Lakers, Cavaliers Tangle In Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Cleveland Cavaliers at crypto.com Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Lakers (44-33) are on a three-game winning streak and enter this game looking to move closer to a potential top-six seeding in the Western Conference. However, the scenario is complicated. The Lakers are 1.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns before Friday’s action, meaning that differential could be two games by the time the Lakers step on the hardwood Saturday. However, the Lakers have been playing their best basketball of the season in recent weeks. They recently ended a road trip through the Eastern Conference with a 5-1 mark, including three wins in a row. Furthermore, the Lakers have also won three in a row at home, and the team has posted an impressive 12-5 mark since the beginning of March. The Lakers know a win here is the only way to keep their dreams of avoiding the Play-In Tournament alive.
The Lakers are listing Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) and Christian Wood (knee) as out for Saturday. Jalen Hood-Schifino (back) is out for the season.
The Cavaliers (46-31) have yet to clinch a spot in the playoffs officially, but given they sit in third place of the Eastern Conference standings, it seems this is a matter of “when,” not “if.” Cleveland has been slumping in recent weeks, however, and the team is coming off a 122-101 loss on the road to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, meaning the team has gone 2-3 over its last five contests. Furthermore, their current road trip through the Western Conference has seen them go 1-2, and they’ve also lost three of their last four on the road, including a bad loss to the Charlotte Hornets on March 27. The Cavaliers will rely on their star players now that they’re close to being at full strength, but not even a full roster will be enough to top a red-hot Lakers team, especially considering their recent road woes.
Isaac Okoro (toe) and Craig Porter (illness) are tabbed as game-time calls for Saturday. Ty Jerome (ankle) and Dean Wade (knee) are out.
The Lakers (44-33) are on a three-game winning streak and enter this game looking to move closer to a potential top-six seeding in the Western Conference. However, the scenario is complicated. The Lakers are 1.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns before Friday’s action, meaning that differential could be two games by the time the Lakers step on the hardwood Saturday. However, the Lakers have been playing their best basketball of the season in recent weeks. They recently ended a road trip through the Eastern Conference with a 5-1 mark, including three wins in a row. Furthermore, the Lakers have also won three in a row at home, and the team has posted an impressive 12-5 mark since the beginning of March. The Lakers know a win here is the only way to keep their dreams of avoiding the Play-In Tournament alive.
The Lakers are listing Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) and Christian Wood (knee) as out for Saturday. Jalen Hood-Schifino (back) is out for the season.
The Cavaliers (46-31) have yet to clinch a spot in the playoffs officially, but given they sit in third place of the Eastern Conference standings, it seems this is a matter of “when,” not “if.” Cleveland has been slumping in recent weeks, however, and the team is coming off a 122-101 loss on the road to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, meaning the team has gone 2-3 over its last five contests. Furthermore, their current road trip through the Western Conference has seen them go 1-2, and they’ve also lost three of their last four on the road, including a bad loss to the Charlotte Hornets on March 27. The Cavaliers will rely on their star players now that they’re close to being at full strength, but not even a full roster will be enough to top a red-hot Lakers team, especially considering their recent road woes.
Isaac Okoro (toe) and Craig Porter (illness) are tabbed as game-time calls for Saturday. Ty Jerome (ankle) and Dean Wade (knee) are out.
Pistons and Nets Meet in Big Apple
The Detroit Pistons take on the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Saturday night.
The Pistons (13-64) are finishing off another troublesome season, and they'll enter Saturday's game in a three-game tailspin. Their most recent stumble came Friday night against a fellow non-contender, as they fell to the Memphis Grizzlies by a 108-90 score Friday night. Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with 31 points, complementing them with three rebounds and three assists. Jalen Duren generated a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one steal. Jaylen Nowell furnished 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.
The Pistons will likely list Cade Cunningham (knee), Simone Fontecchio (toe) and Taj Gibson (hamstring) as no better than questionable for Saturday's game.
The Nets (30-47) have had a difficult season in their own right, but they're still playing competitively and check into Saturday's contest with four wins in their last six contests. Their most recent success came in their last game Wednesday night, when they prevailed over the Indiana Pacers by a 115-111 score. Cam Thomas led the Nets with 27 points, supplementing them with four rebounds, two blocks and one assist. Noah Clowney generated a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one assist and one block. Mikal Bridges supplied 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. Nic Claxton furnished a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double that included two assists and four blocks. Dennis Schroder provided 12 points, 11 assists and six rebounds.
The Nets will list Cameron Johnson (toe) and Dennis Smith (hip) as doubtful for Saturday's contest.
Saturday's game marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Nets hold a 2-1 series lead.
The Pistons (13-64) are finishing off another troublesome season, and they'll enter Saturday's game in a three-game tailspin. Their most recent stumble came Friday night against a fellow non-contender, as they fell to the Memphis Grizzlies by a 108-90 score Friday night. Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with 31 points, complementing them with three rebounds and three assists. Jalen Duren generated a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one steal. Jaylen Nowell furnished 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.
The Pistons will likely list Cade Cunningham (knee), Simone Fontecchio (toe) and Taj Gibson (hamstring) as no better than questionable for Saturday's game.
The Nets (30-47) have had a difficult season in their own right, but they're still playing competitively and check into Saturday's contest with four wins in their last six contests. Their most recent success came in their last game Wednesday night, when they prevailed over the Indiana Pacers by a 115-111 score. Cam Thomas led the Nets with 27 points, supplementing them with four rebounds, two blocks and one assist. Noah Clowney generated a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one assist and one block. Mikal Bridges supplied 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. Nic Claxton furnished a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double that included two assists and four blocks. Dennis Schroder provided 12 points, 11 assists and six rebounds.
The Nets will list Cameron Johnson (toe) and Dennis Smith (hip) as doubtful for Saturday's contest.
Saturday's game marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Nets hold a 2-1 series lead.
Streaking Grizzlies Host 76ers
By Dan Bruno
The Memphis Grizzlies play host to the Philadelphia 76ers at FedEx Forum on Saturday evening.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Grizzlies (27-50), after a confident home win over the Pistons on Friday. They jumped out to a strong start and pushed to a 19-point cushion by halftime. They stayed in control and maintained a 19-point advantage entering the final frame, which was enough to cruise to their third straight win. Trey Jemison totaled 17 points, 13 rebounds, a steal and three blocks, while Maozinha Pererira finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, a steal and a block, to lead the way in the win. Scotty Pippen turned in 16 points, three rebounds, seven assists, four steals and a block. Lamar Stevens also stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals. The Grizzlies will look to keep rolling on the second game of a three-game home stand with a chance to add to their, 9-28- home record.
Meanwhile, the 76ers (42-35) have won three in a row and hope to keep rolling as they face the second game of a three-game road trip with a chance to build on their, 20-19, road record. Unfortunately, they continue to deal with a bunch of injury trouble, as Mo Bamba (illness), Joel Embiid (knee), Tobias Harris (knee) and Tyrese Maxey (hip) are listed as questionable for action, while Robert Covington (knee) and De'Anthony Melton (back) remain sidelined. On the other hand, Kyle Lowry is averaging 10.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists over the last five games. Kelly Oubre has done a good job of stepping up recently, averaging 18.9 points 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks across his last 10 appearances. The 76ers average 114.2 points per game, and they hold opponents to an average of 112.0 points per game, which is ninth fewest in the league.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Grizzlies (27-50), after a confident home win over the Pistons on Friday. They jumped out to a strong start and pushed to a 19-point cushion by halftime. They stayed in control and maintained a 19-point advantage entering the final frame, which was enough to cruise to their third straight win. Trey Jemison totaled 17 points, 13 rebounds, a steal and three blocks, while Maozinha Pererira finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, a steal and a block, to lead the way in the win. Scotty Pippen turned in 16 points, three rebounds, seven assists, four steals and a block. Lamar Stevens also stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals. The Grizzlies will look to keep rolling on the second game of a three-game home stand with a chance to add to their, 9-28- home record.
Meanwhile, the 76ers (42-35) have won three in a row and hope to keep rolling as they face the second game of a three-game road trip with a chance to build on their, 20-19, road record. Unfortunately, they continue to deal with a bunch of injury trouble, as Mo Bamba (illness), Joel Embiid (knee), Tobias Harris (knee) and Tyrese Maxey (hip) are listed as questionable for action, while Robert Covington (knee) and De'Anthony Melton (back) remain sidelined. On the other hand, Kyle Lowry is averaging 10.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists over the last five games. Kelly Oubre has done a good job of stepping up recently, averaging 18.9 points 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks across his last 10 appearances. The 76ers average 114.2 points per game, and they hold opponents to an average of 112.0 points per game, which is ninth fewest in the league.
Nuggets Host Hawks on Saturday
The Denver Nuggets play host to the Atlanta Hawks at Ball Arena on Saturday.
The Hawks (36-41) have essentially locked themselves into the first round of the Play-In Tournament, sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference. They're six games back of the team in eighth and are six games up on the team in 11th. That means none of these final five games matter because a matchup with the Chicago Bulls is inevitable. What really matters for this team is the health of Trae Young. The All-Star point guard had hand surgery over a month ago and is expected to return right around when the playoffs commence. Having him back might be the difference for this club because Dejounte Murray and Jalen Johnson can only carry them so far.
The Nuggets (53-24) suffered a devastating loss on Thursday, being beaten by the Los Angeles Clippers, 102-100. What made that loss so horrific is that it moved Denver from the top-spot in the Western Conference into second. They are now 0.5 games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Oklahoma City sitting just 1.5 games behind as well. What's most important when evaluating Denver is the status of Jamal Murray. They did get some good news on Thursday regarding him, though, because there's some thought he'll be ready to return to action here. This team won't make it far without their star guard, despite Nikola Jokic posting some of the best numbers in NBA history.
These teams played on December 11, with Denver prevailing, 129-122. They have won five of their last six games over Atlanta in total.
The Hawks (36-41) have essentially locked themselves into the first round of the Play-In Tournament, sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference. They're six games back of the team in eighth and are six games up on the team in 11th. That means none of these final five games matter because a matchup with the Chicago Bulls is inevitable. What really matters for this team is the health of Trae Young. The All-Star point guard had hand surgery over a month ago and is expected to return right around when the playoffs commence. Having him back might be the difference for this club because Dejounte Murray and Jalen Johnson can only carry them so far.
The Nuggets (53-24) suffered a devastating loss on Thursday, being beaten by the Los Angeles Clippers, 102-100. What made that loss so horrific is that it moved Denver from the top-spot in the Western Conference into second. They are now 0.5 games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Oklahoma City sitting just 1.5 games behind as well. What's most important when evaluating Denver is the status of Jamal Murray. They did get some good news on Thursday regarding him, though, because there's some thought he'll be ready to return to action here. This team won't make it far without their star guard, despite Nikola Jokic posting some of the best numbers in NBA history.
These teams played on December 11, with Denver prevailing, 129-122. They have won five of their last six games over Atlanta in total.