Pacers Look To Find Answers Without Oladipo
By Dan Bruno
The Indiana Pacers play host to the Golden State Warriors, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday evening.
This marks the Pacers' (32-16) second game since Victor Oladipo went down with a season-ending leg injury. They fell short in Memphis in their first contest without their star player, and will have to search for an answer as they must face another tough challenge on Monday night. Bojan Bogdanovic is the Pacers' next leading scorer behind Oladipo, and is averaging 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Domantas Sabonis has also been a great offensive option for Indiana, averaging 14.8 points on 62 percent shooting, in 25 minutes off the bench. Darren Collison is averaging 9.9 points, 5.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, but will need to step up to fill in some of the back court production. The Pacers have won their last three home games, and are 18-6 at home this season.
Meanwhile, this marks the fifth and final game of a road trip for the Warriors (35-14), where they have gone 4-0 so far, with wins in L.A. over the Clippers and Lakers, followed by wins in Washington and Boston. The Warriors are 17-8 on the road this season. They have also won their last 10 games in a row. Stephen Curry leads Golden State, averaging 29.3 points, 5.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Kevin Durant is right behind him, averaging 27.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. DeMarcus Cousins has looked good so far, after four games played, averaging 13.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, in 21 minutes per game. The Warriors sit first place in the West, with a 1.5-game lead over second place.
This marks the Pacers' (32-16) second game since Victor Oladipo went down with a season-ending leg injury. They fell short in Memphis in their first contest without their star player, and will have to search for an answer as they must face another tough challenge on Monday night. Bojan Bogdanovic is the Pacers' next leading scorer behind Oladipo, and is averaging 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Domantas Sabonis has also been a great offensive option for Indiana, averaging 14.8 points on 62 percent shooting, in 25 minutes off the bench. Darren Collison is averaging 9.9 points, 5.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, but will need to step up to fill in some of the back court production. The Pacers have won their last three home games, and are 18-6 at home this season.
Meanwhile, this marks the fifth and final game of a road trip for the Warriors (35-14), where they have gone 4-0 so far, with wins in L.A. over the Clippers and Lakers, followed by wins in Washington and Boston. The Warriors are 17-8 on the road this season. They have also won their last 10 games in a row. Stephen Curry leads Golden State, averaging 29.3 points, 5.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Kevin Durant is right behind him, averaging 27.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. DeMarcus Cousins has looked good so far, after four games played, averaging 13.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, in 21 minutes per game. The Warriors sit first place in the West, with a 1.5-game lead over second place.
Hornets Host Struggling Knicks on Monday
The Charlotte Hornets play host to the New York Knicks at Spectrum Center on Monday.
The Knicks (10-38) come into this matchup losing nine-straight and 23 of their last 25 games in total. That's easily one of the worst stretches in the NBA all season and it says a lot about where this franchise is at right now. What makes it even more bizarre is the fact that they continue to sit Enes Kanter, as he's arguably the most talented player on this roster right now. One has to wonder why there's such a big divide between Kanter and management, as a trade seems like an inevitability at this point. A trade won't do a whole lot for this team though, as they need a lot of changes to compete. Players like Emmanuel Mudiay and Noah Vonleh have been pleasant surprises but they simply need a star player to get any better. The return of Kristaps Porzingis is obviously something that could change that, as his status is still murky after tearing up his knee last year. Getting him back will be the start and fans just have to pray that they'll make some big moves in the upcoming offseason to avoid yet another disastrous season next year.
The Hornets (23-25) come into this matchup winning four of their last six games, as they're desperately trying to remain in playoff contention. The guy who's going to get them there is Kemba Walker, as he's been carrying the load for this team all year. That's why he was rewarded with a starting job at the all-star game this season, as it'll be a heck of a day for him considering that game is being played in Charlotte. What kills this team is the fact that no one else on this roster is even close to reaching the all-star game, as Jeremy Lamb is probably the second-best player on the Hornets. While's he's had a nice season, that's simply not good enough to compete in today's star-studded NBA.
These teams have split their two games this season, with the road team prevailing in each outing. The most recent game was an epic one, with the Knicks prevailing, 126-124 in overtime.
The Knicks (10-38) come into this matchup losing nine-straight and 23 of their last 25 games in total. That's easily one of the worst stretches in the NBA all season and it says a lot about where this franchise is at right now. What makes it even more bizarre is the fact that they continue to sit Enes Kanter, as he's arguably the most talented player on this roster right now. One has to wonder why there's such a big divide between Kanter and management, as a trade seems like an inevitability at this point. A trade won't do a whole lot for this team though, as they need a lot of changes to compete. Players like Emmanuel Mudiay and Noah Vonleh have been pleasant surprises but they simply need a star player to get any better. The return of Kristaps Porzingis is obviously something that could change that, as his status is still murky after tearing up his knee last year. Getting him back will be the start and fans just have to pray that they'll make some big moves in the upcoming offseason to avoid yet another disastrous season next year.
The Hornets (23-25) come into this matchup winning four of their last six games, as they're desperately trying to remain in playoff contention. The guy who's going to get them there is Kemba Walker, as he's been carrying the load for this team all year. That's why he was rewarded with a starting job at the all-star game this season, as it'll be a heck of a day for him considering that game is being played in Charlotte. What kills this team is the fact that no one else on this roster is even close to reaching the all-star game, as Jeremy Lamb is probably the second-best player on the Hornets. While's he's had a nice season, that's simply not good enough to compete in today's star-studded NBA.
These teams have split their two games this season, with the road team prevailing in each outing. The most recent game was an epic one, with the Knicks prevailing, 126-124 in overtime.
Nets and Celtics Tangle in Eastern Conference Showdown
The Brooklyn Nets take on the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Monday night.
The Nets (27-23) come into Monday's "prove it" game against Eastern Conference royalty having won six consecutive contests. Their most recent success came at the expense of the New York Knicks, which they bested by a 109-99 score Friday night. Theo Pinson paced the Nets with 19 points, supplementing them with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Shabazz Napier delivered 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal. Ed Davis generated a 17-point, 16-rebound double-double that also included three assists and one block. D'Angelo Russell registered 12 points, four assists and three rebounds. Joe Harris and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finished with matching 10-point, seven-rebound, three-assist tallies.
The Nets will be without Caris LeVert (foot) and Spencer Dinwiddie (thumb) on Monday. Joe Harris (hip), Allen Crabbe (knee), Treveon Graham (lower back) and Jared Dudley (hamstring) will all be listed as questionable.
The Celtics (30-19) head into Monday's contest almost as hot as their opponents, as they've prevailed in five of their last six games. However, Boston's one loss during that span came in their last game, as they dropped a narrow 115-111 decision to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night. Kyrie Irving led the way for the Celtics with 32 points, adding 10 assists, six rebounds and two steals. Al Horford posted a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double that also included three assists, two steals and one block. Jayson Tatum provided 20 points, five boards, three assists and one block. Marcus Smart generated 12 points, three rebounds and two assists. Jaylen Brown poured in 10 points and added two rebounds.
The Celtics will come into Monday's game without any injuries to report.
Monday's game marks the third of four meetings between the teams this season. The season series is tied at 1-1, with the Celtics notching a 116-95 win on Jan. 7 and the Nets countering with a 109-102 victory on Jan. 14.
The Nets (27-23) come into Monday's "prove it" game against Eastern Conference royalty having won six consecutive contests. Their most recent success came at the expense of the New York Knicks, which they bested by a 109-99 score Friday night. Theo Pinson paced the Nets with 19 points, supplementing them with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Shabazz Napier delivered 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal. Ed Davis generated a 17-point, 16-rebound double-double that also included three assists and one block. D'Angelo Russell registered 12 points, four assists and three rebounds. Joe Harris and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finished with matching 10-point, seven-rebound, three-assist tallies.
The Nets will be without Caris LeVert (foot) and Spencer Dinwiddie (thumb) on Monday. Joe Harris (hip), Allen Crabbe (knee), Treveon Graham (lower back) and Jared Dudley (hamstring) will all be listed as questionable.
The Celtics (30-19) head into Monday's contest almost as hot as their opponents, as they've prevailed in five of their last six games. However, Boston's one loss during that span came in their last game, as they dropped a narrow 115-111 decision to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night. Kyrie Irving led the way for the Celtics with 32 points, adding 10 assists, six rebounds and two steals. Al Horford posted a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double that also included three assists, two steals and one block. Jayson Tatum provided 20 points, five boards, three assists and one block. Marcus Smart generated 12 points, three rebounds and two assists. Jaylen Brown poured in 10 points and added two rebounds.
The Celtics will come into Monday's game without any injuries to report.
Monday's game marks the third of four meetings between the teams this season. The season series is tied at 1-1, with the Celtics notching a 116-95 win on Jan. 7 and the Nets countering with a 109-102 victory on Jan. 14.
Nuggets, Grizzlies Square Off in Memphis
By Oscar Heanue
The Denver Nuggets will visit the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum on Monday evening.
Denver (33-15) has been on a roll lately, earning back-to-back blowout wins over Phoenix and Philadelphia. In the team's recent win over Philly, Nikola Jokic recorded his seventh triple-double of the season, finishing with a whopping 32 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists. The big man continues to be the key to Denver's breakout season, and he has yet to show any signs of slowing down. In January, Jokic has averaged 25.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. The Nuggets are 9-4 so far since the start of the new year.
Jamal Murray (ankle) will be a game-time decision after missing Saturday's tilt.
Memphis (20-30) earned a badly-needed win on Saturday, taking down Indiana, 106-103. Mike Conley led the team with 22 points and 11 assists in the win. However, the team has still been in free-fall recently, losing its previous nine games before Saturday's narrow victory. Memphis owns the league's lowest-scoring offense at just 100.8 points per game. The Grizzlies will need to make a major change to turn their season around, since they are just 2-15 in their last 17 contests.
Kyle Anderson (ankle) and Dillon Brooks (toe) are both out for Monday's contest. Omri Casspi is a game-time decision as he deals with a knee injury.
Denver (33-15) has been on a roll lately, earning back-to-back blowout wins over Phoenix and Philadelphia. In the team's recent win over Philly, Nikola Jokic recorded his seventh triple-double of the season, finishing with a whopping 32 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists. The big man continues to be the key to Denver's breakout season, and he has yet to show any signs of slowing down. In January, Jokic has averaged 25.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. The Nuggets are 9-4 so far since the start of the new year.
Jamal Murray (ankle) will be a game-time decision after missing Saturday's tilt.
Memphis (20-30) earned a badly-needed win on Saturday, taking down Indiana, 106-103. Mike Conley led the team with 22 points and 11 assists in the win. However, the team has still been in free-fall recently, losing its previous nine games before Saturday's narrow victory. Memphis owns the league's lowest-scoring offense at just 100.8 points per game. The Grizzlies will need to make a major change to turn their season around, since they are just 2-15 in their last 17 contests.
Kyle Anderson (ankle) and Dillon Brooks (toe) are both out for Monday's contest. Omri Casspi is a game-time decision as he deals with a knee injury.
Hawks Visit Clippers at Staples Center
By Oscar Heanue
The Atlanta Hawks will visit the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on Monday evening.
Los Angeles (27-22) currently owns eighth place in the Western Conference after winning two straight. The Clippers are fresh off a 122-108 blowout of Sacramento on Sunday. The win gave LA some much-needed momentum, as the team had recently dropped five games in a row in mid-January. Still, the Clippers looked like their old selves over the weekend, winning both games by double figures. Veteran sixth man Lou Williams was key in both of LA's consecutive victories. On Friday, Williams recorded his first career triple-double, scoring 31 points to go with 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He followed it up with another 10-assist performance on Sunday. The former Sixth Man of the Year is now averaging 20.7 points and 5.5 assists per game in the month of January.
Danilo Gallinari (back) will be a game-time decision for LA after missing the team's last four outings.
Atlanta (15-33) has gone 2-3 in its last five. After a dismal start to the season, the Hawks have climbed up the standings somewhat, now ranking 12th in the Eastern Conference. Rookie point guard Trae Young has come alive recently, and his play has helped his team turn things around. Young is averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 assists while shooting 36 percent from three-point range over his last 15 games. In the Hawks' first meeting with the Clippers, Young scored 25 points and dished out a season-high 15 assists. He will hope to repeat his strong performance on Monday.
The Hawks will be without Kent Bazemore, who is expected to miss another two weeks with an ongoing ankle injury. Miles Plumlee (knee) is a game-time decision.
Los Angeles (27-22) currently owns eighth place in the Western Conference after winning two straight. The Clippers are fresh off a 122-108 blowout of Sacramento on Sunday. The win gave LA some much-needed momentum, as the team had recently dropped five games in a row in mid-January. Still, the Clippers looked like their old selves over the weekend, winning both games by double figures. Veteran sixth man Lou Williams was key in both of LA's consecutive victories. On Friday, Williams recorded his first career triple-double, scoring 31 points to go with 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He followed it up with another 10-assist performance on Sunday. The former Sixth Man of the Year is now averaging 20.7 points and 5.5 assists per game in the month of January.
Danilo Gallinari (back) will be a game-time decision for LA after missing the team's last four outings.
Atlanta (15-33) has gone 2-3 in its last five. After a dismal start to the season, the Hawks have climbed up the standings somewhat, now ranking 12th in the Eastern Conference. Rookie point guard Trae Young has come alive recently, and his play has helped his team turn things around. Young is averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 assists while shooting 36 percent from three-point range over his last 15 games. In the Hawks' first meeting with the Clippers, Young scored 25 points and dished out a season-high 15 assists. He will hope to repeat his strong performance on Monday.
The Hawks will be without Kent Bazemore, who is expected to miss another two weeks with an ongoing ankle injury. Miles Plumlee (knee) is a game-time decision.