Pistons host Nets in Eastern Conference showdown
The Brooklyn Nets begin their five-game road trip Thursday when they take on the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.
The Nets (25-37) have had a disappointing season that culminated in a 136-86 blowout loss to the Boston Celtics on Feb. 14, which triggered the dismissal of head coach Jacque Vaughn. The Nets are 4-4 since appointing Kevin Ollie as the interim head coach, with three of those wins coming in their last four games. Brooklyn took down the Philadelphia 76ers, 112-107, on March 5 thanks to 20 points each from Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith, as well as 19 points from Lonnie Walker off the bench. If the Nets can get that kind of production down the stretch from their role players to complement the play of rising star Mikal Bridges, the team could sneak its way into the 10th seed and a spot in the NBA Play-In tournament.
Day’Ron Sharpe (wrist) is questionable for Thursday’s game. Cameron Johnson will be sidelined after spraining his right ankle against the 76ers. Ben Simmons (back) and Cam Thomas (ankle) will each miss their six-straight game.
The Pistons (9-52), on the other hand, are already looking to next season. A silver lining, however, is that they no longer have the worst record in the NBA, with the Washington Wizards holding that distinction in the midst of a 16-game losing streak. Despite the woes of the regular season, Detroit have reasons to feel optimistic for its future. 2021 first-overall pick Cade Cunningham has taken the leap in his third year in the league, and he is averaging career highs across the board including points per game (22.2), assists per game (7.4) and three-point shooting (36.0 percent). Jalen Duren, the 13th pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, has registered 33 double-doubles this season and could be the big man of the future for the Pistons.
Quentin Grimes will miss his third straight game due to right knee soreness.
Thursday's contest is the third of four games between the Nets and Pistons this season, with Brooklyn holding a 2-0 edge.
The Nets (25-37) have had a disappointing season that culminated in a 136-86 blowout loss to the Boston Celtics on Feb. 14, which triggered the dismissal of head coach Jacque Vaughn. The Nets are 4-4 since appointing Kevin Ollie as the interim head coach, with three of those wins coming in their last four games. Brooklyn took down the Philadelphia 76ers, 112-107, on March 5 thanks to 20 points each from Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith, as well as 19 points from Lonnie Walker off the bench. If the Nets can get that kind of production down the stretch from their role players to complement the play of rising star Mikal Bridges, the team could sneak its way into the 10th seed and a spot in the NBA Play-In tournament.
Day’Ron Sharpe (wrist) is questionable for Thursday’s game. Cameron Johnson will be sidelined after spraining his right ankle against the 76ers. Ben Simmons (back) and Cam Thomas (ankle) will each miss their six-straight game.
The Pistons (9-52), on the other hand, are already looking to next season. A silver lining, however, is that they no longer have the worst record in the NBA, with the Washington Wizards holding that distinction in the midst of a 16-game losing streak. Despite the woes of the regular season, Detroit have reasons to feel optimistic for its future. 2021 first-overall pick Cade Cunningham has taken the leap in his third year in the league, and he is averaging career highs across the board including points per game (22.2), assists per game (7.4) and three-point shooting (36.0 percent). Jalen Duren, the 13th pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, has registered 33 double-doubles this season and could be the big man of the future for the Pistons.
Quentin Grimes will miss his third straight game due to right knee soreness.
Thursday's contest is the third of four games between the Nets and Pistons this season, with Brooklyn holding a 2-0 edge.
Pacers, Timberwolves Tangle In Indiana
The Indiana Pacers will host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday.
The Pacers (35-28) are coming off a 137-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks the last time out, and that win means Indiana snapped a two-game losing skid. The team’s results following the All-Star break have been less than ideal, as the Pacers have gone 2-3 over their last five outings. Playing at home should play well to their strengths and their frenetic pace on offense, as the Pacers have gone 20-12 in front of their fans this season. Indiana will probably rely on the play of Tyrese Haliburton to pull the upset against the best team in the West. The star point guard is averaging 20.8 points and 11.3 assists per game, emerging as one of the most dynamic floor generals in the league this season.
The Pacers are listing Doug McDermott (calf) and Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) as out for Thursday.
The Timberwolves (43-19) return to play on the road following a seven-game homestand in which they went 4-3. Minnesota now takes the road knowing it has won its last four away from Target Center, including a 129-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks the last time it visited an Eastern Conference opponent. The Timberwolves are coming off a 119-114 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, a victory that snapped an incipient two-game losing streak. This game against the Pacers marks the start of a six-game road trip for the Timberwolves, and the team has gone 20-11 on the road this season. That represents one of the best road marks not only in the Western Conference, but in The Association as a whole.
The Timberwolves are listing Jordan McLaughlin as a game-time call due to illness. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and Jaylen Clark (Achilles) are out.
The Pacers (35-28) are coming off a 137-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks the last time out, and that win means Indiana snapped a two-game losing skid. The team’s results following the All-Star break have been less than ideal, as the Pacers have gone 2-3 over their last five outings. Playing at home should play well to their strengths and their frenetic pace on offense, as the Pacers have gone 20-12 in front of their fans this season. Indiana will probably rely on the play of Tyrese Haliburton to pull the upset against the best team in the West. The star point guard is averaging 20.8 points and 11.3 assists per game, emerging as one of the most dynamic floor generals in the league this season.
The Pacers are listing Doug McDermott (calf) and Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) as out for Thursday.
The Timberwolves (43-19) return to play on the road following a seven-game homestand in which they went 4-3. Minnesota now takes the road knowing it has won its last four away from Target Center, including a 129-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks the last time it visited an Eastern Conference opponent. The Timberwolves are coming off a 119-114 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, a victory that snapped an incipient two-game losing streak. This game against the Pacers marks the start of a six-game road trip for the Timberwolves, and the team has gone 20-11 on the road this season. That represents one of the best road marks not only in the Western Conference, but in The Association as a whole.
The Timberwolves are listing Jordan McLaughlin as a game-time call due to illness. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and Jaylen Clark (Achilles) are out.
Mavericks, Heat Collide In Dallas
The Dallas Mavericks will host the Miami Heat at American Airlines Center on Thursday.
The Mavericks (34-28) are trending in the wrong direction of late. Even though their potential playoff positioning has not suffered yet, since they still sit six games above the .500 mark, it’s worth noting Dallas has lost three games in a row. However, those three losses have come against potential playoff teams in the Eastern Conference: the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers. Dallas is also on a two-game losing streak at home, where the team owns an 18-15 record. The Mavs will only go as far as Luka Doncic can carry them, but the star guard has been playing alone in recent weeks. For what is worth, Doncic is averaging 34.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game, leading the team in all three categories.
The Mavericks are listing Maxi Kleber (knee) and Luka Doncic (ankle) as game-time decisions. Both are listed as probable and should be able to play.
The Heat (35-26) are coming off a 118-110 win over the Detroit Pistons the last time out, and Miami will hit the road again following a short two-game homestand in which they went undefeated. Aside from topping the Pistons, Miami defeated the Utah Jazz by a score of 126-120 on March 2. Miami has gone 18-13 when playing on the road this season, and that mark is easily one of the best in the Eastern Conference. Miami also enters this game on a high note after winning four of its last five contests. The star duo of Jimmy Butler (21.9 points, 4.8 assists) and Bam Adebayo (20.4 points, 10.3 rebounds per contest) has been instrumental for the team’s success.
The Heat are listing Kevin Love (heel), Tyler Herro (knee) and Josh Richardson (shoulder) as out. Richardson will be out for the rest of the season.
The Mavericks (34-28) are trending in the wrong direction of late. Even though their potential playoff positioning has not suffered yet, since they still sit six games above the .500 mark, it’s worth noting Dallas has lost three games in a row. However, those three losses have come against potential playoff teams in the Eastern Conference: the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers. Dallas is also on a two-game losing streak at home, where the team owns an 18-15 record. The Mavs will only go as far as Luka Doncic can carry them, but the star guard has been playing alone in recent weeks. For what is worth, Doncic is averaging 34.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game, leading the team in all three categories.
The Mavericks are listing Maxi Kleber (knee) and Luka Doncic (ankle) as game-time decisions. Both are listed as probable and should be able to play.
The Heat (35-26) are coming off a 118-110 win over the Detroit Pistons the last time out, and Miami will hit the road again following a short two-game homestand in which they went undefeated. Aside from topping the Pistons, Miami defeated the Utah Jazz by a score of 126-120 on March 2. Miami has gone 18-13 when playing on the road this season, and that mark is easily one of the best in the Eastern Conference. Miami also enters this game on a high note after winning four of its last five contests. The star duo of Jimmy Butler (21.9 points, 4.8 assists) and Bam Adebayo (20.4 points, 10.3 rebounds per contest) has been instrumental for the team’s success.
The Heat are listing Kevin Love (heel), Tyler Herro (knee) and Josh Richardson (shoulder) as out. Richardson will be out for the rest of the season.
Raptors and Suns Set for Interconference Battle
The Toronto Raptors take on the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on Thursday night.
The Raptors (23-39) continue to struggle as the season's final full month unfolds, as they've dropped three of the last four games. Their most recent stumble was a massive one, as they dropped a 139-98 decision to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Immanuel Quickley led the Raptors with 17 points, adding seven rebounds, seven assists and one steal. Gary Trent supplied 16 points, three boards, one assist and one steal. Kelly Olynyk contributed 15 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. RJ Barrett matched Olynyk's scoring and added six rebounds, one assist and two blocks. Javon Freeman-Liberty finished with 13 points, three rebounds and one assist.
The Raptors will remain without Scottie Barnes (hand), Jakob Poeltl (finger) and Bruce Brown (knee) for Thursday's game. Ochai Agbaji (knee) will carry a questionable tag.
The Suns (36-26) continue to struggle some with consistency, but they've been able to cobble together three wins in their last five games. Their most recent success was a noteworthy one, as they toppled the defending champion Denver Nuggets by a 117-107 win Tuesday night in overtime after blowing a 22-point lead. Kevin Durant led the Suns with 35 points, complementing them with eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Grayson Allen posted 28 points, five boards, four assists and three steals. Bradley Beal totaled 16 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Drew Eubanks turned in 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
The Suns will be without Devin Booker (ankle), Josh Okogie (abdomen), Nassir Little (knee) and Damion Lee (knee) for Thursday's contest.
Thursday's game marks the second and final meeting between the the teams this season. The Raptors hold a 1-0 series lead.
The Raptors (23-39) continue to struggle as the season's final full month unfolds, as they've dropped three of the last four games. Their most recent stumble was a massive one, as they dropped a 139-98 decision to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Immanuel Quickley led the Raptors with 17 points, adding seven rebounds, seven assists and one steal. Gary Trent supplied 16 points, three boards, one assist and one steal. Kelly Olynyk contributed 15 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. RJ Barrett matched Olynyk's scoring and added six rebounds, one assist and two blocks. Javon Freeman-Liberty finished with 13 points, three rebounds and one assist.
The Raptors will remain without Scottie Barnes (hand), Jakob Poeltl (finger) and Bruce Brown (knee) for Thursday's game. Ochai Agbaji (knee) will carry a questionable tag.
The Suns (36-26) continue to struggle some with consistency, but they've been able to cobble together three wins in their last five games. Their most recent success was a noteworthy one, as they toppled the defending champion Denver Nuggets by a 117-107 win Tuesday night in overtime after blowing a 22-point lead. Kevin Durant led the Suns with 35 points, complementing them with eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Grayson Allen posted 28 points, five boards, four assists and three steals. Bradley Beal totaled 16 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Drew Eubanks turned in 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
The Suns will be without Devin Booker (ankle), Josh Okogie (abdomen), Nassir Little (knee) and Damion Lee (knee) for Thursday's contest.
Thursday's game marks the second and final meeting between the the teams this season. The Raptors hold a 1-0 series lead.
Nuggets Look To Get Back On Track At Home
By Dan Bruno
The Denver Nuggets play host to the Boston Celtics at Ball Arena on Thursday evening.
The Nuggets (42-20) had a six-game win streak halted in their last outing, but they look to bounce back on the second game of a four-game home stand with the opportunity to build on their, 24-6, home record. Nikola Jokic leads the team, averaging 25.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. Jamal Murray averages 20.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists, while Michael Porter is averaging 16.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. The Nuggets average 114.4 points per game, and they limit opponents to an average of 110.4 points per game, which is seventh fewest in the league.
Meanwhile, the Celtics (48-13) saw their 11-game win streak come to an end in their last outing. They hope to get back on track and add to their, 19-10, road record heading into the second game of a five-game road trip. They could be without one of their top scorers, as Jaylen Brown (pelvis) is listed as questionable for action. Jayson Tatum leads the team, averaging 27.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Kristaps Porzingis averages 20.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 blocks, while Derrick White averages 15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. The Celtics average 121.0 points per game, which is third most in the league, and they hold opponents to an average of 109.8 points per game, which is fourth fewest in the league.
The Nuggets (42-20) had a six-game win streak halted in their last outing, but they look to bounce back on the second game of a four-game home stand with the opportunity to build on their, 24-6, home record. Nikola Jokic leads the team, averaging 25.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. Jamal Murray averages 20.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists, while Michael Porter is averaging 16.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. The Nuggets average 114.4 points per game, and they limit opponents to an average of 110.4 points per game, which is seventh fewest in the league.
Meanwhile, the Celtics (48-13) saw their 11-game win streak come to an end in their last outing. They hope to get back on track and add to their, 19-10, road record heading into the second game of a five-game road trip. They could be without one of their top scorers, as Jaylen Brown (pelvis) is listed as questionable for action. Jayson Tatum leads the team, averaging 27.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Kristaps Porzingis averages 20.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 blocks, while Derrick White averages 15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. The Celtics average 121.0 points per game, which is third most in the league, and they hold opponents to an average of 109.8 points per game, which is fourth fewest in the league.
Bulls, Warriors Clash In Golden State
By Dan Bruno
The Golden State Warriors play host to the Chicago Bulls at Chase Center on Thursday evening
The Warriors (33-28) are coming off an impressive, blowout home win over the Bucks on Wednesday. They led by 12 points entering the fourth and limited the visitors to just nine points in the final quarter as they charged to the convincing finish. Stephen Curry led the way with 29 points, eight rebounds and five assists, in the win. Jonathan Kuminga followed up with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks, while Trayce Jackson-Davis tallied 15 points, six rebounds and four blocks. The Warriors look to stay on track after earning four wins in the last five games. They have an opportunity to improve on their, 17-15, home record as they face the second game of a three-game home stand.
Meanwhile, this marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Bulls (30-32), after a hard-fought win in Utah on Wednesday. The game got out to a competitive start as the Bulls led by four points after one quarter and by nine points at the break. They maintained the upper hand through the third and carried a 10-point cushion entering the final frame. They lost focus for a brief stretch, but regained control in the clutch to close out their second straight win. DeMar DeRozan led the way in the win with 29 points, six rebounds, seven assists and a steal, in 38 minutes. Coby White followed up with 25 points, six rebounds, six assists and a block, while Nikola Vucevic logged 23 points, 12 rebounds and two steals. The Bulls will look to keep the momentum going as they face the third game of a four-game road trip with a chance to improve on their, 14-17, road record.
The Warriors (33-28) are coming off an impressive, blowout home win over the Bucks on Wednesday. They led by 12 points entering the fourth and limited the visitors to just nine points in the final quarter as they charged to the convincing finish. Stephen Curry led the way with 29 points, eight rebounds and five assists, in the win. Jonathan Kuminga followed up with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks, while Trayce Jackson-Davis tallied 15 points, six rebounds and four blocks. The Warriors look to stay on track after earning four wins in the last five games. They have an opportunity to improve on their, 17-15, home record as they face the second game of a three-game home stand.
Meanwhile, this marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Bulls (30-32), after a hard-fought win in Utah on Wednesday. The game got out to a competitive start as the Bulls led by four points after one quarter and by nine points at the break. They maintained the upper hand through the third and carried a 10-point cushion entering the final frame. They lost focus for a brief stretch, but regained control in the clutch to close out their second straight win. DeMar DeRozan led the way in the win with 29 points, six rebounds, seven assists and a steal, in 38 minutes. Coby White followed up with 25 points, six rebounds, six assists and a block, while Nikola Vucevic logged 23 points, 12 rebounds and two steals. The Bulls will look to keep the momentum going as they face the third game of a four-game road trip with a chance to improve on their, 14-17, road record.
Kings Host Spurs on Thursday
The Sacramento Kings play host to the San Antonio Spurs at Golden One Center on Thursday.
The Spurs (13-49) are really struggling right now, entering this matchup losing 13 of their last 16 games. Horrific stretches like that have been common all season, sitting with the worst record in the Western Conference. It looks like they'll finish with the third-worst record in the NBA because the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards have yet to reach double-digit wins. Landing the third pick is just what Victor Wembanyama needs, though, because he looks like a revelation in his rookie season. The Frenchman is averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds while leading the NBA with 3.4 blocks. It's scary that this is the worst Wembanyama we'll likely see because he's already one of the best players in the league.
The Kings (35-26) are also sliding down the standings, entering this matchup losing three of their last five fixtures. This is the worst time to have a run like this because they've fallen out of the playoffs into the Play-In Tournament. No team wants to be in the Play-In in the Western Conference because that likely means a matchup with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. The recent slump is no fault of Domantas Sabonis because the big man is flirting with triple-double averages over the last two months. He's actually leading the league in double-doubles and triple-doubles, recording a double-double in 43 straight games!
This is the third matchup between these teams, with Sacramento winning both matchups. Sacramento has won seven of their last eight games in total in this series.
The Spurs (13-49) are really struggling right now, entering this matchup losing 13 of their last 16 games. Horrific stretches like that have been common all season, sitting with the worst record in the Western Conference. It looks like they'll finish with the third-worst record in the NBA because the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards have yet to reach double-digit wins. Landing the third pick is just what Victor Wembanyama needs, though, because he looks like a revelation in his rookie season. The Frenchman is averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds while leading the NBA with 3.4 blocks. It's scary that this is the worst Wembanyama we'll likely see because he's already one of the best players in the league.
The Kings (35-26) are also sliding down the standings, entering this matchup losing three of their last five fixtures. This is the worst time to have a run like this because they've fallen out of the playoffs into the Play-In Tournament. No team wants to be in the Play-In in the Western Conference because that likely means a matchup with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. The recent slump is no fault of Domantas Sabonis because the big man is flirting with triple-double averages over the last two months. He's actually leading the league in double-doubles and triple-doubles, recording a double-double in 43 straight games!
This is the third matchup between these teams, with Sacramento winning both matchups. Sacramento has won seven of their last eight games in total in this series.