NBA Previews

The All-Star break can’t arrive soon enough for the Miami Heat, who will be missing several key players when they begin a six-game road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. Jimmy Butler (personal), Josh Richardson (dislocated right shoulder) and Terry Rozier (sprained right knee) will be unavailable for Miami, which has started 28 different lineups in 53 games this season. The Heat could also be without Duncan Robinson, who is listed as questionable after

Shaquille O’Neal was the first superstar in Orlando Magic history. Paolo Banchero is taking steps to become the latest after winning NBA Rookie of the Year honors last season and earning his first All-Star berth this season. Tuesday, the pair will come together when the Magic take on the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder. After the game, O’Neal’s No. 32 jersey will be the first retired by the Magic. Before that ceremony, Banchero will have a

Shortly after the final buzzer, the Boston Celtics were ready to move on from the intensity of another game with the Miami Heat while appreciating the physicality of Jaylen Brown in an exchange with Duncan Robinson in the fourth quarter on Sunday. After a pair of close wins that saw their composure tested late, the Celtics attempt to push their winning streak to five games Tuesday night when they visit the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics

The San Antonio Spurs will try to avoid their eighth straight loss Monday night when they visit the rebuilding Toronto Raptors. Both teams are coming off decisive losses. In the third of nine consecutive road games, on both sides of the All-Star break, the Spurs lost to the Brooklyn Nets 123-103 on Saturday. The Raptors, who are adjusting their lineup following trades, lost 119-95 to the surging Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday in the second game

The Memphis Grizzlies lost to one of the worst teams in the NBA on Saturday night, while the New Orleans Pelicans escaped another bottom feeder in the Portland Trail Blazers. The two Southwest Division rivals will meet Monday night in Memphis as the Grizzlies try to rebound from a 115-106 loss at Charlotte. The Hornets, who have the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference, took advantage of a short-handed Memphis team to end a 10-game

The Milwaukee Bucks are just 2-5 since Doc Rivers took over as head coach for Adrian Griffin, but there have been a few encouraging signs for the team. The Bucks will look to build on one of their best defensive games of the season when they host the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Milwaukee is out to avenge a 113-107 loss to the Nuggets on Jan. 29 in Denver, which was Rivers’ first game with

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