Suns Visit Mavericks for Western Conference Showdown
The Phoenix Suns take on the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Thursday night.
The Suns (34-9) enter Thursday's contest in the midst of an impressive stretch of play, having recorded four consecutive wins and victories in seven of the last eight overall. Their most recent success came at the expense of the San Antonio Spurs, which they toppled by a 121-107 score Monday night. Devin Booker led the Suns with 48 points, complementing them with six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Bismack Biyombo generated a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double including one assist and one steal. Chris Paul contributed 15 points, 12 assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Cameron Payne furnished 11 points, four assists and two rebounds.
The Suns are expected to remain without Deandre Ayton (ankle), Abdel Nader (knee) and Frank Kaminsky (knee) for Thursday's contest.
The Mavericks come into Thursday's showdown as one of the hottest teams in the league, having won four straight games and 10 of their last 11 overall. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Toronto Raptors, which they edged by a 102-98 score Wednesday night. Luka Doncic paced the Mavericks with 41 points, supplementing them with 14 rebounds, seven assists and one steal. Kristaps Porzingis supplied 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. Tim Hardaway registered 16 points, two boards and one assist. Dorian Finney-Smith finished with nine points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal.
The Mavericks are likely to remain without Sterling Brown (foot) for Thursday's game.
Thursday’s game marks the third and final meeting between the teams this season. The Suns hold a 2-0 series lead, having notched 105-98 and 112-104 wins Nov. 17 and 19.
The Suns (34-9) enter Thursday's contest in the midst of an impressive stretch of play, having recorded four consecutive wins and victories in seven of the last eight overall. Their most recent success came at the expense of the San Antonio Spurs, which they toppled by a 121-107 score Monday night. Devin Booker led the Suns with 48 points, complementing them with six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Bismack Biyombo generated a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double including one assist and one steal. Chris Paul contributed 15 points, 12 assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Cameron Payne furnished 11 points, four assists and two rebounds.
The Suns are expected to remain without Deandre Ayton (ankle), Abdel Nader (knee) and Frank Kaminsky (knee) for Thursday's contest.
The Mavericks come into Thursday's showdown as one of the hottest teams in the league, having won four straight games and 10 of their last 11 overall. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Toronto Raptors, which they edged by a 102-98 score Wednesday night. Luka Doncic paced the Mavericks with 41 points, supplementing them with 14 rebounds, seven assists and one steal. Kristaps Porzingis supplied 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. Tim Hardaway registered 16 points, two boards and one assist. Dorian Finney-Smith finished with nine points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal.
The Mavericks are likely to remain without Sterling Brown (foot) for Thursday's game.
Thursday’s game marks the third and final meeting between the teams this season. The Suns hold a 2-0 series lead, having notched 105-98 and 112-104 wins Nov. 17 and 19.
Knicks Look To Bounce Back At Home
By Dan Bruno
The New York Knicks play host to the New Orleans Pelicans at Madison Square Garden on Thursday evening.
This marks the third game of a four-game home stand for the Knicks (22-23), where they have gone, 0-2, so far, with losses to the Hornets and Timberwolves. The Knicks will look to get back on track for a chance to add to their, 11-13, home record. Julius Randle leads the team averaging 19.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists, per game. RJ Barrett has been playing well lately, averaging 23.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists, over the last 10 games. Nerlens Noel (knee) is listed as questionable for action, while Derrick Rose (ankle) will remain sidelined. The Knicks are averaging 104.3 points per game, which is fourth fewest in the league, but they are holding opponents to an average of 104.6 points per game.
Meanwhile, this marks the final game of a three-game road trip for the Pelicans (16-28), where they have gone, 0-2, with losses in Brooklyn and Boston. The Pelicans will look to get back on track and close the trip on a high note, with a chance to add to their, 6-17, road record. Brandon Ingram leads the team, averaging 22.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists, per game. Jonas Valanciunas is averaging 18.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists, while Josh Hart is averaging 13.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.0 steals, per game. Devonte Graham (knee) is listed as questionable for action. The Pelicans are averaging 105.5 points per game, but they are giving up an average of 110.1 points against.
This marks the third game of a four-game home stand for the Knicks (22-23), where they have gone, 0-2, so far, with losses to the Hornets and Timberwolves. The Knicks will look to get back on track for a chance to add to their, 11-13, home record. Julius Randle leads the team averaging 19.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists, per game. RJ Barrett has been playing well lately, averaging 23.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists, over the last 10 games. Nerlens Noel (knee) is listed as questionable for action, while Derrick Rose (ankle) will remain sidelined. The Knicks are averaging 104.3 points per game, which is fourth fewest in the league, but they are holding opponents to an average of 104.6 points per game.
Meanwhile, this marks the final game of a three-game road trip for the Pelicans (16-28), where they have gone, 0-2, with losses in Brooklyn and Boston. The Pelicans will look to get back on track and close the trip on a high note, with a chance to add to their, 6-17, road record. Brandon Ingram leads the team, averaging 22.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists, per game. Jonas Valanciunas is averaging 18.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists, while Josh Hart is averaging 13.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.0 steals, per game. Devonte Graham (knee) is listed as questionable for action. The Pelicans are averaging 105.5 points per game, but they are giving up an average of 110.1 points against.
Warriors Host Pacers on Thursday
The Golden State Warriors play host to the Indiana Pacers at Chase Center on Thursday.
The Pacers (16-29) have been one of the worst road teams in the NBA, entering this matchup with a 4-17 record outside of Indiana. That horrific mark is hard to understand with how talented this team is, and it became even more confusing on Wednesday. The Pacers went into Los Angeles and handed the Lakers a 111-104 defeat. Indiana rode a 35-24 fourth quarter in that comeback win, getting 23 fourth-quarter points from Caris LeVert. They also got
a triple-double from Domantas Sabonis as well, in addition to a solid game from Malcolm Brogdon. Having a core like that makes it hard to understand why this record is so poor, but this is a team no one wants to face despite what the record says.
The Warriors (32-12) are in their worst stretch of the season right now, posting a 5-6 record over their last 11 games. Calling that their worst stretch shows just how special of a season it's been for Warriors fans, with Golden State owning the second-best record in the NBA. They've done that damage despite Stephen Curry being in a shooting slump, but a shooting slump for him still has Curry in the MVP discussion. The most important thing is that they got Klay Thompson back, and he looks extremely healthy. He's yet to have any big games, but the eye test tells us that he's 100 percent ready for the remainder of the season. That's all that really matters, and it makes this one of the scariest teams in the NBA.
These teams played on December 13, with Golden State prevailing, 102-100.
The Pacers (16-29) have been one of the worst road teams in the NBA, entering this matchup with a 4-17 record outside of Indiana. That horrific mark is hard to understand with how talented this team is, and it became even more confusing on Wednesday. The Pacers went into Los Angeles and handed the Lakers a 111-104 defeat. Indiana rode a 35-24 fourth quarter in that comeback win, getting 23 fourth-quarter points from Caris LeVert. They also got
a triple-double from Domantas Sabonis as well, in addition to a solid game from Malcolm Brogdon. Having a core like that makes it hard to understand why this record is so poor, but this is a team no one wants to face despite what the record says.
The Warriors (32-12) are in their worst stretch of the season right now, posting a 5-6 record over their last 11 games. Calling that their worst stretch shows just how special of a season it's been for Warriors fans, with Golden State owning the second-best record in the NBA. They've done that damage despite Stephen Curry being in a shooting slump, but a shooting slump for him still has Curry in the MVP discussion. The most important thing is that they got Klay Thompson back, and he looks extremely healthy. He's yet to have any big games, but the eye test tells us that he's 100 percent ready for the remainder of the season. That's all that really matters, and it makes this one of the scariest teams in the NBA.
These teams played on December 13, with Golden State prevailing, 102-100.