Preview Roundups
January 04, 2019
Utah at Cleveland 7:30 PM ET
The Utah Jazz are kicking off 2019 with a four-game road trip and did not get off to the best start with a 122-116 loss at Toronto on New Year's Day. The Jazz will try to improve to 1-1 in the new year when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
Dallas at Boston 8:00 PM ET
The Boston Celtics have been riding quite the roller coaster as they navigate injuries and the pressure of high expectations. Perhaps no better example of this up-and-down campaign has been the recent play of forward Gordon Hayward, who will attempt to follow up his best game of the season with another gem when the Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
Washington at Miami 8:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards don't seem to need John Wall to find the win column with the way Bradley Beal and Tomas Satoransky are steeping up to fill the hole left by the All-Star point guard. The Wizards will try to make it three straight wins without Wall when they begin a three-game road trip by visiting the Miami Heat on Friday.
Indiana at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers are moving up the standings by taking advantage of a weaker stretch in the schedule and are hoping to extend the winning streak to six straight when they visit the rebuilding Chicago Bulls on Friday. Each of the Pacers' last five wins have come against sub-.500 opponents, and the Bulls fit that bill as well.
Brooklyn at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
Losing seems to be getting to the Memphis Grizzlies, who held a closed-door team meeting after their latest setback that reportedly included some scuffling between teammates. The Grizzlies will try to get on the same page and get back in the win column when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
Orlando at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Orlando Magic split the first two contests of a lengthy road excursion as they enter Friday's tilt against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Orlando won three of its past four overall games while the Timberwolves dropped three of their past four contests.
Atlanta at Milwaukee 8:30 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks will try to avoid looking too far ahead when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday in head coach Mike Budenholzer's first game against his former team. The Bucks, who entered Thursday in a virtual tie atop the Eastern Conference with Toronto, host the Raptors on Saturday in the third of four meetings between the two front-runners.
L.A. Clippers at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers attempt to stretch their winning streak against Phoenix to 11 games when they visit the struggling Suns on Friday. Los Angeles kept its dominance going with two wins against the Suns earlier this season, including a 123-119 overtime win in Phoenix on Dec. 10.
New York at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
LeBron James will sit out his fifth consecutive game when the Los Angeles Lakers host the slumping New York Knicks on Friday. James strained his left groin in a Christmas Day win over the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles has gone 1-3 without him.
Oklahoma City at Portland 10:30 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder aim to halt an eight-game losing streak in Portland when they visit the Trail Blazers on Friday. The Thunder haven't prevailed in Portland since Feb. 11, 2014, and have also lost the last six overall meetings.