76ers and Mavericks Battle in Dallas
The Philadelphia 76ers take on the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Monday night.
The 76ers (36-17) have been able to navigate some absences on the part of Joel Embiid rather successfully this season, and they'll check into Monday night's interconference showdown having won four of their last six contests. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Oklahoma City Thunder, which they toppled by a 117-93 score Saturday night to pull into a tie with the Brooklyn Nets for the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed. Embiid led the way with 27 points, adding nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Furkan Korkmaz posted 20 points, four rebounds, two assists, five steals and one block. Ben Simmons and Mike Scott generated matching 13-point tallies, while Shake Milton went for 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and one block.
The 76ers will continue without George Hill (thumb) for Monday's game.
The Mavericks (29-23) have been on a similarly strong stretch of play as their opponent, as they're a solid 6-2 over their last eight games. However, one of those losses came their most recent time on the floor, when they dropped a 119-117 decision to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.
Kristaps Porzingis paced the Mavericks with 31 points, supplementing them with 15 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Luka Doncic managed 29 points, seven assists, three rebounds and one steal. Josh Richardson compiled 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal. Jalen Brunson contributed 11 points, five assists and four rebounds.
The Mavericks will likely list Maxi Kleber (lower leg) and JJ Redick (heel) as no better than questionable for Monday's contest.
Monday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The 76ers own a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 111-97 win Feb. 25.
The 76ers (36-17) have been able to navigate some absences on the part of Joel Embiid rather successfully this season, and they'll check into Monday night's interconference showdown having won four of their last six contests. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Oklahoma City Thunder, which they toppled by a 117-93 score Saturday night to pull into a tie with the Brooklyn Nets for the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed. Embiid led the way with 27 points, adding nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Furkan Korkmaz posted 20 points, four rebounds, two assists, five steals and one block. Ben Simmons and Mike Scott generated matching 13-point tallies, while Shake Milton went for 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and one block.
The 76ers will continue without George Hill (thumb) for Monday's game.
The Mavericks (29-23) have been on a similarly strong stretch of play as their opponent, as they're a solid 6-2 over their last eight games. However, one of those losses came their most recent time on the floor, when they dropped a 119-117 decision to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.
Kristaps Porzingis paced the Mavericks with 31 points, supplementing them with 15 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Luka Doncic managed 29 points, seven assists, three rebounds and one steal. Josh Richardson compiled 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal. Jalen Brunson contributed 11 points, five assists and four rebounds.
The Mavericks will likely list Maxi Kleber (lower leg) and JJ Redick (heel) as no better than questionable for Monday's contest.
Monday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The 76ers own a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 111-97 win Feb. 25.
Knicks Look To Stay Strong At Home
By Dan Bruno
The New York Knicks play host to the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on Monday evening.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Knicks (27-27), as they are coming off a home win over the Raptors on Sunday. They got out to a good start in the contest with a, 27-16, lead after one quarter. The pace picked up in the second, but they stayed in control and pushed their lead to 14 points, by halftime. The score tightened up in the third, as it came down to a two-point game, before the Knicks fell behind early in the fourth. However, they reclaimed control down the stretch and came up clutch to close out their second straight win. Julius Randle continued his strong play as he led the Knicks with 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists. R.J. Barrett followed up with 19 points, five assists and two steals, while Nerlens Noel totaled nine points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and a steal. The Knicks will look to keep rolling and add to their, 16-10, home record, as they face the third and final game of a home stand.
Meanwhile, the Lakers (33-20) are coming off a win in their most recent contest, but they have gone, 5-5, in their last 10 games. They will look to keep the momentum going and add to their, 17-9, road record, as they face the sixth game of a seven-game road trip. The Lakers remain without their two superstars, as LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (calf) will be sidelined. Dennis Schroder is averaging 15.2 points, 5.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals, in 32 minutes per game. Montrezl Harrell is averaging 15.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Andre Drummond has looked great so far, averaging 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals, over three games. The Lakers do a good job on the defensive end, as they are holding opponents to an average of 105.8 points per game, which is second fewest in the league. However, they need to do a better job of taking care of the ball, as they are giving up an average of 15.2 turnovers per game, which is the most in the league.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Knicks (27-27), as they are coming off a home win over the Raptors on Sunday. They got out to a good start in the contest with a, 27-16, lead after one quarter. The pace picked up in the second, but they stayed in control and pushed their lead to 14 points, by halftime. The score tightened up in the third, as it came down to a two-point game, before the Knicks fell behind early in the fourth. However, they reclaimed control down the stretch and came up clutch to close out their second straight win. Julius Randle continued his strong play as he led the Knicks with 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists. R.J. Barrett followed up with 19 points, five assists and two steals, while Nerlens Noel totaled nine points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and a steal. The Knicks will look to keep rolling and add to their, 16-10, home record, as they face the third and final game of a home stand.
Meanwhile, the Lakers (33-20) are coming off a win in their most recent contest, but they have gone, 5-5, in their last 10 games. They will look to keep the momentum going and add to their, 17-9, road record, as they face the sixth game of a seven-game road trip. The Lakers remain without their two superstars, as LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (calf) will be sidelined. Dennis Schroder is averaging 15.2 points, 5.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals, in 32 minutes per game. Montrezl Harrell is averaging 15.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Andre Drummond has looked great so far, averaging 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals, over three games. The Lakers do a good job on the defensive end, as they are holding opponents to an average of 105.8 points per game, which is second fewest in the league. However, they need to do a better job of taking care of the ball, as they are giving up an average of 15.2 turnovers per game, which is the most in the league.
T'Wolves Host Bulls on Monday
The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Brooklyn Nets at Target Center on Monday.
The Nets (36-17) suffered one of the most baffling losses of the season on Saturday, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, 126-101. That blowout loss looks even more shocking when you see that LA was missing LeBron James and Anthony Davis. That makes it hard to understand, but it simply looks like a blip on an otherwise spotless radar. Before that defeat, Brooklyn won 22 of their previous 26 games. That marvelous stretch has them tied for the top-seed in the Eastern Conference, and it's hard to imagine them finishing anywhere but at the top. What makes this run even more amazing is that they've been doing it with numerous injuries. Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving have only played a few games together, and it's scary to think what they could look like with all three fully healthy. Durant is actually the only one who will suit up here and that's going to make him a busy man!
The Timberwolves (14-40) come into this matchup losing nine of their last 13 games. That is a terrible stretch, but it's sadly been a common trend all season long. They currently own the worst record in the NBA, and, sadly, this club keeps falling deep down the standings. What makes it even more shocking is that they have Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and D'Angelo Russell on this roster. That's an excellent young core, and it's hard to understand why the losses are flowing so easily. One has to believe it's a culture thing at this point, and fans have to hope KAT is willing to stick around long enough for things to change eventually.
These teams just played on March 29, with Brooklyn prevailing, 112-107. That snapped a five-game winning streak from the Timberwolves, dating back to 2018.
The Nets (36-17) suffered one of the most baffling losses of the season on Saturday, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, 126-101. That blowout loss looks even more shocking when you see that LA was missing LeBron James and Anthony Davis. That makes it hard to understand, but it simply looks like a blip on an otherwise spotless radar. Before that defeat, Brooklyn won 22 of their previous 26 games. That marvelous stretch has them tied for the top-seed in the Eastern Conference, and it's hard to imagine them finishing anywhere but at the top. What makes this run even more amazing is that they've been doing it with numerous injuries. Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving have only played a few games together, and it's scary to think what they could look like with all three fully healthy. Durant is actually the only one who will suit up here and that's going to make him a busy man!
The Timberwolves (14-40) come into this matchup losing nine of their last 13 games. That is a terrible stretch, but it's sadly been a common trend all season long. They currently own the worst record in the NBA, and, sadly, this club keeps falling deep down the standings. What makes it even more shocking is that they have Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and D'Angelo Russell on this roster. That's an excellent young core, and it's hard to understand why the losses are flowing so easily. One has to believe it's a culture thing at this point, and fans have to hope KAT is willing to stick around long enough for things to change eventually.
These teams just played on March 29, with Brooklyn prevailing, 112-107. That snapped a five-game winning streak from the Timberwolves, dating back to 2018.
Spurs and Magic Set for Sunshine State Battle
The San Antonio Spurs take on the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on Monday night.
The Spurs (25-25) have most been struggling for multiple weeks, but despite the fact they entered Sunday's game against the favored Mavericks having dropped 10 of 12 decisions, they managed to emerge with a 119-117 victory. DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 33 points, complementing them with eight assists and five rebounds. Dejounte Murray furnished 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Lonnie Walker poured in 13 points, while Jakob Poeltl totaled 12 points, eight boards, two assists and four blocks.
The Spurs will likely list Gorgui Dieng (shoulder) and Trey Lyles (ankle) as no better than questionable for Monday's game.
The Magic (17-36) are in exponentially worse shape than their opponent as their record indicates, and they'll enter Monday's contest having gone down in defeat in seven of their last nine games. Orlando's most recent stumble was a big one, as they fell to the Milwaukee Bucks by a 124-87 score Sunday evening. Mo Bamba paced the Magic with 21 points, complementing them with five rebounds and one block. Cole Anthony turned in 12 points, seven boards, five assists, one steal and one block. Michael Carter-Williams and Gary Harris contributed matching nine-point tallies while recording two rebounds and two assists, respectively.
The Magic will likely list Chuma Okeke (hip) and Otto Porter (foot) as no better than questionable for Monday's contest.
Monday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Spurs hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 104-77 win March 12.
The Spurs (25-25) have most been struggling for multiple weeks, but despite the fact they entered Sunday's game against the favored Mavericks having dropped 10 of 12 decisions, they managed to emerge with a 119-117 victory. DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 33 points, complementing them with eight assists and five rebounds. Dejounte Murray furnished 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Lonnie Walker poured in 13 points, while Jakob Poeltl totaled 12 points, eight boards, two assists and four blocks.
The Spurs will likely list Gorgui Dieng (shoulder) and Trey Lyles (ankle) as no better than questionable for Monday's game.
The Magic (17-36) are in exponentially worse shape than their opponent as their record indicates, and they'll enter Monday's contest having gone down in defeat in seven of their last nine games. Orlando's most recent stumble was a big one, as they fell to the Milwaukee Bucks by a 124-87 score Sunday evening. Mo Bamba paced the Magic with 21 points, complementing them with five rebounds and one block. Cole Anthony turned in 12 points, seven boards, five assists, one steal and one block. Michael Carter-Williams and Gary Harris contributed matching nine-point tallies while recording two rebounds and two assists, respectively.
The Magic will likely list Chuma Okeke (hip) and Otto Porter (foot) as no better than questionable for Monday's contest.
Monday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Spurs hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 104-77 win March 12.
Pelicans Look To Stay Strong On Second Night Of Back-To-Back
By Dan Bruno
The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Sacramento Kings at Smoothie King Center on Monday evening.
The Kings (22-31) have dropped their last six games. They will look to end the slide and add to their, 10-16, road record, as they face the second and final game of a home stand. De'Aaron Fox continues to lead the Kings, averaging 24.7 points, 7.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals, in 35 minutes per game. Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 13.0 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals, while Harrison Barnes is averaging 15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Marvin Bagley III (hand) remains out. The Kings do a good job on the offensive end, averaging 114.3 points per game, which is ninth most in the league, and they are shooting an average of 48.1 percent from the field, which is sixth best in the league. However, they need work on the defensive end, as they are giving up an average of 118.7 points per game, which is second most in the league.
Meanwhile, this marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Pelicans (24-29), as they are coming off win in Cleveland on Sunday night. The Pelicans trailed by four points heading into the final frame of Sunday's contest, but they outscored the hosts, 26-15, in the fourth to close out their second straight win. Zion Williamson continued his great play as he led the Pelicans with 38 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks, in 36 minutes. Brandon Ingram tallied 27 points, eight assists, four rebounds and a steal, while Naji Marshall added 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. The Pelicans will look to keep rolling and add to their, 15-13, home record, as they get set to face the first game of a two-game home stand. Lonzo Ball (hip) did not play on Sunday and remains questionable for action on Monday.
The Kings (22-31) have dropped their last six games. They will look to end the slide and add to their, 10-16, road record, as they face the second and final game of a home stand. De'Aaron Fox continues to lead the Kings, averaging 24.7 points, 7.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals, in 35 minutes per game. Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 13.0 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals, while Harrison Barnes is averaging 15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Marvin Bagley III (hand) remains out. The Kings do a good job on the offensive end, averaging 114.3 points per game, which is ninth most in the league, and they are shooting an average of 48.1 percent from the field, which is sixth best in the league. However, they need work on the defensive end, as they are giving up an average of 118.7 points per game, which is second most in the league.
Meanwhile, this marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Pelicans (24-29), as they are coming off win in Cleveland on Sunday night. The Pelicans trailed by four points heading into the final frame of Sunday's contest, but they outscored the hosts, 26-15, in the fourth to close out their second straight win. Zion Williamson continued his great play as he led the Pelicans with 38 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks, in 36 minutes. Brandon Ingram tallied 27 points, eight assists, four rebounds and a steal, while Naji Marshall added 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. The Pelicans will look to keep rolling and add to their, 15-13, home record, as they get set to face the first game of a two-game home stand. Lonzo Ball (hip) did not play on Sunday and remains questionable for action on Monday.
Jazz Looking To Earn Another Win, Host Wizards
The Utah Jazz will host the Washington Wizards at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Monday night.
The Jazz (40-13) have been the best team in the Western Conference by a wide margin this season and their record backs that up. They are coming off another win in their previous contest, as they didn't have major problems getting past the Sacramento Kings by a 16-point margin. Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 42 points, complementing them with four assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block. Mike Conley totaled 26 points, six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Joe Ingles supplied 20 points, six assists and three rebounds. Georges Niang managed 12 points, two rebounds and one steal. The Jazz also have one of the best records in the league when playing at home, as they've gone 24-2 when playing at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah has also gone 3-2 in their last five outings.
The Wizards (19-33) have not looked as woeful as they looked during the first few games of the regular season, but it's clear this is a roster that needs a lot of work to even think about a potential playoff spot. They're coming off a 134-106 loss against the Phoenix Suns the last time out, and that means they've posted a 2-3 mark over their last five contests. Russell Westbrook came up huge for the Wizards as he logged a triple-double with 17 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds, while Raul Neto was the high-point man, with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Ish Smith chipped in 12 points, six rebounds and two assists, off the bench. The Wizards shot 46 percent from the field, including 9-of-25 from deep. To make things even more complicated, the Wizards have also gone just 9-17 when playing away from home.
The Jazz (40-13) have been the best team in the Western Conference by a wide margin this season and their record backs that up. They are coming off another win in their previous contest, as they didn't have major problems getting past the Sacramento Kings by a 16-point margin. Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 42 points, complementing them with four assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block. Mike Conley totaled 26 points, six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Joe Ingles supplied 20 points, six assists and three rebounds. Georges Niang managed 12 points, two rebounds and one steal. The Jazz also have one of the best records in the league when playing at home, as they've gone 24-2 when playing at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah has also gone 3-2 in their last five outings.
The Wizards (19-33) have not looked as woeful as they looked during the first few games of the regular season, but it's clear this is a roster that needs a lot of work to even think about a potential playoff spot. They're coming off a 134-106 loss against the Phoenix Suns the last time out, and that means they've posted a 2-3 mark over their last five contests. Russell Westbrook came up huge for the Wizards as he logged a triple-double with 17 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds, while Raul Neto was the high-point man, with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Ish Smith chipped in 12 points, six rebounds and two assists, off the bench. The Wizards shot 46 percent from the field, including 9-of-25 from deep. To make things even more complicated, the Wizards have also gone just 9-17 when playing away from home.
Grizzlies Look To Bounce Back On Second Night Of Back-To-Back
By Dan Bruno
The Memphis Grizzlies play host to the Chicago Bulls at FedEx Forum on Monday evening.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Grizzlies (26-25), as they are coming off a home loss against the Pacers on Sunday. The Grizzlies fell behind early in the contest, as they trailed, 45-31, after one quarter. They could not make up much ground over the next two quarters, as they trailed by nine, heading into the fourth. They kept up the fight in the fourth and cut it to a one-point game, but they were not able to finish the job, as they fell for their second straight loss. Despite the loss, Jonas Valanciunas put together a massive performance, with 34 points, 22 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Ja Morant also continued his strong play, as he added 23 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals, while Kyle Anderson tallied 15 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists. The Grizzlies will look to bounce back and improve on their, 12-15, home record, as they face the second game of a three-game home stand.
Meanwhile, the Bulls (22-30) have dropped seven of their last 10 contests, including their last two in a row. They will look to get back on track and build on their, 12-14, road record, as they face the fifth and final game of a road trip. Zach LaVine leads the team averaging 27.5 points on 51 percent shooting, 5.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists, in 35 minutes per game. Thaddeus Young is averaging 12.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Nikola Vucevic has been strong through his first few games with the Bulls, averaging 22.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. The Bulls are shooting an average of 48.0 percent from the field, which is eighth best in the league, but they are giving up an average of 14.9 turnovers per game, which is second most in the league.
This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Grizzlies (26-25), as they are coming off a home loss against the Pacers on Sunday. The Grizzlies fell behind early in the contest, as they trailed, 45-31, after one quarter. They could not make up much ground over the next two quarters, as they trailed by nine, heading into the fourth. They kept up the fight in the fourth and cut it to a one-point game, but they were not able to finish the job, as they fell for their second straight loss. Despite the loss, Jonas Valanciunas put together a massive performance, with 34 points, 22 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Ja Morant also continued his strong play, as he added 23 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals, while Kyle Anderson tallied 15 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists. The Grizzlies will look to bounce back and improve on their, 12-15, home record, as they face the second game of a three-game home stand.
Meanwhile, the Bulls (22-30) have dropped seven of their last 10 contests, including their last two in a row. They will look to get back on track and build on their, 12-14, road record, as they face the fifth and final game of a road trip. Zach LaVine leads the team averaging 27.5 points on 51 percent shooting, 5.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists, in 35 minutes per game. Thaddeus Young is averaging 12.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Nikola Vucevic has been strong through his first few games with the Bulls, averaging 22.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. The Bulls are shooting an average of 48.0 percent from the field, which is eighth best in the league, but they are giving up an average of 14.9 turnovers per game, which is second most in the league.
Warriors Looking To Start Winning Run, Host Nuggets
The Golden State Warriors will host the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center on Monday night.
The Warriors (25-28) are coming off a solid win over the Houston Rockets, as they recorded the victory by a comfortable 125-109 win. Stephen Curry and his 38 points, eight rebounds and five assists carried the team, but he wasn't the only player that contributed on the offensive end in that win. Andrew Wiggins generated 25 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Kent Bazemore accrued nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, Jordan Poole led the bench with 21 points, four assists and three blocks. Golden State has been struggling in recent games, however, and they've only posted a 2-3 mark in their last five contests. They should feel confident about starting a new winning streak due to their 16-10 record when playing at home, though.
The Nuggets (34-19) are coming off an odd performance Sunday, as they looked dominant through three quarters before crumbling completely in the fourth in a loss to the Boston Celtics. In a game where only a few players contributed on their usual levels, Michael Porter Jr. carried the Nuggets offensively with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Nikola Jokic delivered another triple-double after ending with 17 points, 11 assists and 10 boards. Facundo Campazzo got another start and finished with 14 points while adding four assists, and Will Barton ended with 13 points. No other Denver player scored in double digits in this game. The Nuggets are 16-9 when playing on the road this season and recently ended an eight-game winning run with Sunday's defeat to the Celtics.
The Warriors (25-28) are coming off a solid win over the Houston Rockets, as they recorded the victory by a comfortable 125-109 win. Stephen Curry and his 38 points, eight rebounds and five assists carried the team, but he wasn't the only player that contributed on the offensive end in that win. Andrew Wiggins generated 25 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Kent Bazemore accrued nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, Jordan Poole led the bench with 21 points, four assists and three blocks. Golden State has been struggling in recent games, however, and they've only posted a 2-3 mark in their last five contests. They should feel confident about starting a new winning streak due to their 16-10 record when playing at home, though.
The Nuggets (34-19) are coming off an odd performance Sunday, as they looked dominant through three quarters before crumbling completely in the fourth in a loss to the Boston Celtics. In a game where only a few players contributed on their usual levels, Michael Porter Jr. carried the Nuggets offensively with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Nikola Jokic delivered another triple-double after ending with 17 points, 11 assists and 10 boards. Facundo Campazzo got another start and finished with 14 points while adding four assists, and Will Barton ended with 13 points. No other Denver player scored in double digits in this game. The Nuggets are 16-9 when playing on the road this season and recently ended an eight-game winning run with Sunday's defeat to the Celtics.
Suns Host Rockets on Monday
The Houston Rockets travel to Arizona to face the Phoenix Suns at Phoenix Suns Arena on Monday.
The Rockets (14-39) have had a rough season. It all started when James Harden demanded a trade in the second week, and things have not improved since then. The craziest thing about this season is the fact that Houston started with an 11-10 record. That means they have a 3-29 record over their last 32 games in total, easily the worst mark in the NBA. That’s obviously a really discouraging sign, but there are things to be encouraged by. Christian Wood and John Wall have developed a nice duo for the future, while youngsters like Kevin Porter and Jae’Sean Tate have evolved nice roles on this roster. That has them in a good spot for the future, especially when you consider all the draft picks they possess from the Harden trade and the inevitable top pick they’ll get this year.
The Suns (37-15) have pretty much had the exact opposite season from the Rockets. They started the year with an 8-8 record and have gone on to win 29 of their last 36 games since then. That’s obviously one of the best marks in the NBA, and it has Phoenix battling for the top spot in the Western Conference. They currently sit just 2.5 games back of the Utah Jazz, which is a borderline miracle when you see what they’ve been doing this year. The addition of Chris Paul is the thing that’s gotten them to this point, giving this club some much-needed leadership. That pairs wonderfully with the development of guys like Mikal Bridges, Deandre Ayton, and Devin Booker, making this one of the scariest teams in the NBA right now. The next step is to see what they can do in the postseason, but an 8-0 run in last year’s bubble is a good test to see what they can do in a similar environment.
These teams have played twice this season, with Phoenix winning both games. That has actually snapped a rather dominant stretch from the Rockets, winning 20 of their previous 23 games over the Suns in this series.
The Rockets (14-39) have had a rough season. It all started when James Harden demanded a trade in the second week, and things have not improved since then. The craziest thing about this season is the fact that Houston started with an 11-10 record. That means they have a 3-29 record over their last 32 games in total, easily the worst mark in the NBA. That’s obviously a really discouraging sign, but there are things to be encouraged by. Christian Wood and John Wall have developed a nice duo for the future, while youngsters like Kevin Porter and Jae’Sean Tate have evolved nice roles on this roster. That has them in a good spot for the future, especially when you consider all the draft picks they possess from the Harden trade and the inevitable top pick they’ll get this year.
The Suns (37-15) have pretty much had the exact opposite season from the Rockets. They started the year with an 8-8 record and have gone on to win 29 of their last 36 games since then. That’s obviously one of the best marks in the NBA, and it has Phoenix battling for the top spot in the Western Conference. They currently sit just 2.5 games back of the Utah Jazz, which is a borderline miracle when you see what they’ve been doing this year. The addition of Chris Paul is the thing that’s gotten them to this point, giving this club some much-needed leadership. That pairs wonderfully with the development of guys like Mikal Bridges, Deandre Ayton, and Devin Booker, making this one of the scariest teams in the NBA right now. The next step is to see what they can do in the postseason, but an 8-0 run in last year’s bubble is a good test to see what they can do in a similar environment.
These teams have played twice this season, with Phoenix winning both games. That has actually snapped a rather dominant stretch from the Rockets, winning 20 of their previous 23 games over the Suns in this series.