Wizards Host Streaking Nuggets
By Dan Bruno
The Washington Wizards play host to the Denver Nuggets, at Capital One Arena on Thursday evening.
The Wizards (30-41) have dropped three of their last four games, and sit 11th place in the East, 4.5 games out of the eighth spot. They have won three of their last five home games, and are 22-14 at home this season. Bradley Beal continues to lead the team, averaging 26.0 points, 5.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals, in 38 minutes per game. Jabari Parker came up with 28 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in the Wizards most recent contest, showing what he can bring for his new team, Parker is averaging 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists over his last 10 games. Despite their record, the Wizards are dropping an average of 114.4 points per game, which is seventh best in the league. However, they give up an average of 116.9 points against, which is second worst in the league.
Meanwhile, this marks the second game of a four-game road trip for the Nuggets (47-22), which they kicked off with a win in Boston on Monday night. The Nuggets are 17-16 on the road this season. They have won four straight overall, and sit second place in the West, just 0.5 games out of first place. Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets, averaging 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.4 steals, in 31.5 minutes per game. Gary Harris is coming back into form after being in and out with injuries, as he averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists, in 26 minutes per game. Jamal Murray is another big factor in the Nuggets' success, averaging 18.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game this season. The Nuggets hold opponents to 107.0 points per game, which sixth lowest in the league.
The Wizards (30-41) have dropped three of their last four games, and sit 11th place in the East, 4.5 games out of the eighth spot. They have won three of their last five home games, and are 22-14 at home this season. Bradley Beal continues to lead the team, averaging 26.0 points, 5.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals, in 38 minutes per game. Jabari Parker came up with 28 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in the Wizards most recent contest, showing what he can bring for his new team, Parker is averaging 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists over his last 10 games. Despite their record, the Wizards are dropping an average of 114.4 points per game, which is seventh best in the league. However, they give up an average of 116.9 points against, which is second worst in the league.
Meanwhile, this marks the second game of a four-game road trip for the Nuggets (47-22), which they kicked off with a win in Boston on Monday night. The Nuggets are 17-16 on the road this season. They have won four straight overall, and sit second place in the West, just 0.5 games out of first place. Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets, averaging 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.4 steals, in 31.5 minutes per game. Gary Harris is coming back into form after being in and out with injuries, as he averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists, in 26 minutes per game. Jamal Murray is another big factor in the Nuggets' success, averaging 18.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game this season. The Nuggets hold opponents to 107.0 points per game, which sixth lowest in the league.
Hornets, Timberwolves Looking To Cling On
By Dan Bruno
The Charlotte Hornets play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves, at Spectrum Center on Thursday evening.
This marks the second game of a three-game home stand for the Hornets (31-39), which began with a heart-breaking loss to the 76ers on Tuesday. Despite 26 points and 11 rebounds from Jeremy Lamb, and 21 points from Kemba Walker, the Hornets were downed by a game-wining bucket by the visitors on Tuesday night. It marked the second straight loss for the Hornets, at a crucial time, as they now sit 3.0 games behind the eighth seed in the East. The Hornets have dropped seven of their last 10 games overall, and are 21-15 at home this season. Kemba Walker leads the team, averaging 24.9 points, 5.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Jeremy Lamb has been the next most impactful player for Charlotte, as he is averaging, 15.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals, in 29 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves (32-39) are not looking any better, as they have also dropped seven of their last 10 games. They have dropped four in a row overall, and have dropped their last eight in a row on the road. The Timberwolves are 9-28 on the road this season. They sit 10th place in the West, 9.5 games behind eighth, as their playoff hope are almost gone. Nonetheless, Karl-Anthony Towns has been playing on another level lately, doing all he can to push his team, averaging 31.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 blocks over his last nine games. Andrew Wiggins tallied 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting, eight rebounds, six assists and a steal, in Minnesota's most recent game, however, he has struggled to stay at such a level consistently. Wiggins is averaging 15.6 points on 41 percent shooting over his last seven games. Derrick Rose (elbow) has missed the last four games and remains questionable for Thursday.
This marks the second game of a three-game home stand for the Hornets (31-39), which began with a heart-breaking loss to the 76ers on Tuesday. Despite 26 points and 11 rebounds from Jeremy Lamb, and 21 points from Kemba Walker, the Hornets were downed by a game-wining bucket by the visitors on Tuesday night. It marked the second straight loss for the Hornets, at a crucial time, as they now sit 3.0 games behind the eighth seed in the East. The Hornets have dropped seven of their last 10 games overall, and are 21-15 at home this season. Kemba Walker leads the team, averaging 24.9 points, 5.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Jeremy Lamb has been the next most impactful player for Charlotte, as he is averaging, 15.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals, in 29 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves (32-39) are not looking any better, as they have also dropped seven of their last 10 games. They have dropped four in a row overall, and have dropped their last eight in a row on the road. The Timberwolves are 9-28 on the road this season. They sit 10th place in the West, 9.5 games behind eighth, as their playoff hope are almost gone. Nonetheless, Karl-Anthony Towns has been playing on another level lately, doing all he can to push his team, averaging 31.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 blocks over his last nine games. Andrew Wiggins tallied 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting, eight rebounds, six assists and a steal, in Minnesota's most recent game, however, he has struggled to stay at such a level consistently. Wiggins is averaging 15.6 points on 41 percent shooting over his last seven games. Derrick Rose (elbow) has missed the last four games and remains questionable for Thursday.
Hawks Play Host to Jazz on Thursday
The Atlanta Hawks play host to the Utah Jazz at State Farm Arena on Thursday.
The Jazz (42-29) come into this matchup winning five-straight games, as they're easily playing their best ball of the season right now. In fact, all five of those victories came by at least 16 points apiece, which is simply an unheard of stretch from any team. What's truly scary is just how good their defense is becoming. Utah currently sits top-five in both points allowed and defensive efficiency, as Rudy Gobert is arguably the most dominant rim protector in the NBA. Having him down there is huge but having a playmaker like Donovan Mitchell up top is just as valuable. He's really pulled this offense out of the dumps and that makes this one of the scariest teams in the west heading into the postseason.
The Hawks (24-48) come into this matchup losing six of their last eight games, as they were just eliminated from playoff contention in their most recent defeat. No one expected this team to reach the postseason by any means but it's an interesting note nonetheless. While the losses are obviously disappointing, this team should be ecstatic about where they are right now. Players like Trae Young and John Collins have taken monstrous leaps this season and they appear to be in great hands for the future. Where they reallly need to see some improvement is on the defensive end though. The Hawks have been sitting dead-last in points allowed for the majority of the season and that's something that needs to be weeded out over time if this club is to take another step forward next season.
This is the second and final meeting between these teams, with Utah winning the first matchup at home, 128-112. Atlanta has dominated this series over recent years, winning eight of their last 11 games over Utah dating back five seasons.
The Jazz (42-29) come into this matchup winning five-straight games, as they're easily playing their best ball of the season right now. In fact, all five of those victories came by at least 16 points apiece, which is simply an unheard of stretch from any team. What's truly scary is just how good their defense is becoming. Utah currently sits top-five in both points allowed and defensive efficiency, as Rudy Gobert is arguably the most dominant rim protector in the NBA. Having him down there is huge but having a playmaker like Donovan Mitchell up top is just as valuable. He's really pulled this offense out of the dumps and that makes this one of the scariest teams in the west heading into the postseason.
The Hawks (24-48) come into this matchup losing six of their last eight games, as they were just eliminated from playoff contention in their most recent defeat. No one expected this team to reach the postseason by any means but it's an interesting note nonetheless. While the losses are obviously disappointing, this team should be ecstatic about where they are right now. Players like Trae Young and John Collins have taken monstrous leaps this season and they appear to be in great hands for the future. Where they reallly need to see some improvement is on the defensive end though. The Hawks have been sitting dead-last in points allowed for the majority of the season and that's something that needs to be weeded out over time if this club is to take another step forward next season.
This is the second and final meeting between these teams, with Utah winning the first matchup at home, 128-112. Atlanta has dominated this series over recent years, winning eight of their last 11 games over Utah dating back five seasons.
Pistons Battle Suns in Desert
The Detroit Pistons take on the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Thursday evening.
The Pistons (36-34) are in the midst of fighting for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference, and they'll come into Thursday's game in possession of the sixth seed at the moment. However, Detroit has hurt itself to an extent by dropping three of its past five contests. Their most recent stumble came against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which toppled them by a 126-119 score on Monday night. Wayne Ellington led the way for the Pistons with 25 points, adding two assists, one rebound and two steals. Andre Drummond generated a 21-point, 21-rebound double-double that also included five assists, two steals and one block. Reggie Jackson poured in 15 points and added four assists and two rebounds. Ish Smith and Langston Galloway generated matching 13-point tallies.
The Pistons come into Thursday's game without any injuries to report.
The Suns (17-55) have improved over the latter portion of the season, but they'll still come into Thursday's contest having dropped four of their last six games. Their most recent defeat was a 116-101 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker led the way with matching 25-point tallies, with Ayton also hauling in 12 rebounds and Booker furnishing eight rebounds and seven assists. Josh Jackson registered 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. Mikal Bridges delivered 12 points and three rebounds. Troy Daniels poured in 10 points.
The Suns will be without Tyler Johnson (knee), T.J. Warren (ankle) and Kelly Oubre, Jr. (thumb) on Thursday. Richaun Holmes (thigh) will be listed as questionable.
Thursday's contest marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Pistons hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 118-107 victory on Nov. 25.
The Pistons (36-34) are in the midst of fighting for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference, and they'll come into Thursday's game in possession of the sixth seed at the moment. However, Detroit has hurt itself to an extent by dropping three of its past five contests. Their most recent stumble came against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which toppled them by a 126-119 score on Monday night. Wayne Ellington led the way for the Pistons with 25 points, adding two assists, one rebound and two steals. Andre Drummond generated a 21-point, 21-rebound double-double that also included five assists, two steals and one block. Reggie Jackson poured in 15 points and added four assists and two rebounds. Ish Smith and Langston Galloway generated matching 13-point tallies.
The Pistons come into Thursday's game without any injuries to report.
The Suns (17-55) have improved over the latter portion of the season, but they'll still come into Thursday's contest having dropped four of their last six games. Their most recent defeat was a 116-101 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker led the way with matching 25-point tallies, with Ayton also hauling in 12 rebounds and Booker furnishing eight rebounds and seven assists. Josh Jackson registered 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. Mikal Bridges delivered 12 points and three rebounds. Troy Daniels poured in 10 points.
The Suns will be without Tyler Johnson (knee), T.J. Warren (ankle) and Kelly Oubre, Jr. (thumb) on Thursday. Richaun Holmes (thigh) will be listed as questionable.
Thursday's contest marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Pistons hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 118-107 victory on Nov. 25.
Mavericks Visit Kings Amidst Struggles
By Oscar Heanue
The Sacramento Kings will host the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center on Thursday.
Things have not gone either team's way since the All-Star break. Dallas (28-43) is just 2-12 in its last 14 games. The team has struggled mightily since making a trade deadline deal for Kristaps Porzingis, who is out for the season while rehabbing an ACL tear. On Wednesday, the Mavs faced the first half of a back-to-back in Portland. Dallas lost, 118-126, but saw a promising night from rookie star Luka Doncic. Doncic, who had shot just 39.6 percent from the field in the month of March prior to Wednesday, scored 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting while going a perfect 7-of-7 at the free-throw line. Doncic's performance was the type that Dallas will need to turn its luck around, as the Mavericks are averaging the fourth-fewest points in the league since the break.
Sacramento (34-36), meanwhile, has lost four of its last five games, with its most recent loss coming in heartbreaking fashion. The Kings led by 25 heading into the fourth quarter against Brooklyn on Tuesday, but wound up giving up 45 points in the period and losing the game. Sacramento was outscored 27-18 in the fourth by D'Angelo Russell alone, as the All-Star point guard finished with a career-high 44 points. The Kings will look to bounce back from the tough loss on Thursday, though things have been rough all-around recently. Sacramento is averaging just 9.8 three-pointers per game thus far in March, 1.4 fewer than the team's February average. The Kings now sit six games back of the playoffs, making it a longshot for the team to get back in the postseason this year.
Things have not gone either team's way since the All-Star break. Dallas (28-43) is just 2-12 in its last 14 games. The team has struggled mightily since making a trade deadline deal for Kristaps Porzingis, who is out for the season while rehabbing an ACL tear. On Wednesday, the Mavs faced the first half of a back-to-back in Portland. Dallas lost, 118-126, but saw a promising night from rookie star Luka Doncic. Doncic, who had shot just 39.6 percent from the field in the month of March prior to Wednesday, scored 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting while going a perfect 7-of-7 at the free-throw line. Doncic's performance was the type that Dallas will need to turn its luck around, as the Mavericks are averaging the fourth-fewest points in the league since the break.
Sacramento (34-36), meanwhile, has lost four of its last five games, with its most recent loss coming in heartbreaking fashion. The Kings led by 25 heading into the fourth quarter against Brooklyn on Tuesday, but wound up giving up 45 points in the period and losing the game. Sacramento was outscored 27-18 in the fourth by D'Angelo Russell alone, as the All-Star point guard finished with a career-high 44 points. The Kings will look to bounce back from the tough loss on Thursday, though things have been rough all-around recently. Sacramento is averaging just 9.8 three-pointers per game thus far in March, 1.4 fewer than the team's February average. The Kings now sit six games back of the playoffs, making it a longshot for the team to get back in the postseason this year.
Pacers Look For Revenge Against Warriors
The Golden State Warriors will play host to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday at Oracle Arena.
After losing a game in which they came out flat from the very start in San Antonio, the Warriors (48-22) put together a nice bounce-back effort against the Timberwolves on Tuesday in what was their third game in four nights on the road. Now, they will be playing their fourth game in six nights, but they will finally be back in the comfort of their own arena Thursday. However, Oracle Arena hasn't necessarily treated the Warriors well as of late, with the team dropping two of their last three games, with losses against the Suns and Celtics, at home. However, there is good news on the horizon for the defending champions, as they are expected to get starting center DeMarcus Cousins back on Thursday night after a two-game absence due to a minor ankle injury.
As for the Pacers (44-28), Thursday will be the fourth and final game of their current road trip out west, and it hasn't gone very well for Indiana. They have lost three games in a row to the Nuggets, Trail Blazers and Clippers, but they have managed to be competitive in each game, losing by a total of just 16 points between the three outings. However, close doesn't cut it, and the Pacers are slipping in the Eastern Conference standings as a result. As of Thursday morning, Indiana is just one game ahead of the Celtics for all-important No. 4 seed, which the Pacers will certainly need if their undermanned team is going to advance past the first round of the postseason. This will be the second and final time the Pacers play the Warriors this season, with Golden State winning by 32 last time around.
After losing a game in which they came out flat from the very start in San Antonio, the Warriors (48-22) put together a nice bounce-back effort against the Timberwolves on Tuesday in what was their third game in four nights on the road. Now, they will be playing their fourth game in six nights, but they will finally be back in the comfort of their own arena Thursday. However, Oracle Arena hasn't necessarily treated the Warriors well as of late, with the team dropping two of their last three games, with losses against the Suns and Celtics, at home. However, there is good news on the horizon for the defending champions, as they are expected to get starting center DeMarcus Cousins back on Thursday night after a two-game absence due to a minor ankle injury.
As for the Pacers (44-28), Thursday will be the fourth and final game of their current road trip out west, and it hasn't gone very well for Indiana. They have lost three games in a row to the Nuggets, Trail Blazers and Clippers, but they have managed to be competitive in each game, losing by a total of just 16 points between the three outings. However, close doesn't cut it, and the Pacers are slipping in the Eastern Conference standings as a result. As of Thursday morning, Indiana is just one game ahead of the Celtics for all-important No. 4 seed, which the Pacers will certainly need if their undermanned team is going to advance past the first round of the postseason. This will be the second and final time the Pacers play the Warriors this season, with Golden State winning by 32 last time around.