Preview Roundups
December 28, 2018
Brooklyn at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets have a tough act to follow when they meet for the second time in three nights, this time in North Carolina on Friday. The teams staged a wild, double-overtime affair in Brooklyn on Wednesday that featured several big shots and just as many key miscues, with the Nets coming out on the other end for a 134-132 win, their ninth in the past 10 games.
Detroit at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers are winners of three straight and 10 of 12 and showed off how strong they can be offensively while rushing past the Atlanta Hawks 129-121 on Wednesday. The Pacers will try to push the winning streak to four in a row at the expense of a struggling division foe when they host the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
Toronto at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
Kawhi Leonard gave the Toronto Raptors a chance at a winning three-game road trip with 30 points at Miami on Wednesday and he is averaging 30.4 points in his last five games. Leonard will try to lead the NBA-best Raptors to a fourth win in five games when they visit the Orlando Magic on Friday.
Chicago at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards entered Thursday having played more road games (20) than any other team in the Eastern Conference, and it hasn't done them any favors. The Wizards will try to bounce back from another road loss when they begin a three-game homestand against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
Cleveland at Miami 8:00 PM ET
It won't be quite as exciting as when LeBron James returned with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Miami Heat should still be able to find the motivation while trying to get back to .500. The Heat will try to shake off a rare loss when they host the Cavaliers on Friday.
Atlanta at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
Derrick Rose played just 25 games last season, but the former MVP is healthy and flourishing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. In 31 games this season Rose is averaging 18.7 points on 48.9 percent shooting from the field in nearly 30 minutes per game, including an emotional 24-point, eight-assist outing in a victory Wednesday against his former team, the Chicago Bulls.
Dallas at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks ended a long losing streak with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans the day after Christmas. They'll try to make it two wins in a row when the teams meet again Friday night in the Big Easy, their third encounter in roughly three weeks.
San Antonio at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs seek to win for the ninth time in 11 games when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday to complete a home-and-home between the teams. Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points as the Spurs recorded a 111-103 home triumph on Wednesday.
Oklahoma City at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder look to complete a four-game season sweep of Phoenix when they visit the Suns on Friday. The Thunder averaged 115 points while winning the first three meetings with the largest margin of victory being 17 points.
L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
LeBron James will miss his second consecutive game when the Los Angeles Lakers battle the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Friday at Staples Center. James injured his left groin Christmas Day and is unlikely to play again until early in 2019.