Jazz, Cavaliers Collide Sunday
The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Utah Jazz at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday afternoon.
The Cavaliers (13-10) are coming off a 116-101 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday. Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 32 points, complementing them with 10 assists, eight rebounds and one steal. Jarrett Allen generated a 28-point, 13-rebound double-double that included two assists, two blocks and one steal. Lauri Markkanen furnished 15 points, six rebounds and two assists. Kevin Love supplied 13 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Cleveland enters this game on a four-game winning streak.
The Jazz (15-7) are coming off a 137-130 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday. Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 34 points and six assists, in 33 minutes. Mike Conley followed up with 29 points, four rebounds, seven assists and a block, while Rudy Gobert totaled 18 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and a steal. The Jazz shot 56 percent from the field, including 27-of-51 from long range. Utah is coming off three straight wins and sit near the top of the Western Conference standings.
The Cavaliers (13-10) are coming off a 116-101 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday. Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 32 points, complementing them with 10 assists, eight rebounds and one steal. Jarrett Allen generated a 28-point, 13-rebound double-double that included two assists, two blocks and one steal. Lauri Markkanen furnished 15 points, six rebounds and two assists. Kevin Love supplied 13 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Cleveland enters this game on a four-game winning streak.
The Jazz (15-7) are coming off a 137-130 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday. Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 34 points and six assists, in 33 minutes. Mike Conley followed up with 29 points, four rebounds, seven assists and a block, while Rudy Gobert totaled 18 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and a steal. The Jazz shot 56 percent from the field, including 27-of-51 from long range. Utah is coming off three straight wins and sit near the top of the Western Conference standings.
Hornets Visit Hawks With Several Absences
The Atlanta Hawks will host the Charlotte Hornets at StateFarm Arena on Sunday evening.
The Hawks (12-11) are coming off a 98-96 loss against the Philadelphia Sixers on Friday. Trae Young led the Hawks with 25 points and 10 assists, and he also ended with four rebounds. Kevin Huerter had 12 points, and John Collins chipped in with 18 points and eight rebounds. Danilo Gallinari impressed off the bench and finished with 18 points, eight boards and three assists. Lou Williams had 11 points off the bench as well. Clint Capela had six points and 11 rebounds. Atlanta has gone 3-2 in its last five matches.
The Hornets (13-11) are coming off a 127-125 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. They were led by LaMelo Ball, collecting 36 points, five rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Miles Bridges amassed 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Gordon Hayward generated 18 points, three rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Terry Rozier had 10 points, three rebounds, eight assists and three steals, while Kelly Oubre Jr led the bench with 25 points. However, the Hornets will be shorthanded here with Ball, Rozier, Mason Plumlee and Jalen McDaniels all out due to COVID-19. The Hornets enter this game on a three-game losing streak.
The Hawks (12-11) are coming off a 98-96 loss against the Philadelphia Sixers on Friday. Trae Young led the Hawks with 25 points and 10 assists, and he also ended with four rebounds. Kevin Huerter had 12 points, and John Collins chipped in with 18 points and eight rebounds. Danilo Gallinari impressed off the bench and finished with 18 points, eight boards and three assists. Lou Williams had 11 points off the bench as well. Clint Capela had six points and 11 rebounds. Atlanta has gone 3-2 in its last five matches.
The Hornets (13-11) are coming off a 127-125 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. They were led by LaMelo Ball, collecting 36 points, five rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Miles Bridges amassed 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Gordon Hayward generated 18 points, three rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Terry Rozier had 10 points, three rebounds, eight assists and three steals, while Kelly Oubre Jr led the bench with 25 points. However, the Hornets will be shorthanded here with Ball, Rozier, Mason Plumlee and Jalen McDaniels all out due to COVID-19. The Hornets enter this game on a three-game losing streak.
Raptors Looking To Build At Home
By Dan Bruno
The Toronto Raptors play host to the Washington Wizards at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday evening.
This marks the fourth game of a seven-game home stand for the Raptors (10-13), where they have gone, 1-2, so far, with losses to the Celtics and Grizzlies, followed by a win over the Bucks in their most recent contest. The Raptors will look to build off the momentum from the recent win and add to their, 3-8, home record. Fred VanVleet leads the team, averaging 20.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Pascal Siakam is averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists, while Gary Trent is averaging 16.9 points on 42 percent shooting, including36 percent from long range. OG Anunoby (hip) and Khem Birch (knee) are expected to remain sidelined through the contest. The Raptors are averaging 104.9 points per game, and they are shooting an average of 43.5 percent from the field, which is among the worst in the league.
Meanwhile, this marks the first game of a three-game road trip for the Wizards (14-9), as they will look to bounce back from a loss in their most recent contest and build on their, 6-6, road record. Bradley Beal leads the team, averaging 22.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Montrezl Harrell continues to provide great energy off the bench, as he is averaging 16.2 points and 8.1 rebounds, in 26.5 minutes per game. Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 13.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists. The Wizards are averaging 106.0 points per game, while shooting an average of 46.1 percent from the field. On the other end, the Wizards are giving up an average of 106.2 points against, but they are holding opponents to 44.0 percent shooting.
This marks the fourth game of a seven-game home stand for the Raptors (10-13), where they have gone, 1-2, so far, with losses to the Celtics and Grizzlies, followed by a win over the Bucks in their most recent contest. The Raptors will look to build off the momentum from the recent win and add to their, 3-8, home record. Fred VanVleet leads the team, averaging 20.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Pascal Siakam is averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists, while Gary Trent is averaging 16.9 points on 42 percent shooting, including36 percent from long range. OG Anunoby (hip) and Khem Birch (knee) are expected to remain sidelined through the contest. The Raptors are averaging 104.9 points per game, and they are shooting an average of 43.5 percent from the field, which is among the worst in the league.
Meanwhile, this marks the first game of a three-game road trip for the Wizards (14-9), as they will look to bounce back from a loss in their most recent contest and build on their, 6-6, road record. Bradley Beal leads the team, averaging 22.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Montrezl Harrell continues to provide great energy off the bench, as he is averaging 16.2 points and 8.1 rebounds, in 26.5 minutes per game. Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 13.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists. The Wizards are averaging 106.0 points per game, while shooting an average of 46.1 percent from the field. On the other end, the Wizards are giving up an average of 106.2 points against, but they are holding opponents to 44.0 percent shooting.
Rockets Host Pelicans on Sunday
The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Texas to face the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Sunday.
The Pelicans (7-18) just got some devastating news on Friday, with Zion Williamson suffering a setback in his recovery from foot surgery. The superstar forward was expected to help this team compete, but they've really struggled without him. They currently have the fifth-worst record in the NBA right now, despite winning four of their last six games. That recent run directly correlates with the health of Brandon Ingram, and it's far from surprising that they struggled with both of them out of the lineup. This most recent setback with Zion has some people wondering if he'll play at all this year because the Pelicans playoff chance has been plummeting since day one.
The Rockets (6-16) have one of the worst records in the NBA, but they've been playing much better recently. In fact, Houston enters this matchup in the midst of a five-game winning streak. That's obviously their best stretch of the season, grabbing just one win through their first 17 games before that. It's hard to understand why a team with so much young talent got off to such a poor start, but this recent run is hopefully giving them some momentum for the second half. What's also interesting is their home-road splits. They have a 5-5 record at home and a 1-11 record outside of Toyota Center. That's common with such a young team, and as long as guys like Kevin Porter Jr and Christian Wood continue to grow, it could be a successful season no matter what the record says.
These teams played three times last season, with New Orleans winning the season series, 2-1.
The Pelicans (7-18) just got some devastating news on Friday, with Zion Williamson suffering a setback in his recovery from foot surgery. The superstar forward was expected to help this team compete, but they've really struggled without him. They currently have the fifth-worst record in the NBA right now, despite winning four of their last six games. That recent run directly correlates with the health of Brandon Ingram, and it's far from surprising that they struggled with both of them out of the lineup. This most recent setback with Zion has some people wondering if he'll play at all this year because the Pelicans playoff chance has been plummeting since day one.
The Rockets (6-16) have one of the worst records in the NBA, but they've been playing much better recently. In fact, Houston enters this matchup in the midst of a five-game winning streak. That's obviously their best stretch of the season, grabbing just one win through their first 17 games before that. It's hard to understand why a team with so much young talent got off to such a poor start, but this recent run is hopefully giving them some momentum for the second half. What's also interesting is their home-road splits. They have a 5-5 record at home and a 1-11 record outside of Toyota Center. That's common with such a young team, and as long as guys like Kevin Porter Jr and Christian Wood continue to grow, it could be a successful season no matter what the record says.
These teams played three times last season, with New Orleans winning the season series, 2-1.