Knicks Visit Magic Looking To Bounce Back
The Orlando Magic will host the New York Knicks at Amway Center on Thursday.
The Magic (30-43) are coming off a 122-121 home win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Gary Harris led the Magic with 22 points and was one of seven players that scored in double digits for Orlando. Paolo Banchero sniffed a triple-double and finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Franz Wagner had 20 points, six assists and four boards. Markelle Fultz recorded 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Wendell Carter Jr. had 14 points and nine rebounds. Cole Anthony chipped in with 16 points, seven boards and five assists. Orlando has won two of its last three games and has gone 17-19 at home.
The Knicks (42-33) are coming off a 127-120 road loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday and will continue playing in Florida here. RJ Barrett was the leading scorer for the Knicks in the loss with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists. Quentin Grimes had 22 points. Jalen Brunson recorded 25 points, six rebounds and six assists. Julius Randle sniffed a double-double and posted 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Mitchell Robinson had 10 points and eight rebounds. Josh Hart had 12 points off the bench. The Knicks have lost two in a row and own a 3-3 mark in their last six games. New York has also gone 22-15 away from home.
The Magic (30-43) are coming off a 122-121 home win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Gary Harris led the Magic with 22 points and was one of seven players that scored in double digits for Orlando. Paolo Banchero sniffed a triple-double and finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Franz Wagner had 20 points, six assists and four boards. Markelle Fultz recorded 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Wendell Carter Jr. had 14 points and nine rebounds. Cole Anthony chipped in with 16 points, seven boards and five assists. Orlando has won two of its last three games and has gone 17-19 at home.
The Knicks (42-33) are coming off a 127-120 road loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday and will continue playing in Florida here. RJ Barrett was the leading scorer for the Knicks in the loss with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists. Quentin Grimes had 22 points. Jalen Brunson recorded 25 points, six rebounds and six assists. Julius Randle sniffed a double-double and posted 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Mitchell Robinson had 10 points and eight rebounds. Josh Hart had 12 points off the bench. The Knicks have lost two in a row and own a 3-3 mark in their last six games. New York has also gone 22-15 away from home.
Cavaliers and Nets Set for Big Apple Rematch
The Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Thursday night.
The Cavaliers (46-28) are in solid form as the postseason approaches, as they've prevailed in seven of the last nine games. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Nets, which they bested by a 115-109 score. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Caris LaVert furnished 18 points, four assists, two boards and two steals. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley generated matching 17-point tallies while adding six assists and four rebounds, respectively. Jarrett Allen mustered a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double that included one assist and two blocks. Cedi Osman supplied 12 points as well while adding four rebounds, three assist and one block.
The Cavaliers come into Thursday's game without any injuries to report.
The Nets' (39-33) loss to Cleveland was its fourth straight, a highly untimely skid that has them in danger of falling out of the No. 6 seed. Against Cleveland, Day'Ron Sharpe paced the Nets with 20 points, supplementing them with 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Spencer Dinwiddie contributed a 19-point, 11-assist double-double that included five rebounds. Mikal Bridges supplied 18 points, four rebounds and one assist. Cameron Johnson provided 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal. Nic Claxton registered 13 points, eight boards, three assists, one steal and one block. Royce O'Neale managed 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
The Nets will remain without Ben Simmons (knee) for Thursday's game.
Thursday's contest marks the third and final meeting between the teams this season. The series is tied 1-1.
The Cavaliers (46-28) are in solid form as the postseason approaches, as they've prevailed in seven of the last nine games. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Nets, which they bested by a 115-109 score. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Caris LaVert furnished 18 points, four assists, two boards and two steals. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley generated matching 17-point tallies while adding six assists and four rebounds, respectively. Jarrett Allen mustered a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double that included one assist and two blocks. Cedi Osman supplied 12 points as well while adding four rebounds, three assist and one block.
The Cavaliers come into Thursday's game without any injuries to report.
The Nets' (39-33) loss to Cleveland was its fourth straight, a highly untimely skid that has them in danger of falling out of the No. 6 seed. Against Cleveland, Day'Ron Sharpe paced the Nets with 20 points, supplementing them with 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Spencer Dinwiddie contributed a 19-point, 11-assist double-double that included five rebounds. Mikal Bridges supplied 18 points, four rebounds and one assist. Cameron Johnson provided 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal. Nic Claxton registered 13 points, eight boards, three assists, one steal and one block. Royce O'Neale managed 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
The Nets will remain without Ben Simmons (knee) for Thursday's game.
Thursday's contest marks the third and final meeting between the teams this season. The series is tied 1-1.
Pelicans Look To Build On Two-Game Streak
By Dan Bruno
The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Charlotte Hornets at Smoothie King Center on Thursday evening.
The Pelicans (35-37) have won two in a row and will look to keep it rolling on the second and final game of a home stand with a chance to improve on their, 23-13, home record. Brandon Ingram continues to impress, with 32 points in the last game and an average of 23.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. CJ McCollum averages 21.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game, while Jonas Valanciunas is averaging 14.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The Pelicans average 114.0 points per game, but they give up an average of 113.0 points. Jose Alvarado (leg) and Zion Williamson (hamstring) remain sidelined.
Meanwhile, the Hornets (23-50) halted their losing streak at four games with a win in their last outing. They hope to stay on the right track as they kick off a two-game road trip with the opportunity to improve on their, 11-26, road record. Terry Rozier leads the team, averaging 21.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Kelly Oubre averages 20.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 steals, while Gordon Hayward is averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. The Hornets average 111.3 points per game, which is fourth fewest in the league, and they give up an average of 117.4 points against.
The Pelicans (35-37) have won two in a row and will look to keep it rolling on the second and final game of a home stand with a chance to improve on their, 23-13, home record. Brandon Ingram continues to impress, with 32 points in the last game and an average of 23.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. CJ McCollum averages 21.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game, while Jonas Valanciunas is averaging 14.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The Pelicans average 114.0 points per game, but they give up an average of 113.0 points. Jose Alvarado (leg) and Zion Williamson (hamstring) remain sidelined.
Meanwhile, the Hornets (23-50) halted their losing streak at four games with a win in their last outing. They hope to stay on the right track as they kick off a two-game road trip with the opportunity to improve on their, 11-26, road record. Terry Rozier leads the team, averaging 21.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Kelly Oubre averages 20.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 steals, while Gordon Hayward is averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. The Hornets average 111.3 points per game, which is fourth fewest in the league, and they give up an average of 117.4 points against.
Clippers Host Thunder on Thursday
The Los Angeles Clippers play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday.
The Thunder (36-36) come into this matchup winning eight of their last 10 games. This club looked dead in the water before that run but this winning streak has them right back in the play-in tournament. Oklahoma City is tied for seventh in the Western Conference, but they're only two games up on the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans in 10th and 11th. That's a lot of teams the Thunder have to battle to hold this playoff spot, but this club has surprised people all year. This franchise has been in a rebuilding period for a decade now, but all of the draft picks and young players are finally showing why this group will be a threat in years to come.
The Clippers (38-35) suffered a tough loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday but they lost more than just that game. Paul George suffered what looked like a severe leg injury, and it's very unlikely that he returns anytime soon. Losing a perennial All-Star is obviously brutal for any team, but this club is fortunate to have some depth behind him. It'll be up to guys like Marcus Morris and Robert Covington to play bigger roles in his absence, while Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook will be asked to carry the load. Kawhi also had a frustrating possession at the end of that loss on Thursday, failing to get off a shot in the final 23 seconds, despite losing by just one.
These teams just played on Tuesday, with Oklahoma City prevailing, 101-100. That game couldn't have been closer, with neither team leading by more than five points across the final three quarters.
The Thunder (36-36) come into this matchup winning eight of their last 10 games. This club looked dead in the water before that run but this winning streak has them right back in the play-in tournament. Oklahoma City is tied for seventh in the Western Conference, but they're only two games up on the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans in 10th and 11th. That's a lot of teams the Thunder have to battle to hold this playoff spot, but this club has surprised people all year. This franchise has been in a rebuilding period for a decade now, but all of the draft picks and young players are finally showing why this group will be a threat in years to come.
The Clippers (38-35) suffered a tough loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday but they lost more than just that game. Paul George suffered what looked like a severe leg injury, and it's very unlikely that he returns anytime soon. Losing a perennial All-Star is obviously brutal for any team, but this club is fortunate to have some depth behind him. It'll be up to guys like Marcus Morris and Robert Covington to play bigger roles in his absence, while Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook will be asked to carry the load. Kawhi also had a frustrating possession at the end of that loss on Thursday, failing to get off a shot in the final 23 seconds, despite losing by just one.
These teams just played on Tuesday, with Oklahoma City prevailing, 101-100. That game couldn't have been closer, with neither team leading by more than five points across the final three quarters.