***** NBA Previews from The Sports Network *****
Wednesday, December 3rd
(All times eastern)
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (14-2) AT PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (8-10), 7:00 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Lakers will try to rebound from their first
road loss of the season tonight when they resume a three-game trek against the
Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.
Los Angeles is coming off a tough 118-117 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the
opener of the swing at Conseco Fieldhouse, as Troy Murphy capped a remarkable
comeback with a tip-in at the buzzer to end the Lakers' overall seven-game
winning streak and hand them their first setback as the visitor (5-1).
Murphy's basket was then reviewed and confirmed.
Kobe Bryant finished with 28 points and Pau Gasol added 20 and nine boards in
defeat. Bryant is averaging 28.7 points over his last three contests. Andrew
Bynum chipped in 17 points and nine boards for Los Angeles, which dropped to
14-2 on the season and fell just shy of matching the franchise-best 16-1 start
in 2001-02.
The Lakers will also visit the Washington Wizards on the trip.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia put the brakes on a four-game slide with Tuesday's
103-95 overtime victory against the Chicago Bulls in the back end of a home-
and-home series from the United Center.
Andre Miller, who missed a potential game-winning three-pointer at the end of
regulation, posted nine of his season-high 28 points in overtime to pace the
Sixers, who lost to the Bulls at home on Sunday. Andre Iguodala ended with a
season-high 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists while Elton Brand added
22 points and 14 boards for Philadelphia.
The 76ers will try to stop a two-game losing streak at home Wednesday and are
5-4 in the City of Brotherly Love. Sixers forward Reggie Evans (personal)
missed last night's game and could return Wednesday.
Los Angeles went 2-0 against the Sixers last season and has won four of five
and 10 of the last 18 meetings. Philly, however, has won seven of eight and
nine of the past 11 games as the host in this series.
NEW YORK KNICKS (8-9) AT CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (14-3), 7:00 P.M.
(Sports Network) - There are only two teams in the NBA that are undefeated at
home this season and the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of them. Tonight they
will try to set a franchise record with their 10th straight home win to start
a season versus the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavaliers have started 9-0 at home on three separate occasions, including
back in 1976-77 and again in 1991-92. They are averaging 107.4 points per
contest as the host this season and have won five straight overall and 13 of
14, including Saturday's 97-85 victory over Milwaukee at the Bradley Center.
Superstar LeBron James scored 32 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out
five assists while Zydrunas Ilgauskas contributed a season-high 23 points and
17 rebounds for the Cavs, who are 14-3 so far in 2008-09.
Portland is the other undefeated team at home this season (7-0). The Cavs will
kick off a short two-game residency Wednesday versus New York and Indiana.
New York has been struggling lately, losing three of four and six of its last
eight games. In Tuesday's 104-97 setback to the Portland Trail Blazers at
Madison Square Garden, Chris Duhon scored a season-high 23 points and dished
out 13 assists for the Knicks.
David Lee had 19 points and 12 boards, and Al Harrington finished with 16
points in defeat. The Knicks will try to stop a three-game slide as the
visitor tonight in the opener of a short two-game trek and are 2-5 away from
Madison Square Garden this season.
The Knicks will also take on the Atlanta Hawks down south. In injury news for
New York, guard Nate Robinson is doubtful against Cleveland because of a
strained right groin muscle.
Cleveland posted a 119-101 victory over the Knicks at MSG on November 25, as
James led seven players in double figures with 26 points. The Cavs have won
two straight, three of four and six of the past nine meetings.
New York has lost two in a row and 10 of the previous 13 games as the guest in
this series.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (13-6) AT WASHINGTON WIZARDS (3-12), 7:00 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Portland Trail Blazers have been on a roll and will
continue a five-game road trip this evening against the lowly Washington
Wizards at the Verizon Center.
Portland has won five straight overall and is 2-0 so far on the trek. It
improved to 6-6 away from the Rose Garden this season with Tuesday's 104-97
victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, as Brandon Roy
scored 23 points and handed out five assists to lead the Blazers.
Rudy Fernandez added 18 points off the bench for Portland, which will also
visit Boston and Toronto on the swing. LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw
scored 17 and 16, respectively, while Steve Blake ended with 15 points and six
assists in a winning effort.
The Blazers are 6-0 against the Eastern Conference this season.
Washington ended a two-game losing streak with a 108-88 victory over the New
Jersey Nets last night at the Izod Center. Caron Butler scored 22 points and
dished out 10 assists for the Wizards, who entered Tuesday's contest 0-11 in
the Eastern Conference and 0-6 on the road.
Antawn Jamison added 22 points and eight rebounds while DeShawn Stevenson
tallied 21 points in the win. The Wizards will open a short two-game homestand
tonight versus the Blazers and Lakers, and have lost two in a row in DC.
Washington is 2-6 at the Verizon Center this season. On the injury front for
the Wizards, Butler is listed as probable for Wednesday's game with a groin
problem. Butler is averaging a team-high 21.7 points per game for Washington,
which improved to 2-2 under interim coach Ed Tapscott. He replaced the fired
Eddie Jordan late last month after a 1-10 start.
Portland and Washington split a pair of games last season, with each team
winning on its home floor. The Trail Blazers have won four of five overall
matchups with the Wizards and 10 of the last 15 encounters on the road.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (2-16) AT CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (6-11), 7:00 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to string together
consecutive wins for the first time this season when they resume a four-game
road trip tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats.
The expansion Thunder won for just the second time this year and ended a
lengthy 14-game losing streak with a 111-103 victory over the Memphis
Grizzlies on Saturday in the opener of the trip at FedEx Forum. Kevin Durant
scored 30 points and Jeff Green contributed 22 for Oklahoma City, which won
its first road game since relocating from Seattle (1-7).
Durant also pulled down seven boards and went 14-of-16 from the foul line, as
the Thunder shot 52.1 percent from the floor to post its first win since
November 2 versus Minnesota.
Oklahoma City will also visit Orlando and Miami on the current swing.
The Bobcats have alternated wins and losses over their last six games and will
close out a three-game homestand Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Charlotte improved to 1-1 on the residency and 5-7 as the host this season
with Monday's 100-90 triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jason Richardson
scored a season-high 25 points and Emeka Okafor added a season-best 24 points
to go along with 10 rebounds in a winning effort.
Raymond Felton chipped in a season-high 14 assists and 14 points for the
Bobcats, who are 5-7 as the host this season.
The Bobcats won both meetings with Seattle/Oklahoma City last season.
Charlotte is 3-5 all-time in this series.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (4-12) AT ORLANDO MAGIC (13-5), 7:00 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Orlando Magic will try to right the ship tonight when
they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to Amway Arena.
Orlando had a four-game winning streak come to an end with Monday's 107-88
loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden. Rashard
Lewis scored 30 points while Hedo Turkoglu contributed 19 points and Dwight
Howard ended with 14 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in defeat.
The Magic played without their starting backcourt again as Jameer Nelson (hip
flexor) and Mickael Pietrus (torn ligament in right thumb) continue to be
sidelined. Nelson is questionable for Wednesday and Pietrus is still out.
Orlando will open a brief homestand versus Minnesota and Oklahoma City, and is
7-3 as the host this season.
Meanwhile, Minnesota will continue a three-game road trip tonight and opened
the trek with Monday's 100-90 setback to the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner
Cable Arena.
Randy Foye tallied a team-best 23 points and Mike Miller had a double-double
with 19 points and 10 boards for the Timberwolves, who have lost two in a row
overall and three of their last four games. Ryan Gomes netted 16 points and
rookie Kevin Love chipped in 10 and eight rebounds in a losing effort.
Minnesota will also visit New Jersey on the swing and is 2-6 away from the
Target Center this season.
The Magic and Timberwolves split a pair of meetings a year ago, but Minnesota
has won six of 10 and seven of the last 12 contests in this series.
Minnesota has won two in a row and four of its last five at Orlando.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (4-13) AT ATLANTA HAWKS (10-6), 7:30 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks kick off a quick two-game homestand
Wednesday by welcoming the struggling Memphis Grizzlies to Philips Arena.
Al Horford scored 19 points, including the go-ahead three-point-play with 12.4
seconds left in the fourth quarter, to lead the Hawks in a 102-98 victory over
the lowly Wizards in the nation's capital on Saturday.
Horford also hauled in 13 rebounds and dished out six assists for the Hawks,
who have won four of their last six games.
Maurice Evans had 19 points and nine boards, while Mike Bibby ended with 21
points and six helpers. Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams had 18 and 14 points,
respectively for Atlanta, which will aim to improve on its impressive 5-1 mark
as the host.
The Hawks are likely to get a big boost for tonight's game as forward Josh
Smith is expected to return after missing 13 games with an ankle injury. The
dynamic Smith scored 17.2 points per game last season and netted 14.0 points
and 10.7 rebounds in his first three outings this year - all easy Atlanta
wins.
The Grizz, meanwhile, reached a new low on Saturday when they fell to the
woeful Thunder in Memphis, 111-103, to record their sixth straight loss.
Kevin Durant netted 30 points and Jeff Green contributed 22, as the Thunder
mercifully halted a 14-game slide with the win at FedEx Forum, just their
second of the season and first since November 2 against Minnesota.
O.J. Mayo dropped 30 as well while also contributing seven boards for Memphis,
which is just 1-8 as the visitor this season. Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol each
registered 16 points in losing despite the Grizzlies shooting 57.7 percent
from the floor.
The Hawks have won four straight over Memphis after the Grizz won the previous
six contests in the series.
INDIANA PACERS (7-10) AT BOSTON CELTICS (17-2), 7:30 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Indiana Pacers aim to complete am impressive back-to-
back sweep of the NBA's two best teams Wednesday when the club arrives in
Beantown to take on the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth
Garden.
The Pacers earned an improbable 118-117 win over the LA Lakers in Indianapolis
Tuesday when Troy Murphy's tip-in at the buzzer capped Indiana's 16-point
fourth-quarter come-from-behind win against the red-hot Lakers at Conseco
Fieldhouse.
Danny Granger led the Pacers with 32 points, while Murphy finished with a
solid 16-point, 17-rebound effort for Indiana, which had lost two straight and
five of six coming into the game. T.J. Ford logged 21 points, while Rasho
Nesterovic and Marquis Daniels added 16 points as the Pacers snapped LA's
seven-game winning streak and gave the team its first road loss of the
season.
"A win is a win but this was special," Nesterovic said. "We were down a bunch
of points and were able to come back, stay in our game plan, execute making
open shots and getting some stops."
Things will get no easier for the Pacers tonight as Boston, which is 10-1 at
home this season, shoots for its 10th straight win. After tonight's game,
Indiana will then visit Cleveland (14-3) on Friday before a rematch with the
Celtics on Sunday in Indianapolis.
Paul Pierce scored 17 of his team-high 24 points in the third quarter, as the
Celtics rolled to their ninth straight win by routing Orlando, 107-88, in
Boston on Monday.
Ray Allen scored 21 points, Rajon Rondo netted 16 points and 12 assists, and
Kevin Garnett posted 15 points and nine rebounds for Boston, which moved to a
gaudy 17-2 this season.
Indiana handed the Celtics one of their two losses this season, a 95-79
thumping in Indy on November 1, but Boston has won five of the last six
matchups with the Pacers at TD Banknorth Garden.
CHICAGO BULLS (8-10) AT MILWAUKEE BUCKS (7-12), 8:00 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Chicago Bulls aim to bounce back from a tough loss on
Tuesday when they make the short trip to Milwaukee to take on the reeling
Bucks at the Bradley Center.
Philadelphia's Andre Miller missed the game-winning three-pointer in
regulation but rebounded to score nine of his season-high 28 points in
overtime, as the 76ers erased a four-game slide with a 103-95 victory over the
Bulls in Chicago.
Tuesday's game was the back end of a home-and-home series, as Chicago defeated
the Sixers, 103-92, in Philadelphia on Sunday.
Rookie star Derrick Rose finished with 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting with six
boards but dished out just two assists, while Ben Gordon logged 18 points for
the Bulls, who were coming off a 3-4 road trip.
The Bucks, meanwhile, dropped their fourth straight game on Saturday when
Cleveland's LeBron James scored 32 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished
out five assists, leading the Cavaliers to a 97-85 victory over Milwaukee.
Michael Redd, in his first game back after missing the last 14 with a sprained
ankle, scored a team-high 20 points on 5-of-16 shooting in 35 minutes for the
Bucks.
Richard Jefferson scored 19 points, while Ramon Sessions had 16 points and
eight assists. Luke Ridnour contributed 15 points in the loss.
The Bulls have dominated the Bucks recently, winning four straight and eight
of the last nine meetings.
PHOENIX SUNS (11-7) AT NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (9-6), 8:00 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Phoenix Suns open a short two-game road swing Wednesday
when they arrive in the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Hornets.
The Suns lost their second straight game Sunday when New Jersey's Devin Harris
poured in a career-high 47 points to lead the Nets to a 117-109 victory over
Phoenix at US Airways Center.
Harris was a perfect 17-of-17 from the foul line and hit on 14-of-25 field
goal attempts to go along with eight assists and seven rebounds. His 21
fourth-quarter points was just three shy of Phoenix's total output in the
final frame.
It was New Jersey's first win in Phoenix in 15 years, having come up empty
since it last posted a victory on March 19, 1993 -- just two short months
after Bill Clinton was elected as the 42nd president of the U.S. and the
dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
Amare Stoudemire had 25 points and 12 rebounds before being ejected with 3:24
left in the game after having words with officials following a brief tangle
with Yi Jianlian. He had earlier received a technical, and the ejection was
automatic with his second.
The Suns had a three-game winning streak halted on Friday in a setback to the
Heat and have now dropped consecutive games for the second time this season.
Phoenix played without two-time MVP Steve Nash in the Miami loss due to a
bruised right thigh, but had its superstar guard back in the lineup on Sunday,
receiving 26 points and nine assists that went for naught.
Matt Barnes netted 18 points and grabbed eight caroms in the loss.
The Hornets, meanwhile, lost for the first time in five games last Friday when
Portland's Brandon Roy logged a terrific all-around effort with 25 points, 10
assists and six rebounds to carry the Blazers to a 101-86 victory over New
Orleans at the Rose Garden.
Chris Paul registered 16 points, six assists and six rebounds as the Hornets
while Peja Stojakovic posted team-high 21 points in defeat.
New Orleans, which is 4-3 at home this year, has dominated the Suns recently,
winning five straight versus Phoenix. The Suns, however, have been very good
as the visitor early this season, compiling a 7-2 mark away from home.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (3-14) AT HOUSTON ROCKETS (11-7), 8:30 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Los Angles Clippers finish a quick two-day swing of
Texas Wednesday when they face the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.
The Clips lost a tough one in Dallas on Tuesday when Jose Barea's three-
pointer with 50.2 seconds to play lifted the Mavericks to a 100-98 comeback
victory over Los Angeles.
Zach Randolph scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Baron Davis added
22 points for the Clippers, who have lost eight of their last 10 contests.
Al Thornton had 23 points and nine rebounds, while rookie Eric Gordon had 13
points in the loss. Marcus Camby recorded six points and 15 rebounds for Los
Angeles.
"A really disappointing loss for us," said Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy
after the game. "We played so well, but in the fourth quarter we did a
terrible job defensively. We settled for quick, long three-point shots, (and)
they just weren't good shots. That allowed them to get out into the open court
and score easy buckets."
The Clippers remain on the road for two games, against Memphis and Minnesota,
after leaving Houston.
A shorthanded Houston team fell in Denver on Sunday when Chauncey Billups
scored 28 points -- including 24 in the second half -- and dished out 10
assists to lead the Nuggets to a 104-94 victory over the Rockets.
Houston was without Tracy McGrady (sore left knee) and Brent Barry (calf) for
the second consecutive game.
Yao Ming scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Rockets, which had a
four-game road winning streak snapped. Ron Artest posted 13 points and six
blocked shots, while Rafer Alston contributed 16 points and six assists in the
loss. Luther Head, a night after scoring 21 in a win over the Spurs, scored
only three points on 1-of-7 shooting in the loss.
McGrady is expected to be sidelined for three weeks as he rehabilitates his
knee.
The Clippers, who are just 1-5 away from Hollywood this season, have lost
eight of their last 10 games in Houston.
MIAMI HEAT (9-9) AT UTAH JAZZ (12-7), 9:00 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Miami Heat finish a five-game road swing Wednesday when
they visit Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena.
The Heat improved to 2-2 on the trip with an exciting 130-129 overtime win
against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland on Monday.
Michael Beasley made a veteran play in his rookie season, stepping in front of
an inbounds pass, getting fouled and draining the winning free throw with 3.6
seconds left in the extra frame to seal it.
It happened in stunning fashion, as Golden State appeared ready to win in both
regulation and overtime. Udonis Haslem, who scored 21 points with 13 rebounds,
put back a Beasley miss just before the buzzer to force overtime. Miami
grabbed 21 offensive rebounds overall and outrebounded the Warriors, 51-36.
Chris Quinn then hit a game-tying three out of the right corner before
Beasley's steal and free throw. Jamal Crawford, who scored 40 points in his
first home game as a member of the Warriors, saw his running floater roll off
the rim at the horn.
Dwyane Wade scored a team-best 37 points to go along with 13 assists, Shawn
Marion added 21 points and 15 rebounds and Beasley donated 19 points.
The Jazz, meanwhile, earned a 99-94 win over the reeling Kings in Sacramento
on Tuesday when Kyle Korver scored 15 points off the bench to lead Utah.
Paul Millsap added 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for the Jazz, who
have won four of their last six games despite playing without leading scorer
Carlos Boozer.
The forward has missed seven straight games with a strained left quadriceps
and will likely miss another week. Boozer is averaging 20.5 points and 11.7
rebounds per game this season.
Deron Williams and Ronnie Brewer scored 14 points each against the Kings, with
Williams also dishing out seven helpers.
Utah, which is 8-2 at home this season, defeated the Heat last year in Salt
Lake City, the Jazz' only win in the last nine meetings between the two clubs.
12/03 11:08:29 ET
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