NBA Previews

Joel Embiid missed three games with a swollen left knee, then came back as strong as ever on Monday. Embiid had 41 points and 10 rebounds as the host Philadelphia 76ers dispatched the Houston Rockets 124-115. The Sixers host the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, which would constitute a back-to-back for the big man should he remain in the lineup. Embiid, who has missed 10 games this season, returned to produce his 17th straight

Bam Adebayo is in the midst of a streak of 20-point, 10-rebound games of his career, and with Jimmy Butler inching closer to returning from a right toe injury, the timing is fortuitous for the Miami Heat. Adebayo will attempt to get a 20-10 double-double for a career-best sixth straight game Monday night when the Heat visit the struggling Brooklyn Nets. Adebayo has at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in five straight games this

It was beginning to look like a lost season when the Utah Jazz were wobbling around and mired in a 7-16 start. Slightly more than a month later, the Jazz are the NBA’s hottest team. Utah aims to stretch its NBA-best winning streak to six games as well as win for the 15th time in 19 games when it hosts the Indiana Pacers on Monday night at Salt Lake City. The Jazz have won eight

The New York Knicks got a glimpse at what life was like without guard Jalen Brunson on Saturday night. Even in victory, they didn’t like what they saw. Brunson may be back in the lineup Monday afternoon, when the Knicks host the Orlando Magic in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee. Both teams were off after playing on the road Saturday, when the Knicks outlasted the depleted Memphis Grizzlies 106-94 and the Magic fell

The New Orleans Pelicans and the Dallas Mavericks were both short-handed Saturday night. The visiting Pelicans overcame the absence of Brandon Ingram (Achilles), CJ McCollum (ankle), Zion Williamson (rest) and Trey Murphy III (knee soreness) in a 118-108 victory against the host Mavericks, who played without Luka Doncic (ankle), Dante Exum (plantar) and Dereck Lively II (ankle). Both teams hope to be closer to full strength when they meet again Monday afternoon in Dallas. New

With reigning Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid still out with a knee issue, Tobias Harris took center stage for the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. He scored a season-best 37 points, two shy of his career high, as the Sixers defeated the Sacramento Kings 112-93. The Sixers, who are 3-7 without Embiid this season, will host the Houston Rockets on Monday afternoon and look to Harris for continued leadership and production. “Like I always say, he

The sweaty sneakers will be on the other feet Sunday night when the host Milwaukee Bucks play on the second night of a back-to-back set against the rested Sacramento Kings. The Bucks took advantage of a fatigued opponent for the second time in three days during their 129-118 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. Milwaukee’s four oldest starters were pressed into 33 or more minutes against the Warriors Giannis Antetokounmpo (33 points), Damian

The Miami Heat are relying on Bam Adebayo more than ever. Over his past four games, Adebayo is averaging 24.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists. That’s up slightly from his season averages of 22.0 points, 10.4 boards and 4.1 assists. “We’re running a lot of our actions through (Adebayo),” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. On Sunday night, Adebayo will try to keep his momentum as Miami plays host to the struggling Charlotte Hornets. The

From the moment the Denver Nuggets won the NBA title in June, they hoped they could bring back Bruce Brown, an unrestricted free agent who had been an integral piece to their championship puzzle. Denver had little room under the salary cap, so Brown signed with the Indiana Pacers for two years and $44 million. For the first time since he celebrated winning it all with the Nuggets, Brown returns to Denver on Sunday with