NBA Previews

Joel Embiid looks to continue his torrid scoring ways on Friday when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Orlando Magic. Embiid scored 41 points for the second straight game and added 10 assists and seven rebounds to lead the 76ers to their third consecutive win, a 126-121 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Embiid, the reigning NBA MVP, got the better of Nikola Jokic, a two-time winner of the award and the reigning NBA Finals

The Minnesota Timberwolves will go for their fourth victory in a row when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves will play on short rest after holding on for a 124-117 road win against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 27 points apiece to lead Minnesota, and Rudy Gobert posted a double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds. It was the fourth win in

The Toronto Raptors will shoot for their second straight victory since trading All-Star Pascal Siakam when they host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Siakam was dealt to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday before the Raptors dominated the visiting Miami Heat 121-97. In the deal, the Raptors received three first-round picks as well as Bruce Brown and Jordan Nwora. The New Orleans Pelicans also were involved in the trade, sending guard Kira Lewis Jr. to Toronto.

The Knicks will look to complete a three-game sweep of their season series against the Washington Wizards when the teams meet in New York on Thursday. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle paved the way for the Knicks in the first two meetings, both at Washington. Brunson scored 32 points and Randle added 22 in New York’s 120-99 victory on Nov. 17 before the latter had 39 and the former had 33 in the Knicks’ 121-105

The visiting Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings have bigger things to worry about than Tyrese Haliburton’s canceled homecoming when each team attempts to end a losing streak Thursday night. Haliburton has blossomed into an NBA star since being dealt from the Kings to the Pacers in February 2022 in a deal that brought Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento. The 23-year-old has taken the Pacers to the NBA in-season tournament semifinals and to the top of the

With heavy hearts, the Utah Jazz will retake the court in Salt Lake City on Thursday night to face the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Jazz were due to host the Warriors on Wednesday, but the contest was postponed after Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevic died from a heart attack he sustained at a team dinner in Utah on Tuesday night. Milojevic, a respected NBA mentor and Serbian basketball legend, was 46. Tributes and condolences

Alec Burks may be playing too well to remain with the Detroit Pistons much longer. The 32-year-old reserve guard has emerged as one of the few bright spots for the Pistons. He tied his career high with 34 points against Washington on Monday afternoon, lifting his club to just its fourth victory. The Pistons will look to collect back-to-back wins for the second time this season when they begin a six-game homestand against Western Conference

Ascending in the standings on the strength of a season-high five-game winning streak, the Cleveland Cavaliers welcome the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night with revenge on their minds. Winners of 10 of their last 13 games overall, the surging Cavaliers owe the Bucks one in return for Milwaukee’s 119-111 victory in Cleveland on Dec. 29. Donovan Mitchell scored 34 points and Jarrett Allen collected 10 points and 14 rebounds in Cleveland’s 109-91 victory over the

Only three teams sit above the resurgent Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference standings. One of those clubs is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who will visit the Clippers on Tuesday. The Clippers faced the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday and came away with a 109-105 defeat in Minneapolis. It was just the second loss in the past 10 games for Los Angeles. Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points against the Timberwolves and Norman Powell