Timberwolves Tangle With Cavaliers In Monday Night Interconference Battle
The Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on Monday evening.
As their record implies, the Timberwolves (9-11) have struggled with consistency. However, Minnesota does come into Monday's game sporting a modest two-game winning streak, with their most recent success coming at the expense of the Chicago Bulls by a 111-96 score on Saturday night. Karl-Anthony Towns paced the Timberwolves with a 35-point, 22-rebound double-double that also included six assists and one steal. Derrick Rose delivered 22 points, four assists and two rebounds. Dario Saric managed a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included a steal. Jeff Teague finished with 18 points, five assists and four rebounds.
The Timberwolves will likely be without Jerryd Bayless (knee) for Monday's game.
The Cavaliers (4-14) have mostly endured a miserable season thus far, but it's been considerably brightened by the two straight victories they've notched over quality opponents. Following a 121-112 win over the 76ers, Cleveland shocked the Houston Rockets by a 117-108 score on Saturday night. Collin Sexton led the way with 29 points and added four rebounds and two assists. Jordan Clarkson followed with a bench-leading 20 points. Tristan Thompson continued a recent stretch of stellar play with a 16-point, 20-rebound double-double. David Nwaba and Kyle Korver turned in matching 12-point tallies.
The Cavaliers will continue to be without Kevin Love (foot) and George Hill (shoulder) on Monday. Sam Dekker (ankle) will be listed as questionable at best.
The Timberwolves have a 1-0 lead in the two-game season series, notching a 131-123 victory on Oct. 19.
As their record implies, the Timberwolves (9-11) have struggled with consistency. However, Minnesota does come into Monday's game sporting a modest two-game winning streak, with their most recent success coming at the expense of the Chicago Bulls by a 111-96 score on Saturday night. Karl-Anthony Towns paced the Timberwolves with a 35-point, 22-rebound double-double that also included six assists and one steal. Derrick Rose delivered 22 points, four assists and two rebounds. Dario Saric managed a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included a steal. Jeff Teague finished with 18 points, five assists and four rebounds.
The Timberwolves will likely be without Jerryd Bayless (knee) for Monday's game.
The Cavaliers (4-14) have mostly endured a miserable season thus far, but it's been considerably brightened by the two straight victories they've notched over quality opponents. Following a 121-112 win over the 76ers, Cleveland shocked the Houston Rockets by a 117-108 score on Saturday night. Collin Sexton led the way with 29 points and added four rebounds and two assists. Jordan Clarkson followed with a bench-leading 20 points. Tristan Thompson continued a recent stretch of stellar play with a 16-point, 20-rebound double-double. David Nwaba and Kyle Korver turned in matching 12-point tallies.
The Cavaliers will continue to be without Kevin Love (foot) and George Hill (shoulder) on Monday. Sam Dekker (ankle) will be listed as questionable at best.
The Timberwolves have a 1-0 lead in the two-game season series, notching a 131-123 victory on Oct. 19.
Wizards, Rockets Square off in DC
By Oscar Heanue
The Washington Wizards will host the Houston Rockets at Capital One Arena on Monday evening.
Washington (7-12) is coming off a much-needed win against the Pelicans on Saturday. The win was one of the best offensive showings of the season for the Wizards, who shot over 56 percent from the field en route to 124 points. Otto Porter, Jr. led the team with a season-best 29 points, which came on 12-of-15 shooting. The three-point shot continued to be a concern for Washington, though, as the team shot just 10-of-29 from beyond the arc. The Wizards are shooting just 31.8 percent on three-point attempts this season, a mark that places them in the bottom five across the league.
Houston (9-9), on the other hand, comes into Monday's matchup having dropped two straight contests on the road. The Rockets most recently fell to the last-place Cavaliers in Cleveland, 117-108. The loss saw Houston commit 16 turnovers. Perhaps more concerning, though, was the rebounding differential between the two teams. Cleveland out-rebounded Houston 47-28, including a 20-8 advantage in offensive rebounding. Crashing the glass will likely be a focus for Houston on Monday after such a dismal showing.
Both teams are dealing with substantial injuries. For Washington, veteran center Dwight Howard has missed three straight games with gluteal soreness. Houston, meanwhile, was missing All-Star point guard Chris Paul in Cleveland due to a left leg injury. Both players are considered questionable for Monday's matchup.
Washington (7-12) is coming off a much-needed win against the Pelicans on Saturday. The win was one of the best offensive showings of the season for the Wizards, who shot over 56 percent from the field en route to 124 points. Otto Porter, Jr. led the team with a season-best 29 points, which came on 12-of-15 shooting. The three-point shot continued to be a concern for Washington, though, as the team shot just 10-of-29 from beyond the arc. The Wizards are shooting just 31.8 percent on three-point attempts this season, a mark that places them in the bottom five across the league.
Houston (9-9), on the other hand, comes into Monday's matchup having dropped two straight contests on the road. The Rockets most recently fell to the last-place Cavaliers in Cleveland, 117-108. The loss saw Houston commit 16 turnovers. Perhaps more concerning, though, was the rebounding differential between the two teams. Cleveland out-rebounded Houston 47-28, including a 20-8 advantage in offensive rebounding. Crashing the glass will likely be a focus for Houston on Monday after such a dismal showing.
Both teams are dealing with substantial injuries. For Washington, veteran center Dwight Howard has missed three straight games with gluteal soreness. Houston, meanwhile, was missing All-Star point guard Chris Paul in Cleveland due to a left leg injury. Both players are considered questionable for Monday's matchup.
Bucks Tangle With Hornets In Monday Night Conference Showdown
The Milwaukee Bucks take on the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on Monday evening.
The Bucks (14-5) have been one of the NBA's best teams over their first 19 games, and accordingly, they'll come into Monday's contest having notched victories in four of their last five. Milwaukee's most recent win put their high-powered offense on display, as they toppled the San Antonio Spurs by a 135-129 score on Saturday night. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 34 points and added 18 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one block. Malcolm Brogdon tallied 23 points, three rebounds and three assists. Khris Middleton totaled 21 points, four boards and two assists. Eric Bledsoe generated a 20-point, 10-assist double-double.
The Bucks will likely be without Ersan Ilyasova and Donte DiVincenzo Monday due to their respective knee injuries. John Henson (wrist) and D.J. Wilson (hamstring) will be out.
The Hornets (9-10) sport a record that speaks to their inconsistency, and they'll head into Monday's game as losers of two straight. Their most recent stumble was a 124-123 loss at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday afternoon. Malik Monk paced the Hornets with 26 points off the bench. Kemba Walker had his last-second game-winning shot attempt blocked, but he finished with 22 points, nine assists, five rebounds, one steal and one block. Marvin Williams generated a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double that also included one assist. Nicolas Batum posted 14 points, five assists and four rebounds. Jeremy Lamb filled out the stat sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Hornets are likely to be without Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (ankle) for Monday's game.
The Bucks have a 1-0 lead in the season series between the teams, having notched a 113-112 win over Charlotte back on Opening Night.
The Bucks (14-5) have been one of the NBA's best teams over their first 19 games, and accordingly, they'll come into Monday's contest having notched victories in four of their last five. Milwaukee's most recent win put their high-powered offense on display, as they toppled the San Antonio Spurs by a 135-129 score on Saturday night. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 34 points and added 18 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one block. Malcolm Brogdon tallied 23 points, three rebounds and three assists. Khris Middleton totaled 21 points, four boards and two assists. Eric Bledsoe generated a 20-point, 10-assist double-double.
The Bucks will likely be without Ersan Ilyasova and Donte DiVincenzo Monday due to their respective knee injuries. John Henson (wrist) and D.J. Wilson (hamstring) will be out.
The Hornets (9-10) sport a record that speaks to their inconsistency, and they'll head into Monday's game as losers of two straight. Their most recent stumble was a 124-123 loss at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday afternoon. Malik Monk paced the Hornets with 26 points off the bench. Kemba Walker had his last-second game-winning shot attempt blocked, but he finished with 22 points, nine assists, five rebounds, one steal and one block. Marvin Williams generated a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double that also included one assist. Nicolas Batum posted 14 points, five assists and four rebounds. Jeremy Lamb filled out the stat sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Hornets are likely to be without Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (ankle) for Monday's game.
The Bucks have a 1-0 lead in the season series between the teams, having notched a 113-112 win over Charlotte back on Opening Night.
Pelicans Host Celtics With Both Teams at 10-10
The Boston Celtics travel to The Big Easy to play the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on Monday.
The Celtics (10-10) are struggling mightily right now, as they come into this matchup losing eight of their last 12 games. That's downright shocking, as many experts had Boston pegged as a 60-win team. For this team to be sitting at .500 20 games into the season is unbelievable and the next few weeks should truly show where this team is at right now. What's really killed this team is their inefficient offense, as they currently sit 23rd in scoring and 27th in offensive efficiency. It's unclear why the struggles have been so vast but the bench is definitely playing a factor in it. Terry Rozier was arguably this teams best player last season and he's essentially been a non-factor this year. Getting him rolling and back to Scary Terry form would give this team another dynamic and open things up for other players.
The Pelicans (10-10) have been one of the streakiest teams in the league this season, as they come into this matchup in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Prior to that, New Orleans won six of their previous seven games which followed-up a stretch in which the Pelicans lost six-straight. That six-game losing streak came after a 4-0 start and it's a wonder why these swings have been so monstrous. There are simply too many good players on this team to be playing that inconsistently and the statistics would indicate that this team is better than .500. The Pelicans currently sit second in scoring, third in assists and fourth in rebounding, as the defense is the only thing holding them back.
New Orleans swept their two-game season series over Boston last season. Prior to that, the Celtics won five of their previous six games over the Pelicans dating back three years.
The Celtics (10-10) are struggling mightily right now, as they come into this matchup losing eight of their last 12 games. That's downright shocking, as many experts had Boston pegged as a 60-win team. For this team to be sitting at .500 20 games into the season is unbelievable and the next few weeks should truly show where this team is at right now. What's really killed this team is their inefficient offense, as they currently sit 23rd in scoring and 27th in offensive efficiency. It's unclear why the struggles have been so vast but the bench is definitely playing a factor in it. Terry Rozier was arguably this teams best player last season and he's essentially been a non-factor this year. Getting him rolling and back to Scary Terry form would give this team another dynamic and open things up for other players.
The Pelicans (10-10) have been one of the streakiest teams in the league this season, as they come into this matchup in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Prior to that, New Orleans won six of their previous seven games which followed-up a stretch in which the Pelicans lost six-straight. That six-game losing streak came after a 4-0 start and it's a wonder why these swings have been so monstrous. There are simply too many good players on this team to be playing that inconsistently and the statistics would indicate that this team is better than .500. The Pelicans currently sit second in scoring, third in assists and fourth in rebounding, as the defense is the only thing holding them back.
New Orleans swept their two-game season series over Boston last season. Prior to that, the Celtics won five of their previous six games over the Pelicans dating back three years.
Spurs Visit Bulls at United Center
By Oscar Heanue
The San Antonio Spurs will visit the Chicago Bulls at United Center on Monday evening.
San Antonio (9-10) is in unfamiliar territory, sitting at a sub-.500 record almost 20 games into the season. The Spurs have made the playoffs 21 years in a row, a streak that has lasted the entirety of head coach Gregg Popvich's career. However, following Saturday's 135-129 loss to Milwaukee, the Spurs now sit at just 11th place in the Western Conference standings. This has been despite strong contributions from newly-minted Spur DeMar DeRozan, who leads the team in both scoring (24.9 points per game) and assists (6.3 per game). DeRozan will hope to help the Spurs even out their record at 10-10 with a win in Monday's contest.
Chicago (5-15), meanwhile, is even farther from a playoff push. The team has been hampered by injuries early in the season. Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis have each missed the last four weeks of action with meniscus sprains, while sophomore big man Lauri Markkanen remains out with an elbow injury. In their absence, though, Zach LaVine has emerged as a breakout star for the Bulls. Though his strong play has translated to few wins, LaVine has enjoyed a career year thus far, averaging 25.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. LaVine led the team with 28 points in their most recent outing, a loss to the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Saturday.
San Antonio (9-10) is in unfamiliar territory, sitting at a sub-.500 record almost 20 games into the season. The Spurs have made the playoffs 21 years in a row, a streak that has lasted the entirety of head coach Gregg Popvich's career. However, following Saturday's 135-129 loss to Milwaukee, the Spurs now sit at just 11th place in the Western Conference standings. This has been despite strong contributions from newly-minted Spur DeMar DeRozan, who leads the team in both scoring (24.9 points per game) and assists (6.3 per game). DeRozan will hope to help the Spurs even out their record at 10-10 with a win in Monday's contest.
Chicago (5-15), meanwhile, is even farther from a playoff push. The team has been hampered by injuries early in the season. Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis have each missed the last four weeks of action with meniscus sprains, while sophomore big man Lauri Markkanen remains out with an elbow injury. In their absence, though, Zach LaVine has emerged as a breakout star for the Bulls. Though his strong play has translated to few wins, LaVine has enjoyed a career year thus far, averaging 25.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. LaVine led the team with 28 points in their most recent outing, a loss to the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Saturday.
Jazz Take On Reeling Pacers
By Dan Bruno
The Utah Jazz play host to the Indiana Pacers, at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Monday evening.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Jazz (9-11), who are coming off a much-needed win on Sunday evening. The Jazz managed to stop a three-game slide, as they topped the Kings in Sacramento on Sunday, behind 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists from Ricky Rubio. Rudy Gobert also put up some big numbers in the win, with 18 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. The Jazz have played seven of their last eight games on the road, and lost the one home game within that stretch, as they fell short against the Kings. The Jazz are only 2-5 at home this season, and sit 14th place in the West. However, the West is so bunched up that 14th place is only 1.5 games behind eighth, and 4.5 games out of first.
Meanwhile, this marks the first game of a four-game road trip for the Pacers (11-8), who have lost their last two games in a row. They have also lost their last two road games, but hold a road record of 5-4 so far. The Pacers are dealing with a few injuries, as Victor Oladipo (knee) has missed the last three games, and is listed as questionable for action on Monday. Myles Turner (ankle) and Domantas Sabonis (ankle) are also listed questionable for action Monday. The Pacers have solid back-up guards in Cory Joseph, Darren Collison and Tyreke Evans, who can help cover for Oladipo, while they take a bigger hit if missing Turner and Sabonis, as it leaves their front line thin, with Thaddeus Young having to carry most of the load.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Jazz (9-11), who are coming off a much-needed win on Sunday evening. The Jazz managed to stop a three-game slide, as they topped the Kings in Sacramento on Sunday, behind 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists from Ricky Rubio. Rudy Gobert also put up some big numbers in the win, with 18 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. The Jazz have played seven of their last eight games on the road, and lost the one home game within that stretch, as they fell short against the Kings. The Jazz are only 2-5 at home this season, and sit 14th place in the West. However, the West is so bunched up that 14th place is only 1.5 games behind eighth, and 4.5 games out of first.
Meanwhile, this marks the first game of a four-game road trip for the Pacers (11-8), who have lost their last two games in a row. They have also lost their last two road games, but hold a road record of 5-4 so far. The Pacers are dealing with a few injuries, as Victor Oladipo (knee) has missed the last three games, and is listed as questionable for action on Monday. Myles Turner (ankle) and Domantas Sabonis (ankle) are also listed questionable for action Monday. The Pacers have solid back-up guards in Cory Joseph, Darren Collison and Tyreke Evans, who can help cover for Oladipo, while they take a bigger hit if missing Turner and Sabonis, as it leaves their front line thin, with Thaddeus Young having to carry most of the load.
Warriors Looking To Build On Two-Game Winning Streak
By Dan Bruno
The Golden State Warriors play host to the Orlando Magic, at Oracle Arena on Monday evening.
The Warriors (14-7) bounced back from an ugly four-game losing streak by winning their last two games. Kevin Durant took his game to another level to held ensure the Warrior's last two wins, with 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals in the first win, and 44 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in the most recent win. Klay Thompson also came up large, as he poured in 31 points in each of the two wins. The Warriors have been struggling with Stephen Curry (groin) and Draymond Green (toe) sidelined. Both Curry and Green are not expected back for at least a few more days. This marks the fourth and final game of a home stand for the Warriors, where they have gone 2-1 so far. The Warriors are 10-2 at home this season, as they sit second place in the West.
Meanwhile, the Magic (10-10) are coming off an impressive win over the Lakers in Los Angeles, on Sunday, where Nikola Vucevic led the way with 31 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals. Vucevic has been great for the Magic so far this season, averaging 19.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. Aaron Gordon has also been playing well for Orlando, with 17 points in Sunday's win, while he averages 16.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game this season. This marks the third game of a six-game road trip for the Magic, where they have gone 1-1 so far. The Magic are 4-4 on the road this season, and sit sixth place in the East, 2.5 games ahead of eighth place.
The Warriors (14-7) bounced back from an ugly four-game losing streak by winning their last two games. Kevin Durant took his game to another level to held ensure the Warrior's last two wins, with 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals in the first win, and 44 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in the most recent win. Klay Thompson also came up large, as he poured in 31 points in each of the two wins. The Warriors have been struggling with Stephen Curry (groin) and Draymond Green (toe) sidelined. Both Curry and Green are not expected back for at least a few more days. This marks the fourth and final game of a home stand for the Warriors, where they have gone 2-1 so far. The Warriors are 10-2 at home this season, as they sit second place in the West.
Meanwhile, the Magic (10-10) are coming off an impressive win over the Lakers in Los Angeles, on Sunday, where Nikola Vucevic led the way with 31 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals. Vucevic has been great for the Magic so far this season, averaging 19.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. Aaron Gordon has also been playing well for Orlando, with 17 points in Sunday's win, while he averages 16.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game this season. This marks the third game of a six-game road trip for the Magic, where they have gone 1-1 so far. The Magic are 4-4 on the road this season, and sit sixth place in the East, 2.5 games ahead of eighth place.