Nets Looking To Extend Run Against Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Brooklyn Nets at RocketMortgage Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening.
The Nets (9-6) are coming off one of their best performances of the 2020-21 season, as they sneaked with a two-point win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. James Harden led the Nets with 34 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and a block, in 40 minutes. Kevin Durant added 30 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two blocks, while Joe Harris chipped in 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting. The Nets shot 55 percent from the field, including 15-of-31 from deep. That win pushed the Nets' winning streak to eight wins over their last nine contests, including four in a row. The return of Durant and the arrival of Harden have given the Nets a sizable jump in terms of quality, and this team should look even scarier when Kyrie Irving returns from his absence, something that could happen Wednesday. The Nets might be lacking a bit of depth at the moment, but they are undoubtedly moving in the right direction of late.
Irving (COVID-19) has been listed as a game-time decision, while Spencer Dinwiddie and Nicolas Claxton have both been ruled out due to knee injuries.
The Cavaliers (6-7) were scheduled to face the Washington Wizards on a back-to-back set Sunday and Monday, but both games got postponed due to Washington's COVID-19 outbreak. That means Cleveland's most recent game happened on Jan. 15, when they secured a 106-103 win over the New York Knicks. Andre Drummond paced the Cavaliers in that matchup with a 33-point, 23-rebound double-double that also includes three assists, two steals and two blocks. Cedi Osman supplied 25 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Larry Nance, Jr. registered 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block. Damyean Dotson and Isaac Okoro generated matching 13-point, four-assist tallies. Cleveland has gone 2-3 over their last five games and have managed to remain competitive despite dealing with lots of injury woes.
Matthew Dellavedova (concussion), Collin Sexton (ankle) and Darius Garland (shoulder) have all been listed as game-time decisions for this game. Meanwhile, Kevin Love (calf), Kevin Porter (personal) and Dylan Windler (hand) have been ruled out.
The Nets (9-6) are coming off one of their best performances of the 2020-21 season, as they sneaked with a two-point win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. James Harden led the Nets with 34 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and a block, in 40 minutes. Kevin Durant added 30 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two blocks, while Joe Harris chipped in 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting. The Nets shot 55 percent from the field, including 15-of-31 from deep. That win pushed the Nets' winning streak to eight wins over their last nine contests, including four in a row. The return of Durant and the arrival of Harden have given the Nets a sizable jump in terms of quality, and this team should look even scarier when Kyrie Irving returns from his absence, something that could happen Wednesday. The Nets might be lacking a bit of depth at the moment, but they are undoubtedly moving in the right direction of late.
Irving (COVID-19) has been listed as a game-time decision, while Spencer Dinwiddie and Nicolas Claxton have both been ruled out due to knee injuries.
The Cavaliers (6-7) were scheduled to face the Washington Wizards on a back-to-back set Sunday and Monday, but both games got postponed due to Washington's COVID-19 outbreak. That means Cleveland's most recent game happened on Jan. 15, when they secured a 106-103 win over the New York Knicks. Andre Drummond paced the Cavaliers in that matchup with a 33-point, 23-rebound double-double that also includes three assists, two steals and two blocks. Cedi Osman supplied 25 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Larry Nance, Jr. registered 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block. Damyean Dotson and Isaac Okoro generated matching 13-point, four-assist tallies. Cleveland has gone 2-3 over their last five games and have managed to remain competitive despite dealing with lots of injury woes.
Matthew Dellavedova (concussion), Collin Sexton (ankle) and Darius Garland (shoulder) have all been listed as game-time decisions for this game. Meanwhile, Kevin Love (calf), Kevin Porter (personal) and Dylan Windler (hand) have been ruled out.
Mavericks Look To End Negative Run Against Pacers
The Dallas Mavericks will visit the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening.
The Mavericks (6-7) are coming off a 116-93 loss against the Toronto Raptors on Monday. Kristaps Porzingis and his 23 points, nine rebounds and two blocks paced the Mavericks, as the Latvian big man enjoyed a strong performance on both ends of the court. Luka Doncic tallied 15 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Jalen Brunson started and amassed 13 points, two rebounds and two assists. Trey Burke led the bench with 17 points, three assists and two steals. Tim Hardaway Jr went 0-of-12 from the field to go scoreless. The Mavericks have been trending in the wrong direction of late, though, and they enter this matchup on a three-game losing streak while posting a meager 2-3 mark over their last five contests. Dallas has allowed at least 112 points in each of those losses while failing to score above the 102-point mark in two defeats as well, signaling issues and adjustments that need to be made on both ends of the court.
Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, Josh Richardson and Dorian Finney-Smith have all been listed as game-time calls for Wednesday. All four players are dealing with COVID-19 symptoms.
The Pacers (8-5) were one of the few teams that didn't play on MLK Day this Monday, meaning they should be well rested before this contest. Their most recent game ended in a 129-96 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, although they were seriously depleted in that matchup -- something that will happen here as well. The Pacers were led by Doug McDermott, who totaled 23 points and two assists on 9-of-12 from the field. Domantas Sabonis amassed 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and two steals. Malcolm Brogdon generated 16 points, two rebounds and eight assists while Justin Holiday had 15 points, three rebounds and two steals. Indiana ended its two-game winning streak with this loss and has posted a 2-3 record over its last five contests.
The injury woes are real for the Pacers, as they won't have Myles Turner (hand), Caris LeVert (abdomen) and T.J. Warren (foot) -- this means they'll be missing three would-be starters. Jeremy Lamb (knee) and JaKarr Sampson (back) are both game-time calls for this tilt.
The Mavericks (6-7) are coming off a 116-93 loss against the Toronto Raptors on Monday. Kristaps Porzingis and his 23 points, nine rebounds and two blocks paced the Mavericks, as the Latvian big man enjoyed a strong performance on both ends of the court. Luka Doncic tallied 15 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Jalen Brunson started and amassed 13 points, two rebounds and two assists. Trey Burke led the bench with 17 points, three assists and two steals. Tim Hardaway Jr went 0-of-12 from the field to go scoreless. The Mavericks have been trending in the wrong direction of late, though, and they enter this matchup on a three-game losing streak while posting a meager 2-3 mark over their last five contests. Dallas has allowed at least 112 points in each of those losses while failing to score above the 102-point mark in two defeats as well, signaling issues and adjustments that need to be made on both ends of the court.
Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, Josh Richardson and Dorian Finney-Smith have all been listed as game-time calls for Wednesday. All four players are dealing with COVID-19 symptoms.
The Pacers (8-5) were one of the few teams that didn't play on MLK Day this Monday, meaning they should be well rested before this contest. Their most recent game ended in a 129-96 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, although they were seriously depleted in that matchup -- something that will happen here as well. The Pacers were led by Doug McDermott, who totaled 23 points and two assists on 9-of-12 from the field. Domantas Sabonis amassed 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and two steals. Malcolm Brogdon generated 16 points, two rebounds and eight assists while Justin Holiday had 15 points, three rebounds and two steals. Indiana ended its two-game winning streak with this loss and has posted a 2-3 record over its last five contests.
The injury woes are real for the Pacers, as they won't have Myles Turner (hand), Caris LeVert (abdomen) and T.J. Warren (foot) -- this means they'll be missing three would-be starters. Jeremy Lamb (knee) and JaKarr Sampson (back) are both game-time calls for this tilt.
Celtics and 76ers Meet in Divisional Clash
The Boston Celtics take on the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night.
The Celtics (8-4) have had an interesting last week-plus, as the team has seen Jayson Tatum go into the league's health and safety protocols and three of their games postponed in the process. However, Boston has now been back in action for two games, with their most recent time on the floor resulting in a surprising 105-75 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon. Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics with 25 points, adding six rebounds, three assists and one steal. Marcus Smart supplied 10 points, two boards, two assists and two steals. Kemba Walker registered nine points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals in his season debut. Javonte Green led the bench with eight points and added five boards.
The Celtics will remain without Tatum and Carsen Edwards on Wednesday due to COVID-19 protocols. Romeo Langford (wrist) will also remain out.
The 76ers (9-5) have had even more challenges with COVID-19-related absences in recent weeks, and some of their struggles are reflected in the fact they've lost four of their last six contests. Prior to a postpoined game against the Thunder on Sunday evening, Philadelphia's most recent time on the floor resulted in a narrow 106-104 loss at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies. Shake Milton led the way with 28 points, supplementing them with four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Tobias Harris supplied 21 points, three boards, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Tyrese Maxey furnished 12 points and three rebounds, while Ben Simmons generated an 11-point, 16-rebound double-double that also included nine assists.
The 76ers will remain without Mike Scott (knee) for Wednesday's contest.
Wednesday's game marks the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The 76ers won the 2019-20 regular-season series with the Celtics by a 3-1 margin before Boston swept Philadelphia, 4-0, in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
The Celtics (8-4) have had an interesting last week-plus, as the team has seen Jayson Tatum go into the league's health and safety protocols and three of their games postponed in the process. However, Boston has now been back in action for two games, with their most recent time on the floor resulting in a surprising 105-75 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon. Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics with 25 points, adding six rebounds, three assists and one steal. Marcus Smart supplied 10 points, two boards, two assists and two steals. Kemba Walker registered nine points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals in his season debut. Javonte Green led the bench with eight points and added five boards.
The Celtics will remain without Tatum and Carsen Edwards on Wednesday due to COVID-19 protocols. Romeo Langford (wrist) will also remain out.
The 76ers (9-5) have had even more challenges with COVID-19-related absences in recent weeks, and some of their struggles are reflected in the fact they've lost four of their last six contests. Prior to a postpoined game against the Thunder on Sunday evening, Philadelphia's most recent time on the floor resulted in a narrow 106-104 loss at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies. Shake Milton led the way with 28 points, supplementing them with four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Tobias Harris supplied 21 points, three boards, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Tyrese Maxey furnished 12 points and three rebounds, while Ben Simmons generated an 11-point, 16-rebound double-double that also included nine assists.
The 76ers will remain without Mike Scott (knee) for Wednesday's contest.
Wednesday's game marks the first of two meetings between the teams this season. The 76ers won the 2019-20 regular-season series with the Celtics by a 3-1 margin before Boston swept Philadelphia, 4-0, in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
Wizards and Hornets Postponed Wednesday
The game between the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets scheduled for Spectrum Center on Wednesday night has been postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
Pistons and Hawks Tangle In Peach State Battle
The Detroit Pistons take on the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Wednesday night.
The Pistons (3-10) have been as ineffective as their record implies, and they'll come into Wednesday's game having dropped three of their last four contests. Their most recent stumble came against the Miami Heat, which toppled them by a 113-107 score Monday night. Jerami Grant led the way with 27 points, adding six assists, four rebounds and one block. Wayne Ellington poured in 24 points, complementing them with two boards and two assists. Derrick Rose supplied 21 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Mason Plumlee registered 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Josh Jackson compiled 12 points.
The Pistons will list Frank Jackson (ankle) as probable for Wednesday's game, while Killian Hayes (hip) will remain out.
The Hawks (6-7) have hit some hard times in their own right after a strong start to the season, dropping five of their last seven games coming into Wednesday's contest. However, one of their two wins during that sample came their last time on the floor, as they notched a 108-97 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday afternoon. De'Andre Hunter paced the Hawks with 25 points, adding four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Clint Capela generated a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double that also included two assists, three blocks and two steals. Trae Young managed 20 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and three steals. Kyle Huerter delivered 17 points, eight assists, six boards and four steals. John Collins finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four blocks.
The Hawks will list Young (heel) and Hunter (knee) as probable for Wednesday's contest, while Cam Reddish (knee) will carry a questionable tag. Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee), Danilo Gallinari (ankle) and Kris Dunn (ankle) will remain out.
Wednesday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Hawks hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 128-120 win back on Dec. 28.
The Pistons (3-10) have been as ineffective as their record implies, and they'll come into Wednesday's game having dropped three of their last four contests. Their most recent stumble came against the Miami Heat, which toppled them by a 113-107 score Monday night. Jerami Grant led the way with 27 points, adding six assists, four rebounds and one block. Wayne Ellington poured in 24 points, complementing them with two boards and two assists. Derrick Rose supplied 21 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Mason Plumlee registered 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Josh Jackson compiled 12 points.
The Pistons will list Frank Jackson (ankle) as probable for Wednesday's game, while Killian Hayes (hip) will remain out.
The Hawks (6-7) have hit some hard times in their own right after a strong start to the season, dropping five of their last seven games coming into Wednesday's contest. However, one of their two wins during that sample came their last time on the floor, as they notched a 108-97 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday afternoon. De'Andre Hunter paced the Hawks with 25 points, adding four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Clint Capela generated a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double that also included two assists, three blocks and two steals. Trae Young managed 20 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and three steals. Kyle Huerter delivered 17 points, eight assists, six boards and four steals. John Collins finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four blocks.
The Hawks will list Young (heel) and Hunter (knee) as probable for Wednesday's contest, while Cam Reddish (knee) will carry a questionable tag. Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee), Danilo Gallinari (ankle) and Kris Dunn (ankle) will remain out.
Wednesday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Hawks hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 128-120 win back on Dec. 28.
Raptors Look To Keep Rolling
By Dan Bruno
The Toronto Raptors play host to the Miami Heat at Amalie Arena on Wednesday evening.
After a rough start to the season, the Raptors (5-8) have gained some traction with three straight wins. This marks their fourth game of a five game home stand, which concludes with two consecutive games against the Heat. The Raptors are 3-0 so far on the home stand and will look to keep the momentum going to add to their 4-2 home record. They are averaging 111.8 points per game, but they are shooting just 44.4 percent from the field, which is among the lowest in the league. However, the Raptors have held it together on the defensive end, as they are holding opponents to 110.7 points, while forcing opponents into an average of 15.4 turnovers per game. Chris Boucher has emerged as an x-factor, as he is averaging 20.2 points over the last five games. Kyle Lowry continues to play well, averaging 19.1 points, 7.1 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals, while Fred VanVleet is averaging 19.0 points, 6.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
Meanwhile, this marks the first game of a four-game road trip for the Heat (5-7), which will consist of two games against the Raptors, followed by two games in Brooklyn. The Heat have not had much success on the road yet this season as they will be looking to add to their, 1-4, road record. Bam Adebayo is leading the Heat with team highs of 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. Goran Dragic continues to contribute well off the bench, averaging 15.2 points, 5.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds, in 25 minutes per game. However, Dragic could see more playing time, as Tyler Herro (neck) remains questionable for Wednesday's action. Jimmy Butler (health protocols) has missed the last few games and remains questionable for action on Wednesday. The Heat are shooting 48.6 percent from the field, which is fourth best in the league.
After a rough start to the season, the Raptors (5-8) have gained some traction with three straight wins. This marks their fourth game of a five game home stand, which concludes with two consecutive games against the Heat. The Raptors are 3-0 so far on the home stand and will look to keep the momentum going to add to their 4-2 home record. They are averaging 111.8 points per game, but they are shooting just 44.4 percent from the field, which is among the lowest in the league. However, the Raptors have held it together on the defensive end, as they are holding opponents to 110.7 points, while forcing opponents into an average of 15.4 turnovers per game. Chris Boucher has emerged as an x-factor, as he is averaging 20.2 points over the last five games. Kyle Lowry continues to play well, averaging 19.1 points, 7.1 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals, while Fred VanVleet is averaging 19.0 points, 6.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
Meanwhile, this marks the first game of a four-game road trip for the Heat (5-7), which will consist of two games against the Raptors, followed by two games in Brooklyn. The Heat have not had much success on the road yet this season as they will be looking to add to their, 1-4, road record. Bam Adebayo is leading the Heat with team highs of 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. Goran Dragic continues to contribute well off the bench, averaging 15.2 points, 5.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds, in 25 minutes per game. However, Dragic could see more playing time, as Tyler Herro (neck) remains questionable for Wednesday's action. Jimmy Butler (health protocols) has missed the last few games and remains questionable for action on Wednesday. The Heat are shooting 48.6 percent from the field, which is fourth best in the league.
Timberwolves Host Struggling Magic
By Dan Bruno
The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Orlando Magic at Target Center on Wednesday evening.
This marks the first game of a three-game home stand for the Timberwolves (3-9), as they look to get back on track after two consecutive losses and build on their, 2-4, home record. Ricky Rubio, Karl-Anthony Towns and Juancho Hernangomez all remain questionable for action on Wednesday due to health protocols. D'Angelo Russell leads the Timberwolves with team highs of 21.6 points and 5.6 assists per game. Malik Beasley continues to play well, averaging 19.8 points, while shooting 39 percent from long range. Naz Reid has been seeing extra minutes with all the time Towns has missed, and he is averaging 10.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. The Timberwolves need to get their defense in order, as they are giving up an average of 117.8 points per game, which is fourth most in the league. On the other hand, they are averaging 107.7 points per game, while shooting 44.0 percent from the field, which is fifth worst in the league.
Meanwhile, the Magic (6-8) are in the midst of a major rough patch, as they have dropped their last six games in a row. This marks their second game of a three-game road trip, as they look to end the slide and build on their, 3-5, road record. The Magic are averaging 104.5 points per game, which is third fewest in the league, while shooting 42.9 percent from the field, which is second worst in the league. They are not doing much better on the defensive end, as they are giving up an average of 110.7 points against, while allowing opponents to shoot 47.7 percent from the field. Nonetheless, Nikola Vucevic continues to play well for Orlando, averaging team highs of 22.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Terrence Ross is averaging 16.4 points on 43 percent shooting, as he continues to fill the sixth-man role. Evan Fournier (back) remains questionable for action.
This marks the first game of a three-game home stand for the Timberwolves (3-9), as they look to get back on track after two consecutive losses and build on their, 2-4, home record. Ricky Rubio, Karl-Anthony Towns and Juancho Hernangomez all remain questionable for action on Wednesday due to health protocols. D'Angelo Russell leads the Timberwolves with team highs of 21.6 points and 5.6 assists per game. Malik Beasley continues to play well, averaging 19.8 points, while shooting 39 percent from long range. Naz Reid has been seeing extra minutes with all the time Towns has missed, and he is averaging 10.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. The Timberwolves need to get their defense in order, as they are giving up an average of 117.8 points per game, which is fourth most in the league. On the other hand, they are averaging 107.7 points per game, while shooting 44.0 percent from the field, which is fifth worst in the league.
Meanwhile, the Magic (6-8) are in the midst of a major rough patch, as they have dropped their last six games in a row. This marks their second game of a three-game road trip, as they look to end the slide and build on their, 3-5, road record. The Magic are averaging 104.5 points per game, which is third fewest in the league, while shooting 42.9 percent from the field, which is second worst in the league. They are not doing much better on the defensive end, as they are giving up an average of 110.7 points against, while allowing opponents to shoot 47.7 percent from the field. Nonetheless, Nikola Vucevic continues to play well for Orlando, averaging team highs of 22.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Terrence Ross is averaging 16.4 points on 43 percent shooting, as he continues to fill the sixth-man role. Evan Fournier (back) remains questionable for action.
Rockets Host Suns on Wednesday
The Phoenix Suns travel to Texas to face the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Wednesday.
The Suns (7-5) were the talk of the NBA when they started with five wins in their first six games but have hit a regression wall since then. In fact, they have four losses in their six games since that start, mixing in a COVID breakout in the middle of that ugly spell. That caused three games to be postponed in the middle of that stretch and one has to wonder if that threw them off of their rhythm. In any case, the stars on this team are struggling to figure things out. Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton have all seen their numbers drop off drastically this season and while this was slightly expected, no one could have seen their statistics fall off this much. One has to believe they will improve though and a matchup against a shorthanded Houston team could be just what the doctor ordered.
The Rockets (4-8) have had the craziest month of any NBA team, trading their best player last week. Calling him their best player is an understatement though, with James Harden leading the NBA with nearly 40 points per game last season. That means it's time to find a new identity and acquiring Victor Oladipo in that trade is a solid start. He actually made his Houston debut on Monday, providing 32 points, five rebounds and nine assists in a narrow loss to the Chicago Bulls. Oladipo and Christian Wood make for a dynamic duo and it'll be fun to see how they look when John Wall (knee) eventually returns from injury and this team is finally at full mass.
Houston won the three-game season series last year, winning two of three. That gives the Rockets 20 victories in their last 23 meetings with the Suns dating back six years.
The Suns (7-5) were the talk of the NBA when they started with five wins in their first six games but have hit a regression wall since then. In fact, they have four losses in their six games since that start, mixing in a COVID breakout in the middle of that ugly spell. That caused three games to be postponed in the middle of that stretch and one has to wonder if that threw them off of their rhythm. In any case, the stars on this team are struggling to figure things out. Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton have all seen their numbers drop off drastically this season and while this was slightly expected, no one could have seen their statistics fall off this much. One has to believe they will improve though and a matchup against a shorthanded Houston team could be just what the doctor ordered.
The Rockets (4-8) have had the craziest month of any NBA team, trading their best player last week. Calling him their best player is an understatement though, with James Harden leading the NBA with nearly 40 points per game last season. That means it's time to find a new identity and acquiring Victor Oladipo in that trade is a solid start. He actually made his Houston debut on Monday, providing 32 points, five rebounds and nine assists in a narrow loss to the Chicago Bulls. Oladipo and Christian Wood make for a dynamic duo and it'll be fun to see how they look when John Wall (knee) eventually returns from injury and this team is finally at full mass.
Houston won the three-game season series last year, winning two of three. That gives the Rockets 20 victories in their last 23 meetings with the Suns dating back six years.
Warriors Look To Build Off Impressive Win
By Dan Bruno
The Golden State Warriors play host to the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on Wednesday evening.
This marks the first game of a two-game home stand for the Warriors (7-6), after they are coming off an impressive win over the Lakers in L.A. on Monday. The Warriors trailed by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter of Monday's win, but they rallied back to pull off a two-point win on the road. Stephen Curry led the way in the win, with 26 points, seven assists and a steal, while Kelly Oubre Jr. followed up with 23 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks. The Warriors are averaging 111.6 points per game, while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, including 35 percent from long range. However, their defense definitely needs work, as they are giving up an average of 115.2 points against, which is sixth most in the league. Curry leads the team, averaging 28.2 points, 6.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Andrew Wiggins is the team's next-highest scorer, averaging 17.8 points on 44 percent shooting, while Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
Meanwhile, this marks the second game of a two-game road trip for the Spurs (8-6), who are looking for their third straight win. The Spurs have won their last two road games and will look to continue that streak and add to their, 6-2, road record. DeMar DeRozan leads the team, averaging 20.7 points, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals, in 34 minutes per game. Dejounte Murray has also been a leader for the Spurs, averaging 15.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Keldon Johnson is averaging 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The Spurs are not the highest-scoring or best defensive team, but they have done a great job taking care of one thing that is entirely in their control, as they average a league-low 9.9 turnovers per game. They also do a good job of limiting opponents free-throw attempts, as they are giving up 20.4 attempts per game, which is seventh fewest in the league.
This marks the first game of a two-game home stand for the Warriors (7-6), after they are coming off an impressive win over the Lakers in L.A. on Monday. The Warriors trailed by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter of Monday's win, but they rallied back to pull off a two-point win on the road. Stephen Curry led the way in the win, with 26 points, seven assists and a steal, while Kelly Oubre Jr. followed up with 23 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks. The Warriors are averaging 111.6 points per game, while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, including 35 percent from long range. However, their defense definitely needs work, as they are giving up an average of 115.2 points against, which is sixth most in the league. Curry leads the team, averaging 28.2 points, 6.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Andrew Wiggins is the team's next-highest scorer, averaging 17.8 points on 44 percent shooting, while Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
Meanwhile, this marks the second game of a two-game road trip for the Spurs (8-6), who are looking for their third straight win. The Spurs have won their last two road games and will look to continue that streak and add to their, 6-2, road record. DeMar DeRozan leads the team, averaging 20.7 points, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals, in 34 minutes per game. Dejounte Murray has also been a leader for the Spurs, averaging 15.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Keldon Johnson is averaging 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The Spurs are not the highest-scoring or best defensive team, but they have done a great job taking care of one thing that is entirely in their control, as they average a league-low 9.9 turnovers per game. They also do a good job of limiting opponents free-throw attempts, as they are giving up 20.4 attempts per game, which is seventh fewest in the league.
Clippers Host Kings on Wednesday
The Los Angeles Clippers play host to the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on Wednesday.
The Kings (5-9) are free-falling right now, entering this matchup losing eight of their last 10 games. The most recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans was especially disappointing when you consider that De'Aaron Fox had a career-best 43 points and 13 assists while Marvin Bagley had a 28-point double-double. Those are some absolute gems and it says a lot that this team couldn't win behind performances like that. The Kings allowed 127 points in that defeat which brings their average to 123.6 points allowed per game. That's obviously the worst mark in the NBA and things won't change for them until they start playing better on that end of the floor.
The Clippers (10-4) enter this matchup winning four-straight, beating their opponents by an average of 20 points per game. That's the team we've been waiting to see and Los Angeles fans love to see Kawhi Leonard and Paul George get some rest that's not scheduled. What's really impressive is how they're performing on both ends of the floor. Los Angeles is one of the only teams who sit Top-10 on both points scored and points allowed. That's a heck of an achievement but sitting dead-last in total rebounding is slightly disappointing. A lot of that has to do with their lackluster frontcourt but it really doesn't matter when studs like George and Leonard control the wings and backcourt.
These teams played just last week, with the Clippers prevailing, 138-100. That gives Los Angeles 11 wins in their last 13 meetings with Sacramento, winning by an average of 15.8 points per game.
The Kings (5-9) are free-falling right now, entering this matchup losing eight of their last 10 games. The most recent loss against the New Orleans Pelicans was especially disappointing when you consider that De'Aaron Fox had a career-best 43 points and 13 assists while Marvin Bagley had a 28-point double-double. Those are some absolute gems and it says a lot that this team couldn't win behind performances like that. The Kings allowed 127 points in that defeat which brings their average to 123.6 points allowed per game. That's obviously the worst mark in the NBA and things won't change for them until they start playing better on that end of the floor.
The Clippers (10-4) enter this matchup winning four-straight, beating their opponents by an average of 20 points per game. That's the team we've been waiting to see and Los Angeles fans love to see Kawhi Leonard and Paul George get some rest that's not scheduled. What's really impressive is how they're performing on both ends of the floor. Los Angeles is one of the only teams who sit Top-10 on both points scored and points allowed. That's a heck of an achievement but sitting dead-last in total rebounding is slightly disappointing. A lot of that has to do with their lackluster frontcourt but it really doesn't matter when studs like George and Leonard control the wings and backcourt.
These teams played just last week, with the Clippers prevailing, 138-100. That gives Los Angeles 11 wins in their last 13 meetings with Sacramento, winning by an average of 15.8 points per game.
Trail Blazers Host Grizzlies on Wednesday
The Portland Trail Blazers play host to the Memphis Grizzlies at Moda Center on Wednesday.
The Grizzlies (7-6) are in the midst of a five-game winning streak, turning their disappointing start into a promising first month. What's really encouraging is the fact that Ja Morant returned from his ankle injury over the weekend. This kid has superstar potential and if you take out the game he got injured, Morant is averaging 26.5 points and 8.0 assists per game. That's all you can ask for from your stud point guard and it's scary to think he's only 21-years-old. What makes this run even more amazing is the fact that Jonas Valanciunas remains out due to COVID protocols while Jaren Jackson Jr has yet to make his season debut after knee surgery. Both of those guys are expected to return sometime within the next month and that'll make this hot team even more dangerous moving forward.
The Trail Blazers (8-6) have had to deal with absences of their own, losing Jusuf Nurkic to a broken wrist last week and C.J. McCollum suffering a foot fracture over the weekend. Those are two of the three best players on this team and it's hard to see them thriving with both of them sidelined. That certainly appeared to be the case in the first game without them, getting blown out by the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. What's really concerning is that neither of those guys is expected back for at least a month and that means players like Rodney Hood, Enes Kanter and Robert Covington need to step up in their absence. It feels like this team can't get any good news and a matchup with a streaking team is the last thing they wanted.
These teams split their two-game season series last year which is commonplace in this series. In fact, these clubs have traded off wins and losses in their last 13 meetings dating back to 2016.
The Grizzlies (7-6) are in the midst of a five-game winning streak, turning their disappointing start into a promising first month. What's really encouraging is the fact that Ja Morant returned from his ankle injury over the weekend. This kid has superstar potential and if you take out the game he got injured, Morant is averaging 26.5 points and 8.0 assists per game. That's all you can ask for from your stud point guard and it's scary to think he's only 21-years-old. What makes this run even more amazing is the fact that Jonas Valanciunas remains out due to COVID protocols while Jaren Jackson Jr has yet to make his season debut after knee surgery. Both of those guys are expected to return sometime within the next month and that'll make this hot team even more dangerous moving forward.
The Trail Blazers (8-6) have had to deal with absences of their own, losing Jusuf Nurkic to a broken wrist last week and C.J. McCollum suffering a foot fracture over the weekend. Those are two of the three best players on this team and it's hard to see them thriving with both of them sidelined. That certainly appeared to be the case in the first game without them, getting blown out by the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. What's really concerning is that neither of those guys is expected back for at least a month and that means players like Rodney Hood, Enes Kanter and Robert Covington need to step up in their absence. It feels like this team can't get any good news and a matchup with a streaking team is the last thing they wanted.
These teams split their two-game season series last year which is commonplace in this series. In fact, these clubs have traded off wins and losses in their last 13 meetings dating back to 2016.