Preview Roundups
December 19, 2018
Cleveland at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
All-Star guard Kemba Walker looks to snap out of a shooting slump and his Charlotte Hornets will try to improve on the other side of the court when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Walker scored a season-low four points in Saturday’s 128-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and is shooting 32.2 percent in seven games this month while making just 15-of-59 from 3-point range.
San Antonio at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs hit a speed bump over the weekend before continuing their surge with another outstanding performance and will go after a sixth win in seven games when they visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. The Spurs were beaten 98-93 by struggling Chicago at home Saturday, but rebounded to rout Philadelphia 123-96 on Monday to move back over the .500 mark.
New York at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
After laying another egg on the road, the Philadelphia 76ers can look forward to a two-game stay at home beginning with Wednesday's visit by the New York Knicks. The 76ers are 14-3 on their home floor but fell to 6-9 away from Philadelphia with Monday's 123-96 loss at San Antonio, the team's third setback in the last four games overall.
Phoenix at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics have played 12 home games, the fewest in the Eastern Conference and the second-fewest in the NBA. They will finally get a chance to unpack their bags for an extended period of time when they open a four-game homestand and begin a stretch in which they play 15 of 22 at TD Garden by hosting the surging Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
Indiana at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers may have been caught looking too far ahead prior to Wednesday night's visit to the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors. The Pacers had won seven in a row and led the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers by six points with roughly four minutes to play Tuesday at home before faltering down the stretch in a 92-91 loss.
Brooklyn at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets are enjoying their longest winning streak in four seasons and will try to keep it going when they make a quick one-game road trip to visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Behind 22 points and a career high-tying 13 assists by D'Angelo Russell, the Nets outlasted the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 on Tuesday to cap a 3-0 homestand and stretch their winning streak to six games.
Washington at Houston 8:00 PM ET
Houston coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters James Harden is playing as good as he’s ever played the last few games and the former MVP will try to continue his offensive surge when the Rockets host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. Harden is averaging 43 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists while shooting 52.1 percent from the field in the last three contests to help Houston extend its winning streak to four.
New Orleans at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans are alternating wins and losses over the last 10 games and the inability to put together a winning streak is beginning to frustrate the club. Avoiding a losing streak will be a tougher task on Wednesday, when the Pelicans visit the Milwaukee Bucks in the opener of a four-game road trip.
Detroit at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves look to build off one of their best efforts of the season and continue home-court success when they host the struggling Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves scored their most points in a win and dished out a season-high 37 assists as they took advantage of road-weary Sacramento to post a 132-105 victory on Monday, improving to 12-4 at the Target Center.
Golden State at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors are cruising along with wins in six of their last seven games as their superstars work their way up the all-time scoring list. The Warriors will try to take advantage of the slumping Utah Jazz when they head out for a brief one-game road trip on Wednesday.
Memphis at Portland 10:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers suffered through their worst offensive night at the Memphis Grizzlies last week before lighting up the scoreboard in back-to-back wins over the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers. The Trail Blazers will try to keep the points coming and gain some revenge when they host the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Oklahoma City at Sacramento 10:00 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder are marching up the win column and have no trouble shoving some opponents out of the way on the way up - literally and figuratively. The Thunder will try to push their winning streak to three straight without racking up a slew of technical fouls when they begin a stretch of seven of nine on the road by visiting the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.