NBA Previews

The NBA’s hottest team will vie for its 10th consecutive win on Monday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Philadelphia 76ers in a matchup of top-five clubs in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland has won 17 of its last 18 games overall, with just two losses in 2024. Four of the Cavaliers’ last five wins have been decided by 16 points or more, including a 119-95 road victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. Eight

When Atlanta’s Saddiq Bey was going through some offensive struggles three weeks ago, coach Quin Snyder told him to keep shooting. Bey did, and the Hawks are reaping the benefits of his rediscovered offensive game. Bey and the Hawks will play their final home game before the All-Star break on Monday night when they host the Chicago Bulls. The two teams are fighting for playoff positions: the Bulls currently are No. 9 in the Eastern

The Charlotte Hornets are coming off a rare victory entering Monday night’s home game against the Indiana Pacers. Charlotte snapped a 10-game losing streak by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 115-106 on Saturday night. The win also ended the Hornets’ eight-game, home-court skid. The Pacers have won three of their last four games, including Saturday night’s 125-111 road decision against the New York Knicks for their 30th win of the season. Winning two games in a

Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown said he will be watching the Super Bowl. Brown’s son, Cameron, is a defensive quality control coach for the San Francisco 49ers. “I’m excited,” Mike Brown said earlier this week. “I’m watching it. I’m carrying my 49ers shirt with me. I’m going to have it on and I will be into it 100 percent for sure.” Just before that game, though, Brown will coach the Kings as they take on

The New Orleans Pelicans are hoping their defense makes the trip to Portland. One night after a poor defensive effort, the Pelicans crave a better showing when they face the struggling Trail Blazers on Saturday night. New Orleans saw a four-game winning streak come to an end Friday as it dropped a 139-122 road decision against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pelicans gave up an astounding 51 points in the second quarter and 87 in

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be going for their ninth consecutive victory when they visit the rebuilding Toronto Raptors on Saturday night. The Cavaliers are coming off a 118-95 road win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. Toronto opened a five-game homestand Friday night with a 107-104 win over the Houston Rockets. The Raptors expect to play Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji, who were obtained in a trade with the Utah Jazz before the trade deadline

There’s a prize out there for the taking when the Memphis Grizzlies and host Charlotte Hornets meet for the first time this season Saturday night. The Grizzlies have lost seven games in a row, most recently a 118-110 home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. The Hornets are on a 10-game skid after Friday night’s 120-84 setback at Milwaukee. “They went after us early in the game,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “We

Two teams trending in opposite directions face off Saturday when the Atlanta Hawks host the road-weary Houston Rockets in the second night of back-to-back sets for both teams. On Jan. 26, the Hawks fell to a season-worst nine games under .500 after a home loss to the Dallas Mavericks in which Luka Doncic scored 73 points. Atlanta has rattled off five wins in its last seven games since that contest, including a 127-121 road victory

The Philadelphia 76ers hope that new arrivals Buddy Hield and Cameron Payne can play key roles during a lengthy playoff run later this season. For now, the two are just being asked to keep the injury-plagued Sixers afloat during a particularly rough stretch. Philadelphia has lost four straight heading into a road matchup against the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Hield and Payne were acquired at Thursday’s trade deadline and immediately inserted into the starting lineup