Preview Roundups
February 03, 2017
Toronto at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors will try to recover from one damaging loss and deliver payback for another when they visit the Orlando Magic on Friday. The Raptors, who lost by one point at home against the struggling Magic on Sunday, blew an 18-point second-half lead at Boston on Wednesday and fell 109-104.
Indiana at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers are good enough now that they can win even when Paul George has an off-shooting night, though they would prefer that doesn't happen often. George will try to bounce back from a tough performance and lead the Pacers to their fifth straight win when they visit the NBA-worst Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
Minnesota at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves hit a snag on their way to respectability on Wednesday with a 125-97 loss at the defending-champion Cleveland Cavaliers. The Timberwolves will take their second stab at reaching 20 wins and a ninth victory in the last 13 games when they visit the Detroit Pistons in the finale of a two-game road trip.
Chicago at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls opened a six-game road trip with a convincing victory and look to continue the momentum when they visit the Houston Rockets on Friday. Chicago rolled to a 128-100 thrashing of Oklahoma City in the opener of its trek and can move back above .500 if it can knock off Houston.
Memphis at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies look to improve to 4-1 on a six-game road swing when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Memphis opened the excursion by losing to Portland but rebounded to knock down the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets by an average of 15.3 points.
L.A. Lakers at Boston 8:00 PM ET
Isaiah Thomas, who is wedging his name into the MVP race, will attempt to lead the Boston Celtics to their sixth consecutive victory when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. The All-Star guard ranks second in the NBA in scoring at 29.7 points per game and was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month after averaging 32.9 in January.
Milwaukee at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks are in need of a swift turnaround and lost four straight games and nine of 10 entering Friday's contest against the host Denver Nuggets. Milwaukee allowed over 100 points in every game during the stretch and lost by double digits on six occasions, including Wednesday's 104-88 road setback against the Utah Jazz.
Phoenix at Sacramento 10:30 PM ET
Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker can score along with any guard tandem in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns just need to figure out how to play a little defense. The Suns will try to snap a five-game slide and start a climb out of the Western Conference basement when they begin a stretch with three of four on the road at the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Dallas at Portland 10:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks are pulling out of the large hole they dug themselves and are making a run at the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference - a spot for which the Portland Trail Blazers are also fighting. The Trail Blazers are hosting the Mavericks on Friday in the finale of a five-game homestand and took three of the first four.