Yesterday brought us a light four-game schedule in the NBA, highlighted by dual double-doubts for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 110-104 road win over the Denver Nuggets. Oklahoma City has won 20 of 24 and is the only team in the Northwest Division currently possessing a winning record.
We're making up for yesterday's light slate with 11 games on Wednesday, so let's get right to today's previews.
Coming Attractions:
Miami Heat (23-19) @ Washington Wizards (19-21) [7:00pm EST]
Washington has lost five of six at home, and is just 9-13 overall at home this season. Miami has lost two straight while failing to score 80 points in either contest.
Philadelphia 76ers (5-38) @ Orlando Magic (20-20 [7:00pm EST]
Orlando's promising 19-13 start is a thing of the past as they've lost seven of eight. Philly is 4-8 after a 1-30 opening to the campaign.
Utah Jazz (18-23) @ New York Knicks (21-22) [7:30pm EST]
Carmelo Anthony is expected to gut through his sprained ankle again vs. a Utah team that's just 6-8 in its last fourteen.
Boston Celtics (22-20) @ Toronto Raptors (26-15) [7:30pm EST]
DeMar Derozan and Kyle Lowry will look to lead the Raptors to a season-best sixth straight win. Boston is looking to gain ground on the Atlantic Division leaders, currently sitting 4.5 games back.
Cleveland Cavs (28-11) @ Brooklyn Nets (11-31) [7:30pm EST]
The Cavs get a chance to blow off some steam against one of the NBA's worst teams after losing by 34 to the Warriors on Monday.
Charlotte Hornets (19-22) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (31-12) [8:00pm EST]
Kemba Walker scored a franchise-record 52 points in Charlotte's 124-119 double-overtime win over Utah on Monday. He'll need to have a similarly huge game for the Hornets to overcome a blazing hot Thunder team.
Detroit Pistons (22-19) @ Houston Rockets (22-21) [8:00pm EST]
Houston has won nine straight against the Pistons at home, but they'll have their hands full against Andre Drummond who leads the league with 15.5 rebounds a game.
Golden State Warriors (38-4) @ Chicago Bulls (24-16) [8:00pm EST]
The Warriors are just 2-2 in their last four games, but Monday's destruction of the Cavs gives them a reserve of momentum heading into Chicago.
Minnesota Timberwolves (13-30) @ Dallas Mavericks (24-19) [8:30pm EST]
Minnesota is averaging just 93.9 points per game over a 2-14 stretch. Dallas is looking to keep their home cooking boiling with their eighth win in ten home games.
Atlanta Hawks (25-17) @ Portland Trail Blazers (19-25) [10:30pm EST]
The Hawks are taking advantage of Miami's recent swoon to get a solid foothold atop the Southeast Division, but they're just 10-10 on the road and need this game in Portland for some positive momentum.
Sacramento Kings (17-23) @ Los Angeles Lakers (9-34) [10:30pm EST]
This California rivalry was hopping just a decade ago. Now, the Lakers are fading and the Kings are trying to hold on to the fringes of the West playoff race.
News & Notes:
The New Orleans Pelicans have officially announced that Eric Gordon will miss at least four weeks with a broken finger.
Stephen Curry's is still the most popular among NBA fans on the marketplace, followed by LeBron James.
The Simpsons took a jab at the Philadelphia 76ers this past week, but the New York Knicks were originally slated to take the razzing.
The Cleveland Cavs are taking trade calls on center Timofey Mozgov
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