Nuggets and Kings Face Off in Western Conference Battle
The Denver Nuggets take on the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Nuggets (13-3) boast a record that underscores how dominant a season they've put together thus far, and that mark includes an impressive 5-1 road tally. Denver will walk into Saturday's game with a six-game winning streak in tow, and they notched a 117-104 win over the Washington Wizards their most recent time on the court on Tuesday. Jerian Grant led the way for the Nuggets with 20 points, adding four rebounds, one assist and two steals. Will Barton supplied 17 points, eight boards, eight assists and one block. Jamal Murray registered 16 points, two rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block. Mason Plumlee delivered 15 points, seven boards, three assists, one steal and one block. Gary Harris poured in 11 points, while Nikola Jokic mustered just eight points but pulled down a season-high 20 rebounds.
The Nuggets will come into Saturday's game without any major injuries to report.
The Kings (7-10) have had an up-and-down season through their first 17 games, and they'll come into Saturday's contest having dropped three of their past four contests. Their most recent stumble came at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers, which bested them by a 97-91 margin Wednesday night. Buddy Hield led the Kings with 22 points, complementing them with six rebounds and four assists. Dewayne Dedmon pitched in 18 points, six rebounds and one steal. Bogdan Bogdanovic supplied 17 points, three assists, two rebounds and four steals. Harrison Barnes contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists and one steal.
The Kings will be without De'Aaron Fox (ankle), Trevor Ariza (groin) and Marvin Bagley (thumb) for Saturday's game. Richaun Holmes (migraine) is considered probable.
Saturday's game marks the second of four meetings between the teams this season. Denver holds a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 101-94 victory Oct. 28.
The Nuggets (13-3) boast a record that underscores how dominant a season they've put together thus far, and that mark includes an impressive 5-1 road tally. Denver will walk into Saturday's game with a six-game winning streak in tow, and they notched a 117-104 win over the Washington Wizards their most recent time on the court on Tuesday. Jerian Grant led the way for the Nuggets with 20 points, adding four rebounds, one assist and two steals. Will Barton supplied 17 points, eight boards, eight assists and one block. Jamal Murray registered 16 points, two rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block. Mason Plumlee delivered 15 points, seven boards, three assists, one steal and one block. Gary Harris poured in 11 points, while Nikola Jokic mustered just eight points but pulled down a season-high 20 rebounds.
The Nuggets will come into Saturday's game without any major injuries to report.
The Kings (7-10) have had an up-and-down season through their first 17 games, and they'll come into Saturday's contest having dropped three of their past four contests. Their most recent stumble came at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers, which bested them by a 97-91 margin Wednesday night. Buddy Hield led the Kings with 22 points, complementing them with six rebounds and four assists. Dewayne Dedmon pitched in 18 points, six rebounds and one steal. Bogdan Bogdanovic supplied 17 points, three assists, two rebounds and four steals. Harrison Barnes contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists and one steal.
The Kings will be without De'Aaron Fox (ankle), Trevor Ariza (groin) and Marvin Bagley (thumb) for Saturday's game. Richaun Holmes (migraine) is considered probable.
Saturday's game marks the second of four meetings between the teams this season. Denver holds a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 101-94 victory Oct. 28.
Sixers Host Streaking Pacers
By Dan Bruno
The Philadelphia 76ers play host to the Indiana Pacers at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday evening.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the 76ers (13-6), as they are coming off a hard-fought win in New York on Friday evening. Joel Embiid led the way with 27 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks, while James Ennis III came up huge with 20 points off the bench in the win. The Sixers have won two in a row, as they return home, where they have an undefeated, 8-0 record. Embiid leads the Sixers, averaging team highs with 22 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Tobias Harris came up with 18 points in Friday's win, which is right on his season average of points per game. Al Horford (rest) sat out Friday's contest but is expected to be back in action for Saturday. Josh Richardson (hamstring) did not play Friday and remains questionable for action on Saturday.
Meanwhile, this also marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Pacers (12-6), as they are coming off a thrilling, overtime win over the Hawks on Friday. Five players scored in double digits for Indiana in the win, led by Jeremy Lamb, who totalled 20 points, in 40 minutes of action. Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner tallied 17 points each, while Malcolm Brogdon added 16 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the win. The Pacers have won five in a row. This marks their first game of a five game road trip, while they are 3-4 on the road, so far. The Pacers are averaging 9.4 threes per game, which is second fewest in the league, however, they are doing a solid job taking care of the ball, as they average 13.3 turnovers per game, which is fifth fewest in the league.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the 76ers (13-6), as they are coming off a hard-fought win in New York on Friday evening. Joel Embiid led the way with 27 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks, while James Ennis III came up huge with 20 points off the bench in the win. The Sixers have won two in a row, as they return home, where they have an undefeated, 8-0 record. Embiid leads the Sixers, averaging team highs with 22 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Tobias Harris came up with 18 points in Friday's win, which is right on his season average of points per game. Al Horford (rest) sat out Friday's contest but is expected to be back in action for Saturday. Josh Richardson (hamstring) did not play Friday and remains questionable for action on Saturday.
Meanwhile, this also marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Pacers (12-6), as they are coming off a thrilling, overtime win over the Hawks on Friday. Five players scored in double digits for Indiana in the win, led by Jeremy Lamb, who totalled 20 points, in 40 minutes of action. Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner tallied 17 points each, while Malcolm Brogdon added 16 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the win. The Pacers have won five in a row. This marks their first game of a five game road trip, while they are 3-4 on the road, so far. The Pacers are averaging 9.4 threes per game, which is second fewest in the league, however, they are doing a solid job taking care of the ball, as they average 13.3 turnovers per game, which is fifth fewest in the league.
Rockets Host Hawks on Saturday
The Atlanta Hawks travel to Texas to play the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Saturday.
The Hawks (4-15) are coming off a disappointing overtime loss in their most recent game to the Indiana Pacers and that game is their season in a nutshell. While they've been competitive all season long, they simply don't do enough to win ballgames, which is evident by their current nine-game losing streak. What makes that last loss even more distressing is the fact that Trae Young dropped a career-high 49 points in that game. That's truly absurd but it's no surprise when you see that he's averaging 26.7 points and 8.6 assists per game for the year. As long as he keeps doing that and they get development from guys like DeAndre Hunter and Kevin Huerter, this season could end up being a success despite the terrible record. Getting John Collins back from his suspension in about a month will be a bonus too, as he was looking like an All-Star talent at times last season.
The Rockets (12-6) come into this matchup losing three of their last four games which is easily their worst stretch of the season. The competition in those losses makes it look OK though, losing to a scorching hot Dallas Mavericks and road defeats to the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers. Having losses like those do paint a picture for the future though, as this club has struggled in the postseason over recent years. While they have been able to abuse weaker competition, they need to prove that they can be good teams, like they will have to in the playoffs. It's certainly no fault of James Harden though despite what the skeptics say, with Harden leading the league with 37.7 points per game.
While Houston has won four-straight games and two-season series in a row against Atlanta, the Hawks actually won each of their previous seven meetings before that.
The Hawks (4-15) are coming off a disappointing overtime loss in their most recent game to the Indiana Pacers and that game is their season in a nutshell. While they've been competitive all season long, they simply don't do enough to win ballgames, which is evident by their current nine-game losing streak. What makes that last loss even more distressing is the fact that Trae Young dropped a career-high 49 points in that game. That's truly absurd but it's no surprise when you see that he's averaging 26.7 points and 8.6 assists per game for the year. As long as he keeps doing that and they get development from guys like DeAndre Hunter and Kevin Huerter, this season could end up being a success despite the terrible record. Getting John Collins back from his suspension in about a month will be a bonus too, as he was looking like an All-Star talent at times last season.
The Rockets (12-6) come into this matchup losing three of their last four games which is easily their worst stretch of the season. The competition in those losses makes it look OK though, losing to a scorching hot Dallas Mavericks and road defeats to the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers. Having losses like those do paint a picture for the future though, as this club has struggled in the postseason over recent years. While they have been able to abuse weaker competition, they need to prove that they can be good teams, like they will have to in the playoffs. It's certainly no fault of James Harden though despite what the skeptics say, with Harden leading the league with 37.7 points per game.
While Houston has won four-straight games and two-season series in a row against Atlanta, the Hawks actually won each of their previous seven meetings before that.
Hornets and Bucks Tangle in Midwest Battle
The Charlotte Hornets take on the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Saturday night.
The Hornets (8-12) have endured a rollercoaster of a season thus far, and they'll come into Saturday's game trying to extend the two-game winning streak that they've forged following a five-game skid. The Hornets' most recent success came at the expense of the Detroit Pistons, which they toppled by a 110-107 score on Wednesday night. PJ Washington led the Hornets with 26 points, adding five rebounds, three assists and four steals. Terry Rozier followed with 23 points, four boards, two assists and two steals. Miles Bridges and Devonte' Graham produced 16 points each, with Bridges also pulling down seven rebounds and Graham dishing out eight assists. Bismack Biyombo posted 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Hornets will likely list Cody Zeller (hip) as questionable at best for Saturday's game.
The Bucks (16-3) have been as dominant a force as their record implies, and they'll check into Saturday's contest having rattled off 10 consecutive wins. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Cleveland Cavaliers, which they bested by a 119-110 score Friday night. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with a 33-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included two assists, two steals and two blocks. George Hill followed with 18 points, four assists and two rebounds. Khris Middleton provided 12 points, five assists and four rebounds. Donte DiVincenzo managed 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Eric Bledsoe and Ersan Ilyasova posted matching 10-point tallies.
The Bucks will likely list Sterling Brown (shoulder), Kyle Korver (elbow) and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (illness) as questionable at best for Saturday's game.
The Bucks won the four-game 2018-19 season series between the teams by a 3-1 margin. Saturday's game marks the first of three 2019-20 meetings for Charlotte and Milwaukee.
The Hornets (8-12) have endured a rollercoaster of a season thus far, and they'll come into Saturday's game trying to extend the two-game winning streak that they've forged following a five-game skid. The Hornets' most recent success came at the expense of the Detroit Pistons, which they toppled by a 110-107 score on Wednesday night. PJ Washington led the Hornets with 26 points, adding five rebounds, three assists and four steals. Terry Rozier followed with 23 points, four boards, two assists and two steals. Miles Bridges and Devonte' Graham produced 16 points each, with Bridges also pulling down seven rebounds and Graham dishing out eight assists. Bismack Biyombo posted 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Hornets will likely list Cody Zeller (hip) as questionable at best for Saturday's game.
The Bucks (16-3) have been as dominant a force as their record implies, and they'll check into Saturday's contest having rattled off 10 consecutive wins. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Cleveland Cavaliers, which they bested by a 119-110 score Friday night. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with a 33-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included two assists, two steals and two blocks. George Hill followed with 18 points, four assists and two rebounds. Khris Middleton provided 12 points, five assists and four rebounds. Donte DiVincenzo managed 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Eric Bledsoe and Ersan Ilyasova posted matching 10-point tallies.
The Bucks will likely list Sterling Brown (shoulder), Kyle Korver (elbow) and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (illness) as questionable at best for Saturday's game.
The Bucks won the four-game 2018-19 season series between the teams by a 3-1 margin. Saturday's game marks the first of three 2019-20 meetings for Charlotte and Milwaukee.