NBA Game Previews & Matchups

Wednesday, January 9th (All times eastern)

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (18-17) AT ATLANTA HAWKS (15-16), 7 P.M.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will shoot for a season-high fifth straight win tonight, when they pay a visit to the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena.

The Cavs matched the longest win streak of the season by posting their fourth consecutive victory after a 95-79 triumph over the Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena. LeBron James scored 22 points and Daniel Gibson tallied 17 for Cleveland, which improved to 11-6 at home this season.

Anderson Varejao chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds in the win. The Cavs will now try to improve on their 7-11 road mark on Wednesday.

Atlanta will resume a five-game homestand and has lost four straight since a five-game winning streak. In Saturday’s 113-107 loss to the New Jersey Nets in the opener of the homestand, Josh Smith had a game-high 34 to lead Atlanta, which fell to 10-7 as the host in 2007-08.

Marvin Williams contributed 18 points and eight rebounds, while Josh Childress chipped in 16 points and seven boards in defeat. The Hawks will also host Washington, Chicago and Denver on the current stand.

Cleveland posted a 98-94 win over the Hawks on January 2 this season at Quicken Loans Arena. It has won four straight, six of seven and 13 of the last 15 meetings with Atlanta.

The Cavs have also won six in a row at Philips Arena.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (14-21) AT TORONTO RAPTORS (17-17), 7 P.M.

The Philadelphia 76ers are still searching for their first win of the month, as they take on the Toronto Raptors this evening at Air Canada Centre.

Philadelphia fell to 0-4 in January after Tuesday’s 87-83 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks at the Wachovia Center. Andre Iguodala paced the Sixers with 21 points and Samuel Dalembert notched a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds in defeat.

Andre Miller finished with 13 points and nine assists, while Lou Williams added 12 points off the bench for the 76ers, who will try to stop a three-game losing streak on the road tonight. Philly is 7-11 away from the City of Brotherly Love this season.

Meanwhile, the Raptors will close out a three-game homestand on Wednesday and have dropped the first two tests of the stand. In Sunday’s 93-90 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chris Bosh had 23 points for the Raptors, who have lost six of their last eight games.

Anthony Parker finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Jose Calderon contributed a double-double with 16 points and 11 assists. Toronto has lost three in a row at home and is 8-8 as the host this season.

Toronto is 2-0 against Philadelphia this season and has won six of the last seven matchups in the series.

The Sixers have won three of their last five trips to Air Canada Centre.

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (12-21) AT BOSTON CELTICS (29-3), 7:30 P.M.

The NBA-best Boston Celtics take aim at their 10th straight win tonight, when they host the Charlotte Bobcats at TD Banknorth Garden.

Boston is an impressive 29-3 this season and posted its ninth straight victory with Saturday’s 92-85 road victory over the Detroit Pistons in a battle of the two best teams in the Eastern Conference.

Glen Davis scored 16 of his career-high 20 points in the fourth quarter, while Paul Pierce had 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Boston. Kevin Garnett added 15 points in the win for the Celtics, who will put a four-game winning streak at home on the line on Wednesday. Boston is 16-1 in Beantown this season.

In injury news for the Celtics, Davis (knee) is questionable for Wednesday’s game against Charlotte, while veteran Ray Allen (pinched nerve in neck) is expected to miss Wednesday’s game.

Charlotte will open a short two-game road trip this evening and is just 1-11 away from home this season. It has dropped 11 in a row as the guest after a 90-88 win at Miami on November 4 this season.

The Bobcats ended a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in nine games with Tuesday’s 115-99 victory over the New Jersey Nets at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Jason Richardson scored 25 points to lead the way.

Gerald Wallace added 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Emeka Okafor finished with 17 points and six boards for the Bobcats, who will also visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on the current trek.

Bobcats guard Derek Anderson (knee) missed Tuesday’s game against New Jersey and is questionable for tonight in Boston.

The Celtics recorded a 96-95 triumph over the Bobcats on November 24 this season in North Carolina. Boston has won two of three, five of seven and nine of the 12 all-time meetings.

Charlotte has dropped five of the six matchups in Beantown.

HOUSTON ROCKETS (18-17) AT NEW YORK KNICKS (9-24), 7:30 P.M.

The New York Knicks will try for just their third winning streak of the season when they open a four-game homestand tonight versus the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden.

New York ended a seven-game slide with Tuesday’s 105-100 victory over the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Stephon Marbury scored 18 points to go along with five assists for the Knicks, who won for the second time over their previous 10 games.

Eddy Curry scored a game-high 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jamal Crawford added 24 points with five assists in the win. New York, which has lost three straight at home, is 7-11 as the host this season.

The Knicks will also welcome Toronto, Detroit and Washington to the Big Apple on their current homestand.

Houston, meanwhile, has won three in a row overall and will wrap up a brief two-game road trip on Wednesday. The Rockets have won two straight on the road and are 10-11 away from the Toyota Center this season.

In Tuesday’s 92-84 victory over the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center, Yao Ming led the way with 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Luther Head scored 24 points for Houston, which has defeated Washington five straight times. Rafer Alston had 15 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in the win.

Houston just recorded a 103-91 win over the Knicks on Saturday at the Toyota Center, and has won six straight, eight of nine and nine of the last 12 matchups in the series.

The Rockets have also won four in a row at Madison Square Garden.

SEATTLE SUPERSONICS (9-25) AT NEW JERSEY NETS (17-17), 7:30 P.M.

The Seattle SuperSonics will wrap up a four-game road trip this evening, when they take on the New Jersey Nets at the Izod Center.

Seattle has dropped four in a row and eight of its last 10 games, including Tuesday’s 95-79 setback to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Rookie Kevin Durant led the way with 24 points for the Sonics, but was forced out of the game midway through the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury. Wally Szczerbiak added 15 points and Nick Collison had 14 rebounds for Seattle, which fell to 0-3 on the trip and 4-14 as the guest this season.

The Sonics have lost five in a row away from the Emerald City. On the injury from for Seattle, Durant is questionable for Wednesday’s game.

New Jersey will begin a four-game homestand tonight versus Seattle, Boston, Portland and New York. It is 8-11 at the Meadowlands this season.

In Tuesday’s 115-99 loss over the Charlotte Bobcats down south, Richard Jefferson had a team-high 25 points and Vince Carter finished with 17 for the Nets, who had a five-game winning streak come to an end.

Jason Kidd had 13 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his eighth triple- double of the season and the 97th of his career. Kidd has recorded three in a row for the first time since Grant Hill accomplished the feat with the Detroit Pistons in 1997.

The Nets recorded a 98-93 triumph over the Sonics on November 23 this season at KeyArena. Seattle, though, has won five of the last seven matchups in the series.

Seattle has dropped five of its last seven trips to New Jersey.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (22-11) AT NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (23-11), 8 P.M.

The New Orleans Hornets return home after going 3-0 on a recent road trip, as they welcome the Los Angeles Lakers tonight to New Orleans Arena.

This is the second meeting of the campaign between the clubs. On Tuesday, Peja Stojakovic drained 10 three-pointers and ended with 36 points as the Hornets downed the Lakers, 118-104, at the Staples Center.

The Lakers have won two of their last three at the Hornets, who have won three of the last four overall contests in the series.

New Orleans plays the first of a two-game homestand. Chris Paul scored 28 points and handed out 10 assists to help the Hornets edge the Phoenix Suns, 118-113, at US Airways Center.

Stojakovic scored 23 points and Tyson Chandler finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the loss for New Orleans, which also defeated the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers on the swing.

Morris Peterson ended with 22 points, as the Hornet played without forward David West, who sat out with a bruised left hip. West is averaging 19.4 points and 9.4 rebounds this season, and is questionable for Wednesday.

The Hornets are 9-6 at home this season. They will host the Miami Heat on Friday at New Orleans Arena.

The Lakers wrap up a two-game road trip tonight. On Tuesday, Derek Fisher scored 26 points on 10-of-11 from the floor, including 5-for-5 from beyond the arc, as the Lakers led wire-to-wire in a 117-101 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.

Superstar Kobe Bryant contributed 25 points, six assists and five steals for the Lakers, who have won seven of their last eight contests overall. All five Laker starters were in double figures. Andrew Bynum contributed 12 points and nine rebounds, while Lamar Odom chipped in 10 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Luke Walton totaled 10 points, while Jordan Farmar came off the bench to post 13 in the victory.

The Lakers return home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and the Grizzlies on Sunday at the Staples Center. They are 9-6 as the visitor this season.

MIAMI HEAT (8-27) AT MILWAUKEE BUCKS (14-20), 8 P.M.

The disappointing Miami Heat play the fourth of a five-game road trip, as they visit the Milwaukee Bucks tonight at the Bradley Center.

This is the second meeting of the campaign between the squads. On January 2nd, Maurice Williams finished with 25 points and nine assists as the Bucks beat the Heat, 103-98, at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Miami has won two of three and four of its last six at Milwaukee.

The Heat have dropped eight in a row. On Tuesday, Rashad McCants scored 27 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists as Minnesota snapped an eight-game skid with a 101-91 victory over staggering Miami.

Dwyane Wade scored a team-high 25 points and dished out seven assists for the Heat, who have dropped eight in a row since defeating the Utah Jazz on December 22. It is their longest losing streak since a 12-game skid from November 8 to December 4, 2001. Udonis Haslem and Daequan Cook chipped in 15 points apiece in the loss.

Miami is scheduled to visit Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets on Friday at New Orleans Arena. The Heat are 4-16 on the road this season.

Milwaukee tries to win its third game in a row. Andrew Bogut’s tip-in with 25.5 ticks to play gave Milwaukee a two-possession cushion in its 87-83 victory over the slumping Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday at the Wachovia Center. Bogut collected 13 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.

Maurice Williams and Charlie Bell led the way with 21 points apiece, while Charlie Villanueva notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, who won both games on their brief two-game road swing.

Milwaukee again played without leading scorer Michael Redd, who missed his third consecutive game with a deep left thigh bruise. Redd, who is averaging 23.4 points per game, is questionable for tonight’s contest.

The Bucks are 9-5 at home this season. After tonight’s contest, they will embark on a three-game road trip at the Lakers, Phoenix and Utah.

DETROIT PISTONS (26-8) AT DALLAS MAVERICKS (23-11), 9 P.M.

Two of the top teams in the NBA square off tonight, as the Dallas Mavericks welcome the Detroit Pistons to American Airlines Center.

This is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. Detroit is scheduled to host the Mavericks on February 3rd at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The teams have split the last eight contests in the series, while Detroit has won two of its last three at Dallas.

Detroit tries to get back on the winning track, as it plays the opener of a four-game road trip tonight. On Saturday, rookie Glen Davis scored 16 of his career-high 20 points in the fourth quarter and the Boston Celtics defeated the Pistons, 92-85, at The Palace.

Richard Hamilton scored 18 points and dished out eight assists for the Pistons, who had an 11-game winning streak halted. Chauncey Billups added 17 points and Rasheed Wallace had 16 and eight rebounds for Detroit, which had a nine-game winning streak against Boston come to an end.

The Pistons are 13-5 on the road this season. They will also visit San Antonio, Charlotte and New York on the current swing.

Dallas attempts to extend its winning streak to five games this evening. Reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki posted a game-high 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting, as the Mavericks routed the Minnesota Timberwolves, 101-78, on Sunday at the Target Center.

Josh Howard added 22 points and eight rebounds in the win for the Mavericks, who have won nine of their last 11 games overall. Jason Terry contributed 14 points off the bench, while Devin Harris netted 12 in the victory.

The Mavericks, who have won three in a row as the host, are an impressive 16-3 at home this season. After tonight’s contest, they will embark on a three-game road trip at Seattle, the Clippers and Sacramento.

On the injury front for Dallas, guard Jerry Stackhouse (sprained right thumb) is probable, while center Erick Dampier (sore left knee) is questionable for this evening’s game versus Detroit.

INDIANA PACERS (16-20) AT PHOENIX SUNS (24-10), 9 P.M.

The Phoenix Suns wrap up a four-game homestand when they host the slumping Indiana Pacers tonight at US Airways Center.

This is the second and final meeting of the campaign between the squads. On December 4th, Amare Stoudemire scored 42 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, to lift Phoenix to a 121-117 victory over the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Suns have won five in a row in the series. Indiana has lost three straight and seven of its last eight contests at Phoenix.

Phoenix is 2-1 on the current homestand and is 11-4 as the host this season. On Monday, Shawn Marion scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half and his hot hand from beyond the arc led the Suns over the Denver Nuggets, 137-115, at US Airways Center. Marion, who also had 14 rebounds and six blocks, hit 5-of-9 three-pointers.

Marcus Banks was 7-of-8 from three-point range and ended with 23 points, while Grant Hill netted 20 and Stoudemire finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who got back on track after having a four-game winning streak halted against the New Orleans Hornets last Saturday.

Two-time MVP Steve Nash ended with 13 points and 10 assists in the win over for Phoenix, which will visit Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz on Thursday at EnergySolutions Arena.

Indiana plays the third of a five-game road trip this evening. On Tuesday, Carlos Boozer had 22 points, as the Utah Jazz crushed the struggling Pacers, 111-89, at EnergySolutions Arena.

Danny Granger had a team-high 17 points for the Pacers, who have lost two in a row and eight of their last 10 games overall. Jamaal Tinsley, who missed the last five games with a sore left hamstring, chipped in 13 points and five assists.

The Pacers are scheduled to visit Sacramento on Saturday at ARCO Arena and Golden State on Sunday at ORACLE Arena.

Indiana is 8-11 on the road this season.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (20-15) AT PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (21-13), 10 P.M.

The Portland Trail Blazers go for their fourth straight victory when they welcome the Golden State Warriors tonight to the Rose Garden.

This is the second meeting of the campaign between the clubs. On December 12th, Brandon Roy scored 21 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out seven assists to lift Portland to a 105-95 victory over Golden State at the Rose Garden.

Golden State has dropped two of its last three at Portland, which has won two of the last three overall contests in the series.

Portland wraps up a two-game homestand tonight. Martell Webster scored a career-high 26 points — 24 in the third quarter — and the Trail Blazers routed the Utah Jazz, 103-89, at the Rose Garden.

LaMarcus Aldridge ended with 20 points and eight rebounds for Portland, which has won 16 of its last 17 games overall and 11 in a row at home. Travis Outlaw had 14 points and Sergio Rodriguez came off the bench to score 12 points for the Trail Blazers, who played for the most part without Roy, who left early against Utah with a tailbone injury.

Roy, who leads Portland in scoring (19.0 ppg) and assists (5.6 apg), is questionable for tonight’s contest.

The Trail Blazers are an impressive 16-3 at home this season. After tonight’s game, they will embark on a seven-game road trip at Toronto, New Jersey, Boston, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and New Orleans.

Golden State tries to make it back-to-back wins this evening. Stephen Jackson scored 29 points, including 12 in overtime, to lead the Warriors to a 130-121 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday at ORACLE Arena.

Baron Davis finished with a game-high 34 points and 14 assists, while Kelenna Azubuike scored 16 off the bench in the win for Golden State, which snapped a two-game losing streak. Andris Biedrins notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.

The Warriors are a solid 11-8 on the road this season. They return home to host the Grizzlies on Friday and Pacers on Sunday at ORACLE Arena.

Forwards Matt Barnes (stomach virus) and Brandan Wright (flu-like symptoms) are questionable for Golden State on Wednesday.

ORLANDO MAGIC (22-14) AT LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (10-21), 10:30 P.M.

The Orlando Magic play the second of a four-game road trip, as they visit the struggling Los Angeles Clippers tonight at the Staples Center.

On Tuesday, John Salmons scored 21 points and drained a key jumper with 49.7 seconds remaining to give the Sacramento Kings breathing room in a 104-100 victory over the Magic at ARCO Arena.

All-Star Dwight Howard finished with 29 points and 15 rebounds, while Rashard Lewis collected 22 points for the Magic, who have dropped three in a row. Hedo Turkoglu scored 14 points and J.J. Redick netted 10 off the bench

The Magic, who are 15-6 on the road this season, will visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday at the Pepsi Center and the Utah Jazz on Saturday at EnergySolutions Arena.

Los Angeles tries to put the brakes on a two-game losing streak, as it plays the fourth of a six-game homestand. Tim Duncan notched a double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds to lift the San Antonio Spurs to an 88-82 win over the Clippers on Sunday at the Staples Center.

Chris Kaman recorded a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds for Los Angeles, which has dropped eight of its last nine games overall. Rookie Al Thornton finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Corey Maggette contributed 14 points before fouling out with 1:27 to play in the fourth quarter.

The Clippers are just 5-11 as the host this season. They will battle the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday and the Phoenix Suns on January 15th at the Staples Center.

This is the first of two meetings between the Clippers and Magic this season. Orlando is scheduled to host the Clippers on March 12 at Amway Arena.

Last season, the Clippers and Magic split a pair of contests. Orlando has lost four straight and six of its last seven at the Clippers.

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