NBA Game Previews & Matchups

Thursday, January 10th (All times eastern)

DETROIT PISTONS (26-9) AT SAN ANTONIO SPURS (23-10), 8 P.M.

Two of the top teams in the NBA battle when the Central Division-leading Detroit Pistons visit the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs tonight at the AT&T Center.

This is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. Detroit is scheduled to host the Spurs on March 14th at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Spurs were 2-0 against the Pistons last season, and have won four of the last seven meetings in the series. Detroit has lost nine of 10 and 15 of its last 18 at San Antonio.

Detroit tries to halt a two-game losing streak, as it plays the second of a four-game road trip this evening. On Wednesday, reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 102-86 win over the Pistons at American Airlines Center.

Richard Hamilton scored 18 points in the loss to Dallas for the Pistons, who have dropped two in a row after winning 11 straight contests. Chauncey Billups added 16 points for Detroit, which has lost consecutive games for only the second time this season.

The Pistons will visit the Bobcats on Saturday at Charlotte Bobcats Arena and the New York Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

San Antonio tries to get back on the winning track, as it opens a four-game homestand. On Monday, Stephen Jackson scored 29 points, including 12 in overtime, to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 130-121 win over the Spurs at ORACLE Arena.

Tim Duncan scored 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the loss to the Warriors for San Antonio, which had a two-game winning streak halted. Tony Parker registered 31 points and eight assists, while Manu Ginobili scored 20 off the bench for the Spurs, who are 5-5 in their last 10 games overall.

The Spurs will also host the Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers on the current homestand. San Antonio, which has won two in a row at the AT&T Center, is 17-2 at home.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (10-24) AT SACRAMENTO KINGS (13-20), 10 P.M.

The Sacramento Kings play the second of a four-game homestand, as they host the Memphis Grizzlies tonight at ARCO Arena.

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

Brad Miller posted 20 points and six assists, Beno Udrih added 17 points and five assists, Quincy Douby netted 14 and Francisco Garcia notched 11 points and five rebounds for the Kings, who snapped a two-game skid in the opener of their current homestand.

Sacramento is 9-8 at home this season. The Kings are scheduled to host the Indiana PAcers on Saturday and the Dallas Mavericks on Monday at ARCO Arena.

Memphis tries to get back on the winning track, as it opens a three-game road trip this evening. On Tuesday, Derek Fisher scored 26 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 117-101 victory over the Grizzlies at the FedExForum.

Mike Miller collected 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Memphis, which has dropped seven of its last nine games overall. Pau Gasol ended with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Darko Milicic had 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in defeat.

The Grizzlies are 4-12 on the road this season. They will visit the Golden State Warriors on Friday at ORACLE Arena and the Lakers on Sunday at the Staples Center.

This is the first of four meetings between the clubs this season. The Kings were 2-1 against Memphis last season, and have won four of the last six contests in the series.

The Grizzlies, who are 1-22 at Sacramento, have lost 17 straight as the visitor against the Kings.

The last time the Grizzlies beat the Kings on the road was on April 19, 1998.

PHOENIX SUNS (25-10) AT UTAH JAZZ (19-17), 10:30 P.M.

The Utah Jazz continue their homestand this evening, as they welcome the Phoenix Suns to EnergySolutions Arena.

Utah won the opener of its current four-game stand. On Tuesday, Carlos Boozer finished with 22 points to lead the Jazz to a convincing 111-89 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Matt Harpring ended with 16 points for the Jazz, who have won three of their last four contests overall. Kyle Korver scored 12 for Utah, while Deron Williams posted 10 points and a game-high nine assists in the victory.

The Jazz are 13-3 at home this season. They have won three in a row on their homecourt. Utah will host the Orlando Magic on Saturday and the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at EnergySolutions Arena.

On the injury front for Utah, forward Andrei Kirilenko (lower back inflammation) and guard Ronnie Price (sprained left ankle) are doubtful. Kirilenko, who is averaging 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists, has missed two straight games.

Phoenix goes for their third straight victory. Leandro Barbosa and Raja Bell scored 27 points apiece to pick up the slack for the Suns, who were without Grant Hill for the entire game and two-time MVP Steve Nash after the third quarter, as the Suns outlasted the Indiana Pacers in overtime, 129-122, at US Airways Center.

Shawn Marion finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds in the win over the Pacers for Phoenix, while Amare Stoudemire collected 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns, who have won six of their last seven games overall.

Phoenix learned before the game that Hill, who started all 34 games prior to Wednesday, needed to undergo an emergency appendectomy and will miss the next two to three weeks. Nash left the game late in the third quarter with flu- like symptoms, having scored nine points and dished out four assists.

The Suns, who have won two in a row on the road, are 13-6 as the visitor this season. Phoenix returns home to host the Bucks on Saturday at US Airways Center.

On the injury front for Phoenix, Marion (shoulder) and Nash are both questionable.

This is the second meeting of the campaign between Phoenix and the Jazz. On December 12th, Nash scored 29 points and dished out 11 assists to lead the Suns to a 103-98 win over Utah at US Airways Center.

Phoenix has won two straight over the Jazz. The Suns have still dropped three of their last five at Utah.

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