Sixers and Pelicans Meet at Wells Fargo Center
The New Orleans Pelicans (10-7) unleashed a 140-126 drubbing against the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, with five members of the team boasting double-digit scoring in the rout. Anthony Davis once again led the charge with 29 points and nine rebounds to his credit, shooting 11-of-22 from the field in the process. E'Twaun Moore contributed 24 points, four assists and three rebounds, shooting 11-of-16 from the paint, while Jrue Holiday posted 21 points and nine assists in a starting role, pulling up short of a double-double. But it was Julius Randle who turned heads in the win, logging a triple-double, the sixth of his career, off the bench with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. The Pelicans own the second-most potent offense in the league, behind only the Milwaukee Bucks, dropping a nightly average of 119.5 points on opponents. The team's current road trip will wrap up on Friday night with a visit to the New York Knicks.
Like their opponents on Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers (12-7) have also won three straight games, and are undefeated on home court after a 119-114 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Monday night. Joel Embiid once again exploded on both ends of the floor with a team-high 33 points and 17 rebounds, shooting 9-of-12 from the charity stripe but missing all five of his shot attempts from downtown. Ben Simmons and Mike Muscala each recorded 19 points, with Simmons adding 11 rebounds for the double-double and Muscala making all but two off his shot attempts from the foul line in a reserve capacity. In only seven minutes of floor time, Markelle Fultz once again struggled to maintain any momentum, finishing 0-of-2 from the field and sparking rumors on Tuesday that he will no longer be attending team practices pending counsel from his legal team. Philly remains in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Like their opponents on Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers (12-7) have also won three straight games, and are undefeated on home court after a 119-114 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Monday night. Joel Embiid once again exploded on both ends of the floor with a team-high 33 points and 17 rebounds, shooting 9-of-12 from the charity stripe but missing all five of his shot attempts from downtown. Ben Simmons and Mike Muscala each recorded 19 points, with Simmons adding 11 rebounds for the double-double and Muscala making all but two off his shot attempts from the foul line in a reserve capacity. In only seven minutes of floor time, Markelle Fultz once again struggled to maintain any momentum, finishing 0-of-2 from the field and sparking rumors on Tuesday that he will no longer be attending team practices pending counsel from his legal team. Philly remains in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Pacers Tangle with Hornets at Spectrum Center
Winners of three of their last four contests and two straight, the Indiana Pacers (11-6) spent Monday night thumping the visiting Utah Jazz, 121-94. The Pacers were efficient from both the paint and long range, where they shot 53 and 48 percent, respectively, and were buoyed by a 21-point performance by Bojan Bogdanovic, who added three triples for good measure. But it was Indiana's bench that shone in victory, with Domantis Sabonis coming just shy of a triple-double behind 19 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, shooting 7-of-9 from the field and 3-of-6 from the foul line. Fellow sub Aaron Holiday had 19 points of his own, adding seven boards and going 7-of-10 from field goal range, while Thaddeus Young, Myles Turners and Doug McDermott all finished the match-up with 12 points apiece. Despite their recent run of success, the Pacers have yet to develop a rhythm offensively, as they rank 25th in the NBA in scoring, averaging 105.7 points per contest. Indiana now sits in third place in the Eastern Conference, a game-and-a-half behind the Milwaukee Bucks.
With rumors beginning to circulate on Tuesday that the Charlotte Hornets (8-8) were in the process of courting Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards, the team is no doubt in a hurry to build around a peaking Kemba Walker, who was once again lights-out in a Monday night win over the visiting Boston Celtics, 117-112. Walker followed up a 60-point outing last week with a team-leading 43-point effort on Monday, adding five dimes and four rebounds in a 7-of-13 shooting night from beyond the arc. Walker is now the NBA's leading scorer through 16 games, averaging 29.6 points per contest. Jeremy Lamb was one of only two other Hornets players who recorded double-digits in the game, with 18 points and six rebounds, while Willy Hernangomez emerged off the bench to the tune of 14 points, three assists and a pair of triples. Hernangomez is listed as questionable for Wednesday's showdown with Indiana with a right ankle sprain suffered during Monday's affair. Charlotte remains in eighth place in the East.
With rumors beginning to circulate on Tuesday that the Charlotte Hornets (8-8) were in the process of courting Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards, the team is no doubt in a hurry to build around a peaking Kemba Walker, who was once again lights-out in a Monday night win over the visiting Boston Celtics, 117-112. Walker followed up a 60-point outing last week with a team-leading 43-point effort on Monday, adding five dimes and four rebounds in a 7-of-13 shooting night from beyond the arc. Walker is now the NBA's leading scorer through 16 games, averaging 29.6 points per contest. Jeremy Lamb was one of only two other Hornets players who recorded double-digits in the game, with 18 points and six rebounds, while Willy Hernangomez emerged off the bench to the tune of 14 points, three assists and a pair of triples. Hernangomez is listed as questionable for Wednesday's showdown with Indiana with a right ankle sprain suffered during Monday's affair. Charlotte remains in eighth place in the East.
Raptors Head South For Battle With Hawks
The Toronto Raptors take on the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Wednesday evening.
The Raptors (14-4) have had few stumbles over their first 18 games, and after a rare three-game slide earlier in November, they've bounced back to win their last pair of contests. Their most recent success came Tuesday evening, when Toronto edged the Magic by a 93-91 score on Danny Green's fadeaway jumper with less than a second left. Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Raptors with 18 points, a total he supplemented with six rebounds, two assists and one steal. Pascal Siakam had a near double-double with 15 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Serge Ibaka provided 14 points, nine boards, four assists and one block. Green finished with 13 points.
The Raptors will likely list OG Anunoby (wrist) and C.J. Miles (groin) as out for Wednesday's game, while Norman Powell (shoulder) is still slated to be out for several more weeks.
The Hawks (3-14) have been mired in an extended losing streak, one that's seen them drop eight consecutive contests. Atlanta fought admirably in their most recent defeat, a 127-119 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. First-round pick Trae Young enjoyed his best game as a pro, generating a 25-point, 17-assist double-double that also included three rebounds. Taurean Prince mustered 21 points, four rebounds and two steals. John Collins thrived in his second game back, contributing 18 points, six assists and three rebounds. Dewayne Dedmon posted a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double. Alex Len accomplished the feat as well on the starting five, supplying 12 points, 12 boards and two blocks.
The Hawks will list Alex Poythress (ankle) as doubtful for Wednesday's game, while Omari Spellman (hip) will carry the same designation.
The Raptors swept the four-game series between the teams during the 2017-18 campaign.
The Raptors (14-4) have had few stumbles over their first 18 games, and after a rare three-game slide earlier in November, they've bounced back to win their last pair of contests. Their most recent success came Tuesday evening, when Toronto edged the Magic by a 93-91 score on Danny Green's fadeaway jumper with less than a second left. Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Raptors with 18 points, a total he supplemented with six rebounds, two assists and one steal. Pascal Siakam had a near double-double with 15 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Serge Ibaka provided 14 points, nine boards, four assists and one block. Green finished with 13 points.
The Raptors will likely list OG Anunoby (wrist) and C.J. Miles (groin) as out for Wednesday's game, while Norman Powell (shoulder) is still slated to be out for several more weeks.
The Hawks (3-14) have been mired in an extended losing streak, one that's seen them drop eight consecutive contests. Atlanta fought admirably in their most recent defeat, a 127-119 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. First-round pick Trae Young enjoyed his best game as a pro, generating a 25-point, 17-assist double-double that also included three rebounds. Taurean Prince mustered 21 points, four rebounds and two steals. John Collins thrived in his second game back, contributing 18 points, six assists and three rebounds. Dewayne Dedmon posted a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double. Alex Len accomplished the feat as well on the starting five, supplying 12 points, 12 boards and two blocks.
The Hawks will list Alex Poythress (ankle) as doubtful for Wednesday's game, while Omari Spellman (hip) will carry the same designation.
The Raptors swept the four-game series between the teams during the 2017-18 campaign.
Celtics Play Host to Knicks
The New York Knicks travel to Beantown to play the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Wednesday.
The Knicks (4-14) come into this matchup losing six-straight and eight of their last nine games in total. There are some signs of encouragement though, as there are some young bench pieces playing some great ball right now. Noah Vonleh and Trey Burke have been especially good, as Vonleh recorded a double-double in his return to the starting lineup on Tuesday. It's Tim Hardaway Jr. who runs the show though, as he currently leads this team with 24.4 points per game. What's really hurting this team is their carousel at the point guard position, as that's been in flux all year long. Burke has probably been playing the best but they've chosen to go with guys like Frank Ntilikina and Emmanuel Mudiay at that position as well. It's led to this team ranking dead-last in the league in assists and that's simply not good enough if this team wants to remain competitive.
The Celtics (9-8) come into this matchup losing two-straight and six of their last nine games in total. That's a shocking stretch from a title contender and they find themselves one loss away from dropping to ,500. What they really need to work on is their inefficient offense, with Boston sitting 24th in scoring. There are simply too many good weapons on this team to be ranked that low and they won't get out of this slide until that gets fixed. The bench has been really disappointing too, as Terry Rozier has regressed back into a role player. He was arguably the Celtics best player last season and they need that offensive spark out of him to help this offense get out of this slump. It is promising to see Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward play better though, as those two will run the show for the remainder of the season.
Boston won their first game over New York, 103-101, on October 20.
The Knicks (4-14) come into this matchup losing six-straight and eight of their last nine games in total. There are some signs of encouragement though, as there are some young bench pieces playing some great ball right now. Noah Vonleh and Trey Burke have been especially good, as Vonleh recorded a double-double in his return to the starting lineup on Tuesday. It's Tim Hardaway Jr. who runs the show though, as he currently leads this team with 24.4 points per game. What's really hurting this team is their carousel at the point guard position, as that's been in flux all year long. Burke has probably been playing the best but they've chosen to go with guys like Frank Ntilikina and Emmanuel Mudiay at that position as well. It's led to this team ranking dead-last in the league in assists and that's simply not good enough if this team wants to remain competitive.
The Celtics (9-8) come into this matchup losing two-straight and six of their last nine games in total. That's a shocking stretch from a title contender and they find themselves one loss away from dropping to ,500. What they really need to work on is their inefficient offense, with Boston sitting 24th in scoring. There are simply too many good weapons on this team to be ranked that low and they won't get out of this slide until that gets fixed. The bench has been really disappointing too, as Terry Rozier has regressed back into a role player. He was arguably the Celtics best player last season and they need that offensive spark out of him to help this offense get out of this slump. It is promising to see Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward play better though, as those two will run the show for the remainder of the season.
Boston won their first game over New York, 103-101, on October 20.
Struggling Teams Face Off in Suns-Bulls Matchup
The Chicago Bulls play host to the Phoenix Suns at United Center on Wednesday.
The Suns (3-13) come into this matchup losing six of their last seven games, as the losses are coming quick. Where this team is really hurting is on the offensive end of the floor, as they currently rank 30th in scoring. That's a strange trend from a team with so many good offensive players and it's a wonder why they're so defective on that end of the floor. Players like Devin Booker, T.J. Warren and DeAndre Ayton have completely lived up to the hype and that alone should get this team to a middle-of-the-pack offense at worst. The simple fact is that there's really no other good offensive role players on this team, as this team has been playing without a point guard for years now. They've had players like Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Elfrid Payton over the last three years but none of those players stuck around very long. It's been Isaiah Canaan for most of this season but they handed the reigns over to Booker in the most recent game. That may be the optimal lineup headed forward, as that got rookie Mikal Bridges into the starting five. The fact that Booker provided 37 points and eight assists in his first start at PG definitely shows that he can handle that position and it'll be fascinating to see the numbers he posts with the increased usage rate.
The Bulls (4-13) come into this matchup in the midst of a four-game losing streak, as the losses are nothing to be surprised by. This is a club who is in full rebuild mode and the injuries are the only thing hampering that transition. The good news is that Lauri Markkanen, Bobby Portis and Kris Dunn are all expected back soon, as those were expected to be some of the best players on this team. All of those injuries have made Zach LaVine a breakout though and he's really come into his own as a go-to scorer. In fact, LaVine ranks top-10 in the league in scoring, averaging 25.2 points per game. Pairing him up with those three injured players is the ultimate goal and it'll be captivating to see what this young core looks like at the end of the season when they have all of these talented pieces playing together playing spoiler.
Phoenix swept their season series over Chicago last season and have won four of their last five games over them in total.
The Suns (3-13) come into this matchup losing six of their last seven games, as the losses are coming quick. Where this team is really hurting is on the offensive end of the floor, as they currently rank 30th in scoring. That's a strange trend from a team with so many good offensive players and it's a wonder why they're so defective on that end of the floor. Players like Devin Booker, T.J. Warren and DeAndre Ayton have completely lived up to the hype and that alone should get this team to a middle-of-the-pack offense at worst. The simple fact is that there's really no other good offensive role players on this team, as this team has been playing without a point guard for years now. They've had players like Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Elfrid Payton over the last three years but none of those players stuck around very long. It's been Isaiah Canaan for most of this season but they handed the reigns over to Booker in the most recent game. That may be the optimal lineup headed forward, as that got rookie Mikal Bridges into the starting five. The fact that Booker provided 37 points and eight assists in his first start at PG definitely shows that he can handle that position and it'll be fascinating to see the numbers he posts with the increased usage rate.
The Bulls (4-13) come into this matchup in the midst of a four-game losing streak, as the losses are nothing to be surprised by. This is a club who is in full rebuild mode and the injuries are the only thing hampering that transition. The good news is that Lauri Markkanen, Bobby Portis and Kris Dunn are all expected back soon, as those were expected to be some of the best players on this team. All of those injuries have made Zach LaVine a breakout though and he's really come into his own as a go-to scorer. In fact, LaVine ranks top-10 in the league in scoring, averaging 25.2 points per game. Pairing him up with those three injured players is the ultimate goal and it'll be captivating to see what this young core looks like at the end of the season when they have all of these talented pieces playing together playing spoiler.
Phoenix swept their season series over Chicago last season and have won four of their last five games over them in total.
Cavaliers Host LeBron and Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Ohio to play the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday.
The Lakers (9-7) come into this matchup winning seven of their last nine games, as they appear to have found their stride. It's no surprise who the catalyst is, with LeBron James playing vintage King James basketball. In fact, James is averaging 28.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game this season. Most players who came into the league in 2003 like Camrelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade are at the end of their careers but LeBron continues to be one of the best players in the league. Everyone knows who drafted him too, as he'll make his awaited return to Cleveland in this fixture. It remains to be seen if he receives cheers or boos but Cleveland fans should be envious of what he's given them considering where they are now. It's not just James though, as there's a bunch players who are playing part in the Lakers success. Javale McGee is having the best season of his career while youngsters like Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball continue to develop. One has to wonder if all of these pieces will be around next year when the Lakers try to build a dynasty by acquiring superstars but those youngsters make them competitive this season no matter what.
The Cavaliers (2-13) were expected to have a bad season when LeBron James left but losing 13 of your first 15 games is simply awful. The fact that Kevin Love (foot) got injured early on is definitely playing a factor in the downfall but it's sad that this perennial title contender is now a favorite to land the top pick in the draft. The J.R. Smith saga is yet another dark cloud over this team, as he'll no longer be with the Cavaliers as they continue to look for a trade suitor for him. The market can't be huge either, as acquiring a volatile shooter at $13 million a year is not an envious pick-up. Getting him out of the rotation will open things up for younger players though, as they need to see what they have with Cedi Osman, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton. Early results have been solid from those three but it's only led to this team ranking 27th in scoring. This Cleveland team simply doesn't have enough to compete with other NBA teams and the loss of LeBron is obviously the reason why.
Cleveland has beaten Los Angeles in seven of their last eight games, albeit all of those games with LeBron wearing a Cavs uniform.
The Lakers (9-7) come into this matchup winning seven of their last nine games, as they appear to have found their stride. It's no surprise who the catalyst is, with LeBron James playing vintage King James basketball. In fact, James is averaging 28.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game this season. Most players who came into the league in 2003 like Camrelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade are at the end of their careers but LeBron continues to be one of the best players in the league. Everyone knows who drafted him too, as he'll make his awaited return to Cleveland in this fixture. It remains to be seen if he receives cheers or boos but Cleveland fans should be envious of what he's given them considering where they are now. It's not just James though, as there's a bunch players who are playing part in the Lakers success. Javale McGee is having the best season of his career while youngsters like Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball continue to develop. One has to wonder if all of these pieces will be around next year when the Lakers try to build a dynasty by acquiring superstars but those youngsters make them competitive this season no matter what.
The Cavaliers (2-13) were expected to have a bad season when LeBron James left but losing 13 of your first 15 games is simply awful. The fact that Kevin Love (foot) got injured early on is definitely playing a factor in the downfall but it's sad that this perennial title contender is now a favorite to land the top pick in the draft. The J.R. Smith saga is yet another dark cloud over this team, as he'll no longer be with the Cavaliers as they continue to look for a trade suitor for him. The market can't be huge either, as acquiring a volatile shooter at $13 million a year is not an envious pick-up. Getting him out of the rotation will open things up for younger players though, as they need to see what they have with Cedi Osman, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton. Early results have been solid from those three but it's only led to this team ranking 27th in scoring. This Cleveland team simply doesn't have enough to compete with other NBA teams and the loss of LeBron is obviously the reason why.
Cleveland has beaten Los Angeles in seven of their last eight games, albeit all of those games with LeBron wearing a Cavs uniform.
Surging Teams Face Off in Rockets-Pistons Matchup
The Detroit Pistons travel to Texas to play the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Wednesday.
The Pistons (8-6) have won four of their last five games, as the swings have been monstrous from this team. In fact, Detroit started the season 4-0, then followed that up with five-straight losses. That five-game slide came right before this mini-spurt and it's hard to understand why this team has been so volatile. It's clear where this team's bread and butter is though, as the Andre Drummond-Blake Griffin duo is one of the best frontcourts in the NBA. It's led to this team ranking fourth in rebounding, with both of those players averaging double-doubles. They do need more from their backcourt though, as it's been a mishmash of players that have not lived up to expectations. Reggie Jackson needs to take some of that responsibility on his shoulders, as his 15.5 points and 4.1 assists are not quite enough production from that position.
The Rockets (8-7) come into this matchup winning four-straight and seven of their last nine games in total, as they appear to be done with their early-season swoon. What's really surprising with this team is their defense, as they currently sit fifth in points allowed. What's even more shocking about that is just how much the offense has been struggling, with Houston ranking 26th in scoring and 28th in assists. Those statistics are more eye-popping than the elite defensive numbers and it's hard to understand why they've been so bad on that end of the floor. It does indicate that this team has some positive regression headed their way, as they ranked top-three in both of those statistics last season. That's a scary thought that an already hot team has the arrow pointing up, as Houston may be at the beginning of a lengthy winning spell.
While these teams have split both of their season series over the last two years, Houston has won 13 of their last 19 games over Detroit dating back to 2009.
The Pistons (8-6) have won four of their last five games, as the swings have been monstrous from this team. In fact, Detroit started the season 4-0, then followed that up with five-straight losses. That five-game slide came right before this mini-spurt and it's hard to understand why this team has been so volatile. It's clear where this team's bread and butter is though, as the Andre Drummond-Blake Griffin duo is one of the best frontcourts in the NBA. It's led to this team ranking fourth in rebounding, with both of those players averaging double-doubles. They do need more from their backcourt though, as it's been a mishmash of players that have not lived up to expectations. Reggie Jackson needs to take some of that responsibility on his shoulders, as his 15.5 points and 4.1 assists are not quite enough production from that position.
The Rockets (8-7) come into this matchup winning four-straight and seven of their last nine games in total, as they appear to be done with their early-season swoon. What's really surprising with this team is their defense, as they currently sit fifth in points allowed. What's even more shocking about that is just how much the offense has been struggling, with Houston ranking 26th in scoring and 28th in assists. Those statistics are more eye-popping than the elite defensive numbers and it's hard to understand why they've been so bad on that end of the floor. It does indicate that this team has some positive regression headed their way, as they ranked top-three in both of those statistics last season. That's a scary thought that an already hot team has the arrow pointing up, as Houston may be at the beginning of a lengthy winning spell.
While these teams have split both of their season series over the last two years, Houston has won 13 of their last 19 games over Detroit dating back to 2009.
Trail Blazers Pay Visit To Bucks With Interconference Showdown
The Portland Trail Blazers take on the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday night.
The Trail Blazers (11-6) are in the midst of a six-game road swing that's seen them play four times over the last seven days. Portland has managed to split those four contests, and they generated a 118-114 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. C.J. McCollum led the way with 31 points and added four rebounds, two assists and one block. Damian Lillard followed with 29 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. Meyers Leonard led the bench with 15 points. Jusuf Nurkic generated a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double.
The Trail Blazers will list Seth Curry (knee) as a game-time decision for Wednesday's game.
The Bucks (12-4) have been mostly dominant over their first 16 games, and they'll come into Wednesday's contest having won three of their past four contests. Their most recent victory came Monday night, when they edged the Denver Nuggets by a 104-98 margin. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 29 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Eric Bledsoe followed with 23 points and added five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon each provided 13-point efforts.
The Bucks will be without both Donte DiVincenzo (knee) and John Henson (wrist) on Wednesday. D.J. Wilson (hamstring) will be questionable at best.
The Bucks swept the two-game season series between the clubs during the 2017-18 campaign.
The Trail Blazers (11-6) are in the midst of a six-game road swing that's seen them play four times over the last seven days. Portland has managed to split those four contests, and they generated a 118-114 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. C.J. McCollum led the way with 31 points and added four rebounds, two assists and one block. Damian Lillard followed with 29 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. Meyers Leonard led the bench with 15 points. Jusuf Nurkic generated a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double.
The Trail Blazers will list Seth Curry (knee) as a game-time decision for Wednesday's game.
The Bucks (12-4) have been mostly dominant over their first 16 games, and they'll come into Wednesday's contest having won three of their past four contests. Their most recent victory came Monday night, when they edged the Denver Nuggets by a 104-98 margin. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 29 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Eric Bledsoe followed with 23 points and added five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon each provided 13-point efforts.
The Bucks will be without both Donte DiVincenzo (knee) and John Henson (wrist) on Wednesday. D.J. Wilson (hamstring) will be questionable at best.
The Bucks swept the two-game season series between the clubs during the 2017-18 campaign.
Nuggets Continue Road Trip Against Timberwolves
The Denver Nuggets take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Wednesday evening.
The Nuggets (10-7) continue to stumble after a red-hot 9-1 start, as they've dropped six of their last seven games. Denver comes into Wednesday having dropped two straight, with their most recent stumble a 104-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Nikola Jokic tallied 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and one steal. Jamal Murray supplied 17 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and one block. Gary Harris delivered 14 points, six assists and one steal. Malik Beasley registered 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Monte Morris finished with 10 points.
The Nuggets will be without Will Barton (groin), Michael Porter, Jr. (back) and Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) for Wednesday's game.
The Timberwolves (7-10) had started to heat up with three consecutive victories recently, but they dropped their most recent contest to the Memphis Grizzlies by a 100-87 margin on Sunday. Derrick Rose paced the Timberwolves with 18 points off the bench. Karl-Anthony Towns led the starting five with a 15-point, 20-rebound double-double. New arrival Robert Covington matched Towns' scoring total and added two rebounds, two assists, four steals and one block. Andrew Wiggins and Dario Saric each contributed 14 points.
The Timberwolves won the season series between the teams by a 3-1 margin during the 2017-18 campaign.
The Nuggets (10-7) continue to stumble after a red-hot 9-1 start, as they've dropped six of their last seven games. Denver comes into Wednesday having dropped two straight, with their most recent stumble a 104-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Nikola Jokic tallied 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and one steal. Jamal Murray supplied 17 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and one block. Gary Harris delivered 14 points, six assists and one steal. Malik Beasley registered 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Monte Morris finished with 10 points.
The Nuggets will be without Will Barton (groin), Michael Porter, Jr. (back) and Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) for Wednesday's game.
The Timberwolves (7-10) had started to heat up with three consecutive victories recently, but they dropped their most recent contest to the Memphis Grizzlies by a 100-87 margin on Sunday. Derrick Rose paced the Timberwolves with 18 points off the bench. Karl-Anthony Towns led the starting five with a 15-point, 20-rebound double-double. New arrival Robert Covington matched Towns' scoring total and added two rebounds, two assists, four steals and one block. Andrew Wiggins and Dario Saric each contributed 14 points.
The Timberwolves won the season series between the teams by a 3-1 margin during the 2017-18 campaign.
Nets Tangle With Mavericks In Lone Star Battle
The Brooklyn Nets take on the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Wednesday evening.
The Nets (8-10) comes into Wednesday's contest still adjusting to life without Caris Levert (foot), which has led to losses in three of their last five games. However, Brooklyn managed a 104-92 win in their most recent contest, which came against the Miami Heat on Tuesday evening. D'Angelo Russell paced the Nets with 20 points, which he supplemented with nine rebounds, six assists, four steals and one block. Spencer Dinwiddie led the bench with 16 points and seven assists. Jarrett Allen generated a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included two assists and two blocks. Joe Harris and DeMarre Carroll had 11 points apiece. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson delivered 10 points and seven rebounds.
In addition to LeVert's injury, Treveon Graham (hamstring) will also be out for the Nets on Wednesday.
The Mavericks (7-9) have shown considerable improvement in recent games, as they've notched victories in five of their last seven contests. However, they fell to the Memphis Grizzlies in their most recent game, dropping by a 98-88 decision Monday night. Dennis Smith, Jr. led the Mavericks with 19 points, which he supplemented with five assists, three rebounds and two steals. DeAndre Jordan generated a 17-point, 20-rebound double-double. Luka Doncic tallied 15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one block. Dorian Finney-Smith managed 13 points, three rebounds, two steals and one block. Harrison Barnes poured in 10 points.
The Mavericks will be without Wesley Matthews (hamstring) and Dirk Nowtizki (ankle) for Wednesday's game, while Smith (wrist), J.J. Barea (groin) and Dwight Powell (knee) will be listed as questionable.
The Nets swept the two-game season series between the clubs during the 2017-18 campaign.
The Nets (8-10) comes into Wednesday's contest still adjusting to life without Caris Levert (foot), which has led to losses in three of their last five games. However, Brooklyn managed a 104-92 win in their most recent contest, which came against the Miami Heat on Tuesday evening. D'Angelo Russell paced the Nets with 20 points, which he supplemented with nine rebounds, six assists, four steals and one block. Spencer Dinwiddie led the bench with 16 points and seven assists. Jarrett Allen generated a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included two assists and two blocks. Joe Harris and DeMarre Carroll had 11 points apiece. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson delivered 10 points and seven rebounds.
In addition to LeVert's injury, Treveon Graham (hamstring) will also be out for the Nets on Wednesday.
The Mavericks (7-9) have shown considerable improvement in recent games, as they've notched victories in five of their last seven contests. However, they fell to the Memphis Grizzlies in their most recent game, dropping by a 98-88 decision Monday night. Dennis Smith, Jr. led the Mavericks with 19 points, which he supplemented with five assists, three rebounds and two steals. DeAndre Jordan generated a 17-point, 20-rebound double-double. Luka Doncic tallied 15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one block. Dorian Finney-Smith managed 13 points, three rebounds, two steals and one block. Harrison Barnes poured in 10 points.
The Mavericks will be without Wesley Matthews (hamstring) and Dirk Nowtizki (ankle) for Wednesday's game, while Smith (wrist), J.J. Barea (groin) and Dwight Powell (knee) will be listed as questionable.
The Nets swept the two-game season series between the clubs during the 2017-18 campaign.
Grizzlies, Spurs Clash in Divisional Matchup
By Oscar Heanue
The Memphis Grizzlies will visit the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center.
Few could have anticipated the start that Memphis (11-5) has gotten off to this season. After winning just 22 games a season ago, the Grizzlies now sit at second place in the Western Conference. Having won six of their last seven contests, the Grizz are one of the league's hottest teams. Much of that is due to their strong defense, which is holding opponents to a league-low 100.0 points per game. While former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol has had a role to play, much of the team's newfound defensive life is also a product of rookie big man Jaren Jackson, Jr. Jackson, the reigning fourth overall pick, is averaging 1.3 steals and 1.9 blocks in 25.3 minutes per game.
The Spurs (8-8), to the contrary, have had a bit of a slow start to their 2018-19 campaign. San Antonio has won just one of its last five games, though that one win did come against the reigning champion Golden State Warriors. One reason for the relatively pedestrian start has been the team's uncharacteristically poor defensive play. After boasting a top-five defense in three of the last four seasons, San Antonio now ranks just 21st in the league in defensive rating. The Spurs have, though, acclimated All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan to the team nicely. DeRozan leads the Spurs with an average of 24.9 points per game, along with 6.4 assists and 6.3 rebounds.
Pau Gasol (foot) is likely to miss Wednesday's contest, which would have given him the chance to take on his brother, Marc. The younger Gasol is averaging 16.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game for Memphis this season.
Few could have anticipated the start that Memphis (11-5) has gotten off to this season. After winning just 22 games a season ago, the Grizzlies now sit at second place in the Western Conference. Having won six of their last seven contests, the Grizz are one of the league's hottest teams. Much of that is due to their strong defense, which is holding opponents to a league-low 100.0 points per game. While former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol has had a role to play, much of the team's newfound defensive life is also a product of rookie big man Jaren Jackson, Jr. Jackson, the reigning fourth overall pick, is averaging 1.3 steals and 1.9 blocks in 25.3 minutes per game.
The Spurs (8-8), to the contrary, have had a bit of a slow start to their 2018-19 campaign. San Antonio has won just one of its last five games, though that one win did come against the reigning champion Golden State Warriors. One reason for the relatively pedestrian start has been the team's uncharacteristically poor defensive play. After boasting a top-five defense in three of the last four seasons, San Antonio now ranks just 21st in the league in defensive rating. The Spurs have, though, acclimated All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan to the team nicely. DeRozan leads the Spurs with an average of 24.9 points per game, along with 6.4 assists and 6.3 rebounds.
Pau Gasol (foot) is likely to miss Wednesday's contest, which would have given him the chance to take on his brother, Marc. The younger Gasol is averaging 16.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game for Memphis this season.
Kings Visit Jazz in Pre-Thanksgiving Clash
By Oscar Heanue
The Sacramento Kings will visit the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Wednesday evening.
The Kings (9-8) have plenty to be thankful for heading into this holiday weekend. Sacramento has seemingly turned things around after a 27-win season a year ago. The team moved to one game above .500 with a 117-113 win over Oklahoma City on Saturday. In the win, Buddy Hield scored a team-high 25 points while De’Aaron Fox dished out a game-high 13 assists. Hield leads Sacramento with 19.2 points scored per game this season. Fox, however, has been the team’s breakout star, scoring 18.2 points per game on 54.1 percent shooting to go with an average of 7.4 assists. Rookie star Marvin Bagley III has also made interesting contributions early in the season. While many questioned his defensive acumen in college, Bagley has shown flashes of brilliance as a rim protector at the NBA level. He is averaging 1.2 blocks per game and blocked three shots in Saturday’s win.
Utah (8-9), meanwhile, has fallen into a bit of a slump of late. The team is 1-3 in its last four games, with those three losses coming by a combined margin of 83 points. The Jazz have not shown the same ironclad defense that helped them to the playoffs last season, ranking just 16th in the league in defensive rating. Sophomore guard Donovan Mitchell, last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up, is also off to a slow start. Mitchell is averaging a team-high 20.7 points per game, but is shooting just 41.2 percent on his way to doing so.
The Kings (9-8) have plenty to be thankful for heading into this holiday weekend. Sacramento has seemingly turned things around after a 27-win season a year ago. The team moved to one game above .500 with a 117-113 win over Oklahoma City on Saturday. In the win, Buddy Hield scored a team-high 25 points while De’Aaron Fox dished out a game-high 13 assists. Hield leads Sacramento with 19.2 points scored per game this season. Fox, however, has been the team’s breakout star, scoring 18.2 points per game on 54.1 percent shooting to go with an average of 7.4 assists. Rookie star Marvin Bagley III has also made interesting contributions early in the season. While many questioned his defensive acumen in college, Bagley has shown flashes of brilliance as a rim protector at the NBA level. He is averaging 1.2 blocks per game and blocked three shots in Saturday’s win.
Utah (8-9), meanwhile, has fallen into a bit of a slump of late. The team is 1-3 in its last four games, with those three losses coming by a combined margin of 83 points. The Jazz have not shown the same ironclad defense that helped them to the playoffs last season, ranking just 16th in the league in defensive rating. Sophomore guard Donovan Mitchell, last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up, is also off to a slow start. Mitchell is averaging a team-high 20.7 points per game, but is shooting just 41.2 percent on his way to doing so.
Thunder Visit Warriors
By Oscar Heanue
The Oklahoma City Thunder will visit the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on Wednesday.
Both teams are coming off disappointing losses, with the Thunder (10-6) fresh off a narrow 117-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings. OKC nearly stole the win, cutting the deficit from nine points with 37 seconds remaining to just two points with five seconds left. However, the lack of time left the Thunder unable to sneak away with the win. Still, OKC saw strong play from its two All-Stars. Russell Westbrook returned from a mild ankle injury and the birth of his twin daughters to score 29 points and grab 13 rebounds. Paul George, meanwhile, scored 27 points and hit a clutch three to cut the deficit to just two in the final seconds. Though they could not produce a win on Saturday, the duo of Westbrook and George has been an effective one this season. Westbrook is averaging 24.9 points on 48.8 percent shooting while also dishing out 8.3 assists and collecting 8.9 rebounds per game. George, meanwhile, trails not far behind, averaging 24.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game. George’s active defense has played a major part in the team’s success. OKC boasts the fourth-highest defensive rating in the NBA this season.
Golden State (12-6) finds itself in an unfamiliar position, ranking just fourth in the Western Conference through the early part of the season. The last two weeks have been one of the toughest in recent memory for the defending champs. The Warriors are coming off consecutive losses to the Mavericks and Spurs, and they remain without two-time MVP Steph Curry (groin). Moreover, drama surrounding the team cropped up due to a dispute between All-Star forwards Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. The incident resulted in a team-ordered one-game suspension for Green. Though Golden State still boasts a 12-6 record, it has seen uncharacteristically average defensive play early on. While the Warriors once again rank first in the league in offensive rating (116.3), they are just 17th on the defensive end. Wednesday will provide a test for the Curry-less Warriors, as they face one of the league’s top teams.
Both teams are coming off disappointing losses, with the Thunder (10-6) fresh off a narrow 117-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings. OKC nearly stole the win, cutting the deficit from nine points with 37 seconds remaining to just two points with five seconds left. However, the lack of time left the Thunder unable to sneak away with the win. Still, OKC saw strong play from its two All-Stars. Russell Westbrook returned from a mild ankle injury and the birth of his twin daughters to score 29 points and grab 13 rebounds. Paul George, meanwhile, scored 27 points and hit a clutch three to cut the deficit to just two in the final seconds. Though they could not produce a win on Saturday, the duo of Westbrook and George has been an effective one this season. Westbrook is averaging 24.9 points on 48.8 percent shooting while also dishing out 8.3 assists and collecting 8.9 rebounds per game. George, meanwhile, trails not far behind, averaging 24.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game. George’s active defense has played a major part in the team’s success. OKC boasts the fourth-highest defensive rating in the NBA this season.
Golden State (12-6) finds itself in an unfamiliar position, ranking just fourth in the Western Conference through the early part of the season. The last two weeks have been one of the toughest in recent memory for the defending champs. The Warriors are coming off consecutive losses to the Mavericks and Spurs, and they remain without two-time MVP Steph Curry (groin). Moreover, drama surrounding the team cropped up due to a dispute between All-Star forwards Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. The incident resulted in a team-ordered one-game suspension for Green. Though Golden State still boasts a 12-6 record, it has seen uncharacteristically average defensive play early on. While the Warriors once again rank first in the league in offensive rating (116.3), they are just 17th on the defensive end. Wednesday will provide a test for the Curry-less Warriors, as they face one of the league’s top teams.