Wizards and Hawks Meet for Wednesday Rematch
The Washington Wizards take on the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Wednesday night.
The Wizards (32-37) have a solid 5-3 mark over the last eight games, but their most recent defeat knocked them back down to the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference. Washington dropped a 125-124 decision to the same Atlanta Hawks they'll face Wednesday on Monday night, their third one-point contest over the last four games. Rui Hachimura followed Westbrook with 20 points, adding three rebounds and one steal. Robin Lopez provided 18 points, three rebounds and one block. Ish Smith registered 16 points, three rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block. Davis Bertans supplied 15 points, four boards and two assists. Neto poured in 12 points.
The Wizards will continue without Bradley Beal (hamstring) for Wednesday's game.
The Hawks' (38-31) victory over the Wizards was their fourth win in the last five games. Against Washington, Trae Young paced the Hawks with 36 points, complementing them with nine assists and six rebounds. John Collins posted 28 points, eight rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal. Bogdan Bogdanovic furnished 25 points, five boards, four assists and two steals. Clint Capela generated a 10-point, 22-rebound double-double with one assist and four blocks.
The Hawks will list De'Andre Hunter (rest/knee) and Cam Reddish (Achilles) as out for Wednesday's contest. Tony Snell (Achilles) will be listed as questionable, while Kevin Huerter (hip) will carry a probable tag.
Wednesday's game marks the third and final meeting between the teams this season. The Hawks hold a 2-0 series lead, having also notched a 116-100 win Jan. 29 in addition to Monday's victory.
The Wizards (32-37) have a solid 5-3 mark over the last eight games, but their most recent defeat knocked them back down to the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference. Washington dropped a 125-124 decision to the same Atlanta Hawks they'll face Wednesday on Monday night, their third one-point contest over the last four games. Rui Hachimura followed Westbrook with 20 points, adding three rebounds and one steal. Robin Lopez provided 18 points, three rebounds and one block. Ish Smith registered 16 points, three rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block. Davis Bertans supplied 15 points, four boards and two assists. Neto poured in 12 points.
The Wizards will continue without Bradley Beal (hamstring) for Wednesday's game.
The Hawks' (38-31) victory over the Wizards was their fourth win in the last five games. Against Washington, Trae Young paced the Hawks with 36 points, complementing them with nine assists and six rebounds. John Collins posted 28 points, eight rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal. Bogdan Bogdanovic furnished 25 points, five boards, four assists and two steals. Clint Capela generated a 10-point, 22-rebound double-double with one assist and four blocks.
The Hawks will list De'Andre Hunter (rest/knee) and Cam Reddish (Achilles) as out for Wednesday's contest. Tony Snell (Achilles) will be listed as questionable, while Kevin Huerter (hip) will carry a probable tag.
Wednesday's game marks the third and final meeting between the teams this season. The Hawks hold a 2-0 series lead, having also notched a 116-100 win Jan. 29 in addition to Monday's victory.
Celtics Aiming For Bounce-Back Game Against Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Boston Celtics at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Wednesday evening.
The Cavaliers (21-48) are ending the season on a disappointing note and are coming off a 111-102 home loss against the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Collin Sexton led the Cavaliers with 25 points, eight assists, five rebounds and a steal, in 36 minutes. Isaac Okoro added 22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Dean Wade tallied 19 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two assists. The Cavs shot 35 percent from the field, including 13-of-39 from long range, and they have been struggling badly on both ends of the court of late. They will play this game knowing they have gone just 12-23 at home in 2020-21 while riding an 11-game losing streak, and they've also lost their last seven games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Celtics (35-34) are coming off a 129-121 loss against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, in a game where they attempted a late rally that fell short. Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker had excellent performances for the Celtics in this loss -- Tatum had 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Walker scored a team-high 36 points to go along with seven boards, four assists and a steal. Evan Fournier notched 20 points and eight assists, while Marcus Smart contributed 10 points and five dimes. No other Boston player scored in double digits, though, as the team missed Jaylen Brown dearly -- the star guard will miss the remainder of the season with an injury. Boston has gone 14-19 when playing on the road this season.
The Cavaliers (21-48) are ending the season on a disappointing note and are coming off a 111-102 home loss against the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Collin Sexton led the Cavaliers with 25 points, eight assists, five rebounds and a steal, in 36 minutes. Isaac Okoro added 22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Dean Wade tallied 19 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two assists. The Cavs shot 35 percent from the field, including 13-of-39 from long range, and they have been struggling badly on both ends of the court of late. They will play this game knowing they have gone just 12-23 at home in 2020-21 while riding an 11-game losing streak, and they've also lost their last seven games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Celtics (35-34) are coming off a 129-121 loss against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, in a game where they attempted a late rally that fell short. Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker had excellent performances for the Celtics in this loss -- Tatum had 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Walker scored a team-high 36 points to go along with seven boards, four assists and a steal. Evan Fournier notched 20 points and eight assists, while Marcus Smart contributed 10 points and five dimes. No other Boston player scored in double digits, though, as the team missed Jaylen Brown dearly -- the star guard will miss the remainder of the season with an injury. Boston has gone 14-19 when playing on the road this season.
Spurs and Nets Meet in Big Apple
The San Antonio Spurs take on the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Wednesday night.
The Spurs (33-35) went into Monday's night's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks with six losses in their previous seven games, so the fact the notched a 146-125 in that contest was especially surprising. DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 23 points, adding three rebounds and three assists. Dejounte Murray totaled 21 points, nine assists, six rebounds and one steal. Keldon Johnson and Patty Mills posted matching 20-point, two-assist tallies, with Johnson also pulling down seven boards. Rudy Gay and Lonnie Walker poured in 19 points each while recording five and four rebounds, respectively.
The Spurs will list Trey Lyles (ankle) as questionable for Wednesday's game.
The Nets (45-24) recently went on a four-game losing streak at precisely the right time, but they've since rebounded to win two straight games and remain in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn's latest victory came Tuesday night, when it toppled the Chicago Bulls by a 115-107 score. Kevin Durant led the Nets with 21 points, adding eight assists, four rebounds, three blocks and one steal. Joe Harris furnished 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Bruce Brown generated a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double that also three assists and one block. Jeff Green totaled 14 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one block. Kyrie Irving and Blake Griffin posted matching 13-point tallies while handing out five and four assists, respectively. Mike James delivered 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. Nicolas Claxton contributed a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included one assist and two blocks.
The Nets will list James Harden (hamstring) and Kyrie Irving, who left Tuesday's game after taking an elbow to the face, as game-time decisions for Wednesday's contest.
Wednesday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Nets hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 124-113 overtime win March 1.
The Spurs (33-35) went into Monday's night's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks with six losses in their previous seven games, so the fact the notched a 146-125 in that contest was especially surprising. DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 23 points, adding three rebounds and three assists. Dejounte Murray totaled 21 points, nine assists, six rebounds and one steal. Keldon Johnson and Patty Mills posted matching 20-point, two-assist tallies, with Johnson also pulling down seven boards. Rudy Gay and Lonnie Walker poured in 19 points each while recording five and four rebounds, respectively.
The Spurs will list Trey Lyles (ankle) as questionable for Wednesday's game.
The Nets (45-24) recently went on a four-game losing streak at precisely the right time, but they've since rebounded to win two straight games and remain in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn's latest victory came Tuesday night, when it toppled the Chicago Bulls by a 115-107 score. Kevin Durant led the Nets with 21 points, adding eight assists, four rebounds, three blocks and one steal. Joe Harris furnished 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Bruce Brown generated a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double that also three assists and one block. Jeff Green totaled 14 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one block. Kyrie Irving and Blake Griffin posted matching 13-point tallies while handing out five and four assists, respectively. Mike James delivered 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. Nicolas Claxton contributed a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included one assist and two blocks.
The Nets will list James Harden (hamstring) and Kyrie Irving, who left Tuesday's game after taking an elbow to the face, as game-time decisions for Wednesday's contest.
Wednesday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Nets hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 124-113 overtime win March 1.
Mavs Look To Bounce Back On Second Night Of Back-To-Back
By Dan Bruno
The Dallas Mavericks play host to the New Orleans Pelicans at American Airlines Center on Wednesday evening.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Mavs (40-29), as they are coming off a rough loss in Memphis on Tuesday. The contest had gotten out to a tight start, as the Mavs trailed by one, after one quarter, and by three at halftime. However, they fell apart in the second half, where they were outscored, 73-47, putting an end to their eight-game win streak. Tim Hardaway Jr. was the high-point man in the contest, with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, in 27 minutes. Willie Cauley-Stein followed up with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Jalen Brunson chipped in 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Luke Doncic had a quiet outing, with just 12 points, five rebounds and five assists, in 25 minutes. The Mavs will look to get back on track and add to their, 19-15, home record, as they face their second-last home game of the season. Kristaps Porzingis (knee) has missed the last seven games and remains questionable for action on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans (31-38) are coming off a loss in their most recent outing, but they are, 5-5, in their last 10 games. They will look to get back on track and add to their, 13-21, road record, as they face the fourth game of a five-game road trip. Zion Williamson (thumb) will remain sidelined, while Brandon Ingram (ankle) has missed the last three games and is listed as questionable for action. Lonzo Ball is averaging 14.6 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Eric Bledsoe is averaging 12.2 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, while James Johnson is averaging 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. The Pelicans are averaging 114.8 points per game, which is eighth most in the league, and they are shooting an average of 47.8 percent from the field, which is seventh best in the league. However, they are giving up an average of 114.7 points per game, which is seventh most in the league.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Mavs (40-29), as they are coming off a rough loss in Memphis on Tuesday. The contest had gotten out to a tight start, as the Mavs trailed by one, after one quarter, and by three at halftime. However, they fell apart in the second half, where they were outscored, 73-47, putting an end to their eight-game win streak. Tim Hardaway Jr. was the high-point man in the contest, with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, in 27 minutes. Willie Cauley-Stein followed up with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Jalen Brunson chipped in 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Luke Doncic had a quiet outing, with just 12 points, five rebounds and five assists, in 25 minutes. The Mavs will look to get back on track and add to their, 19-15, home record, as they face their second-last home game of the season. Kristaps Porzingis (knee) has missed the last seven games and remains questionable for action on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans (31-38) are coming off a loss in their most recent outing, but they are, 5-5, in their last 10 games. They will look to get back on track and add to their, 13-21, road record, as they face the fourth game of a five-game road trip. Zion Williamson (thumb) will remain sidelined, while Brandon Ingram (ankle) has missed the last three games and is listed as questionable for action. Lonzo Ball is averaging 14.6 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Eric Bledsoe is averaging 12.2 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, while James Johnson is averaging 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. The Pelicans are averaging 114.8 points per game, which is eighth most in the league, and they are shooting an average of 47.8 percent from the field, which is seventh best in the league. However, they are giving up an average of 114.7 points per game, which is seventh most in the league.
Jazz Host Trail Blazers on Wednesday
The Portland Trail Blazers travel to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Wednesday.
The Trail Blazers (40-29) come into this matchup, winning four straight and eight of their last nine games in total. This is the perfect time to get rolling, too, with the playoffs just a week away. What it also has done is nearly secured a Top-6 seed for them in the west, and that's huge to avoid the play-in tournament. It's easy to understand why they're playing so well because this is the first time they've been at full health all year. Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic are all balling out right now, and it has them in a great spot going forward. One more victory will actually guarantee them avoiding the play-in tourney, but it's going to be a tough road ahead with the Jazz, Suns, and Nuggets left on the schedule.
The Jazz (50-19) are trying their best to hold on to the best record in the NBA, and it's getting a little scary. While they have five wins in their last six games, they've been barely over .500 for the last month. A lot of that has to do with the injuries, considering Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell continue to miss games. Those two guys have been brilliant this year, and they won't get very far in the playoffs without those two ball-handlers. With all that said, they sit 1.5 games up on the Phoenix Suns for the best record in the NBA, and two more wins would seal that coveted spot. Getting homecourt advantage throughout the postseason would be a huge boost for this club, too, posting an NBA-best 31-4 record at VSHA this year.
These teams have played twice this season, with Utah winning both games. That gives the Jazz four wins in their last five meetings with the Trail Blazers in this series.
The Trail Blazers (40-29) come into this matchup, winning four straight and eight of their last nine games in total. This is the perfect time to get rolling, too, with the playoffs just a week away. What it also has done is nearly secured a Top-6 seed for them in the west, and that's huge to avoid the play-in tournament. It's easy to understand why they're playing so well because this is the first time they've been at full health all year. Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic are all balling out right now, and it has them in a great spot going forward. One more victory will actually guarantee them avoiding the play-in tourney, but it's going to be a tough road ahead with the Jazz, Suns, and Nuggets left on the schedule.
The Jazz (50-19) are trying their best to hold on to the best record in the NBA, and it's getting a little scary. While they have five wins in their last six games, they've been barely over .500 for the last month. A lot of that has to do with the injuries, considering Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell continue to miss games. Those two guys have been brilliant this year, and they won't get very far in the playoffs without those two ball-handlers. With all that said, they sit 1.5 games up on the Phoenix Suns for the best record in the NBA, and two more wins would seal that coveted spot. Getting homecourt advantage throughout the postseason would be a huge boost for this club, too, posting an NBA-best 31-4 record at VSHA this year.
These teams have played twice this season, with Utah winning both games. That gives the Jazz four wins in their last five meetings with the Trail Blazers in this series.
Lakers Host Rockets on Wednesday
The Los Angeles Lakers play host to the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on Wednesday.
The Rockets (16-53) enter this matchup in the midst of a six-game losing streak, but that's become commonplace for this team this season. They actually have just five wins in their last 48 games in total, falling to the worst record in the NBA. It all started when they traded off James Harden, and it's only gotten worse with guys like Christian Wood and John Wall getting injured. Having those guys for the future is promising, though, and it'll be nice to add a top pick in the mix next season. This has also given some youngsters a chance to prove themselves, with players like Kenyon Martin Jr and Kelly Olynyk carving out nice roles.
The Lakers (39-30) look to be locked into the play-in tournament, but this is a team no one wants to face. Anthony Davis has been going off recently, and they just got LeBron James back from an injury as well. Having those two guys out of the lineup dropped them outside of the Top-6, but it's scary to think what this team will look like with those guys at full health. They showed last year how dangerous they could be, winning a championship. The only real issue is that these guys haven't played much together in the past few months, and it remains to be seen if there's a gelling period. In any case, this is one of the scariest teams, and no one should count them out, no matter where they're seeded.
These teams played twice in January, with Los Angeles winning both meetings by at last 17 points apiece. Before that, the Rockets on 19 of their previous 24 games over the Lakers in this series.
The Rockets (16-53) enter this matchup in the midst of a six-game losing streak, but that's become commonplace for this team this season. They actually have just five wins in their last 48 games in total, falling to the worst record in the NBA. It all started when they traded off James Harden, and it's only gotten worse with guys like Christian Wood and John Wall getting injured. Having those guys for the future is promising, though, and it'll be nice to add a top pick in the mix next season. This has also given some youngsters a chance to prove themselves, with players like Kenyon Martin Jr and Kelly Olynyk carving out nice roles.
The Lakers (39-30) look to be locked into the play-in tournament, but this is a team no one wants to face. Anthony Davis has been going off recently, and they just got LeBron James back from an injury as well. Having those two guys out of the lineup dropped them outside of the Top-6, but it's scary to think what this team will look like with those guys at full health. They showed last year how dangerous they could be, winning a championship. The only real issue is that these guys haven't played much together in the past few months, and it remains to be seen if there's a gelling period. In any case, this is one of the scariest teams, and no one should count them out, no matter where they're seeded.
These teams played twice in January, with Los Angeles winning both meetings by at last 17 points apiece. Before that, the Rockets on 19 of their previous 24 games over the Lakers in this series.