Little Caesars Arena Site for Indiana and Detroit
The Indiana Pacers (46-32) head into the second of back-to-back games with the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, after defeating them on home court on Monday night, 111-102. The Pacers were cooly efficient from both field goal range and deep, where they shot a collective 54.5 percent and 45.5 percent, respectively. Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic each posted 19 points in the affair to lead the team in scoring, with Young adding nine rebounds and five assists, and Bogdanovic with seven rebounds on 7-of-16 shooting from the paint. Domantas Sabonis emerged off the bench for a double-double on the back of of 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Myles Turner dropped 17 points and a pair of three-pointers in a starting role. Tyreke Evans went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc on his way to a 13-point night for an Indiana team that's jockeying for position down the stretch, as they can jump to fourth place with a win, and a Playoffs date with the Boston Celtics all but certain.
The Pistons (39-38), meanwhile, remain in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, just a half game ahead of the seventh place Brooklyn Nets, and did their best in Monday's loss with some strong performances from their starting five. Wayne Ellington buoyed the team on offense with 26 points, going 10-of-19 from the field and 4-of-13 from downtown. Reggie Jackson wasn't far behind with 22 points, six boards and four assists, making all five of his attempts from the foul line, while Andre Drummond recorded a double-double, his NBA-leading 65th of the season, with 18 points and 17 rebounds, going 8-of-18 from field goal range. Thon Maker scored 14 points and took in six boards, adding four three-pointers, for a Detroit team that ranks 23rd in scoring through their 2018-19 campaign, averaging 107.4 points per game. The Pistons head back to the road on Friday to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Pistons (39-38), meanwhile, remain in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, just a half game ahead of the seventh place Brooklyn Nets, and did their best in Monday's loss with some strong performances from their starting five. Wayne Ellington buoyed the team on offense with 26 points, going 10-of-19 from the field and 4-of-13 from downtown. Reggie Jackson wasn't far behind with 22 points, six boards and four assists, making all five of his attempts from the foul line, while Andre Drummond recorded a double-double, his NBA-leading 65th of the season, with 18 points and 17 rebounds, going 8-of-18 from field goal range. Thon Maker scored 14 points and took in six boards, adding four three-pointers, for a Detroit team that ranks 23rd in scoring through their 2018-19 campaign, averaging 107.4 points per game. The Pistons head back to the road on Friday to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Knicks and Magic Tangle at Amway Center
The New York Knicks (15-62) snapped a six-game skid on Monday night, dropping fellow Draft Lottery team the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden, 113-105. All five starters for the Knicks finished the game with double digit offensive numbers, providing Knicks faithful with some hope for the future, led by Luke Kornet's 24-point outing. Kornet shot 8-of-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from long distance in the win, adding six rebounds and three blocks. Rookie Kevin Knox came away with 19 points and nine rebounds to come just shy of a double-double, going 6-of-15 from the field, while Mitchell Robinson did manage to pull off the double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 6-of-8 shooting from the free throw line to his credit. Emmanuel Mudiay put up 17 points, while Damyean Dotson lit up from deep, nailing all but one of his seven attempts from distance en route to an 18-point night. New York travels to Houston on Friday to take on the Rockets.
The Orlando Magic (38-40) aren't making things easy for themselves down the stretch, returning from a three-game road trip with a 1-2 record, their latest defeat taking place on Monday night at the hands of the Toronto Raptors, 121-109. Nikola Vucevic, a large part of the reason the Magic are in contention for a postseason berth, finished the contest with a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double, going 5-of-14 from the field and adding a pair of triples. Evan Fournier led in scoring with a team-best 21 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the paint and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Wes Iwundu came off the pine to deliver 16 points while shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from behind the arc, while starter Aaron Gordon had a subdued performance, scoring only six point in 28 minutes of floor time. The Magic currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, just a half game behind the eighth place Miami Heat, and if they want to supplant them they must win out against the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets.
The Orlando Magic (38-40) aren't making things easy for themselves down the stretch, returning from a three-game road trip with a 1-2 record, their latest defeat taking place on Monday night at the hands of the Toronto Raptors, 121-109. Nikola Vucevic, a large part of the reason the Magic are in contention for a postseason berth, finished the contest with a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double, going 5-of-14 from the field and adding a pair of triples. Evan Fournier led in scoring with a team-best 21 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the paint and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Wes Iwundu came off the pine to deliver 16 points while shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from behind the arc, while starter Aaron Gordon had a subdued performance, scoring only six point in 28 minutes of floor time. The Magic currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, just a half game behind the eighth place Miami Heat, and if they want to supplant them they must win out against the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets.
Capitol One Arena Hosts Bulls and Wizards
The Chicago Bulls (21-57) have dropped five straight games, their latest defeat coming at the hands of the hapless New York Knicks on Monday night, 113-105. With 29 points to his name, Robin Lopez lifted the team on offense, adding seven rebounds, a pair of assists, and shooting 12-of-18 from the paint. Jakarr Sampson came off the bench to put up 22 points and grab seven boards, going 8-of-10 from field goal range and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe, while fellow sub Ryan Arcidiacono had 14 points. Starter Shaquille Harrison took in 10 boards to add to his six-point night for a Bulls team that remains in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, now with a 12.5 percent opportunity at nabbing the top pick at the Draft Lottery in May. Chicago has four games remaining in a 2018-19 season they would rather forget, including a return date with the Knicks at United Center next Tuesday.
The Washington Wizards (32-46), fresh off the news that their long-time team President has been ousted, enter something of a new era on Wednesday, and return home from their four-game road jaunt with a 2-2 record after upsetting the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, 95-90. Despite the win, the Wizards shot a pedestrian 25 percent from beyond the arc, with most of their three-point production coming from Troy Brown, Jr., who drained five triples on his way to a team-high 24 points. Brown added seven rebounds and shot 9-of-16 from the field. Thomas Bryant and Jabari Parker posted 20 points apiece, with the former grabbing 14 boards for the double-double, and the latter coming off the bench with six rebounds of his own. Bradley Beal, like the rest of the team, was ice cold from deep, going 0-of-4 , but made all five of his attempts from the charity stripe on his way to a 17-point night. Washington wraps up their season next Tuesday with a visit from the Boston Celtics.
The Washington Wizards (32-46), fresh off the news that their long-time team President has been ousted, enter something of a new era on Wednesday, and return home from their four-game road jaunt with a 2-2 record after upsetting the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, 95-90. Despite the win, the Wizards shot a pedestrian 25 percent from beyond the arc, with most of their three-point production coming from Troy Brown, Jr., who drained five triples on his way to a team-high 24 points. Brown added seven rebounds and shot 9-of-16 from the field. Thomas Bryant and Jabari Parker posted 20 points apiece, with the former grabbing 14 boards for the double-double, and the latter coming off the bench with six rebounds of his own. Bradley Beal, like the rest of the team, was ice cold from deep, going 0-of-4 , but made all five of his attempts from the charity stripe on his way to a 17-point night. Washington wraps up their season next Tuesday with a visit from the Boston Celtics.
76ers Tangle With Fast-Paced Hawks
The Philadelphia 76ers take on the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Wednesday night.
The 76ers (49-28) essentially are locked into the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, and they'll come into Wednesday's game having dropped three of their past five games. One of those defeats came in their most recent time on the court, when they dropped a 122-102 decision on Monday night. J.J. Redick led the way with 26 points and added five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Tobias Harris posted 25 points, six rebounds, three assists and one block. Ben Simmons contributed 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks. T.J. McConnell led the bench with 15 points.
The 76ers will list Butler (back) as questionable for Wednesday's game. Joel Embiid (rest) will remain out.
The Hawks (28-50) come into Wednesday's game showing off some of the impressive play that's defined much of the latter portion of their season, as they've won four of the last six contests. However, one of their two losses over that span came versus the San Antonio Spurs by a 117-111 score on Tuesday night. Kent Bazemore led the way for the Hawks with 26 points, adding four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Alex Len contributed 21 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Trae Young produced 15 points, six assists, one rebound and one steal. Kyle Huerter poured in 13 points.
The Hawks will likely list Taurean Prince (foot), Alex Poythress (ankle) and John Collins (rest) as questionable for Wednesday's game. Omari Spellman (ankle) remains out.
Wednesday's game marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Hawks hold a 2-1 series lead, having notched 123-121 and 129-127 wins on Jan. 11 and March 23, respectively.
The 76ers (49-28) essentially are locked into the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, and they'll come into Wednesday's game having dropped three of their past five games. One of those defeats came in their most recent time on the court, when they dropped a 122-102 decision on Monday night. J.J. Redick led the way with 26 points and added five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Tobias Harris posted 25 points, six rebounds, three assists and one block. Ben Simmons contributed 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks. T.J. McConnell led the bench with 15 points.
The 76ers will list Butler (back) as questionable for Wednesday's game. Joel Embiid (rest) will remain out.
The Hawks (28-50) come into Wednesday's game showing off some of the impressive play that's defined much of the latter portion of their season, as they've won four of the last six contests. However, one of their two losses over that span came versus the San Antonio Spurs by a 117-111 score on Tuesday night. Kent Bazemore led the way for the Hawks with 26 points, adding four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Alex Len contributed 21 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Trae Young produced 15 points, six assists, one rebound and one steal. Kyle Huerter poured in 13 points.
The Hawks will likely list Taurean Prince (foot), Alex Poythress (ankle) and John Collins (rest) as questionable for Wednesday's game. Omari Spellman (ankle) remains out.
Wednesday's game marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Hawks hold a 2-1 series lead, having notched 123-121 and 129-127 wins on Jan. 11 and March 23, respectively.
Celtics and Heat Tangle In Second Game of Home-and Home Series
The Boston Celtics takes on the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on Wednesday night.
The Celtics (46-32) come into Wednesday's contest slotted into the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with a tiebreaker advantage over the fifth-seeded Indiana Pacers, which have an identical record. Boston has won three of its past four games, with their most recent triumph a 110-105 win over the Heat at TD Garden on Monday night. Kyrie Irving led the way with 25 points, adding eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Al Horford generated 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Jayson Tatum totaled 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Marcus Smart scored 16 points while Gordon Hayward led the bench with 11 points and four rebounds.
The Celtics will list Jaylen Brown (back) as doubtful for Wednesday's contest. Marcus Morris (knee) will carry a questionable designation while Horford (knee) will be listed as probable.
The Heat (38-39) continue to hang on to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference by a thread, as they lead the Orlando Magic by just a half-game. Miami has won three of its past five games, but they dropped their most recent contest to these same Celtics by a 110-105 score Monday night. Goran Dragic led the way with 30 points, adding five assists, one rebound and five steals. Bam Adebayo produced a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included two assists and two blocks. Dwyane Wade paced the bench with 17 points and seven assists, and he added five rebounds and one steal. Dion Waiters and Kelly Olynyk had matching 14-point tallies.
The Heat will list Justise Winslow (thigh), Josh Richardson (heel) and Rodney McGruder (knee) as questionable for Wednesday's game. Derrick Jones, Jr. (knee) remains out.
Wednesday's contest marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Celtics hold a 2-1 series lead, having notched 107-99 and 110-105 wins on Jan. 21 and Apr. 1, respectively.
The Celtics (46-32) come into Wednesday's contest slotted into the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with a tiebreaker advantage over the fifth-seeded Indiana Pacers, which have an identical record. Boston has won three of its past four games, with their most recent triumph a 110-105 win over the Heat at TD Garden on Monday night. Kyrie Irving led the way with 25 points, adding eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Al Horford generated 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Jayson Tatum totaled 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Marcus Smart scored 16 points while Gordon Hayward led the bench with 11 points and four rebounds.
The Celtics will list Jaylen Brown (back) as doubtful for Wednesday's contest. Marcus Morris (knee) will carry a questionable designation while Horford (knee) will be listed as probable.
The Heat (38-39) continue to hang on to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference by a thread, as they lead the Orlando Magic by just a half-game. Miami has won three of its past five games, but they dropped their most recent contest to these same Celtics by a 110-105 score Monday night. Goran Dragic led the way with 30 points, adding five assists, one rebound and five steals. Bam Adebayo produced a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included two assists and two blocks. Dwyane Wade paced the bench with 17 points and seven assists, and he added five rebounds and one steal. Dion Waiters and Kelly Olynyk had matching 14-point tallies.
The Heat will list Justise Winslow (thigh), Josh Richardson (heel) and Rodney McGruder (knee) as questionable for Wednesday's game. Derrick Jones, Jr. (knee) remains out.
Wednesday's contest marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Celtics hold a 2-1 series lead, having notched 107-99 and 110-105 wins on Jan. 21 and Apr. 1, respectively.
Raptors Face Off With Playoff-Minded Nets in Big Apple
The Toronto Raptors take on the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Wednesday night.
The Raptors (55-23) are currently slotted into the No. 2 seed and are three games back of the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks with five games to go for each squad. Toronto checks into Wednesday's contest on a four-game winning streak, with their latest success a 121-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night. Danny Green paced the Raptors with 29 points and complemented them with five rebounds, one assist, three blocks and two steals. Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka produced 15 points apiece while hauling in six and seven rebounds, respectively. Marc Gasol furnished 13 points, four rebounds and four assists. Kyle Lowry delivered 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds, three steals and one block.
The Raptors will list Danny Green (thumb) as probable for Wednesday's game. OG Anunoby (concussion) and Patrick McCaw (thumb) remain out.
The Nets (39-39) are in the thick of the Eastern Conference postseason conversation, but they come into Wednesday's game in danger of dropping from the seventh seed all the way out of playoff contention. Brooklyn is just a half-game ahead of eighth-seeded Miami and one game ahead of ninth-ranked Orlando as a result of having dropped three of its past four games. The Nets' most recent stumble came against the Milwaukee Bucks, which toppled them by a 131-121 score Monday night. D'Angelo Russell paced the Nets with 28 points and complemented them with 10 rebounds, three assists and one steal. Caris LeVert managed 24 points, six assists and four rebounds. DeMarre Carroll supplied 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block. Joe Harris poured in 17 points while adding six rebounds and three assists. Spencer Dinwiddie netted 12 points, while Jarrett Allen had 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Nets will likely list Allen Crabbe (knee) as questionable at best for Wednesday's game.
Wednesday's contest marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Raptors hold a 2-1 series lead, having notched 122-105 and 127-125 wins on Feb. 11 and March 11, respectively.
The Raptors (55-23) are currently slotted into the No. 2 seed and are three games back of the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks with five games to go for each squad. Toronto checks into Wednesday's contest on a four-game winning streak, with their latest success a 121-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night. Danny Green paced the Raptors with 29 points and complemented them with five rebounds, one assist, three blocks and two steals. Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka produced 15 points apiece while hauling in six and seven rebounds, respectively. Marc Gasol furnished 13 points, four rebounds and four assists. Kyle Lowry delivered 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds, three steals and one block.
The Raptors will list Danny Green (thumb) as probable for Wednesday's game. OG Anunoby (concussion) and Patrick McCaw (thumb) remain out.
The Nets (39-39) are in the thick of the Eastern Conference postseason conversation, but they come into Wednesday's game in danger of dropping from the seventh seed all the way out of playoff contention. Brooklyn is just a half-game ahead of eighth-seeded Miami and one game ahead of ninth-ranked Orlando as a result of having dropped three of its past four games. The Nets' most recent stumble came against the Milwaukee Bucks, which toppled them by a 131-121 score Monday night. D'Angelo Russell paced the Nets with 28 points and complemented them with 10 rebounds, three assists and one steal. Caris LeVert managed 24 points, six assists and four rebounds. DeMarre Carroll supplied 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block. Joe Harris poured in 17 points while adding six rebounds and three assists. Spencer Dinwiddie netted 12 points, while Jarrett Allen had 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Nets will likely list Allen Crabbe (knee) as questionable at best for Wednesday's game.
Wednesday's contest marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Raptors hold a 2-1 series lead, having notched 122-105 and 127-125 wins on Feb. 11 and March 11, respectively.
Pelicans Play Host to Hornets on Wednesday
The Charlotte Hornets travel to The Big Easy to play the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on Wednesday.
The Hornets (35-42) come into this matchup losing three-straight, as that has put an end to any playoff hopes they once had. The fact that they stayed competitive this long is impressive in itself though, as this club saw some major improvement from Kemba Walker. The star point guard has taken huge strides this season, as he leads this team with 25.2 points and 5.8 assists per game. What the Hornets need to do is build around him though, as there's really no one on this roster even close to reaching an all-star game. Jeremy Lamb is probably the second-best player and that says a lot about where this team is at right now. The fall through from the potential Marc Gasol trade was really discouraging, as a legit center would be the perfect fit for this team. That will be their focus this offseason, which will be one of their biggest summers in this franchise's history.
The Pelicans (32-46) have been arguably the most dysfunctional franchise in the NBA this season and it's hard to know where they're going to go from here. This Anthony Davis situation is downright embarrassing, as New Orleans refused to trade him at the trade deadline. What makes it worse is the fact that they limited his minutes after the deadline, as he's been outright sitting recently. He's not the only one missing games, as Jrue Holiday is currently injured too. He's actually missing games for a legit reason though and it's a sad development after a breakout season. He's not the only one who broke out though, as Julius Randle and Eflrid Payton have also had big seasons. That is way too good of a core to not be competing and that's why this franchise is a tough one to figure out. In any case, they'll be a fascinating team to watch in the offseason.
In the first game between these teams, New Orleans prevailed on the road, 119-109.
The Hornets (35-42) come into this matchup losing three-straight, as that has put an end to any playoff hopes they once had. The fact that they stayed competitive this long is impressive in itself though, as this club saw some major improvement from Kemba Walker. The star point guard has taken huge strides this season, as he leads this team with 25.2 points and 5.8 assists per game. What the Hornets need to do is build around him though, as there's really no one on this roster even close to reaching an all-star game. Jeremy Lamb is probably the second-best player and that says a lot about where this team is at right now. The fall through from the potential Marc Gasol trade was really discouraging, as a legit center would be the perfect fit for this team. That will be their focus this offseason, which will be one of their biggest summers in this franchise's history.
The Pelicans (32-46) have been arguably the most dysfunctional franchise in the NBA this season and it's hard to know where they're going to go from here. This Anthony Davis situation is downright embarrassing, as New Orleans refused to trade him at the trade deadline. What makes it worse is the fact that they limited his minutes after the deadline, as he's been outright sitting recently. He's not the only one missing games, as Jrue Holiday is currently injured too. He's actually missing games for a legit reason though and it's a sad development after a breakout season. He's not the only one who broke out though, as Julius Randle and Eflrid Payton have also had big seasons. That is way too good of a core to not be competing and that's why this franchise is a tough one to figure out. In any case, they'll be a fascinating team to watch in the offseason.
In the first game between these teams, New Orleans prevailed on the road, 119-109.
Mavericks Play Host to Timberwolves on Wednesday
The Dallas Mavericks play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves at American Airlines Center on Wednesday.
The Timberwolves (34-43) come into this matchup losing eight of their last 10 games and streaks like that have been all too common for this club. All the young talent simply hasn't amounted to anything and it's a wonder where this franchise is headed. You'd think that a team with so many top-picks would be at a better spot in their rebuild but the Timberwolves appear to be stuck in neutral. Karl-Anthony Towns has developed into one of the best centers in the league but Andrew Wiggins hasn't quite lived up to expectations. That paired with the fact that Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose can't stay healthy just killed this season and one has to wonder if they'll blow this thing up after the Jimmy Butler saga.
The Mavericks (31-46) come into this matchup winning three of their last five games, as those three victories are some of their best wins of the season. In fact, Dallas beat the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder in that stretch. The Mavericks were obviously heavy underdogs in all of those games and it shows the resiliency of this club. Playing spoiler is a great test for a young team and it definitely shows that they have some moxie going forward. It's all about Luka Doncic though, as the 20-year-old is having a majestic season in his rookie campaign. He's arguably putting together the greatest rookie season of all-time and it'll be fascinating to see him play with Kristaps Porzingis next season. With that said, Doncic may sit out a few of these last five games, as he's been dealing with an ankle issue throughout the year.
This is the third and final meeting between these teams, with Dallas looking for the season sweep. Coming into the year, the T'Wolves won five-straight over the Mavericks.
The Timberwolves (34-43) come into this matchup losing eight of their last 10 games and streaks like that have been all too common for this club. All the young talent simply hasn't amounted to anything and it's a wonder where this franchise is headed. You'd think that a team with so many top-picks would be at a better spot in their rebuild but the Timberwolves appear to be stuck in neutral. Karl-Anthony Towns has developed into one of the best centers in the league but Andrew Wiggins hasn't quite lived up to expectations. That paired with the fact that Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose can't stay healthy just killed this season and one has to wonder if they'll blow this thing up after the Jimmy Butler saga.
The Mavericks (31-46) come into this matchup winning three of their last five games, as those three victories are some of their best wins of the season. In fact, Dallas beat the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder in that stretch. The Mavericks were obviously heavy underdogs in all of those games and it shows the resiliency of this club. Playing spoiler is a great test for a young team and it definitely shows that they have some moxie going forward. It's all about Luka Doncic though, as the 20-year-old is having a majestic season in his rookie campaign. He's arguably putting together the greatest rookie season of all-time and it'll be fascinating to see him play with Kristaps Porzingis next season. With that said, Doncic may sit out a few of these last five games, as he's been dealing with an ankle issue throughout the year.
This is the third and final meeting between these teams, with Dallas looking for the season sweep. Coming into the year, the T'Wolves won five-straight over the Mavericks.
Spurs Visit Denver as Regular Season Winds Down
By Oscar Heanue
The Denver Nuggets will host the San Antonio Spurs at Pepsi Center on Wednesday.
Denver (51-26) will face the second half of a back-to-back on Wednesday after taking a blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. The Nuggets had the chance to move into a tie for first in the West with a win, but the team shot just 37.6 percent en route to a double-digit loss. Nikola Jokic had an uncharacteristically poor night, shooting just 4-of-10 for 10 points while committing six turnovers. Jamal Murray was the team's high scorer with 17 points. The Nuggets remain second in the Western Conference, but they have gone just 2-3 in their last five games and are now only two games ahead of the surging Houston Rockets.
San Antonio (44-33) is in a similar slump, having won just two of its last six games. The Spurs currently sit at seventh place in a crowded Western Conference. Their most recent outing, a 106-113 loss to Sacramento, saw the team shoot just 8-of-27 from three-point range. It was an out-of-character performance for the Spurs, who lead the league in three-point efficiency at 39.4 percent. The team ranks seventh in the league in offensive rating overall. They will look to snap out of their slump and fight for a better playoff spot on Wednesday.
Denver (51-26) will face the second half of a back-to-back on Wednesday after taking a blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. The Nuggets had the chance to move into a tie for first in the West with a win, but the team shot just 37.6 percent en route to a double-digit loss. Nikola Jokic had an uncharacteristically poor night, shooting just 4-of-10 for 10 points while committing six turnovers. Jamal Murray was the team's high scorer with 17 points. The Nuggets remain second in the Western Conference, but they have gone just 2-3 in their last five games and are now only two games ahead of the surging Houston Rockets.
San Antonio (44-33) is in a similar slump, having won just two of its last six games. The Spurs currently sit at seventh place in a crowded Western Conference. Their most recent outing, a 106-113 loss to Sacramento, saw the team shoot just 8-of-27 from three-point range. It was an out-of-character performance for the Spurs, who lead the league in three-point efficiency at 39.4 percent. The team ranks seventh in the league in offensive rating overall. They will look to snap out of their slump and fight for a better playoff spot on Wednesday.
Suns Play Host to Jazz on Wednesday
The Utah Jazz travel to Arizona to play the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Wednesday.
The Jazz (47-30) come into this matchup winning 10 of their last 11 games, as they're probably the scariest team in basketball right now. What makes them so fearful is just how badly they're bludgeoning their opponents. In fact, eight of those victories have been decided by 15 points or more. That run has catapulted Utah all the way up to fifth in the Western Conference but they still remain two games back of the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets in third and fourth. That means it'll be very tough to attain homecourt advantage in the playoffs, which is disappointing for a team who owns a 20-18 road record. In any case, this is a team no one will want to face in the postseason, as they simply have the best defense in the NBA.
The Suns (18-60) come into this matchup losing six of their last seven games and it's clear that this season is another lost one. There's been a lot of those for the Suns recently and it's a wonder if they'll ever get out of this hole. The growth of Devin Booker is definitely an encouraging sign though, as he's truly developed into one of the best scorers in the NBA. In fact, Booker is averaging 36.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 8.0 assists across his last 11 games. That's all you can ask for from your stud youngster but he simply needs some help. DeAndre Ayton has been great in his rookie season but there's not much outside of that. Kelly Oubre Jr. and T.J. Warren have shown signs of promise this season but they just continue to miss games because of injury. They also have a huge void at the point guard position and that's been an issue for this team for a long time now. Losing Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas certainly doesn't help.
This is the fourth and final meeting between these clubs, with Utah looking for the season sweep. In addition, the Jazz have won 13 of their last 14 games over the Suns in total.
The Jazz (47-30) come into this matchup winning 10 of their last 11 games, as they're probably the scariest team in basketball right now. What makes them so fearful is just how badly they're bludgeoning their opponents. In fact, eight of those victories have been decided by 15 points or more. That run has catapulted Utah all the way up to fifth in the Western Conference but they still remain two games back of the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets in third and fourth. That means it'll be very tough to attain homecourt advantage in the playoffs, which is disappointing for a team who owns a 20-18 road record. In any case, this is a team no one will want to face in the postseason, as they simply have the best defense in the NBA.
The Suns (18-60) come into this matchup losing six of their last seven games and it's clear that this season is another lost one. There's been a lot of those for the Suns recently and it's a wonder if they'll ever get out of this hole. The growth of Devin Booker is definitely an encouraging sign though, as he's truly developed into one of the best scorers in the NBA. In fact, Booker is averaging 36.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 8.0 assists across his last 11 games. That's all you can ask for from your stud youngster but he simply needs some help. DeAndre Ayton has been great in his rookie season but there's not much outside of that. Kelly Oubre Jr. and T.J. Warren have shown signs of promise this season but they just continue to miss games because of injury. They also have a huge void at the point guard position and that's been an issue for this team for a long time now. Losing Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas certainly doesn't help.
This is the fourth and final meeting between these clubs, with Utah looking for the season sweep. In addition, the Jazz have won 13 of their last 14 games over the Suns in total.
Grizzlies Visit Portland for Late-Season Tilt
By Oscar Heanue
The Portland Trail Blazers will host the Memphis Grizzlies at Moda Center on Wednesday evening.
The season is winding down for the Grizzlies (31-46), who will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Memphis's struggles have carried on all season, with the team winning just two of its last seven games. The Grizzlies have held on to their "grit and grind" identity, limiting opponents to the second-fewest points in the league (105.6). Unfortunately for Memphis, its lackluster offense has outweighed its stellar defense. At 102.9 points per game, the Grizzlies rank last in the league in scoring. They scored just 96 points in their most recent contest, a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Portland (49-28), on the other hand, has won seven of its last eight thanks to its red-hot offense. With an offensive rating of 114.4, the Trail Blazers rank third in the league in offensive efficiency. The team showcased its offensive muscle on Monday, scoring 132 points to take down the Minnesota Timberwolves. Damian Lillard dished out 12 assists in the win. Unfortunately for the Trail Blazers, they will be without star big man Jusuf Nurkic for the remainder of the season. Nurkic suffered a lower leg fracture in overtime against Brooklyn earlier this month. Still, Portland currently occupies third place in the West and can secure home court for the first round of the playoffs with a strong close to the season.
Memphis has won two out of three games against Portland this season, including the most recent meeting of the teams in early March.
The season is winding down for the Grizzlies (31-46), who will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Memphis's struggles have carried on all season, with the team winning just two of its last seven games. The Grizzlies have held on to their "grit and grind" identity, limiting opponents to the second-fewest points in the league (105.6). Unfortunately for Memphis, its lackluster offense has outweighed its stellar defense. At 102.9 points per game, the Grizzlies rank last in the league in scoring. They scored just 96 points in their most recent contest, a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Portland (49-28), on the other hand, has won seven of its last eight thanks to its red-hot offense. With an offensive rating of 114.4, the Trail Blazers rank third in the league in offensive efficiency. The team showcased its offensive muscle on Monday, scoring 132 points to take down the Minnesota Timberwolves. Damian Lillard dished out 12 assists in the win. Unfortunately for the Trail Blazers, they will be without star big man Jusuf Nurkic for the remainder of the season. Nurkic suffered a lower leg fracture in overtime against Brooklyn earlier this month. Still, Portland currently occupies third place in the West and can secure home court for the first round of the playoffs with a strong close to the season.
Memphis has won two out of three games against Portland this season, including the most recent meeting of the teams in early March.
Rockets Visit Clippers in Battle for Playoff Positioning
By Oscar Heanue
The Houston Rockets will visit the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on Wednesday evening.
Houston (50-28) picked up its 50th win of the season in the first half of a back-to-back on Tuesday evening. The Rockets demolished the Sacramento Kings, 130-105, in that one, tying their own league record with 26 made three-pointers. Reigning MVP James Harden led the charge, scoring 36 points and dishing out 10 assists. The performance followed Harden's 50-point triple-double in the team's previous win. Harden is having a historic individual season, as his 36.3 points per game are the most by any player since Michael Jordan in 1987. The Rockets currently sit in third place in the Western Conference and are two games out of second.
Los Angeles (47-31), meanwhile, is sixth in the West after picking up two consecutive blowout wins. The Clippers most recently thrashed the Memphis Grizzlies, 113-96. Danilo Gallinari led the way with 27 points and a season-high 15 rebounds in the win. Gallinari has been a premier contributor for the Clippers, averaging a career-high 19.8 points per game. He is the team's second-leading scorer, trailing only veteran sixth man Lou Williams, who is posting 20.3 points per game off the bench.
These two teams have not met since October, when the Clippers opened the season with back-to-back wins over the Rockets. Houston will have a chance for retribution on Wednesday.
Houston (50-28) picked up its 50th win of the season in the first half of a back-to-back on Tuesday evening. The Rockets demolished the Sacramento Kings, 130-105, in that one, tying their own league record with 26 made three-pointers. Reigning MVP James Harden led the charge, scoring 36 points and dishing out 10 assists. The performance followed Harden's 50-point triple-double in the team's previous win. Harden is having a historic individual season, as his 36.3 points per game are the most by any player since Michael Jordan in 1987. The Rockets currently sit in third place in the Western Conference and are two games out of second.
Los Angeles (47-31), meanwhile, is sixth in the West after picking up two consecutive blowout wins. The Clippers most recently thrashed the Memphis Grizzlies, 113-96. Danilo Gallinari led the way with 27 points and a season-high 15 rebounds in the win. Gallinari has been a premier contributor for the Clippers, averaging a career-high 19.8 points per game. He is the team's second-leading scorer, trailing only veteran sixth man Lou Williams, who is posting 20.3 points per game off the bench.
These two teams have not met since October, when the Clippers opened the season with back-to-back wins over the Rockets. Houston will have a chance for retribution on Wednesday.