Preview Roundups
December 28, 2019
Memphis at Denver 5:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies were two different teams defensively over their last two games and are hoping the team that showed up on Thursday is the one that moves forward with the club. The Grizzlies will try to put together two solid defensive performances in a row when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
Toronto at Boston 7:00 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors seek a measure of revenge for a Christmas Day loss when they travel to Boston to take on the streaking Celtics on Saturday. Boston's Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and Kemba Walker added 22 as the Celtics raced to a 118-102 win at Toronto on Wednesday in the first game played on the holiday in Canada.
Indiana at New Orleans 7:00 PM ET
Three siblings - Indiana's Aaron and Justin Holiday, and New Orleans' Jrue - could play in the same game for the first time in NBA history when the Pelicans host the Pacers on Saturday. "It’s pretty cool,” Jrue told reporters. “I think I would’ve preferred to be on the team with one of them, instead of both of them playing against me. But it’s cool to play against them and try to beat them. It’s going to be fun.”
Philadelphia at Miami 8:00 PM ET
Miami standout Jimmy Butler hasn't fared well against his former teammates this season but gets a third chance when the Heat host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Butler averaged 12.5 points as the teams split two meetings in Philadelphia, scoring 11 in a 113-86 loss Nov. 23 and 14 in a 108-104 victory Dec. 18.
New York at Washington 8:00 PM ET
The New York Knicks are showing some fight on the road of late, a trend they'll try to maintain when they visit an injury-ravaged Washington Wizards team on Saturday night. The Knicks split their last eight games following a 4-20 start and three of the wins during the 4-4 stretch came away from home, with Thursday's 94-82 triumph at Brooklyn perhaps the most impressive.
Atlanta at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The NBA-worst Atlanta Hawks will be without star guard Trae Young when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. Young, who averages 28.5 points, left Friday's 112-86 loss to Milwaukee - the Hawks' ninth straight setback - after spraining his right ankle, and stayed in Atlanta to receive treatment.
Brooklyn at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets set an NBA season low in shooting percentage during Thursday's home loss to the New York Knicks and will need to find a way to score quickly with a three-game road trip on the horizon. The Nets will try to bounce back when they open the excursion by visiting the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
Cleveland at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves used extra time to snap a disastrous 11-game losing streak last time out and look to string together wins for the first time since just before Thanksgiving when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. The Timberwolves outlasted Sacramento 105-104 in double overtime Thursday to end a four-game trip, allowing the fewest points since their last win on Nov. 27.
Orlando at Milwaukee 8:30 PM ET
Milwaukee star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo could sit out his second straight game due to a back injury when the Bucks host the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Antetokounmpo averaged just 19.3 points during a three-game span prior to sitting out Friday's 112-86 rout of the Atlanta Hawks.
Detroit at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs can't seem to find any consistency and followed up their best offensive performance of the season with under 100 points in a loss. The Spurs will try to get back in the win column when they host another team with consistency issues in the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
Dallas at Golden State 8:30 PM ET
Luka Doncic plays in his second game since returning from an ankle injury when the Dallas Mavericks face the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night in San Francisco. Doncic didn't look rusty from the four-game absence as he contributed 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in Thursday's 102-98 home win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Phoenix at Sacramento 9:00 PM ET
A pair of teams sinking toward the bottom of the Western Conference look to end their respective losing streaks when the Phoenix Suns visit the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. The Kings have dropped five in a row after a 105-104 loss to Minnesota in double overtime Thursday night.
L.A. Lakers at Portland 10:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers hope to have LeBron James on the floor as they attempt to halt a season-worst four-game losing streak on Saturday night when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers. James aggravated a groin injury during the Lakers' 111-106 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Christmas Day and is hoping the time off will allow the injury to heal.
Utah at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers traded losses and wins over their last six games but stepped up when it counted with a 111-106 triumph over the rival Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day. The Clippers will try to keep that intensity and make it back-to-back wins when they host the Utah Jazz on Saturday.