Preview Roundups
December 26, 2016
Milwaukee at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards hope to find the answers to containing star swingman Giannis Antetokounmpo when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 39 in a 123-96 rout of the Wizards on Friday and is averaging almost 29 points in his last seven games as the Bucks attempt to climb in the Eastern Conference standings.
Memphis at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies took a few games to find their rhythm when they started getting key players back into the lineup, but it looks like they've figured things out of late. The Grizzlies will try to push their winning streak to three straight when they visit the Orlando Magic on Monday to kick off a string of eight of 10 on the road.
Charlotte at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets look like a team that can contend in the Eastern Conference when the backcourt is healthy and productive, and the frontcourt is providing any kind of support on the offensive end. The Hornets enjoyed both of those things during a three-game winning streak and will try to make it four in a row when they visit the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.
Cleveland at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
Following a rousing Christmas Day victory, the Cleveland Cavaliers will attempt to extend their five-game winning streak Monday with a visit to the Detroit Pistons, who have lost five straight. Kyrie Irving's basket with 3.4 seconds left lifted the Cavaliers to a come-from-behind 109-108 win over the visiting Golden State Warriors on Sunday in an NBA Finals rematch.
Indiana at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers will try once again to avoid a third straight loss when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Monday. The Pacers lost two in a row four times this season and won two straight on four occasions, but they have yet to have a streak of either kind last three games while struggling to sustain much either way.
Dallas at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks are starting to show signs of life in what otherwise has been a disappointing season. The Mavericks aim for their first three-game winning streak of the campaign Monday when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans.
Phoenix at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns yielded 125 points at home against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday and is last in the Western Conference in scoring defense at an average of 113.6 allowed. The Suns will try to put together a few more stops when they begin a stretch of four of five on the road by visiting the Rockets on Monday.
Atlanta at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks look to extend their road winning streak to five and win back-to-back games for the first time in more than two weeks when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. The Hawks won at Denver 109-108 on Friday without three key players in their rotation after losing by eight points at home against Minnesota two days earlier.
Toronto at Portland 10:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers are losers of five straight and nine of their last 10 and might be without their best player when they host the Toronto Raptors on Monday. Damian Lillard had x-rays come back negative on a sprained ankle that forced him out of Friday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs and is listed as day-to-day.
Denver at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers are already without their top scorer Blake Griffin for at least another month and point guard Chris Paul could miss his third straight game when the Denver Nuggets pay a visit Monday night. The Clippers are showing the effects of the absence of both All Stars with losses to a pair of teams out of playoff position the last two games — Dallas and the rival Los Angeles Lakers.
Philadelphia at Sacramento 10:30 PM ET
The Sacramento Kings look to ride the momentum of a season-high, three-game winning streak into another successful performance against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Sacramento's surge has featured three victories by a combined 10 points, thanks to the continuing domination by DeMarcus Cousins on the interior.