Archives: Previews

These are heady times for the Orlando Magic, who can match the franchise record for most consecutive wins when they face the visiting Washington Wizards on Friday. Orlando is seeking its ninth straight win after beating Washington 139-120 on Wednesday. Franz Wagner scored a season-high 31 points in the victory, while Jalen Suggs added a season-high 22. Orlando’s dominant performance included season highs in field goal percentage (60.7 percent), 3-point percentage (63 percent) and assists

The key question entering Friday night’s matchup between the visiting Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics involves Philadelphia center Joel Embiid, who was scratched from Wednesday’s loss to New Orleans because of an illness. Will Embiid play against Boston? And if he does play, how effective will he be? Embiid has appeared in 16 of Philadelphia’s 18 games this season and is averaging 32.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists per contest. The 76ers are

Two teams coming off vastly different finishes in Sacramento over the past 48 hours will meet for the first time this season when the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors play in San Francisco on Thursday night. The Clippers will be riding the momentum of a Wednesday win in Sacramento, while the Warriors will enjoy the advantage of having had a day off following a loss in the California capital on Tuesday. Golden State

The Kansas City Chiefs would love to see history repeat itself when they visit Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. Love, however, is feeling much more confident these days. So, too, are the rejuvenated Packers (5-6) as they prepare to host the high-powered Chiefs (8-3). Love’s first NFL start came against the Chiefs on Nov. 7, 2021. He posted a 69.5 passer rating as he threw for 190 yards, one touchdown

Banged up but unbowed, the Cleveland Browns will try to improve their positioning in the AFC playoff picture when they visit the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Cleveland remained out west following its 29-12 loss at Denver last Sunday. Now the Browns hope to stay healthy after injuries forced defensive end Myles Garrett (left shoulder), quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (concussion), wide receiver Amari Cooper (rib) and defensive end Jordan Elliott (ankle) from the game. In addition,

The San Francisco 49ers return to the scene of last season’s NFC Championship Game, and Sunday’s rematch with the host Philadelphia Eagles should include many fireworks. Last year’s matchup was marred by an elbow injury to 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy as the Eagles cruised to the 31-7 win that elevated them into the Super Bowl. Come Sunday, Purdy is healthy and teammate Christian McCaffrey is flourishing, while Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is once again enjoying

Perhaps the most surprising aspect behind the unexpected rise of Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has been the resilient play of his offensive line, a patchwork unit besieged by injury from the start of this season. Despite operating behind a makeshift group, Stroud has performed at a level on par with the greatest campaigns ever for a rookie signal-caller. Stroud certainly is deserving of a lion’s share of the credit for his development, but

The Miami Dolphins are chasing a third victory in a row when they visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon in Landover, Md. Miami (8-3) sits atop the AFC East and is coming off wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets. The Dolphins are in pursuit of their first division title since the 2008 season. Washington (4-8) has lost three games in a row and eight of its last 10. No team

For Jonathan Taylor, it’s thumbs down in Week 13. If the Indianapolis Colts are to maintain their current wild-card playoff position, it will have to be thumbs up for Zack Moss, starting with Sunday’s game against the host Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn. Taylor, the 2021 NFL rushing champion whose last two years have been interrupted by injuries and contract standoffs, underwent thumb surgery Wednesday in Los Angeles. He’s expected to miss two or three

The New York Jets’ four-game losing streak is tied for the longest active skid in the NFL. They’re desperate for good news, and Aaron Rodgers is doing all he can to give them a glimmer of hope. On Wednesday, Rodgers returned to practice, 11 weeks after he underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles. Rodgers has said he wants to return this season provided he’s healthy and the team is “alive” in the AFC playoff