Sixers Host Bucks on Thursday
The Philadelphia 76ers play host to the Milwaukee Bucks at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.
The Bucks (58-20) are just one win away from locking up the top-seed in the Eastern Conference and they'd love to accomplish that goal here. It's been a truly majestic season for this club and it's no surprise when looking at the statistics. In fact, the Bucks rank top-five in scoring, rebounding, offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency. That's obviously incredible and it says a lot about just how much this team has grown. The fact that they're so close to locking up homecourt throughout the playoffs is a huge boost too, with Milwaukee posting a 32-6 record at home this season. It's not like they struggle on the road either, with the Bucks owning a 26-14 road record. This is a club no one wants to face in the postseason and they have to be the favorites to win it all with their current form.
The Sixers (49-29) come into this matchup losing four of their last six games but it's clear they have bigger things on their mind than winning games. That's evident by the fact that they've chosen to rest Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler on different occasions throughout that stretch. It really doesn't matter either, as Philly is locked into the three-seed in the east. Playing at home in the first-round of the playoffs is huge for this club too, with Philly owning a 30-9 home record and a 19-20 road record. That means they'll be heavy favorites in the opening round but will likely have to go through these Bucks if they want to advance in the playoffs.
This is the third and final meeting between these teams, with the two clubs splitting the first two games. In the last matchup, Philly prevailed on the road, 130-125. Joel Embiid collected 40 points, 15 rebounds and six assists in that win while Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with a career-high 52 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
The Bucks (58-20) are just one win away from locking up the top-seed in the Eastern Conference and they'd love to accomplish that goal here. It's been a truly majestic season for this club and it's no surprise when looking at the statistics. In fact, the Bucks rank top-five in scoring, rebounding, offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency. That's obviously incredible and it says a lot about just how much this team has grown. The fact that they're so close to locking up homecourt throughout the playoffs is a huge boost too, with Milwaukee posting a 32-6 record at home this season. It's not like they struggle on the road either, with the Bucks owning a 26-14 road record. This is a club no one wants to face in the postseason and they have to be the favorites to win it all with their current form.
The Sixers (49-29) come into this matchup losing four of their last six games but it's clear they have bigger things on their mind than winning games. That's evident by the fact that they've chosen to rest Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler on different occasions throughout that stretch. It really doesn't matter either, as Philly is locked into the three-seed in the east. Playing at home in the first-round of the playoffs is huge for this club too, with Philly owning a 30-9 home record and a 19-20 road record. That means they'll be heavy favorites in the opening round but will likely have to go through these Bucks if they want to advance in the playoffs.
This is the third and final meeting between these teams, with the two clubs splitting the first two games. In the last matchup, Philly prevailed on the road, 130-125. Joel Embiid collected 40 points, 15 rebounds and six assists in that win while Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with a career-high 52 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
Cavaliers Continue Western Conference Swing Against Kings
The Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Thursday night.
The Cavaliers (19-59) come into Thursday's game in the midst of an extended late-season skid, as they've dropped six straight games, and nine of their last 11. Their most recent stumble came against the Phoenix Suns, which toppled them by a 122-113 score on Monday night. Collin Sexton led the way with 21 points, adding four rebounds and three assists. Jordan Clarkson furnished 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal. Tristan Thompson and Ante Zizic generated matching 15-point tallies while hauling in five and seven rebounds, respectively. Brandon Knight poured in 10 points.
The Cavaliers will continue to be without Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) on Thursday. Kevin Love (shoulder) is likely to be listed as questionable at best.
The Kings (38-40) were in contention for a Western Conference playoff spot at one point, but they helped boot themselves out of the playoff conversation by dropping four of the last six games. Their most recent defeat came against the Houston Rockets, which bested them by a 130-105 score on Tuesday night. Buddy Hield paced the Kings with 20 points, adding seven rebounds, five assists and a block. Marvin Bagley III turned in 19 points, eight boards, one assist and one block. Nemanja Bjelica furnished 12 points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal. Harrison Barnes and Bogdan Bogdanovic generated matching 10-point tallies.
The Kings will come into Thursday's game without any short-term injuries to report.
Thursday's contest marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Kings hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 129-110 victory on Dec. 7.
The Cavaliers (19-59) come into Thursday's game in the midst of an extended late-season skid, as they've dropped six straight games, and nine of their last 11. Their most recent stumble came against the Phoenix Suns, which toppled them by a 122-113 score on Monday night. Collin Sexton led the way with 21 points, adding four rebounds and three assists. Jordan Clarkson furnished 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal. Tristan Thompson and Ante Zizic generated matching 15-point tallies while hauling in five and seven rebounds, respectively. Brandon Knight poured in 10 points.
The Cavaliers will continue to be without Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) on Thursday. Kevin Love (shoulder) is likely to be listed as questionable at best.
The Kings (38-40) were in contention for a Western Conference playoff spot at one point, but they helped boot themselves out of the playoff conversation by dropping four of the last six games. Their most recent defeat came against the Houston Rockets, which bested them by a 130-105 score on Tuesday night. Buddy Hield paced the Kings with 20 points, adding seven rebounds, five assists and a block. Marvin Bagley III turned in 19 points, eight boards, one assist and one block. Nemanja Bjelica furnished 12 points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal. Harrison Barnes and Bogdan Bogdanovic generated matching 10-point tallies.
The Kings will come into Thursday's game without any short-term injuries to report.
Thursday's contest marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Kings hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 129-110 victory on Dec. 7.
Hobbled Lakers Play Host To Warriors
By Dan Bruno
The Los Angeles Lakers play host to the Golden State Warriors, at Staples Center on Wednesday evening.
The Lakers (35-43) have dropped six of their last 10 games, including a loss in OKC in their most recent contest. The Lakers sit 10th place in the West and had their playoff hopes crushed weeks ago. LeBron James is shut down for the season, along with Lonzo Ball, who has been out for almost two months. Kyle Kuzma (ankle) has missed the last two contests and remains questionable for action on Thursday. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been playing well lately, averaging 18.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals over his last 10 games. Alex Caruso has turned some heads with solid play off the bench, as he is averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals over his last 10 games. JaVale McGee and Rajon Rondo are both contributing and providing some stability for those young players that remain active on the Lakers' roster.
Meanwhile, the Warriors (53-24) have won seven of their last 10 games, including their last two in a row, to take a grip on first place in the West. The Warriors dropped their last game on the road, but are still 25-13 on the road this season. They score an average of 117.7 points per game, which is second most in the league. DeMarcus Cousins has looked very good since beginning action late in the season. He led the Warriors in their last contest with 28 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals, and is averaging 16.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals, in 25 minutes per game. Stephen Curry leads the Warriors with 27.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while Kevin Durant is just as impactful, averaging 26.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.
The Lakers (35-43) have dropped six of their last 10 games, including a loss in OKC in their most recent contest. The Lakers sit 10th place in the West and had their playoff hopes crushed weeks ago. LeBron James is shut down for the season, along with Lonzo Ball, who has been out for almost two months. Kyle Kuzma (ankle) has missed the last two contests and remains questionable for action on Thursday. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been playing well lately, averaging 18.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals over his last 10 games. Alex Caruso has turned some heads with solid play off the bench, as he is averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals over his last 10 games. JaVale McGee and Rajon Rondo are both contributing and providing some stability for those young players that remain active on the Lakers' roster.
Meanwhile, the Warriors (53-24) have won seven of their last 10 games, including their last two in a row, to take a grip on first place in the West. The Warriors dropped their last game on the road, but are still 25-13 on the road this season. They score an average of 117.7 points per game, which is second most in the league. DeMarcus Cousins has looked very good since beginning action late in the season. He led the Warriors in their last contest with 28 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals, and is averaging 16.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals, in 25 minutes per game. Stephen Curry leads the Warriors with 27.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while Kevin Durant is just as impactful, averaging 26.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.