Celtics Host Grizzlies at TD Garden
The Memphis Grizzlies (19-25) have dropped three straight and nine of their last 10 games to plummet to 14th place in the Western Conference, and spent Wednesday night coming up short against the first place Milwaukee Bucks, 111-101. Omri Casspi emerged as the leading scorer for the Grizzlies, finishing the contest with 17 points off the bench, adding 6 rebounds and shooting 7-of-13 from field goal range. Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and JaMychal Green all recorded 14 points, with Green grabbing 10 boards en route to a double-double and Gasol facilitating five assists. Shelvin Mack played off the pine to deliver 11 points, dished out six assists and shot 5-of-10 from the field. The Grizzlies have the dubious distinction of owning the most anemic offense in the league, averaging only 100.9 points per match-up.
The Boston Celtics (26-18) managed to shake the three-game losing streak monkey off their backs on Wednesday, taking care of the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden, 117-108. The Celtics were coolly efficient from long range and deep, where they shot a collective 50 percent and 47 percent, respectively. Kyrie Irving, returning from a thigh bruise that placed him on the shelf for a handful of games, led the team offensively, putting up a team-high 27 points and 18 assists, going 11-of-19 from the paint and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Al Horford contributed 24 points and seven rebounds, going 3-of-4 from deep, while Gordon Hayward, who has struggled since returning from injury, seemed to find his groove off the bench, scoring 18 points, handing five dimes and shooting 8-of-13 from the paint. Jayson Tatum logged a double-double behind 16 points and 10 rebounds as Boston remains in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, two-and-a-half games behind the fourth place Philadelphia 76ers.
The Boston Celtics (26-18) managed to shake the three-game losing streak monkey off their backs on Wednesday, taking care of the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden, 117-108. The Celtics were coolly efficient from long range and deep, where they shot a collective 50 percent and 47 percent, respectively. Kyrie Irving, returning from a thigh bruise that placed him on the shelf for a handful of games, led the team offensively, putting up a team-high 27 points and 18 assists, going 11-of-19 from the paint and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Al Horford contributed 24 points and seven rebounds, going 3-of-4 from deep, while Gordon Hayward, who has struggled since returning from injury, seemed to find his groove off the bench, scoring 18 points, handing five dimes and shooting 8-of-13 from the paint. Jayson Tatum logged a double-double behind 16 points and 10 rebounds as Boston remains in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, two-and-a-half games behind the fourth place Philadelphia 76ers.
Pistons Play Host to Heat on Friday
The Miami Heat travel to Motown to play the Detroit Pistons at Little Ceasar's Arena on Friday.
The Heat (21-21) have quietly been really good the last month, as they've won 14 of their last 22 games. What's interesting about that is that this stretch directly correlates with Goran Dragic's injury, as Justise Winslow has taken over starting point guard duties in his absence. Not only is Winslow putting up the best numbers of his career, but he's also added another lengthy player to an already stingy defense. That's what's fascinating about this team, as they plug-and-play whoever's on the roster and don't necessarily ride any superstars. Players like Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson and Winslow help to solidify the starting lineup while Tyler Johnson, Dwayne Wade and Bam Adebayo form one of the best benches in the league. It's rare to see a team rely so much on teamwork in today's NBA but Eric Spolestra continues to work his magic and make it operate for this Miami franchise.
The Pistons (19-24) come into this matchup winning two of their last three games, as they're hopeful that this is the start of a positive run. Prior to that, Detroit lost 16 of their previous 20 games. That's the sort of nightmare run that can knock you out of contention and Detroit fans just want to see some consistent play from their team. What makes that even more discouraging is the fact that they have two all-star contenders in the frontcourt, with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond dominating the paint. That means they need more from their wings and guards, as they're struggling mightily at those positions. Players like Reggie Jackson and Reggie Bullock have been formidable but they simply need more scoring from those positions. That's evident when you consider that this team ranks 24th in scoring and 26th in assists, as this club may be in the market for a backcourt stud at this year's trade deadline.
The first game between these teams was an epic meeting, as Miami prevailed in overtime, 120-115, on November 5. That's no surprise when looking at this series history, as these clubs have split their four-game season series each of the last three years.
The Heat (21-21) have quietly been really good the last month, as they've won 14 of their last 22 games. What's interesting about that is that this stretch directly correlates with Goran Dragic's injury, as Justise Winslow has taken over starting point guard duties in his absence. Not only is Winslow putting up the best numbers of his career, but he's also added another lengthy player to an already stingy defense. That's what's fascinating about this team, as they plug-and-play whoever's on the roster and don't necessarily ride any superstars. Players like Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson and Winslow help to solidify the starting lineup while Tyler Johnson, Dwayne Wade and Bam Adebayo form one of the best benches in the league. It's rare to see a team rely so much on teamwork in today's NBA but Eric Spolestra continues to work his magic and make it operate for this Miami franchise.
The Pistons (19-24) come into this matchup winning two of their last three games, as they're hopeful that this is the start of a positive run. Prior to that, Detroit lost 16 of their previous 20 games. That's the sort of nightmare run that can knock you out of contention and Detroit fans just want to see some consistent play from their team. What makes that even more discouraging is the fact that they have two all-star contenders in the frontcourt, with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond dominating the paint. That means they need more from their wings and guards, as they're struggling mightily at those positions. Players like Reggie Jackson and Reggie Bullock have been formidable but they simply need more scoring from those positions. That's evident when you consider that this team ranks 24th in scoring and 26th in assists, as this club may be in the market for a backcourt stud at this year's trade deadline.
The first game between these teams was an epic meeting, as Miami prevailed in overtime, 120-115, on November 5. That's no surprise when looking at this series history, as these clubs have split their four-game season series each of the last three years.
Amway Center Hosts Nets and Magic
The Orlando Magic (19-25) saw their two-game winning streak come to a halt on Wednesday night, as they fell on the road to the Detroit Pistons, 120-115. The Magic have been jockeying for potential eighth seed position with Detroit for the past several weeks, as they pulled up short despite their entire starting five posting double digit production. Nikola Vucevic and sub Terrence Ross put up 24 points apiece, with Vucevic adding a team-high 13 points on 11-of-22 shooting and Ross draining six three-pointers. Through 43 games played, Vucevic is averaging 20.2 points to lead the charge offensively for Orlando. Evan Fournier finished with 18 points, five assists and three triples, while Aaron Gordon came away with 12 points, eight boards and a pair of assists. The Magic remain in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, just a half game behind Detroit, and play the Nets again next Wednesday, this time at Barclays Center.
Wednesday night saw Spencer Dinwiddie lead the reborn Brooklyn Nets (23-23) to a stunning road overtime win over the Houston Rockets,145-142. Dinwiddie exploded off the bench to produce 33 points and 10 rebounds on his way to a double-double, going 13-of-22 from the paint and 4-of-8 from downtown. Fellow reserve player DeMarre Carroll put up 22 points, five rebounds and four three-pointers, while Jarrett Allen had a monster performance defensively, locking down 24 boards to add to his 20 points. Treveon Graham pulled away with 21 points and 4-of-5 production from the charity stripe for a streaking squad that finds itself within striking distance of sixth place in the East, now owned by the Miami Heat. Dinwiddie continues a career trajectory of production that may see him emerge off the pine in a starting role sooner rather than later, as the fifth-year sub is now averaging 17 points and 5.1 assists while only starting four times this season.
Wednesday night saw Spencer Dinwiddie lead the reborn Brooklyn Nets (23-23) to a stunning road overtime win over the Houston Rockets,145-142. Dinwiddie exploded off the bench to produce 33 points and 10 rebounds on his way to a double-double, going 13-of-22 from the paint and 4-of-8 from downtown. Fellow reserve player DeMarre Carroll put up 22 points, five rebounds and four three-pointers, while Jarrett Allen had a monster performance defensively, locking down 24 boards to add to his 20 points. Treveon Graham pulled away with 21 points and 4-of-5 production from the charity stripe for a streaking squad that finds itself within striking distance of sixth place in the East, now owned by the Miami Heat. Dinwiddie continues a career trajectory of production that may see him emerge off the pine in a starting role sooner rather than later, as the fifth-year sub is now averaging 17 points and 5.1 assists while only starting four times this season.
Spurs Look To Keep Winning Trend Alive
By Dan Bruno
The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center on Friday evening.
The Spurs (26-20) are coming off a hard-fought win in Dallas in their last contest, where they had six players score in double digits and recorded 26 assists, to pull off the win. This marks the second and final game of a short road trip for the Spurs, who are just 8-14 on the road this season. They sit sixth place in the West, 5.5 games out of first place, 1.0 games ahead of the eighth seed, and have won seven of their last 10 games. DeMar DeRozan leads the Spurs, averaging 21.7 points, 6.4 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. LaMarcus Aldridge has been right there with him, and has led the team on many occasions, averaging 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. Derrick White has been a huge surprise for San Antonio, as he has stepped up as a huge factor lately, averaging 15.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game over his last 10 games.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves (21-23) are coming off an emotionally charged 42-point loss in Philadelphia on Tuesday, where they faced off against Jimmy Butler, who so publicly spoke out against his former teammates before the trade that sent him away. Derrick Rose was the high-point man for Minnesota in the loss, with 15 points, in 22 minutes off the bench, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins combined for 25 points. The Timberwolves were missing Robert Covington (ankle), who will remain sidelined for the near future. The Timberwolves are 5-5 in their last 10 games, but have won three of their last four at home, where they are 15-7 this season. Karl-Anthony Towns leads the team with an average of 22.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 blocks per game, while Wiggins averages 17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
The Spurs (26-20) are coming off a hard-fought win in Dallas in their last contest, where they had six players score in double digits and recorded 26 assists, to pull off the win. This marks the second and final game of a short road trip for the Spurs, who are just 8-14 on the road this season. They sit sixth place in the West, 5.5 games out of first place, 1.0 games ahead of the eighth seed, and have won seven of their last 10 games. DeMar DeRozan leads the Spurs, averaging 21.7 points, 6.4 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. LaMarcus Aldridge has been right there with him, and has led the team on many occasions, averaging 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. Derrick White has been a huge surprise for San Antonio, as he has stepped up as a huge factor lately, averaging 15.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game over his last 10 games.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves (21-23) are coming off an emotionally charged 42-point loss in Philadelphia on Tuesday, where they faced off against Jimmy Butler, who so publicly spoke out against his former teammates before the trade that sent him away. Derrick Rose was the high-point man for Minnesota in the loss, with 15 points, in 22 minutes off the bench, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins combined for 25 points. The Timberwolves were missing Robert Covington (ankle), who will remain sidelined for the near future. The Timberwolves are 5-5 in their last 10 games, but have won three of their last four at home, where they are 15-7 this season. Karl-Anthony Towns leads the team with an average of 22.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 blocks per game, while Wiggins averages 17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Cavaliers Head West To Battle Jazz
The Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Friday evening.
The Cavaliers (9-36) have fallen apart at the seams since mid-December, and they'll come into Friday's contest having dropped 13 of their last 14 games. Their most recent stumble came at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers, which toppled them by a 129-112 score on Wednesday night. Jordan Clarkson led the way with 22 points, supplementing them with three assists. Rodney Hood contributed 20 points, four rebounds and two assists. Ante Zizic supplied 16 points, eight boards, one assist and two blocks. Cam Payne registered 12 points, three rebounds and two assists. Collin Sexton delivered 11 points, while Jared Blossomgame went for eight points, 10 rebounds, one assist and two blocks.
The Cavaliers will be without Tristan Thompson (foot), Kevin Love (foot) and Larry Nance (knee) on Friday. David Nwaba (ankle) will likely be listed as questionable at best.
The Jazz (25-21) come in as one of the hotter teams in the NBA, as they've won as season-high five straight contests and seven of their last eight overall. Their most recent success was a convincing 129-109 road win over the Clippers on Wednesday night. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 28 points, adding six assists, two rebounds and three steals. Rudy Gobert turned in a 23-point, 22-rebound double-double that also included one assist, four blocks and one steal. Jae Crowder delivered 23 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kyle Korver poured in 19 points. Derrick Favors posted an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. Royce O'Neale checked in with 10 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block.
The Jazz will continue to be without Ricky Rubio (ankle), Dante Exum (ankle), Raul Neto (groin) and Thabo Sefolosha (hamstring) on Friday.
Friday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. Utah holds a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 117-91 victory on Jan. 4.
The Cavaliers (9-36) have fallen apart at the seams since mid-December, and they'll come into Friday's contest having dropped 13 of their last 14 games. Their most recent stumble came at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers, which toppled them by a 129-112 score on Wednesday night. Jordan Clarkson led the way with 22 points, supplementing them with three assists. Rodney Hood contributed 20 points, four rebounds and two assists. Ante Zizic supplied 16 points, eight boards, one assist and two blocks. Cam Payne registered 12 points, three rebounds and two assists. Collin Sexton delivered 11 points, while Jared Blossomgame went for eight points, 10 rebounds, one assist and two blocks.
The Cavaliers will be without Tristan Thompson (foot), Kevin Love (foot) and Larry Nance (knee) on Friday. David Nwaba (ankle) will likely be listed as questionable at best.
The Jazz (25-21) come in as one of the hotter teams in the NBA, as they've won as season-high five straight contests and seven of their last eight overall. Their most recent success was a convincing 129-109 road win over the Clippers on Wednesday night. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 28 points, adding six assists, two rebounds and three steals. Rudy Gobert turned in a 23-point, 22-rebound double-double that also included one assist, four blocks and one steal. Jae Crowder delivered 23 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kyle Korver poured in 19 points. Derrick Favors posted an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. Royce O'Neale checked in with 10 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block.
The Jazz will continue to be without Ricky Rubio (ankle), Dante Exum (ankle), Raul Neto (groin) and Thabo Sefolosha (hamstring) on Friday.
Friday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. Utah holds a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 117-91 victory on Jan. 4.
Clippers Host Surging Warriors
The Golden State Warriors will head to Los Angeles on Friday to take on the Clippers at Staples Center.
Since the Warriors (31-14) lost in overtime to James Harden and the Houston Rockets, they've been on a mission to destroy everything in their way. The two-time defending champs have won six games in a row and made their biggest statement of the season Tuesday night when they dominated the Nuggets, 142-111, to take back the top overall seed in the Western Conference. Now, if the rest of the league wasn't already back to fearing Golden State, there will likely be very little doubt about it after Friday night. Friday's trip to Los Angeles marks the return of DeMarcus Cousins, who has been out of commission since suffering a torn Achilles nearly one year ago. Head coach Steve Kerr has already said that Cousins will be in the starting lineup Friday, so this will be the first look at the vaunted starting five that has been so highly anticipated since Cousins signed with the Warriors this offseason.
Cousins and the four other All-Stars' first victim will be the Clippers (24-20, who are trending in the exact opposite direction after a great start to the regular season. Los Angeles has lost four games in a row, with the last three coming at home, and there haven't been any signs that show the team is close to turning it around. They are coming off a 20-point loss to the Jazz on Wednesday night, which is their second such loss in the last four games. This has come as a result of a very poor defensive stretch for the Clippers, as they have given up at least 120 points in three of their last four games and now boast the sixth-worst scoring defense in the entire NBA. Now, at their worst, they have to welcome a surging Warriors team to town.
Since the Warriors (31-14) lost in overtime to James Harden and the Houston Rockets, they've been on a mission to destroy everything in their way. The two-time defending champs have won six games in a row and made their biggest statement of the season Tuesday night when they dominated the Nuggets, 142-111, to take back the top overall seed in the Western Conference. Now, if the rest of the league wasn't already back to fearing Golden State, there will likely be very little doubt about it after Friday night. Friday's trip to Los Angeles marks the return of DeMarcus Cousins, who has been out of commission since suffering a torn Achilles nearly one year ago. Head coach Steve Kerr has already said that Cousins will be in the starting lineup Friday, so this will be the first look at the vaunted starting five that has been so highly anticipated since Cousins signed with the Warriors this offseason.
Cousins and the four other All-Stars' first victim will be the Clippers (24-20, who are trending in the exact opposite direction after a great start to the regular season. Los Angeles has lost four games in a row, with the last three coming at home, and there haven't been any signs that show the team is close to turning it around. They are coming off a 20-point loss to the Jazz on Wednesday night, which is their second such loss in the last four games. This has come as a result of a very poor defensive stretch for the Clippers, as they have given up at least 120 points in three of their last four games and now boast the sixth-worst scoring defense in the entire NBA. Now, at their worst, they have to welcome a surging Warriors team to town.
Pelicans Visit Trail Blazers at Moda Center
By Oscar Heanue
The New Orleans Pelicans will visit the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on Friday.
New Orleans (21-24) is just 12th in the Western Conference after an up-and-down start to the new year. The Pelicans won three straight last week, but have since dropped two of their last three. Most recently, New Orleans took a 147-140 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Anthony Davis was dominant as always in the loss, scoring 30 points to go with 18 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks. However, the Pelicans' defensive problems persisted, as they allowed Golden State to shoot 48 percent, including a record-breaking 24 three-pointers.
Portland (27-10), on the other hand, snapped a two-game losing skid with a 129-112 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. All five Portland starters scored in double figures in the strong win. Superstar Damian Lillard led the way with 33, while Jusuf Nurkic stuffed the stat sheet, recording a 10-10-10 triple-double to go with five blocks. The Trail Blazers have enjoyed one of the league's strongest offenses this season, owning the ninth-highest offensive rating in the league at 112.4.
Mo Harkless (knee) will be out for the Trail Blazers.
New Orleans (21-24) is just 12th in the Western Conference after an up-and-down start to the new year. The Pelicans won three straight last week, but have since dropped two of their last three. Most recently, New Orleans took a 147-140 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Anthony Davis was dominant as always in the loss, scoring 30 points to go with 18 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks. However, the Pelicans' defensive problems persisted, as they allowed Golden State to shoot 48 percent, including a record-breaking 24 three-pointers.
Portland (27-10), on the other hand, snapped a two-game losing skid with a 129-112 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. All five Portland starters scored in double figures in the strong win. Superstar Damian Lillard led the way with 33, while Jusuf Nurkic stuffed the stat sheet, recording a 10-10-10 triple-double to go with five blocks. The Trail Blazers have enjoyed one of the league's strongest offenses this season, owning the ninth-highest offensive rating in the league at 112.4.
Mo Harkless (knee) will be out for the Trail Blazers.