Utah and Denver on Dec. 29-30.
San Antonio at Portland 10:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers reached the Western Conference semifinals last season and have yet to show they are a lock for a return to the playoffs in 2016-17. The Trail Blazers are in a battle for eighth place in the West with several sub .500 teams after dropping four straight and eight of nine as they prepare to host the red-hot San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
Dallas at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers gained plenty of experience playing without Blake Griffin last season and must move forward without their star forward for the next four to six weeks after he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. Griffin missed 47 games in 2015-2016 and the Clippers have won both contests without him this week as they prepare to host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.