NBA Previews

Kristaps Porzingis was uncertain if he would be in the lineup for the Boston Celtics when they play the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. Porzingis sprained his left ankle in the third quarter of Boston’s 143-110 road victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday. He was taken to the locker room and did not return to the game, although he did return to the bench in the fourth quarter. Porzingis was listed as

Only Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant have ever had to produce a follow-up act like the one Luka Doncic faces Saturday night. The Dallas Mavericks star will be back on the court against the visiting Sacramento Kings, one night after pouring in a career-best and franchise-record 73 points during a 148-143 road win over the Atlanta Hawks. Doncic’s output tied for fourth highest in NBA history with Chamberlain (twice) and David Thompson, whose big outing

Things have quickly started to spiral for the Miami Heat. After winning nine of 13 games to bridge December and January, Miami has lost five straight as it gears up for a meeting with the host New York Knicks on Saturday afternoon. The Heat were most recently embarrassed on Thursday, falling 143-110 to the Boston Celtics in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro each had 19 points while

The Pistons will seek their second victory over the Washington Wizards this month when the teams meet on Saturday afternoon in Detroit. The Wizards will have a different head coach patrolling the sidelines for this matchup. Wes Unseld Jr. was moved upstairs Thursday into an advisory role. Assistant Brian Keefe was named interim head coach. The move didn’t change the team’s fortunes at the outset. The Utah Jazz extended Washington’s losing skid to six games

The Phoenix Suns acquired guard Bradley Beal in June, but the team struggled while the three-time All-Star missed 24 of the season’s first 30 games due to injury. Now fully healthy, Beal is a main reason behind the Suns’ rapid climb up the Western Conference standings. Phoenix has won seven straight games heading into a matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Friday in Indianapolis. Indiana is looking to build on an impressive 134-122 home win

The New Orleans Pelicans set a franchise record for points in a game when they beat the visiting Utah Jazz 153-124 on Tuesday night. The Oklahoma City Thunder were not as prolific on offense but still put up 140 points in a 26-point road win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. The high-powered offenses will meet Friday when Pelicans and visiting Thunder face off in New Orleans. Oklahoma City was completing a pair of

The Memphis Grizzlies won their last two contests to salvage a split of their just-completed four-game road trip. The Grizzlies will look to continue their recent good fortune and notch a rare victory at home on Friday when they host the skidding Orlando Magic. The Grizzlies actually won their last game in front of their home fans with a 116-107 triumph versus the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 15. Vince Williams Jr. scored 24 points

The Los Angeles Clippers will take aim at their fourth consecutive victory Friday night when they open a seven-game road trip against the Toronto Raptors. The Clippers have won 11 of their past 13 games and are 20-4 since the start of December to signal they will be a formidable opponent for the revamped Raptors, who have lost three straight and eight of their past 10. The Clippers defeated the Raptors 126-120 at Los Angeles

The Milwaukee Bucks will once again host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night for the second consecutive game with an opportunity to win the season series. The Bucks took down the Cavs 126-116 on Wednesday night in their first game after dismissing head coach Adrian Griffin. Assistant Joe Prunty served as interim head coach. Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered his second consecutive triple-double and seventh of the season, finishing with 35 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.