Knicks Host Surging Magic on Tuesday
The Orlando Magic travel to The Big Apple to play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
The Magic (28-33) come into this matchup winning eight of their last 10 games, as they've catapulted themselves right back into playoff contention. In fact, Orlando is now just one game back on the Charlotte Hornets in eighth and many believe this is the more talented team. Nikola Vucevic just continues to play majestically, as he's leading this team with 20.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. One huge surprise has been Terrence Ross though, as he's become one of the leading bench scorers in the league this season. Getting a guy off the bench who can drop 25 at any time is a huge bonus for an inept offense like this, especially with Aaron Gordon playing below expectations. If they can just get Gordon going, this is a team to fear over the final two months.
The Knicks (12-48) snapped a nightmarish 18-game home losing streak in their most recent outing, as they shocked the San Antonio Spurs, 130-119, on Sunday. That win on Sunday was a long time coming for Knicks fans, as it's been a tedious season in general. Prior to that, New York lost 21 of their previous 22 games, which is arguably the worst stretch in the history of this storied franchise. The only silver lining with this ugly season is the fact that they've found some young players to build around. Dennis Smith Jr. is the prized possession, as he's been leading the way since being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks. Getting him playing up to his potential is all that really matters at this point, as New York needs to show that they got something special when trading Kristaps Porzingis, who was the future of the franchise himself.
This is the third meeting between these teams this season, with Orlando winning the first two matchups. In fact, the Magic are winning by an average of 20 points per game and have won five of their last six games against the Knicks in total.
The Magic (28-33) come into this matchup winning eight of their last 10 games, as they've catapulted themselves right back into playoff contention. In fact, Orlando is now just one game back on the Charlotte Hornets in eighth and many believe this is the more talented team. Nikola Vucevic just continues to play majestically, as he's leading this team with 20.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. One huge surprise has been Terrence Ross though, as he's become one of the leading bench scorers in the league this season. Getting a guy off the bench who can drop 25 at any time is a huge bonus for an inept offense like this, especially with Aaron Gordon playing below expectations. If they can just get Gordon going, this is a team to fear over the final two months.
The Knicks (12-48) snapped a nightmarish 18-game home losing streak in their most recent outing, as they shocked the San Antonio Spurs, 130-119, on Sunday. That win on Sunday was a long time coming for Knicks fans, as it's been a tedious season in general. Prior to that, New York lost 21 of their previous 22 games, which is arguably the worst stretch in the history of this storied franchise. The only silver lining with this ugly season is the fact that they've found some young players to build around. Dennis Smith Jr. is the prized possession, as he's been leading the way since being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks. Getting him playing up to his potential is all that really matters at this point, as New York needs to show that they got something special when trading Kristaps Porzingis, who was the future of the franchise himself.
This is the third meeting between these teams this season, with Orlando winning the first two matchups. In fact, the Magic are winning by an average of 20 points per game and have won five of their last six games against the Knicks in total.
Raptors Take On Reeling Celtics
By Dan Bruno
The Toronto Raptors play host to the Boston Celtics, at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday evening.
This marks the fifth game of a six-game home stand for the Raptors (44-17), where they have gone 3-1 so far, dating back to February 11th, before the all-star break. They are coming off a loss in their most recent contest, where they fell to the Magic, in Toronto. Kawhi Leonard (rest) did not play in the contest, but should be ready for action on Tuesday. Leonard leads the Raptors, averaging 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals, in 35 minutes per game. Kyle Lowry continues to play well, averaging 14.5 points, 9.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, while Pascal Siakam is having a very impressive season, averaging 16.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game. The Raptors have won eight of their last 10 games over all, and have a 25-6 home record.
Meanwhile, this marks the third and final game of a road trip for the Celtics (37-23), where they have gone 0-2 so far, with a loss in Milwaukee, followed by a loss in Chicago in their most recent contest, on Saturday. The Celtics are 14-15 on the road this season. They have won six of their last 10 games overall, but have dropped their last two in a row. The Celtics sit fifth place in the East, 6.5 games behind the second-place Raptors. Kyrie Irving leads the Celtics, averaging 23.8 points, 6.9 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Al Horford remains steady, averaging 13.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 blocks per game, while Jayson Tatum continues to look for his opportunities, averaging 16.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
This marks the fifth game of a six-game home stand for the Raptors (44-17), where they have gone 3-1 so far, dating back to February 11th, before the all-star break. They are coming off a loss in their most recent contest, where they fell to the Magic, in Toronto. Kawhi Leonard (rest) did not play in the contest, but should be ready for action on Tuesday. Leonard leads the Raptors, averaging 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals, in 35 minutes per game. Kyle Lowry continues to play well, averaging 14.5 points, 9.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, while Pascal Siakam is having a very impressive season, averaging 16.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game. The Raptors have won eight of their last 10 games over all, and have a 25-6 home record.
Meanwhile, this marks the third and final game of a road trip for the Celtics (37-23), where they have gone 0-2 so far, with a loss in Milwaukee, followed by a loss in Chicago in their most recent contest, on Saturday. The Celtics are 14-15 on the road this season. They have won six of their last 10 games overall, but have dropped their last two in a row. The Celtics sit fifth place in the East, 6.5 games behind the second-place Raptors. Kyrie Irving leads the Celtics, averaging 23.8 points, 6.9 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Al Horford remains steady, averaging 13.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 blocks per game, while Jayson Tatum continues to look for his opportunities, averaging 16.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
Thunder Look For Revenge Against Nuggets
The Oklahoma City Thunder will head to Denver on Tuesday to take on the Nuggets at Pepsi Center.
After a stretch where they won 11 of 12 games, the Thunder (38-21) have no dropped two of their last three dating back to their loss in New Orleans prior to the All-Star break. Oddly enough, Russell Westbrook has taken his production to another level during this rough three-game, as he scored at least 40 points in each of those three games. He is averaging, however, just 7.7 assists per game over that stretch, putting an end to his triple-double streak while he's taken on more of a scoring role.
As a team, the Thunder have managed to find success as of late against the best in the Western Conference, as they have won five games in a row against the top seven teams in the conference, which is a situation they'll find themselves in again Tuesday night. Unfortunately for Oklahoma City, it has lost each of its two meetings with the Nuggets (41-18) this season.
Those Nuggets have rattled off four straight wins and sit just one game back of the first-place Warriors in the loss column. They also, however, are just three games ahead of the visiting Thunder, which makes Tuesday's game very important for a multitude of reasons. Fortunately for Denver, the team has made light work of the Western Conference as of late, winning seven in a row in conference play, and the Nuggets are coming off a 27-point throttling of the Clippers in Denver on Sunday. And just as it did Sunday, the Pepsi Center has treated the Nuggets well recently, as they have won eight games in a row at home since their 31-point loss to the Warriors back in mid-January.
After a stretch where they won 11 of 12 games, the Thunder (38-21) have no dropped two of their last three dating back to their loss in New Orleans prior to the All-Star break. Oddly enough, Russell Westbrook has taken his production to another level during this rough three-game, as he scored at least 40 points in each of those three games. He is averaging, however, just 7.7 assists per game over that stretch, putting an end to his triple-double streak while he's taken on more of a scoring role.
As a team, the Thunder have managed to find success as of late against the best in the Western Conference, as they have won five games in a row against the top seven teams in the conference, which is a situation they'll find themselves in again Tuesday night. Unfortunately for Oklahoma City, it has lost each of its two meetings with the Nuggets (41-18) this season.
Those Nuggets have rattled off four straight wins and sit just one game back of the first-place Warriors in the loss column. They also, however, are just three games ahead of the visiting Thunder, which makes Tuesday's game very important for a multitude of reasons. Fortunately for Denver, the team has made light work of the Western Conference as of late, winning seven in a row in conference play, and the Nuggets are coming off a 27-point throttling of the Clippers in Denver on Sunday. And just as it did Sunday, the Pepsi Center has treated the Nuggets well recently, as they have won eight games in a row at home since their 31-point loss to the Warriors back in mid-January.