Wizards and Hawks Tangle In Key Conference Battle
The Washington Wizards take on the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Monday night.
The Wizards (32-36) continue to run roughshod over nearly every opponent put in front of them, having won 13 of their last 16 games to move into the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference by a half-game over the Indiana Pacers. Washington achieved that slotting by toppling the Pacers, 133-132 in overtime, on Saturday night. Bradley Beal, who left the game late in regulation with a hamstring injury, paced the Wizards with 50 points, adding five rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal. Russell Westbrook finished with a 33-point, 19-rebound, 15-assist triple-double that also included two blocks and one steal. It was the 181st career triple-double for the future Hall of Famer, tying him with Oscar Robertson for first all-time. Rui Hachimura totaled 13 points, six boards, one assist and one block. Davis Bertans netted 10 points, while Alex Len mustered eight points, 10 rebounds, one assist and three blocks.
The Wizards will be without Beal for Monday's game.
The Hawks (37-31) are currently residing in the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference, but they've made their slotting a bit more tenuous by dropping four of their last seven games. Atlanta's most recent time on the floor resulted in one of those defeats, as the Hawks dropped a 133-126 decision to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points, supplementing them with 10 assists, four rebounds and one block. Bogdan Bogdanovic netted 28 points. John Collins supplied 25 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block. Danilo Gallinari registered 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block. Clint Capela managed 10 points, nine rebounds and one steal.
The Hawks will list De'Andre Hunter (knee) and Tony Snell (Achilles) as questionable for Monday's game. Cam Reddish (Achilles) will remain out.
Monday's game marks the second of three meetings between the teams this season. The Hawks hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 116-100 win Jan. 29.
The Wizards (32-36) continue to run roughshod over nearly every opponent put in front of them, having won 13 of their last 16 games to move into the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference by a half-game over the Indiana Pacers. Washington achieved that slotting by toppling the Pacers, 133-132 in overtime, on Saturday night. Bradley Beal, who left the game late in regulation with a hamstring injury, paced the Wizards with 50 points, adding five rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal. Russell Westbrook finished with a 33-point, 19-rebound, 15-assist triple-double that also included two blocks and one steal. It was the 181st career triple-double for the future Hall of Famer, tying him with Oscar Robertson for first all-time. Rui Hachimura totaled 13 points, six boards, one assist and one block. Davis Bertans netted 10 points, while Alex Len mustered eight points, 10 rebounds, one assist and three blocks.
The Wizards will be without Beal for Monday's game.
The Hawks (37-31) are currently residing in the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference, but they've made their slotting a bit more tenuous by dropping four of their last seven games. Atlanta's most recent time on the floor resulted in one of those defeats, as the Hawks dropped a 133-126 decision to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points, supplementing them with 10 assists, four rebounds and one block. Bogdan Bogdanovic netted 28 points. John Collins supplied 25 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block. Danilo Gallinari registered 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block. Clint Capela managed 10 points, nine rebounds and one steal.
The Hawks will list De'Andre Hunter (knee) and Tony Snell (Achilles) as questionable for Monday's game. Cam Reddish (Achilles) will remain out.
Monday's game marks the second of three meetings between the teams this season. The Hawks hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 116-100 win Jan. 29.
Pacers and Cavaliers Meet in Cleveland
The Indiana Pacers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Monday night.
The Pacers (31-36) have been struggling with injuries and inconsistency of late, as they've dropped to the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference thanks to losing five of their last seven games. Their most recent defeat was a narrow 133-132 overtime loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday night. LeVert led the Pacers with 35 points, supplementing them with 14 rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Sabonis followed with a 30-point, 13-rebound, 13-assist triple double that also included three steals. Edmond Sumner delivered 13 points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals. Oshae Brissett managed 12 points, four boards and one steal. Doug McDermott poured in 11 points.
The Pacers will list Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) and Jeremy Lamb (knee) as questionable for Monday's game. JaKarr Sampson (concussion) and Myles Turner (toe) will remain out.
The Cavaliers (21-47) are heading into the offseason in dire straits, as they've dropped 10 consecutive games. Their most recent stumble occurred Sunday night, when they fell to the Dallas Mavericks by a 124-97 score despite seeing Luka Doncic get ejected in the third quarter. Tim Hardaway, Jr. led the Mavericks with 25 points, adding three assists and two rebounds. Josh Richardson furnished 20 points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals. Doncic supplied 15 points, five boards, five assists and two steals. Jalen Brunson registered 13 points, seven assists, one rebound and two steals. Dwight Powell turned in 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four blocks and one steal.
The Cavaliers will likely list Darius Garland (ankle), Cedi Osman (ankle), Isaiah Hartenstein (concussion) and Lamar Stevens (concussion) as no better than questionable for Monday's game.
Monday's game marks the third and final meeting between the teams this season .The Pacers hold a 2-0 series lead, having notched 119-99 and 114-111 wins Dec. 31 and March 3.
The Pacers (31-36) have been struggling with injuries and inconsistency of late, as they've dropped to the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference thanks to losing five of their last seven games. Their most recent defeat was a narrow 133-132 overtime loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday night. LeVert led the Pacers with 35 points, supplementing them with 14 rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Sabonis followed with a 30-point, 13-rebound, 13-assist triple double that also included three steals. Edmond Sumner delivered 13 points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals. Oshae Brissett managed 12 points, four boards and one steal. Doug McDermott poured in 11 points.
The Pacers will list Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) and Jeremy Lamb (knee) as questionable for Monday's game. JaKarr Sampson (concussion) and Myles Turner (toe) will remain out.
The Cavaliers (21-47) are heading into the offseason in dire straits, as they've dropped 10 consecutive games. Their most recent stumble occurred Sunday night, when they fell to the Dallas Mavericks by a 124-97 score despite seeing Luka Doncic get ejected in the third quarter. Tim Hardaway, Jr. led the Mavericks with 25 points, adding three assists and two rebounds. Josh Richardson furnished 20 points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals. Doncic supplied 15 points, five boards, five assists and two steals. Jalen Brunson registered 13 points, seven assists, one rebound and two steals. Dwight Powell turned in 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four blocks and one steal.
The Cavaliers will likely list Darius Garland (ankle), Cedi Osman (ankle), Isaiah Hartenstein (concussion) and Lamar Stevens (concussion) as no better than questionable for Monday's game.
Monday's game marks the third and final meeting between the teams this season .The Pacers hold a 2-0 series lead, having notched 119-99 and 114-111 wins Dec. 31 and March 3.
Pelicans Look To Stay Strong On Second Night Of Back-To-Back
By Dan Bruno
The Memphis Grizzlies play host to the New Orleans Pelicans at FedEx Forum on Monday evening.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Pelicans (31-37), as they are coming off a hard-fought win in Charlotte on Sunday. They got out to a good start in the win with a nine-point lead after one quarter, but they lost control in the second, where they gave up 42 points and fell behind by 10, heading into halftime. They rallied back to make it a one-point game mid way through the third, but they let it slip back to a seven-point game heading into the final frame. The Pelicans came out strong again in the fourth and rallied to a one-point lead with six minutes left and kept the pressure on the rest of the way to close out the impressive road win. Eric Bledsoe led the way with 24 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and two steals. Jaxson Hayes followed up with 18 points, eight rebounds, six blocks and a steal, while Willy Hernangomez totaled nine points, 16 rebounds, two steals and a block. The Pelicans will look to keep rolling and add to their, 13-20, road record, as they face the third game of a five-game trip. Zion Williamson (thumb) will remain out, while Brandon Ingram (ankle) is listed as questionable for action on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies (34-33) are coming off a win in their most recent outing, but they are, 5-5, in their last 10 games. They will look to build some momentum and add to their, 14-18, home record, as they face the first game of a four-game home stand. Ja Morant continues to lead the team, averaging 19.3 points, 7.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds, in 32 minutes per game. Jonas Valanciunas is averaging 16.7 points and 12.5 rebounds, while Dillon Brooks is averaging 16.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The Grizzlies average a league-high 9.2 steals per game, but they could still use some improvement on the defensive end, as they are giving up an average of 112.5 points per game. On the other end, they make an average of 11.2 three-pointers per game, which is eighth fewest in the league, while they shoot an average of 35.6 percent from deep.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Pelicans (31-37), as they are coming off a hard-fought win in Charlotte on Sunday. They got out to a good start in the win with a nine-point lead after one quarter, but they lost control in the second, where they gave up 42 points and fell behind by 10, heading into halftime. They rallied back to make it a one-point game mid way through the third, but they let it slip back to a seven-point game heading into the final frame. The Pelicans came out strong again in the fourth and rallied to a one-point lead with six minutes left and kept the pressure on the rest of the way to close out the impressive road win. Eric Bledsoe led the way with 24 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and two steals. Jaxson Hayes followed up with 18 points, eight rebounds, six blocks and a steal, while Willy Hernangomez totaled nine points, 16 rebounds, two steals and a block. The Pelicans will look to keep rolling and add to their, 13-20, road record, as they face the third game of a five-game trip. Zion Williamson (thumb) will remain out, while Brandon Ingram (ankle) is listed as questionable for action on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies (34-33) are coming off a win in their most recent outing, but they are, 5-5, in their last 10 games. They will look to build some momentum and add to their, 14-18, home record, as they face the first game of a four-game home stand. Ja Morant continues to lead the team, averaging 19.3 points, 7.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds, in 32 minutes per game. Jonas Valanciunas is averaging 16.7 points and 12.5 rebounds, while Dillon Brooks is averaging 16.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The Grizzlies average a league-high 9.2 steals per game, but they could still use some improvement on the defensive end, as they are giving up an average of 112.5 points per game. On the other end, they make an average of 11.2 three-pointers per game, which is eighth fewest in the league, while they shoot an average of 35.6 percent from deep.
Spurs Take On Streaking Bucks
By Dan Bruno
The San Antonio Spurs play host to the Milwaukee Bucks at AT&T Center on Monday evening.
The Spurs (32-35) have dropped six of their last 10 games, including their most recent contest. They will look to get back on track and add to their, 13-20, home record, as they face their first game back after a four-game road trip. DeMar DeRozan leads the team, averaging 21.4 points, 7.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds, in 34 minutes per game. Dejounte Murray is averaging 15.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals, while Keldon Johnson is averaging 12.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The Spurs average 110.7 points per game, which is 10th fewest in the league, and they are giving up an average of 112.0 points against. They do a great job of taking care of the ball, as they limit themselves to an average of 11.0 turnovers per game, which is second fewest in the league. They also limit themselves to 18.2 personal fouls per game, which is fifth fewest in the league.
The Bucks (43-24) have won eight of their last 10 games, including their last five in a row. They will look to keep rolling and add to their, 19-14, road record, as they face their first game back on the road after a four-game home stand. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to lead the team, averaging 28.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. Khris Middleton is averaging 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Jrue Holiday is averaging 17.7 points, 5.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, while Brook Lopez is averaging 12.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. The Bucks average a league-best 119.9 points per game, and they are shooting an average of 48.7 percent from the field, which is third best in the league.
The Spurs (32-35) have dropped six of their last 10 games, including their most recent contest. They will look to get back on track and add to their, 13-20, home record, as they face their first game back after a four-game road trip. DeMar DeRozan leads the team, averaging 21.4 points, 7.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds, in 34 minutes per game. Dejounte Murray is averaging 15.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals, while Keldon Johnson is averaging 12.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The Spurs average 110.7 points per game, which is 10th fewest in the league, and they are giving up an average of 112.0 points against. They do a great job of taking care of the ball, as they limit themselves to an average of 11.0 turnovers per game, which is second fewest in the league. They also limit themselves to 18.2 personal fouls per game, which is fifth fewest in the league.
The Bucks (43-24) have won eight of their last 10 games, including their last five in a row. They will look to keep rolling and add to their, 19-14, road record, as they face their first game back on the road after a four-game home stand. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to lead the team, averaging 28.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. Khris Middleton is averaging 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Jrue Holiday is averaging 17.7 points, 5.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, while Brook Lopez is averaging 12.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. The Bucks average a league-best 119.9 points per game, and they are shooting an average of 48.7 percent from the field, which is third best in the league.
Warriors Host Jazz on Monday
The Golden State Warriors play host to the Utah Jazz at Chase Center on Monday.
The Jazz (50-18) come into this matchup in the midst of a five-game winning streak, doing their best to maintain the best record in the NBA. A loss against the Phoenix Suns last week put that in jeopardy, but this recent winning streak has them 1.5 games up on the Suns for that coveted spot. That means if they can get three wins in their last four games, they'll guarantee themselves homecourt advantage throughout the postseason. That would be quite the accomplishment for this club and a huge boost behind their 34-4 home record. The most important thing is to get healthy going into the postseason, though, with Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell both missing games recently. The good news is that both are expected back soon, and they won't get very far unless those ball-handlers are ready to go.
The Warriors (35-33) enter this matchup winning four of their last five games, and it has them sitting eighth in the west. While that would usually be critical, it's not as important this year. We say that because they are locked between the seven-seed and 11-seed, which means they're required to play in the play-in game. The only major advantage is that it could give them homecourt advantage in that one matchup, and it looks like they'll have to face the Memphis Grizzlies when that commences next week. The guy who's gotten them to this point is Stephen Curry, with the former MVP averaging nearly 40 points per game since his return from injury a month ago. He's the reason why no one wants to face this team, and it's easy to understand why with his elite scoring ability.
These teams have played twice this year, splitting those two matchups. With that said, Utah has won five of their last six games over Golden State in this series.
The Jazz (50-18) come into this matchup in the midst of a five-game winning streak, doing their best to maintain the best record in the NBA. A loss against the Phoenix Suns last week put that in jeopardy, but this recent winning streak has them 1.5 games up on the Suns for that coveted spot. That means if they can get three wins in their last four games, they'll guarantee themselves homecourt advantage throughout the postseason. That would be quite the accomplishment for this club and a huge boost behind their 34-4 home record. The most important thing is to get healthy going into the postseason, though, with Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell both missing games recently. The good news is that both are expected back soon, and they won't get very far unless those ball-handlers are ready to go.
The Warriors (35-33) enter this matchup winning four of their last five games, and it has them sitting eighth in the west. While that would usually be critical, it's not as important this year. We say that because they are locked between the seven-seed and 11-seed, which means they're required to play in the play-in game. The only major advantage is that it could give them homecourt advantage in that one matchup, and it looks like they'll have to face the Memphis Grizzlies when that commences next week. The guy who's gotten them to this point is Stephen Curry, with the former MVP averaging nearly 40 points per game since his return from injury a month ago. He's the reason why no one wants to face this team, and it's easy to understand why with his elite scoring ability.
These teams have played twice this year, splitting those two matchups. With that said, Utah has won five of their last six games over Golden State in this series.
Trail Blazers Host Rockets on Monday
The Portland Trail Blazers play host to the Houston Rockets at Moda Center on Monday.
The Rockets (16-52) have been freefalling down the standings for months now, and they've finally hit the bottom. They now own the worst record in the NBA, and they look like a guarantee to finish in that position. That's quite the fall from a club that nearly made the Finals a few years ago, and it all started with the James Harden trade. That started the downfall, but injuries to John Wall, Christian Wood, and Kevin Porter have turned this season into a nightmare. What it has done is allow some youngsters to take on huge roles. Porter has been running the show a lot, while Kelly Olynyk and Kenyon Martin Jr have had career years of their own as well.
The Trail Blazers (39-29) are doing everything possible to avoid the play-in tournament, entering this matchup winning seven of their last eight games. That run has catapulted them up to the six-seed in the west, beating the Los Angeles Lakers over the weekend. That's the team behind them in seventh, and it put quite the gap between them. The Trail Blazers had to make a similar run in the bubble last year, but it was to get in the play-in game. They took advantage by winning it but went on to struggle once they got in the real playoffs. That's what they're looking to avoid this year, and a victory here would be a step in the right direction.
These teams have already played twice this season, splitting those two meetings. With that said, the Trail Blazers have won four of their last five games over the Rockets in this series.
The Rockets (16-52) have been freefalling down the standings for months now, and they've finally hit the bottom. They now own the worst record in the NBA, and they look like a guarantee to finish in that position. That's quite the fall from a club that nearly made the Finals a few years ago, and it all started with the James Harden trade. That started the downfall, but injuries to John Wall, Christian Wood, and Kevin Porter have turned this season into a nightmare. What it has done is allow some youngsters to take on huge roles. Porter has been running the show a lot, while Kelly Olynyk and Kenyon Martin Jr have had career years of their own as well.
The Trail Blazers (39-29) are doing everything possible to avoid the play-in tournament, entering this matchup winning seven of their last eight games. That run has catapulted them up to the six-seed in the west, beating the Los Angeles Lakers over the weekend. That's the team behind them in seventh, and it put quite the gap between them. The Trail Blazers had to make a similar run in the bubble last year, but it was to get in the play-in game. They took advantage by winning it but went on to struggle once they got in the real playoffs. That's what they're looking to avoid this year, and a victory here would be a step in the right direction.
These teams have already played twice this season, splitting those two meetings. With that said, the Trail Blazers have won four of their last five games over the Rockets in this series.