NBA Previews

The Toronto Raptors will face former coach Nick Nurse for the first time when the Philadelphia 76ers visit on Saturday night. The Raptors have split their first two games under new coach Darko Rajakovic. They lost 104-103 in overtime to the host Chicago Bulls on Friday despite a triple-double from Scottie Barnes, who had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Chicago’s Alex Caruso sank the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left in OT. Toronto

The Indiana Pacers will have the advantage of being both well rested and riding the momentum of a brilliant start to the season when they resurface Saturday night in Cleveland to duel a potentially tired Cavaliers squad. Getting double-doubles from Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard plus double-figure scoring from six other players, the Pacers dazzled their home crowd with a 143-120 romp over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. Indiana hasn’t played since. On a

The Washington Wizards might have caught a break in their home opener when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. Memphis, which is coming off the second game of a back-to-back, trailed most of the game during its 108-104 home loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Six Grizzlies scored in double figures in the loss. Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 21 points and Derrick Rose scored 16 points off the bench, including

The Detroit Pistons’ home opener against the Chicago Bulls most likely won’t be an easy assignment. Chicago has defeated the Pistons 15 consecutive times, including a sweep of the last four season series. The Pistons will look to snap that streak against their Central Division rival on Saturday night. Detroit has split its first two games this season. After a furious rally in Miami that fell one point short, the Pistons defeated Charlotte on Friday,

After both going undefeated in the preseason, the Minnesota Timberwolves and host Toronto Raptors will see if the momentum carries over to the regular season when the teams meet on Wednesday night. The Raptors didn’t lose a game in the preseason for the first time in franchise history, finishing with a 4-0 record. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves finished a perfect preseason for the first time since 2011, going 5-0. The main changes for the Raptors, who

Two Western Conference teams that made impressive strides in the right direction last season will begin the 2023-24 campaign against each other on Wednesday night when the Utah Jazz host the Sacramento Kings in Salt Lake City. Along with being a pivotal season for the teams as they work their way up the NBA ladder, the 2023-24 campaign is historic for both franchises. The Kings are celebrating their 100th anniversary, dating beyond their Kansas City

Chet Holmgren will make his NBA debut one year later than expected when the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night in the season opener for each team. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft before sustaining a Lisfranc injury to his right foot 14 months ago in a pro-am game and subsequently undergoing season-ending surgery. Now, the Thunder are counting on the former Gonzaga

The New Orleans Pelicans are all too aware of having to play short-handed, but they will be in the unfamiliar position of being closer to full strength than their opponent in Wednesday’s season opener against the host Memphis Grizzlies. The Pelicans had star forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram for just 29 and 45 games, respectively, due to injury last season, but the Grizzlies will be missing their key backcourt player, Ja Morant. The star