Timberwolves Visit Depleted Pacers Team
The Indiana Pacers will host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday.
The Pacers (22-27) are coming off another disappointing performance in what has been a disappointing season for them, as they suffered a 113-97 defeat against the Chicago Bulls. Caris LeVert recorded 20 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead the Pacers in this loss, and Edmond Sumner posted 15 points and two steals. Doug McDermott notched 11 points, while Myles Turner contributed 10 points, four rebounds and three blocks. Jeremy Lamb was one of the team's top scorers with 15 points coming off the bench. Indiana has posted a meager 8-15 mark when playing at home this season, and dealing with injuries to key players such as Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon and T.J. Warren hasn't helped them at all. Sabonis, Brogdon and Turner are all questionable for this matchup.
The Timberwolves (13-38) have been one of the worst teams in The Association this season, but they're coming off a good performance the last time out and they secured a 116-106 win over the Sacramento Kings in their previous contest. D'Angelo Russell paced the Timberwolves with 25 points in his return from injury, complementing them with five rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 23 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Anthony Edwards supplied 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Juancho Hernangomez compiled 17 points, nine rebounds, one assist and one steal. Naz Reid registered 10 points seven boards, one steal and one block. The Timberwolves finally have Towns, Edwards and Russell healthy and playing together, so this stretch of games will be useful to determine what the future holds for them. For what is worth, Minnesota has gone 2-3 in their last five contests but have struggled massively on the road with a putrid 5-21 record.
The Pacers (22-27) are coming off another disappointing performance in what has been a disappointing season for them, as they suffered a 113-97 defeat against the Chicago Bulls. Caris LeVert recorded 20 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead the Pacers in this loss, and Edmond Sumner posted 15 points and two steals. Doug McDermott notched 11 points, while Myles Turner contributed 10 points, four rebounds and three blocks. Jeremy Lamb was one of the team's top scorers with 15 points coming off the bench. Indiana has posted a meager 8-15 mark when playing at home this season, and dealing with injuries to key players such as Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon and T.J. Warren hasn't helped them at all. Sabonis, Brogdon and Turner are all questionable for this matchup.
The Timberwolves (13-38) have been one of the worst teams in The Association this season, but they're coming off a good performance the last time out and they secured a 116-106 win over the Sacramento Kings in their previous contest. D'Angelo Russell paced the Timberwolves with 25 points in his return from injury, complementing them with five rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 23 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Anthony Edwards supplied 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Juancho Hernangomez compiled 17 points, nine rebounds, one assist and one steal. Naz Reid registered 10 points seven boards, one steal and one block. The Timberwolves finally have Towns, Edwards and Russell healthy and playing together, so this stretch of games will be useful to determine what the future holds for them. For what is worth, Minnesota has gone 2-3 in their last five contests but have struggled massively on the road with a putrid 5-21 record.
Magic Host Reeling Wizards
By Dan Bruno
The Orlando Magic play host to the Washington Wizards at Amway Center on Wednesday evening.
The Magic (17-33) have dropped six of their last 10 games, including their last two in a row. They will look to get back on track and add to their, 10-15, home record, as they face the first game of a four-game home stand. Terrence Ross leads the Magic, averaging 16.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals, in 30 minutes per game. Dwayne Bacon is averaging 10.4 points and 3.0 rebounds, while James Ennis III is averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. The Magic have had some trouble on the offensive end, as they are averaging 104.3 points per game, which is second fewest in the league, while shooting a league-worst 43.0 percent from the field. However, they do a good job taking care of the ball, limiting themselves to an average of 12.4 turnovers per game, which is fifth fewest in the league.
Meanwhile, the Wizards (17-32) have dropped seven of their last 10 games, including their last four in a row. They will look to end the slide and improve on their, 7-16, road record, as they face the second game of a six-game road trip. Bradley Beal (hip) has missed the last five games and remains questionable for action on Wednesday. On a positive note, Russell Westbrook continues to play great, averaging 21.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 10.5 assists and 1.3 steals, in 35 minutes per game. Rui Hachimura is averaging 14.2 points and 5.8 rebounds, while Deni Avdija is averaging 6.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. The Wizards have struggled on the defensive end as well, giving up a league-worst average of 118.7 points per game, while allowing opponents to shoot an average of 47.2 percent from the field. They are especially lacking in interior defense, as they average a league-low 3.8 blocks per game.
The Magic (17-33) have dropped six of their last 10 games, including their last two in a row. They will look to get back on track and add to their, 10-15, home record, as they face the first game of a four-game home stand. Terrence Ross leads the Magic, averaging 16.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals, in 30 minutes per game. Dwayne Bacon is averaging 10.4 points and 3.0 rebounds, while James Ennis III is averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. The Magic have had some trouble on the offensive end, as they are averaging 104.3 points per game, which is second fewest in the league, while shooting a league-worst 43.0 percent from the field. However, they do a good job taking care of the ball, limiting themselves to an average of 12.4 turnovers per game, which is fifth fewest in the league.
Meanwhile, the Wizards (17-32) have dropped seven of their last 10 games, including their last four in a row. They will look to end the slide and improve on their, 7-16, road record, as they face the second game of a six-game road trip. Bradley Beal (hip) has missed the last five games and remains questionable for action on Wednesday. On a positive note, Russell Westbrook continues to play great, averaging 21.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 10.5 assists and 1.3 steals, in 35 minutes per game. Rui Hachimura is averaging 14.2 points and 5.8 rebounds, while Deni Avdija is averaging 6.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. The Wizards have struggled on the defensive end as well, giving up a league-worst average of 118.7 points per game, while allowing opponents to shoot an average of 47.2 percent from the field. They are especially lacking in interior defense, as they average a league-low 3.8 blocks per game.
Celtics, Knicks Tangle In Eastern Conference Battle
The Boston Celtics will host the New York Knicks at TD Garden on Wednesday.
The Celtics (25-26) continue to have a disappointing season and they suffered yet another defeat on Tuesday, dropping their game against the Philadelphia 76ers while looking outmatched on both ends of the court. Jayson Tatum carried the Celtics offensively with 20 points, but he also added four rebounds and four assists. Jaylen Brown contributed 17 points and three rebounds, while Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart each contributed 14 points -- Walker also added six assists while Smart dished out three dimes. No other Boston player even sniffed the 10-point mark. Boston has gone 15-10 at home, though, and they will look to improve on that mark while defeating one of their biggest rivals.
The Knicks (25-26) have the exact same record as the Celtics, something that was not even imaginable before the start of the season. They are coming off a defeat in their previous game, however, as they dropped a very close game to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. R.J. Barrett led the Knicks in scoring with 22 points and four rebounds, while Julius Randle also posted an excellent game despite missing the game-tying bucket -- he finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. Reggie Bullock delivered 21 points with three rebounds and two assists. Derrick Rose had 16 points off the bench. The Knicks have struggled on the road this season, however, and they've posted an 11-16 mark when playing away from Madison Square Garden.
The Celtics (25-26) continue to have a disappointing season and they suffered yet another defeat on Tuesday, dropping their game against the Philadelphia 76ers while looking outmatched on both ends of the court. Jayson Tatum carried the Celtics offensively with 20 points, but he also added four rebounds and four assists. Jaylen Brown contributed 17 points and three rebounds, while Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart each contributed 14 points -- Walker also added six assists while Smart dished out three dimes. No other Boston player even sniffed the 10-point mark. Boston has gone 15-10 at home, though, and they will look to improve on that mark while defeating one of their biggest rivals.
The Knicks (25-26) have the exact same record as the Celtics, something that was not even imaginable before the start of the season. They are coming off a defeat in their previous game, however, as they dropped a very close game to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. R.J. Barrett led the Knicks in scoring with 22 points and four rebounds, while Julius Randle also posted an excellent game despite missing the game-tying bucket -- he finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. Reggie Bullock delivered 21 points with three rebounds and two assists. Derrick Rose had 16 points off the bench. The Knicks have struggled on the road this season, however, and they've posted an 11-16 mark when playing away from Madison Square Garden.
Pelicans Look To Bounce Back On The Road
By Dan Bruno
The Brooklyn Nets play host to the New Orleans Pelicans at Barclays Center on Wednesday evening.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Pelicans (22-28), as they are coming off a rough loss in Atlanta on Tuesday night. Despite the fact that they got out to a good start in the contest with a, 29-25, lead after one quarter, they fell behind in the third quarter and trailed 17, heading into the final frame. They could not make their way back in the fourth, as they fell for their third loss in the last four games. Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 34 points on 12-of-18 shooting, five rebounds, two assists and a steal, in his first game back after a three-game absence. Lonzo Ball also played well, in what marked his second game back from injury, as he totaled 12 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Unfortunately, the Pelicans are still facing some injury trouble, as Brandon Ingram (toe) is questionable for action, and Josh Hart (thumb) will remain out. This marks the third and final game of a road trip for the Pelicans, as they look to get back on track and add to their, 8-15, road record.
Meanwhile, the Nets (35-16) have won seven of their last 10 games, including their last contest. They will look to keep rolling and add to their, 21-6, home record, as they face the second game of a three-game home stand. The Nets also are dealing with some injury trouble, as James Harden (hamstring) will be out, while Kevin Durant (hamstring), who has missed the last three weeks of action, is set to make his return to the lineup. Kyrie Irving has been playing well lately, averaging 29.7 points, 7.9 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals, over his last seven games, including a 40-point performance in the Nets' most recent contest. The Nets are averaging 118.6 points per game, which is second most in the league, and they are shooting a league-best 49.3 percent from the field.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Pelicans (22-28), as they are coming off a rough loss in Atlanta on Tuesday night. Despite the fact that they got out to a good start in the contest with a, 29-25, lead after one quarter, they fell behind in the third quarter and trailed 17, heading into the final frame. They could not make their way back in the fourth, as they fell for their third loss in the last four games. Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 34 points on 12-of-18 shooting, five rebounds, two assists and a steal, in his first game back after a three-game absence. Lonzo Ball also played well, in what marked his second game back from injury, as he totaled 12 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Unfortunately, the Pelicans are still facing some injury trouble, as Brandon Ingram (toe) is questionable for action, and Josh Hart (thumb) will remain out. This marks the third and final game of a road trip for the Pelicans, as they look to get back on track and add to their, 8-15, road record.
Meanwhile, the Nets (35-16) have won seven of their last 10 games, including their last contest. They will look to keep rolling and add to their, 21-6, home record, as they face the second game of a three-game home stand. The Nets also are dealing with some injury trouble, as James Harden (hamstring) will be out, while Kevin Durant (hamstring), who has missed the last three weeks of action, is set to make his return to the lineup. Kyrie Irving has been playing well lately, averaging 29.7 points, 7.9 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals, over his last seven games, including a 40-point performance in the Nets' most recent contest. The Nets are averaging 118.6 points per game, which is second most in the league, and they are shooting a league-best 49.3 percent from the field.
Grizzlies and Hawks Set for Peach State Clash
The Memphis Grizzlies take on the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Wednesday night.
The Grizzlies (25-23) have made some notable strides of late after struggling with consistency most of the season, as they've forged four wins in their last five games. Their most recent success came Tuesday night, when they toppled the Miami Heat on the road by a 124-112 score. Dillon Brooks led the Grizzlies with 28 points, adding two assists, one rebound and two steals. Jonas Valacinunas posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included one steal. Kyle Anderson supplied 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and one steal. Desmond Bane delivered 15 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Xavier Tillman and Ja Morant provided 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Grizzlies are likely to list De'Anthony Melton (leg), Justise Winslow (quadriceps) and Brandon Clarke (calf) as no better than questionable for Wednesday's game. Jaren Jackson (knee) will remain out, while Morant could be a game-time decision after exiting Tuesday's game versus the Heat early with a back injury.
The Hawks (27-24) come into Wednesday's interconference clash with some momentum in their own right, as they're riding a four-game winning streak. Atlanta's most recent success came at the expense of the New Orleans Pelicans, which they bested by a 123-107 score Tuesday night. Trae Young paced the Hawks with a 30-point, 12-assist double-double that also included one rebound. Bogdan Bogdanovic provided 21 points, four assists and four rebounds. Kevin Huerter totaled 17 points, three rebounds and two assists. Danilo Gallinari poured in 14 points. Clint Capela forged a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included one assist and three blocks, while Lou Williams matched his teammate's scoring.
The Hawks are expected to remain without John Collins (ankle), De'Andre Hunter (knee), Cam Reddish (Achilles) and Kris Dunn (ankle) for Wednesday's game.
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 122-112 win Dec. 26.
The Grizzlies (25-23) have made some notable strides of late after struggling with consistency most of the season, as they've forged four wins in their last five games. Their most recent success came Tuesday night, when they toppled the Miami Heat on the road by a 124-112 score. Dillon Brooks led the Grizzlies with 28 points, adding two assists, one rebound and two steals. Jonas Valacinunas posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included one steal. Kyle Anderson supplied 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and one steal. Desmond Bane delivered 15 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Xavier Tillman and Ja Morant provided 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Grizzlies are likely to list De'Anthony Melton (leg), Justise Winslow (quadriceps) and Brandon Clarke (calf) as no better than questionable for Wednesday's game. Jaren Jackson (knee) will remain out, while Morant could be a game-time decision after exiting Tuesday's game versus the Heat early with a back injury.
The Hawks (27-24) come into Wednesday's interconference clash with some momentum in their own right, as they're riding a four-game winning streak. Atlanta's most recent success came at the expense of the New Orleans Pelicans, which they bested by a 123-107 score Tuesday night. Trae Young paced the Hawks with a 30-point, 12-assist double-double that also included one rebound. Bogdan Bogdanovic provided 21 points, four assists and four rebounds. Kevin Huerter totaled 17 points, three rebounds and two assists. Danilo Gallinari poured in 14 points. Clint Capela forged a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included one assist and three blocks, while Lou Williams matched his teammate's scoring.
The Hawks are expected to remain without John Collins (ankle), De'Andre Hunter (knee), Cam Reddish (Achilles) and Kris Dunn (ankle) for Wednesday's game.
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 122-112 win Dec. 26.
Mavericks and Rockets Meet in Intrastate Battle
The Dallas Mavericks take on the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Wednesday night.
The Mavericks (28-21) appear to finally be hitting their stride after plenty of inconsistency earlier in the season, as they've notched five straight wins and seven in their last eight games overall. Their most recent success was especially impressive, as they toppled a red-hot Utah Jazz team by a 111-103 score. Luka Doncic led the way with 31 points, adding nine rebounds and eight assists. Dorian Finney-Smith furnished 23 points, six boards, four assists, one steal and one block. Jalen Brunson supplied 20 points, four boards and three assists. Josh Richardson contributed 17 points, five rebounds and two assists. Tim Hardaway, Jr. managed 16 points, five rebounds and one assist.
The Mavericks will list Maxi Kleber (leg), Trey Burke (calf) as questionable for Wednesday's game. Willie Cauley-Stein (COVID-19 protocols) and JJ Redick (heel) will both remain out.
The Rockets (13-37) have been struggling the majority of the season as their record indicates, and they'll enter Wednesday's game having dropped five straight and seven of the last eight overall. However, Houston gave a valiant effort against a quality opponent in its most recent defeat, a 133-130 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday night. Christian Wood paced the Rockets with 23 points, adding three rebounds. Kelly Olynyk finished with 21 points, four boards, one assist and two steals. Kevin Porter registered 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Jae'Sean Tate recorded 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and one steal. Sterling Brown and Kenyon Martin, Jr. offered 16 and 13 points, respectively, while also pulling in three rebounds apiece.
The Rockets will list Danuel House (ankle), Eric Gordon (groin), David Nwaba (wrist) and Dante Exum (calf) as out for Wednesday's game. John Wall and Avery Bradley will carry questionable and probable tags, respectively, due to knee injuries.
Wednesday's game marks the third of four meetings between the teams this season. The series is tied 1-1, with the Mavericks having notched a 113-100 win Jan. 4 and the Rockets having countered with a 133-108 victory Jan. 23.
The Mavericks (28-21) appear to finally be hitting their stride after plenty of inconsistency earlier in the season, as they've notched five straight wins and seven in their last eight games overall. Their most recent success was especially impressive, as they toppled a red-hot Utah Jazz team by a 111-103 score. Luka Doncic led the way with 31 points, adding nine rebounds and eight assists. Dorian Finney-Smith furnished 23 points, six boards, four assists, one steal and one block. Jalen Brunson supplied 20 points, four boards and three assists. Josh Richardson contributed 17 points, five rebounds and two assists. Tim Hardaway, Jr. managed 16 points, five rebounds and one assist.
The Mavericks will list Maxi Kleber (leg), Trey Burke (calf) as questionable for Wednesday's game. Willie Cauley-Stein (COVID-19 protocols) and JJ Redick (heel) will both remain out.
The Rockets (13-37) have been struggling the majority of the season as their record indicates, and they'll enter Wednesday's game having dropped five straight and seven of the last eight overall. However, Houston gave a valiant effort against a quality opponent in its most recent defeat, a 133-130 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday night. Christian Wood paced the Rockets with 23 points, adding three rebounds. Kelly Olynyk finished with 21 points, four boards, one assist and two steals. Kevin Porter registered 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Jae'Sean Tate recorded 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and one steal. Sterling Brown and Kenyon Martin, Jr. offered 16 and 13 points, respectively, while also pulling in three rebounds apiece.
The Rockets will list Danuel House (ankle), Eric Gordon (groin), David Nwaba (wrist) and Dante Exum (calf) as out for Wednesday's game. John Wall and Avery Bradley will carry questionable and probable tags, respectively, due to knee injuries.
Wednesday's game marks the third of four meetings between the teams this season. The series is tied 1-1, with the Mavericks having notched a 113-100 win Jan. 4 and the Rockets having countered with a 133-108 victory Jan. 23.
Thunder Host Hornets on Wednesday
The Oklahoma City Thunder play host to the Charlotte Hornets at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday.
The Hornets (25-24) have been stung by the injury bug recently, losing LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward to some serious injuries over the last two weeks. Those are two guys you couldn't afford to lose, and it makes it shocking that they enter this matchup, winning five of their last eight games. It's going to put a lot on the shoulder of Terry Rozier, who's already in the midst of a breakout season. The big problem with the Hayward and Ball absences is that they are two of their primary ball-handlers on this shallow roster. That means someone needs to come in and dominate the ball, and hopefully, it doesn't hinder Rozier's elite scoring abilities. Those two have this club ranked fifth in assists this year, and that total is inevitably going to drop as the season comes to an end.
The Thunder (20-30) have been dealing with some injuries themselves, sending out an unrecognizable roster night after night. It would be one thing to have lost Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Al Horford, but Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Roby, and Darius Bazley have dealt with some injuries themselves. That's essentially the starting unit, and it's left this club in shambles. In fact, they've lost six of their last seven games in total, with the five most recent losses all coming by 21 points or more. The simple fact is, this club doesn't have the talent right now to compete with other NBA teams. The only silver lining is that it's giving some of these youngsters extra time to prevail. Guys like Moses Brown, Theo Maledon, and Kenrich Williams have shown some flashes, and they'll be nice complementary pieces for this franchise when all of those guys eventually return, even if it's next year.
These teams played back on December 26, with Oklahoma City winning 109-107. That gives the Thunder five-straight victories in this series dating back to 2018
The Hornets (25-24) have been stung by the injury bug recently, losing LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward to some serious injuries over the last two weeks. Those are two guys you couldn't afford to lose, and it makes it shocking that they enter this matchup, winning five of their last eight games. It's going to put a lot on the shoulder of Terry Rozier, who's already in the midst of a breakout season. The big problem with the Hayward and Ball absences is that they are two of their primary ball-handlers on this shallow roster. That means someone needs to come in and dominate the ball, and hopefully, it doesn't hinder Rozier's elite scoring abilities. Those two have this club ranked fifth in assists this year, and that total is inevitably going to drop as the season comes to an end.
The Thunder (20-30) have been dealing with some injuries themselves, sending out an unrecognizable roster night after night. It would be one thing to have lost Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Al Horford, but Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Roby, and Darius Bazley have dealt with some injuries themselves. That's essentially the starting unit, and it's left this club in shambles. In fact, they've lost six of their last seven games in total, with the five most recent losses all coming by 21 points or more. The simple fact is, this club doesn't have the talent right now to compete with other NBA teams. The only silver lining is that it's giving some of these youngsters extra time to prevail. Guys like Moses Brown, Theo Maledon, and Kenrich Williams have shown some flashes, and they'll be nice complementary pieces for this franchise when all of those guys eventually return, even if it's next year.
These teams played back on December 26, with Oklahoma City winning 109-107. That gives the Thunder five-straight victories in this series dating back to 2018
Nuggets Look To Build On Six-Game Win Streak
By Dan Bruno
The Denver Nuggets play host to the San Antonio Spurs at Ball Arena on Wednesday evening.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Nuggets (32-18), as they are coming off an impressive home win over the Pistons on Tuesday night. They got out to a great start in the win with a, 39-32, lead after one quarter. They carried the momentum into the second and closed the half on an, 11-0, run, to take a 20-point lead into the break. The Nuggets came out strong again in the third quarter and pushed their lead to 23 points, heading into the final frame. They kept control the rest of the way, as they held on for their sixth straight win. Nikola Jokic led the way in the win, with 27 points, assists, eight rebounds, a steal and a block. Michael Porter Jr. followed up with 25 points and seven rebounds, while Will Barton totaled 24 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Nuggets will look to keep rolling and add to their, 16-9, home record, as they face the third game of a five-game road trip.
Meanwhile, the Spurs (24-24) have dropped eight of their last 10 games, including their last three in a row. They will look to get back on track and add to their, 12-7, road record, as they get set to kick off a five-game road trip. DeMar DeRozan leads the team, averaging 21.0 points, 7.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds, in 34 minutes per game. Dejounte Murray is averaging 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals, while Keldon Johnson is averaging 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The Spurs average 110.5 points per game, which is ninth fewest in the league, and they are giving up an average of 112.0 points against. They need to do a better job covering the three-point line, as they allow opponents to shoot an average of 37.9 percent from deep, which is sixth highest in the league. On the other hand, the Spurs do a great job of taking care of the ball, as they limit themselves to a league-low 10.9 turnovers per game.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Nuggets (32-18), as they are coming off an impressive home win over the Pistons on Tuesday night. They got out to a great start in the win with a, 39-32, lead after one quarter. They carried the momentum into the second and closed the half on an, 11-0, run, to take a 20-point lead into the break. The Nuggets came out strong again in the third quarter and pushed their lead to 23 points, heading into the final frame. They kept control the rest of the way, as they held on for their sixth straight win. Nikola Jokic led the way in the win, with 27 points, assists, eight rebounds, a steal and a block. Michael Porter Jr. followed up with 25 points and seven rebounds, while Will Barton totaled 24 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Nuggets will look to keep rolling and add to their, 16-9, home record, as they face the third game of a five-game road trip.
Meanwhile, the Spurs (24-24) have dropped eight of their last 10 games, including their last three in a row. They will look to get back on track and add to their, 12-7, road record, as they get set to kick off a five-game road trip. DeMar DeRozan leads the team, averaging 21.0 points, 7.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds, in 34 minutes per game. Dejounte Murray is averaging 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals, while Keldon Johnson is averaging 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The Spurs average 110.5 points per game, which is ninth fewest in the league, and they are giving up an average of 112.0 points against. They need to do a better job covering the three-point line, as they allow opponents to shoot an average of 37.9 percent from deep, which is sixth highest in the league. On the other hand, the Spurs do a great job of taking care of the ball, as they limit themselves to a league-low 10.9 turnovers per game.
Suns Host Jazz on Wednesday
The Utah Jazz travel to Arizona to face the Phoenix Suns at Phoenix Suns Arena on Wednesday.
The Jazz (38-12) just had a baffling loss on Monday, losing to the Dallas Mavericks, 111-103. While taking a defeat at the hands of Dallas isn't necessarily bad, it is when you see what the Mavericks looked like. They played that game without Kristaps Porzingis and had two starters go scoreless. The guy who really killed them was Donovan Mitchell, though, going 6-of-23 from the field and 0-of-8 from three-point range. That's a rare occurrence from the 2021 All-Star, but he's certainly the sort of player that can shoot you out of games when his scope is off. The good news is that this loss was simply a blip on the radar, with Utah winning nine-straight headed into that matchup. That's the team we've seen all year, and they look well on their way to homecourt advantage throughout the postseason.
The Suns (35-14) might be the only team who can catch Utah for that top spot in the west, playing some of the best basketball over the last two months. In fact, they have a 27-6 record across their last 33 games in total. Utah is the only team that can rival a run like that, with Chris Paul changing this club's dynamic. What he's really done is add a defensive mindset, and that's something Phoenix fans haven't seen since the Mike D'Antoni days. They currently rank third in points allowed and look like one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA on both sides of the ball. The next step for this ball club is to get Deandre Ayton rolling because if he can play like the star player we've seen at times, it adds a whole new dynamic with the Paul-Booker backcourt.
These teams played back on December 30, with Phoenix prevailing, 106-95. While that does give the Suns two-straight wins in this series, the Jazz won the previous eight meetings before that.
The Jazz (38-12) just had a baffling loss on Monday, losing to the Dallas Mavericks, 111-103. While taking a defeat at the hands of Dallas isn't necessarily bad, it is when you see what the Mavericks looked like. They played that game without Kristaps Porzingis and had two starters go scoreless. The guy who really killed them was Donovan Mitchell, though, going 6-of-23 from the field and 0-of-8 from three-point range. That's a rare occurrence from the 2021 All-Star, but he's certainly the sort of player that can shoot you out of games when his scope is off. The good news is that this loss was simply a blip on the radar, with Utah winning nine-straight headed into that matchup. That's the team we've seen all year, and they look well on their way to homecourt advantage throughout the postseason.
The Suns (35-14) might be the only team who can catch Utah for that top spot in the west, playing some of the best basketball over the last two months. In fact, they have a 27-6 record across their last 33 games in total. Utah is the only team that can rival a run like that, with Chris Paul changing this club's dynamic. What he's really done is add a defensive mindset, and that's something Phoenix fans haven't seen since the Mike D'Antoni days. They currently rank third in points allowed and look like one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA on both sides of the ball. The next step for this ball club is to get Deandre Ayton rolling because if he can play like the star player we've seen at times, it adds a whole new dynamic with the Paul-Booker backcourt.
These teams played back on December 30, with Phoenix prevailing, 106-95. While that does give the Suns two-straight wins in this series, the Jazz won the previous eight meetings before that.