Hawks Look To End Five-Game Slide
By Dan Bruno
The Atlanta Hawks play host to the Utah Jazz at State Farm Arena on Thursday evening.
The Hawks (6-22) have lost eight of their last 10 games, including their last five in a row, as they have tumbled to last place in the East. They have dropped three straight at home, where they have a 3-10 record. The Hawks are averaging 108.5 points per game but are giving up an average of 118.7 points against, which is third most in the league. They are also giving up a league-worst 16.8 turnovers per game. Trae Young leads the Hawks with 28.3 points and 8.5 assists per game. Jabari Parker is averaging 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. De'Andre Hunter has been playing well lately, averaging 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists, in 33 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, the Jazz (16-11) are 5-5 in their last 10 games but have won three in a row, as they look to keep climbing. Donovan Mitchell leads the team with 25.2 points per game, while shooting 45 percent from the field, including 36 percent from long range, and 84 percent from the foul line. Rudy Gobert is playing great, averaging 16.4 points on 70 percent shooting, 13.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 blocks, over his last 10 games. Bogdan Bogdanovic continues to give the Jazz a scoring punch, averaging 21.1 points, while shooting 46 percent from long range. The Jazz average 107.1 points per game but are holding their opponents to an average of 106.3 points per game. The Jazz are shooting a league-best 38.7 percent from long range. They average 4.0 blocks per game, which is third fewest in the league.
The Hawks (6-22) have lost eight of their last 10 games, including their last five in a row, as they have tumbled to last place in the East. They have dropped three straight at home, where they have a 3-10 record. The Hawks are averaging 108.5 points per game but are giving up an average of 118.7 points against, which is third most in the league. They are also giving up a league-worst 16.8 turnovers per game. Trae Young leads the Hawks with 28.3 points and 8.5 assists per game. Jabari Parker is averaging 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. De'Andre Hunter has been playing well lately, averaging 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists, in 33 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, the Jazz (16-11) are 5-5 in their last 10 games but have won three in a row, as they look to keep climbing. Donovan Mitchell leads the team with 25.2 points per game, while shooting 45 percent from the field, including 36 percent from long range, and 84 percent from the foul line. Rudy Gobert is playing great, averaging 16.4 points on 70 percent shooting, 13.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 blocks, over his last 10 games. Bogdan Bogdanovic continues to give the Jazz a scoring punch, averaging 21.1 points, while shooting 46 percent from long range. The Jazz average 107.1 points per game but are holding their opponents to an average of 106.3 points per game. The Jazz are shooting a league-best 38.7 percent from long range. They average 4.0 blocks per game, which is third fewest in the league.
Lakers and Bucks Tangle in Interconference Showdown
The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Thursday night.
The Lakers (24-4) come into Thursday's game having just seen an impressive seven-game winning streak snapped their last time on the court. Los Angeles dropped a narrow 105-102 decision to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, a defeat that also saw a stretch of 14 straight road wins for the Lakers come to an end. LeBron James and Dwight Howard co-led the Lakers with 20 points apiece, with James adding nine rebounds and nine assists and Howard also pulling down six boards and recording a pair of blocks. Avery Bradley poured in 13 points, while Alex Caruso tallied 11 points, four boards, three assists and two steals. JaVale McGee delivered 10 points, eight rebounds, one assist and three blocks.
The Lakers will list Anthony Davis (ankle) as questionable for Thursday's game, while Kyle Kuzma (ankle) will remain out.
The Bucks (24-4), like their opponent, also saw an extended winning streak come to an end their last time on the court. Milwaukee fell by a 120-116 margin to a Luka Doncic-less Dallas Mavericks squad Monday night, their first loss in 19 games. Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with 48 points, adding 14 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block. Kyle Korver poured in 17 points. Ersan Ilyasova totaled 11 points, six boards and two assists. George Hill posted 10 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Bucks will likely list Dragan Bender (ankle) as no better than questionable for Thursday's game.
Thursday's game marks the first of two 2019-20 meetings for the Lakers and Bucks. Milwaukee swept the two-game 2018-19 season series between the teams.
The Lakers (24-4) come into Thursday's game having just seen an impressive seven-game winning streak snapped their last time on the court. Los Angeles dropped a narrow 105-102 decision to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, a defeat that also saw a stretch of 14 straight road wins for the Lakers come to an end. LeBron James and Dwight Howard co-led the Lakers with 20 points apiece, with James adding nine rebounds and nine assists and Howard also pulling down six boards and recording a pair of blocks. Avery Bradley poured in 13 points, while Alex Caruso tallied 11 points, four boards, three assists and two steals. JaVale McGee delivered 10 points, eight rebounds, one assist and three blocks.
The Lakers will list Anthony Davis (ankle) as questionable for Thursday's game, while Kyle Kuzma (ankle) will remain out.
The Bucks (24-4), like their opponent, also saw an extended winning streak come to an end their last time on the court. Milwaukee fell by a 120-116 margin to a Luka Doncic-less Dallas Mavericks squad Monday night, their first loss in 19 games. Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with 48 points, adding 14 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block. Kyle Korver poured in 17 points. Ersan Ilyasova totaled 11 points, six boards and two assists. George Hill posted 10 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Bucks will likely list Dragan Bender (ankle) as no better than questionable for Thursday's game.
Thursday's game marks the first of two 2019-20 meetings for the Lakers and Bucks. Milwaukee swept the two-game 2018-19 season series between the teams.
Nets and Spurs Meet in Lone Star Battle
The Brooklyn Nets take on the San Antonio Spurs at AT & T Center on Thursday night.
The Nets (15-12) continue to hold their own in a tough Eastern Conference, and they'll come into Thursday's game with a 5-2 record over their last seven games, as well as back-to-back wins. Their most recent success came at the expense of the New Orleans Pelicans, which they toppled by a 108-101 margin Tuesday night. Spencer Dinwiddie led the way for the Nets with 31 points, adding seven assists, two rebounds and one steal. Joe Harris managed 24 points, six boards and three assists. Jarrett Allen contributed a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double that included one assist and six blocks, while David Nwaba matched Allen's scoring and pulled down three boards.
The Nets will continue to be without Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Caris LeVert (thumb), Wilson Chandler (suspension) and Nicholas Claxton (hamstring) on Thursday. Nwaba (ankle) will be listed as probable.
The Spurs (10-16) arrive at Thursday's interconference matchup in poorer shape than their opponent, as they own a pedestrian 4-5 mark over their last nine games. San Antonio's most recent stumble came their last time on the court, when they dropped a narrow 109-107 decision to the Houston Rockets on Monday night. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs with a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double that also included four assists, two blocks and one steal. Bryn Forbes poured in 18 points. Dejounte Murray and Derrick White produced matching 16-point, three-assist tallies while pulling down five and six rebounds, respectively. Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozan compiled 12 points apiece, with Gay pulling down 12 rebounds as well.
The Spurs will come into Thursday's contest without any injuries to report.
Thursday's game marks the first of two 2019-20 meetings for the teams. The Nets and Spurs split the two-game 2018-19 season series.
The Nets (15-12) continue to hold their own in a tough Eastern Conference, and they'll come into Thursday's game with a 5-2 record over their last seven games, as well as back-to-back wins. Their most recent success came at the expense of the New Orleans Pelicans, which they toppled by a 108-101 margin Tuesday night. Spencer Dinwiddie led the way for the Nets with 31 points, adding seven assists, two rebounds and one steal. Joe Harris managed 24 points, six boards and three assists. Jarrett Allen contributed a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double that included one assist and six blocks, while David Nwaba matched Allen's scoring and pulled down three boards.
The Nets will continue to be without Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Caris LeVert (thumb), Wilson Chandler (suspension) and Nicholas Claxton (hamstring) on Thursday. Nwaba (ankle) will be listed as probable.
The Spurs (10-16) arrive at Thursday's interconference matchup in poorer shape than their opponent, as they own a pedestrian 4-5 mark over their last nine games. San Antonio's most recent stumble came their last time on the court, when they dropped a narrow 109-107 decision to the Houston Rockets on Monday night. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs with a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double that also included four assists, two blocks and one steal. Bryn Forbes poured in 18 points. Dejounte Murray and Derrick White produced matching 16-point, three-assist tallies while pulling down five and six rebounds, respectively. Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozan compiled 12 points apiece, with Gay pulling down 12 rebounds as well.
The Spurs will come into Thursday's contest without any injuries to report.
Thursday's game marks the first of two 2019-20 meetings for the teams. The Nets and Spurs split the two-game 2018-19 season series.
Clippers Host Rockets on Thursday
The Los Angeles Clippers play host to the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on Thursday.
The Rockets (18-9) have been midding over recent weeks, posting a 7-6 record over their last 13 games. The last three losses have been specifically baffling, losing to teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings. That has to make some wonder why this team has fallen off a bit since such a magical start but it's no fault of James Harden. The superstar shooting guard is leading the NBA with 38.9 points and 7.4 assists per game. That point total is truly absurd and it's becoming clear that this guy is unstoppable on that end of the floor. That pairs beautifully with Russell Westbrook's triple-double exploits and Clint Capela's 20-20 potential, making this one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA. As long as they maintain their number-two offense, look for Houston to climb back up the standings.
The Clippers (21-8) come into this matchup winning five of their last six games. What's really scary is their home form, entering this matchup with a 14-1 home record. That's truly incredible and the only time this team struggles is when Kawhi Leonard is rested. They have actually suffered five of their eight defeats with him out of the lineup and that's going to be a trend for the rest of the season with him unlikely to play in both ends of back-to-back sets. That means homecourt advantage could be lost rather quickly if this continues and that's really disappointing for a team who's only lost one home game all season long.
This is the third meeting between these teams in about a month, splitting the first two games. Prior to that, the Clippers won five of their previous seven matchups.
The Rockets (18-9) have been midding over recent weeks, posting a 7-6 record over their last 13 games. The last three losses have been specifically baffling, losing to teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings. That has to make some wonder why this team has fallen off a bit since such a magical start but it's no fault of James Harden. The superstar shooting guard is leading the NBA with 38.9 points and 7.4 assists per game. That point total is truly absurd and it's becoming clear that this guy is unstoppable on that end of the floor. That pairs beautifully with Russell Westbrook's triple-double exploits and Clint Capela's 20-20 potential, making this one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA. As long as they maintain their number-two offense, look for Houston to climb back up the standings.
The Clippers (21-8) come into this matchup winning five of their last six games. What's really scary is their home form, entering this matchup with a 14-1 home record. That's truly incredible and the only time this team struggles is when Kawhi Leonard is rested. They have actually suffered five of their eight defeats with him out of the lineup and that's going to be a trend for the rest of the season with him unlikely to play in both ends of back-to-back sets. That means homecourt advantage could be lost rather quickly if this continues and that's really disappointing for a team who's only lost one home game all season long.
This is the third meeting between these teams in about a month, splitting the first two games. Prior to that, the Clippers won five of their previous seven matchups.