December 13th NBA Game Previews

The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on Friday night.

The Lakers (22-3) boast a record that underscores how dominant they've been through their first 25 games, and fittingly, they'll come into Friday's contest having won five consecutive games. Their most recent victory came Wednesday night, when they bested the Los Angeles Lakers by a 96-87 score. LeBron James led the Lakers with a 25-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that also included two steals. Anthony Davis posted 16 points, 12 boards, six assists, two steals and two blocks. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope poured in 15 points.

The Lakers will list Anthony Davis (shoulder) and Avery Bradley (leg) as probable for Friday's game. Rajon Rondo (hamstring) and Kyle Kuzma (ankle) will be listed as questionable.

The Heat (18-6) continue to surprise as one of the most complete teams in the Eastern Conference, and they'll come into this showdown against their former superstar teammate LeBron having notched six victories in their last seven games. Their most recent triumph was a memorable one, as they managed a 135-121 overtime victory against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, a game in which they forced the extra period with a 16-10 run over the final 7:06. Kendrick Nunn led the Heat with 36 points and complemented them with six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Duncan Robinson followed with a career-high 34 points, supplementing them with four assists, three rebounds and one block. Bam Adebayo generated a 30-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double. Jimmy Butler totaled 20 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Heat will continue to be without Goran Dragic (groin), Justise Winslow (back) and Dion Waiters (illness) on Friday. Tyler Herro (illness) will be listed as questionable.

Friday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Lakers hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 95-80 win back on Nov. 8.

The Houston Rockets take on the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on Friday night.

The Rockets (16-8) have bounced back nicely after a rare recent three-game losing streak, as they've prevailed in five of the subsequent seven games. Houston's most recent victory was a hard-fought 116-110 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. James Harden led the way for Houston with 55 points, adding eight assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Russell Westbrook followed with 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. Clint Capela generated a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double that also included one assist, three blocks and one steal.

The Rockets are slated to be without Eric Gordon (knee) and Gerald Green (foot) on Friday. Austin Rivers (illness), Tyson Chandler (illness) and Nene Hilario (hip) will be listed as doubtful.

The Magic (11-13) have been nowhere near as consistent as their Friday opponents, and they've followed up a recent four-game win streak with back-to-back losses. Their most recent stumble came versus the Los Angeles Lakers, which bested them by a 96-87 score Wednesday night. Aaron Gordon paced the Magic with 19 points, adding eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Evan Fournier poured in 18 points and also supplied five assists and two rebounds. Aaron Gordon posted a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included four assists, one steal and one block. Mo Bamba put up 13 points and pulled down four rebounds.

The Magic will list Markelle Fultz (illness) and Nikola Vucevic (ankle) as doubtful for Friday's game. Al-Farouq Aminu (knee) will remain out.

Friday's game marks the first of two meetings between Houston and Orlando this season. The two teams split the two-game 2018-19 season series.

The New Orleans Pelicans take on the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on Friday night.

The Pelicans (6-19) have endured a difficult season overall, as their record clearly indicates. However, they've had a particularly tough time on the road, where they've dropped 10 of 12 contests. They'll come into Friday's game having lost 10 straight decisions overall, with the most recent a 127-112 defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. J.J. Redick led the Pelicans with 31 points, adding two assists and one rebound. Brandon Ingram generated a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included one assist. Jrue Holiday supplied 21 points, six assists, six rebounds and two blocks. Jaxson Hayes provided 12 points, five boards, one assist, two steals and two blocks off the bench.

The Pelicans will list Derrick Favors (personal) as questionable for Friday's game, while Zion Williamson (knee) and Darius Miller (Achilles) will remain out.

The 76ers (19-7) check into Friday's game in exponentially better shape than their opponents, as they've rattled off four straight wins, and eight in their last nine games overall. Philadelphia's most recent success came against the division-rival Boston Celtics, which they toppled by a 115-109 score on Thursday night. Joel Embiid led the way with a 38-point, 13-rebound double-double that also included six assists and one block. Tobias Harris furnished 23 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and one steal. Mike Scott delivered 15 points and four rebounds. Josh Richardson supplied 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

The 76ers are likely to list Al Horford (knee/hamstring) as questionable at best for Friday's contest after he missed Thursday's game, while Zhaire Smith (leg) will likely carry the same designation.

Friday's game marks the first of two meetings for the teams this season. The 76ers swept the two-game 2018-19 season series with the Pelicans.

The Atlanta Hawks play host to the Indiana Pacers at State Farm Arena on Friday evening.

The Hawks (6-19) return home after a three-game road trip, where they went 1-2, with a win in Charlotte followed by losses in Miami and Chicago. They have dropped three of their last four home games and are 3-8 at home. The Hawks are giving up 118.8 points per game, which is third most in the league. They are averaging 8.5 steals per game, which is fifth most in the league, but they are giving up a league-high 17.0 turnovers per game. Trae Young leads the Hawks with team highs of 27.9 points and 8.6 assists per game. Jabari Parker is averaging 16.0 points and 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. De'Andre Hunter has been playing well lately, averaging 14.0 points on 38 percent shooting from long range, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists over his last nine games.

Meanwhile, the Pacers (16-9) are coming off a solid home win over the Celtics in their most recent contest and are 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Pacers have won three of their last four road games and are 6-6 on the road this season. They are averaging 109.3 points per game, but they are holding their opponents to an average o 105.2 points per game, which is sixth fewest in the league. The Pacers attempt an average of 26.7 three-pointers per game, which is second fewest in the league. Malcolm Brogdon leads the Pacers with team highs of 19.5 points and 7.5 assists per game. Domantas Sabonis is averaging 18.2 points and a team-high 13.5 rebounds per game. T.J. Warren is averaging 18.2 points on 51 percent shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

The Chicago Bulls play host to the Charlotte Hornets at United Center on Friday evening.

This marks the third game of a four-game home stand for the Bulls (9-17), where they have gone 1-1, with a loss to the Raptors and a win over the Hawks. They are 4-6 in their last 10 games and are 5-9 at home. The Bulls are averaging a league-high 9.6 steals per game, but they are shooting 43.1 percent from the field, which is fourth worst in the league. Zach LaVine (shoulder) leads the Bulls with 22.7 points per game but is listed as probable for action on Friday. Lauri Markkanen is averaging 14.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, while Coby White is averaging 12.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Tomas Satoransky is averaging 9.3 points and a team-high 5.3 assists per game. Wendell Carter Jr. (abdomen) is considered probable for action on Friday and is averaging 12.2 points and a team-high 9.8 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, this marks the second game of a three-game road trip for the Hornets (11-16), which they kicked off with an impressive win in Brooklyn on Wednesday. The Hornets have won two in a row and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Devonte' Graham continues to impress, as he poured in 40 points on Wednesday and had 29 points in the game prior. Graham is averaging 23.0 points, 8.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds over his last 10 games. Terry Rozier is averaging 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Cody Zeller is averaging 11.3 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game. The Hornets are averaging 106.0 points per game, but they are giving up an average of 112.7 points against. They are shooting 44.3 percent from the field, which is sixth worst in the league, but they are shooting 37.1 percent from long range, which is seventh best.

The Memphis Grizzlies play host to the Milwaukee Bucks at FedEx Forum on Friday evening.

The Grizzlies (8-16) return home from a four-game road trip to begin a three-game home stand. They went 2-2 on their road trip and have dropped seven of their last 10 games. They have dropped six in a row at home, where they are 3-10 this season. The Grizzlies will be without their leading scorer, Ja Morant (back), as he will not play on Friday. Jaren Jackson Jr. averages 16.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, while Jonas Valanciunas is averaging 13.9 points and a team-high 9.8 rebounds per game. Dillon Brooks tallied 27 points in the Grizzlies' last contest and is averaging 14 points over the last 10 games. The Grizzlies are averaging 109.0 points per game, but they are giving up 116.0 points per game, which is fifth most in the league. They are averaging 26.3 assists per game, but will be without Morant, who leads the team in assists per game. Tyus Jones is averaging 4.8 assists per game.

Meanwhile, the Bucks (22-3) have won 16 games in a row, including their most recent contest where their MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo (thigh) was sidelined. Antetokounmpo remains questionable for action on Friday, but the Bucks can lean on other guys, including Khris Middleton, who is averaging 17.1 points on 52 percent shooting over his last eight games. Eric Bledsoe is averaging 15.2 points, 5.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game. Donte DiVincenzo has been playing well lately, averaging 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals, in 24 minutes per game over the last 10 games. The Bucks are the highest-scoring team in the league, averaging 120.8 points per game. They shoot 48.4 percent from the field, which is second best in the league.

The Golden State Warriors travel to Salt Lake City to play the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Friday.

The Warriors (5-21) still have the best record in the NBA over the last decade but they'll be dethroned from that pretty soon with the way they are playing. It's certainly no fault of the organization though, as they could no longer pay all of these superstar players. That's why they let Kevin Durant walk in the offseason but the rash of injuries is one thing they couldn't anticipate. Not only did they lose Stephen Curry in the opening weeks with a broken hand, and Klay Thompson in last year's Finals to a torn ACL, Draymond Green, D'Angelo Russell and Kevon Looney have also been in and out of the lineup themselves. The good news is that all of those guys are back now except Thompson and Curry but that's still proving to be too much to overcome. Where they're really hurting is on the defensive end, ranked 26th in defensive efficiency. As long as that continues, it's hard to imagine things getting better anytime soon and even harder to imagine Curry returning.

The Jazz (14-11) appear to be climbing out of their hole, winning two of their last three games. While that's surely a small sample size, winning by double-digits in both games shows that things are starting to turn around. That recent stretch actually ended their worst period of the season, losing five of their previous six games before that. They were also getting blown out in those games and it's becoming clear that the offensive and defensive splits are really determining results. This club ranks 22nd in points scored and seventh in points allowed which has been a common trend for this club over recent years. They have too much talent on offense to sit that low and it's just a matter of time before they rip off a lengthy winning streak.

These teams have already played twice this season, with Utah prevailing in both.

The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Los Angeles Clippers at Target Center on Friday.

The Clippers (19-7) have had one weakness this season and it's been their road form. In fact, they come into this matchup with an even 6-6 record outside of Staples Center. That means they have just one loss at home, showing how scary they can be at times. They come into this matchup rolling too, winning 12 of their last 14 games in total. That correlates with Paul George returning to the lineup and it's a horrifying sight to see George and Kawhi Leonard playing with one another. That's why they rank Top-10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency and there are only two other teams in the NBA who have that same designation. As long as these two are healthy, Los Angeles will remain elite on both ends of the floor.

The Timberwolves (10-14) come into this matchup losing six-straight, which is easily their worst stretch of the season. That run has dropped them from a playoff spot to an uphill battle to even get there. What's really concerning about this stretch is the nature of the losses, with the T'Wolves making late-game execution look like one of the most difficult things in the world. What's looked equally as poor is their defense, allowing over 133 points per game in the last four defeats. That's obviously horrendous and it's a wonder why they're struggling so badly on that end of the floor with so many talented players. That has dropped them all the way down to 27th in points allowed and that's simply unacceptable from a team who wants to reach the postseason.

Los Angeles won the three-game season series over Minnesota last year, 2-1. Prior to that, the T'Wolves won their previous six meetings over the Clippers dating back to 2016.

The Sacramento Kings play host to the New York Knicks at Golden 1 Center on Friday.

The Knicks (5-21) don't have much to get excited about but a win on Wednesday is definitely something to build upon. While it did come against an equally bad Golden State Warriors team, a win is a win. That's something that was desperately needed too, with New York losing 10-straight before that victory. That stretch says a lot about where this franchise is at and it cost David Fizdale his job. While he did do a poor job as their head coach, it's certainly not his fault with the way this roster was constructed. That has to make one believe that some moves are on the way and it's about time that this organization starts making some correct ones after years of poor decisions.

The Kings (11-13) come into this matchup winning three-straight games and fans are hopeful it's the start of something special. The nature of those wins is impressive too, beating Western Conference foes like the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks. After surprising everyone last season, Sacramento got off to a terrible 0-5 start this year but has been much better since. What's more, is the fact that Marvin Bagley returned in the most recent game and De'Aaron Fox's return from injury isn't far away either. Those are two of the key pieces to this franchise and it's scary to think how good they could be when they get an All-Star candidate like Fox back into the fold. That pairs beautifully with emerging players like Nemanja Bjelica, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Richaun Holmes, as this franchise is in a good spot for the future.

New York dominated the first meeting between these teams, 113-92, on November 3. Amazingly, that marked the Knicks seventh win in their last eight games against the Kings.