Cavaliers Looking To Extend Run, Host Pacers
The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Wednesday evening.
The Cavaliers (14-21) went through a rough patch to begin the current calendar year but are looking better of late and have won four games in a row following their 101-90 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday. The Cavaliers were led by Collin Sexton, tallying 39 points, three rebounds, eight assists and two steals on 12-of-20 from the field. Darius Garland amassed 14 points, three rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Jarrett Allen totaled 10 points and 15 rebounds. Cedi Osman led the bench with 11 points and five rebounds. The Cavaliers left a 10-game losing streak in the rearview and while they still have lots of problems to solve to become a playoff contender, their recent performances have clearly been a step in the right direction. They have gone 9-9 at home.
Cleveland is listing Taurean Prince (ankle) as a game-time decision. Meanwhile, Andre Drummond (not injury related), Matthew Dellavedova (abdomen), Kevin Love (calf) and Larry Nance (finger) are all out.
The Pacers (15-18) are trending in the wrong direction and are currently riding a four-game losing streak after back-to-back postponements last month. They are coming off a 130-114 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Malcolm Brogdon's 20 points, which he complemented with four rebounds and four assists, led the Pacers. Edmond Sumner delivered 18 points, three rebounds and two steals. Domantas Sabonis posted 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Justin Holiday's line included 12 points and two rebounds. Myles Turner and Aaron Holiday generated matching 11-point, three-rebound tallies, with Holiday also recording six assists. The Pacers haven't won since mid-February and currently own an 8-8 mark on the road.
Indiana is listing Jeremy Lamb (knee) and Doug McDermott (teeth) as game-time calls for this matchup, while Caris LeVert (abdomen) and T.J. Warren (foot) have both been ruled out.
The Cavaliers (14-21) went through a rough patch to begin the current calendar year but are looking better of late and have won four games in a row following their 101-90 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday. The Cavaliers were led by Collin Sexton, tallying 39 points, three rebounds, eight assists and two steals on 12-of-20 from the field. Darius Garland amassed 14 points, three rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Jarrett Allen totaled 10 points and 15 rebounds. Cedi Osman led the bench with 11 points and five rebounds. The Cavaliers left a 10-game losing streak in the rearview and while they still have lots of problems to solve to become a playoff contender, their recent performances have clearly been a step in the right direction. They have gone 9-9 at home.
Cleveland is listing Taurean Prince (ankle) as a game-time decision. Meanwhile, Andre Drummond (not injury related), Matthew Dellavedova (abdomen), Kevin Love (calf) and Larry Nance (finger) are all out.
The Pacers (15-18) are trending in the wrong direction and are currently riding a four-game losing streak after back-to-back postponements last month. They are coming off a 130-114 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Malcolm Brogdon's 20 points, which he complemented with four rebounds and four assists, led the Pacers. Edmond Sumner delivered 18 points, three rebounds and two steals. Domantas Sabonis posted 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Justin Holiday's line included 12 points and two rebounds. Myles Turner and Aaron Holiday generated matching 11-point, three-rebound tallies, with Holiday also recording six assists. The Pacers haven't won since mid-February and currently own an 8-8 mark on the road.
Indiana is listing Jeremy Lamb (knee) and Doug McDermott (teeth) as game-time calls for this matchup, while Caris LeVert (abdomen) and T.J. Warren (foot) have both been ruled out.
Jazz and 76ers Set For Interconference Showdown
The Utah Jazz takes on the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night.
The Jazz (27-8) have been the talk of the league for some time due to their extended torrid stretch of play, but they've come back down to earth a bit lately with three losses over their last six games. Their most recent stumble came Monday night, when they fell to the New Orleans Pelicans by a 129-124 score. Bojan Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 31 points, complementing them with seven rebounds, one assist and three steals. Rudy Gobert totaled 22 points, nine rebounds, one assist, five blocks and one steal. Donovan Mitchell supplied 21 points, eight assists and four rebounds. Jordan Clarkson registered 20 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal. Mike Conley furnished 10 points, eight assists, three rebounds and two steals.
The Jazz will come into Wednesday's game without any injuries to report.
The 76ers (23-12) have done plenty of winning in their own right throughout the season, and they'll come into Wednesday's matchup having prevailed in five of the last seven contests. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Indiana Pacers, which they throttled by a 130-114 score Monday night. Shake Milton paced the 76ers with 26 points, supplementing them with four rebounds and four assists. Joel Embiid turned in a 24-point, 13-rebound double-double that also included five assists and one block. Furkan Korkmaz managed 19 points, two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Ben Simmons delivered 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Mike Scott furnished 11 points, four rebounds and four steals.
The 76ers will list Tobias Harris (knee) as questionable for Wednesday's contest.
Wednesday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Jazz holds a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 134-123 win Feb. 15.
The Jazz (27-8) have been the talk of the league for some time due to their extended torrid stretch of play, but they've come back down to earth a bit lately with three losses over their last six games. Their most recent stumble came Monday night, when they fell to the New Orleans Pelicans by a 129-124 score. Bojan Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 31 points, complementing them with seven rebounds, one assist and three steals. Rudy Gobert totaled 22 points, nine rebounds, one assist, five blocks and one steal. Donovan Mitchell supplied 21 points, eight assists and four rebounds. Jordan Clarkson registered 20 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal. Mike Conley furnished 10 points, eight assists, three rebounds and two steals.
The Jazz will come into Wednesday's game without any injuries to report.
The 76ers (23-12) have done plenty of winning in their own right throughout the season, and they'll come into Wednesday's matchup having prevailed in five of the last seven contests. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Indiana Pacers, which they throttled by a 130-114 score Monday night. Shake Milton paced the 76ers with 26 points, supplementing them with four rebounds and four assists. Joel Embiid turned in a 24-point, 13-rebound double-double that also included five assists and one block. Furkan Korkmaz managed 19 points, two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Ben Simmons delivered 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Mike Scott furnished 11 points, four rebounds and four steals.
The 76ers will list Tobias Harris (knee) as questionable for Wednesday's contest.
Wednesday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Jazz holds a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 134-123 win Feb. 15.
No preview has been written for this game yet. Please check back later.
Rockets Looking To Span 12-Game Losing Run Against Nets
The Houston Rockets will host the Brooklyn Nets at Toyota Center on Wednesday evening.
The Rockets (11-22) have been the worst team in The Association over the last few weeks and they enter this game in the midst of a 12-game losing streak following their Monday loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Rockets were led by John Wall and his 32 points, three rebounds and five assists. Victor Oladipo generated 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. No other player had more than eight points or two assists. Sterling Brown led the bench with eight points, five rebounds and two steals. Houston hasn't won since Feb. 4, meaning it has gone almost four weeks since they haven't picked up a victory. They own a 5-9 mark at home this season.
Houston is listing Eric Gordon (knee), Danuel House (knee) and Kenyon Martin (ankle) as game-time decisions. The list of absentees includes Christian Wood (ankle), David Nwaba (wrist), Rodions Kurucs (oblique) and Dante Exum (calf).
The Nets (23-13) are undoubtedly on the rise and enter this game having won nine of their last 10 games, and they are coming off a 124-113 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. James Harden, who will be playing at Houston and recently expressed his desire to "return home" to Houston, led the way for the Nets with 30 points, 15 assists, 14 rebounds and two steals, in 44 minutes. Kyrie Irving totaled 27 points, seven assists, six rebounds and a block, while Bruce Brown added 23 points, three rebounds and two steals. The Nets shot 47 percent from the field, including 17-of-41 from long range. The Nets own a 10-7 mark when playing on the road.
Brooklyn is listing Jeff Green (shoulder) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (knee) as game-time decisions for this game. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant (hamstring) and Spencer Dinwiddie (knee) are out for the season.
The Rockets (11-22) have been the worst team in The Association over the last few weeks and they enter this game in the midst of a 12-game losing streak following their Monday loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Rockets were led by John Wall and his 32 points, three rebounds and five assists. Victor Oladipo generated 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. No other player had more than eight points or two assists. Sterling Brown led the bench with eight points, five rebounds and two steals. Houston hasn't won since Feb. 4, meaning it has gone almost four weeks since they haven't picked up a victory. They own a 5-9 mark at home this season.
Houston is listing Eric Gordon (knee), Danuel House (knee) and Kenyon Martin (ankle) as game-time decisions. The list of absentees includes Christian Wood (ankle), David Nwaba (wrist), Rodions Kurucs (oblique) and Dante Exum (calf).
The Nets (23-13) are undoubtedly on the rise and enter this game having won nine of their last 10 games, and they are coming off a 124-113 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. James Harden, who will be playing at Houston and recently expressed his desire to "return home" to Houston, led the way for the Nets with 30 points, 15 assists, 14 rebounds and two steals, in 44 minutes. Kyrie Irving totaled 27 points, seven assists, six rebounds and a block, while Bruce Brown added 23 points, three rebounds and two steals. The Nets shot 47 percent from the field, including 17-of-41 from long range. The Nets own a 10-7 mark when playing on the road.
Brooklyn is listing Jeff Green (shoulder) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (knee) as game-time decisions for this game. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant (hamstring) and Spencer Dinwiddie (knee) are out for the season.
Pelicans Look To Stay Strong On Home Stand
By Dan Bruno
The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Chicago Bulls at Smoothie King Center on Wednesday evening.
This marks the second game of a six-game home stand for the Pelicans (15-19), which they began with an impressive win over the Jazz on Monday. The Pelicans have dropped six of their last 10 games, but they will look to build off their recent win and add to their, 10-7, home record. Zion Williamson continues to lead the way for the Pelicans, averaging 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Brandon Ingram also continues to produce at a high level, averaging 24.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Lonzo Ball is coming off an impressive performance in the Pelicans' most recent contest, with 23 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two blocks, while he is averaging 14.8 points, 5.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The Pelicans average 115.9 points per game, which is fourth most in the league, and they are shooting an average of 48.5 percent from the field, which is third best in the league.
Meanwhile, the Bulls (15-18) have won six of their last 10 games but have dropped their last two in a row, as they will be looking to get back on track and add to their, 8-7, road record. Zach LaVine leads the Bulls, averaging 28.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals, in 36 minutes per game. Coby White is coming off a 20-point, 10-rebound outing in the Bulls' most recent contest, and is averaging 16.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Patrick Williams continues to be a solid contributor, as he is averaging 10.1 points on 46 percent shooting, including 39 percent from long range, in 28 minutes per game. The Bulls are averaging 114.6 points per game, which is eighth most in the league, and they are shooting an average of 48.5 percent from the field, which is tied with the Pelicans for third best in the league.
This marks the second game of a six-game home stand for the Pelicans (15-19), which they began with an impressive win over the Jazz on Monday. The Pelicans have dropped six of their last 10 games, but they will look to build off their recent win and add to their, 10-7, home record. Zion Williamson continues to lead the way for the Pelicans, averaging 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Brandon Ingram also continues to produce at a high level, averaging 24.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Lonzo Ball is coming off an impressive performance in the Pelicans' most recent contest, with 23 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two blocks, while he is averaging 14.8 points, 5.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The Pelicans average 115.9 points per game, which is fourth most in the league, and they are shooting an average of 48.5 percent from the field, which is third best in the league.
Meanwhile, the Bulls (15-18) have won six of their last 10 games but have dropped their last two in a row, as they will be looking to get back on track and add to their, 8-7, road record. Zach LaVine leads the Bulls, averaging 28.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals, in 36 minutes per game. Coby White is coming off a 20-point, 10-rebound outing in the Bulls' most recent contest, and is averaging 16.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Patrick Williams continues to be a solid contributor, as he is averaging 10.1 points on 46 percent shooting, including 39 percent from long range, in 28 minutes per game. The Bulls are averaging 114.6 points per game, which is eighth most in the league, and they are shooting an average of 48.5 percent from the field, which is tied with the Pelicans for third best in the league.
Timberwolves Looking To End Skid, Host Hornets
The Minnesota Timberwolves will host the Charlotte Hornets at Target Center on Wednesday night.
The Timberwolves (7-28) are coming off a 118-99 loss against the Phoenix Suns the last time out, a result that extended their losing streak to eight games. During that game against Phoenix, Anthony Edwards paced the offense with 24 points and five rebounds while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 21 points and 10 boards, and Jake Layman had 11 points off the bench. No other Minnesota player scored in double digits in that game. Adding insult to injury, veteran point guard Ricky Rubio questioned the direction where the franchise is headed due to the team's recent coaching change and the overall play of the team during the current season. And as if the recent struggles were not enough, the Timberwolves have also gone 4-12 at home and own the worst record in the entire NBA by a wide margin.
The Timberwolves are listing D'Angelo Russell (knee) and Malik Beasley (suspension) as out.
The Hornets (16-18) are coming off a 123-111 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, a result that means the Hornets have now alternated wins and loss in each of their last 10 contests -- and those inconsistencies are not doing any favors to their playoff push. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets in that loss, collecting 30 points, six rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Terry Rozier amassed 20 points, two rebounds, six assists and four steals. Cody Martin amassed eight points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Malik Monk led the bench with 19 points, two rebounds and two assists. The Hornets are 7-10 when playing on the road this season.
Charlotte is listing Gordon Hayward (hand), Cody Zeller (hip) and Grant Riller (ankle) as game-time decisions, while Devonte' Graham (kneecap) is out.
The Timberwolves (7-28) are coming off a 118-99 loss against the Phoenix Suns the last time out, a result that extended their losing streak to eight games. During that game against Phoenix, Anthony Edwards paced the offense with 24 points and five rebounds while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 21 points and 10 boards, and Jake Layman had 11 points off the bench. No other Minnesota player scored in double digits in that game. Adding insult to injury, veteran point guard Ricky Rubio questioned the direction where the franchise is headed due to the team's recent coaching change and the overall play of the team during the current season. And as if the recent struggles were not enough, the Timberwolves have also gone 4-12 at home and own the worst record in the entire NBA by a wide margin.
The Timberwolves are listing D'Angelo Russell (knee) and Malik Beasley (suspension) as out.
The Hornets (16-18) are coming off a 123-111 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, a result that means the Hornets have now alternated wins and loss in each of their last 10 contests -- and those inconsistencies are not doing any favors to their playoff push. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets in that loss, collecting 30 points, six rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Terry Rozier amassed 20 points, two rebounds, six assists and four steals. Cody Martin amassed eight points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Malik Monk led the bench with 19 points, two rebounds and two assists. The Hornets are 7-10 when playing on the road this season.
Charlotte is listing Gordon Hayward (hand), Cody Zeller (hip) and Grant Riller (ankle) as game-time decisions, while Devonte' Graham (kneecap) is out.
Hawks and Magic Tangle in Orlando
The Atlanta Hawks take on the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on Wednesday night.
The Hawks (15-20) have endured plenty of adversity of late, with their eighth loss in 11 games Sunday night against the Heat costing coach Lloyd Pierce his job. However, Atlanta bounced back in Tuesday's rematch with a 94-80 win over Miami in Nate McMillan's first game at the helm. Trae Young led the Hawks with an 18-point, 10-assist double-double that also included three rebounds and one steal. John Collins followed with 17 points, seven rebounds and one assist. Kevin Huerter furnished 16 points, five assists and two rebounds. Tony Snell poured in 11 points, while Clint Capela generated a 10-point, 17-rebound double-double that also included one block.
The Hawks will likely list Cam Reddish (Achilles) as no better than questionable for Wednesday's game, while De'Andre Hunter (knee) and Kris Dunn (ankle) will remain out.
The Magic (13-22) have been doing plenty of losing in their own right recently, and they'll enter Wednesday's matchup having dropped four consecutive contests. Their most recent stumble came against the Dallas Mavericks, which bested them by a 130-124 score Monday night. Nikola Vucevic led the way with a 29-point, 15-rebound double-double that also included eight assists. Evan Fournier delivered 26 points, five rebounds and two assists. Michael Carter-Williams and Terrence Ross generated matching 18-point tallies, with Carter-Williams adding eight rebounds and recording six assists.
The Magic will remain without James Ennis (calf), Cole Anthony (ribs) and Aaron Gordon (ankle) for Wednesday's game. Fournier (groin) will be listed as questionable.
Wednesday's game marks the first of three meetings between the teams this season. The two teams split the four-game 2019-20 season series.
The Hawks (15-20) have endured plenty of adversity of late, with their eighth loss in 11 games Sunday night against the Heat costing coach Lloyd Pierce his job. However, Atlanta bounced back in Tuesday's rematch with a 94-80 win over Miami in Nate McMillan's first game at the helm. Trae Young led the Hawks with an 18-point, 10-assist double-double that also included three rebounds and one steal. John Collins followed with 17 points, seven rebounds and one assist. Kevin Huerter furnished 16 points, five assists and two rebounds. Tony Snell poured in 11 points, while Clint Capela generated a 10-point, 17-rebound double-double that also included one block.
The Hawks will likely list Cam Reddish (Achilles) as no better than questionable for Wednesday's game, while De'Andre Hunter (knee) and Kris Dunn (ankle) will remain out.
The Magic (13-22) have been doing plenty of losing in their own right recently, and they'll enter Wednesday's matchup having dropped four consecutive contests. Their most recent stumble came against the Dallas Mavericks, which bested them by a 130-124 score Monday night. Nikola Vucevic led the way with a 29-point, 15-rebound double-double that also included eight assists. Evan Fournier delivered 26 points, five rebounds and two assists. Michael Carter-Williams and Terrence Ross generated matching 18-point tallies, with Carter-Williams adding eight rebounds and recording six assists.
The Magic will remain without James Ennis (calf), Cole Anthony (ribs) and Aaron Gordon (ankle) for Wednesday's game. Fournier (groin) will be listed as questionable.
Wednesday's game marks the first of three meetings between the teams this season. The two teams split the four-game 2019-20 season series.
Mavs Looking For Third Straight Win
By Dan Bruno
The Dallas Mavericks play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center on Wednesday evening.
The Mavericks (17-16) have won eight of their last 10 games, including their last two in a row. This marks their first game of a two-game home stand, as they look to build on their, 8-8, home record. Luke Doncic continues to put up dominant numbers, including 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, in the Mavs' most recent contest, while he is averaging 28.6 points, 9.0 assists, 8.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals, in 35 minutes per game. Kristaps Porzingis is coming off a double-double in the Mavs' last game and is averaging 20.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Josh Richardson has also been playing well lately, as he is averaging 13.0 points on 48 percent shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists, over the last 10 games. The Mavericks do a good job of taking care of the ball, as they are averaging 11.5 turnovers per game, which is third fewest in the league. However, the are averaging 42.5 rebounds per game, which is fourth fewest in the league.
Meanwhile, this marks the first game of a two-game road trip for the Thunder (14-20), as they look to bounce back from a loss in their most recent contest and add to their, 8-9, road record. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the way for the Thunder, averaging 23.2 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds, in 34 minutes per game. Darius Bazely is averaging 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, but he is shooting an average of just 40 percent from the field. Al Horford is averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. The Thunder are scoring an average of 106.7 points per game, which is fourth fewest in the league, and they are shooting an average of 44.9 percent from the field, which is sixth worst in the league.
The Mavericks (17-16) have won eight of their last 10 games, including their last two in a row. This marks their first game of a two-game home stand, as they look to build on their, 8-8, home record. Luke Doncic continues to put up dominant numbers, including 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, in the Mavs' most recent contest, while he is averaging 28.6 points, 9.0 assists, 8.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals, in 35 minutes per game. Kristaps Porzingis is coming off a double-double in the Mavs' last game and is averaging 20.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Josh Richardson has also been playing well lately, as he is averaging 13.0 points on 48 percent shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists, over the last 10 games. The Mavericks do a good job of taking care of the ball, as they are averaging 11.5 turnovers per game, which is third fewest in the league. However, the are averaging 42.5 rebounds per game, which is fourth fewest in the league.
Meanwhile, this marks the first game of a two-game road trip for the Thunder (14-20), as they look to bounce back from a loss in their most recent contest and add to their, 8-9, road record. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the way for the Thunder, averaging 23.2 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds, in 34 minutes per game. Darius Bazely is averaging 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, but he is shooting an average of just 40 percent from the field. Al Horford is averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. The Thunder are scoring an average of 106.7 points per game, which is fourth fewest in the league, and they are shooting an average of 44.9 percent from the field, which is sixth worst in the league.
Trail Blazers Host Warriors on Wednesday
The Portland Trail Blazers play host to the Golden State Warriors at Moda Center on Wednesday.
The Warriors (19-16) come into this matchup rolling, winning three of their last four games. The most recent outing was not pretty, though, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, 117-91. They actually trailed by 29 points at the half in that game, keeping guys like Kevon Looney and Draymond Green on the bench for the entirety of the second half. Green actually suffered an ankle sprain in that loss, and that's obviously scary since he averaged nearly 12 assists per game in the month of Febuary. That's the stud we saw when the Warriors were a dynasty a few years back, and fans want him back and fully healthy as soon as possible.
The Trail Blazers (19-14) picked up a critical win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, winning that game in dominating fashion. What was really encouraging about that win was to see Robert Covington and Carmelo Anthony play so well. Those two guys flirted with double-digit steals on their own, and that's a huge boost when you have an offensive stud like Damian Lillard doing his thing. What made that win so imperative is the fact that it snapped a four-game losing streak as well. That was one of the only blips on an otherwise clean radar, and it's amazing they've played so well with Jusuf Nurkic and C.J. McCollum both injured. Those guys are expected back shortly after the All-Star break, and Portland has just one game until then.
These teams played back on January 1 and 3, splitting those two meetings. They were both blowouts, too, with each team winning by at least 15 points apiece.
The Warriors (19-16) come into this matchup rolling, winning three of their last four games. The most recent outing was not pretty, though, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, 117-91. They actually trailed by 29 points at the half in that game, keeping guys like Kevon Looney and Draymond Green on the bench for the entirety of the second half. Green actually suffered an ankle sprain in that loss, and that's obviously scary since he averaged nearly 12 assists per game in the month of Febuary. That's the stud we saw when the Warriors were a dynasty a few years back, and fans want him back and fully healthy as soon as possible.
The Trail Blazers (19-14) picked up a critical win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, winning that game in dominating fashion. What was really encouraging about that win was to see Robert Covington and Carmelo Anthony play so well. Those two guys flirted with double-digit steals on their own, and that's a huge boost when you have an offensive stud like Damian Lillard doing his thing. What made that win so imperative is the fact that it snapped a four-game losing streak as well. That was one of the only blips on an otherwise clean radar, and it's amazing they've played so well with Jusuf Nurkic and C.J. McCollum both injured. Those guys are expected back shortly after the All-Star break, and Portland has just one game until then.
These teams played back on January 1 and 3, splitting those two meetings. They were both blowouts, too, with each team winning by at least 15 points apiece.
Kings Host Lakers on Wednesday
The Sacramento Kings play host to the Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday.
The Lakers (24-12) really struggled in their first four games without Anthony Davis, losing all of them while playing non-competitive basketball. The good news is that they've turned things around since then, winning two of their last three. The direct correlation with those wins was Dennis Schroder's return, taking some of the load off of LeBron James' broad shoulders. While LBJ is likely the frontrunner for MVP, he needs help to compete with how much good competition there is in today's NBA. The good news is that this is the final game before the All-Star break, and that will give King James and AD some much-needed rest after six crazy months.
The Kings (13-21) come into this matchup losing 10 of their last 11 games, with the most recent defeat being one of the worst seasons. After that 127-126 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, people were calling for Luke Walton's job, with numerous mishaps in the final minute of that game. In fact, the Kings missed five free-throws in that final minute and allowed the Hornets to go on a 6-1 run across the final 17 seconds to snatch a win at the buzzer. That was a win they desperately needed when you look at their recent form, and it's just another straw on the camel's back. It remains to be seen if the next straw is the one to break it, but something needs to change because there's way too much talent on this team to be playing this poorly. Wasting De'Aaron Fox's season is particularly criminal, averaging nearly 30 points and 10 assists per game since the beginning of last month.
These teams played three times last season, with Los Angeles winning the season series, 2-1. That gives the Lakers four wins in their last five meetings with the Kings.
The Lakers (24-12) really struggled in their first four games without Anthony Davis, losing all of them while playing non-competitive basketball. The good news is that they've turned things around since then, winning two of their last three. The direct correlation with those wins was Dennis Schroder's return, taking some of the load off of LeBron James' broad shoulders. While LBJ is likely the frontrunner for MVP, he needs help to compete with how much good competition there is in today's NBA. The good news is that this is the final game before the All-Star break, and that will give King James and AD some much-needed rest after six crazy months.
The Kings (13-21) come into this matchup losing 10 of their last 11 games, with the most recent defeat being one of the worst seasons. After that 127-126 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, people were calling for Luke Walton's job, with numerous mishaps in the final minute of that game. In fact, the Kings missed five free-throws in that final minute and allowed the Hornets to go on a 6-1 run across the final 17 seconds to snatch a win at the buzzer. That was a win they desperately needed when you look at their recent form, and it's just another straw on the camel's back. It remains to be seen if the next straw is the one to break it, but something needs to change because there's way too much talent on this team to be playing this poorly. Wasting De'Aaron Fox's season is particularly criminal, averaging nearly 30 points and 10 assists per game since the beginning of last month.
These teams played three times last season, with Los Angeles winning the season series, 2-1. That gives the Lakers four wins in their last five meetings with the Kings.