Magic vs. Bulls

Orlando vs. Chicago

After finally breaking free from the win one, lose one mold, the Magic will set their sights once again on regaining the Eastern Conference’s best record. They will have their work cut out for them in catching Boston, who they trail by three games in the loss column (and have played three less games then the Celtics) and Cleveland, who they trail by three games in the loss column. Still they will have to accomplish this feat without Jameer Nelson and will head to Chicago to take on the Bulls Tuesday night.

Nelson was one of the reasons that Orlando (41-14) alternated wins and losses. They went 3-3 through the first six games without him, but were able to finally win two straight for the first time since late January and early February when they defeated Charlotte and, most recently, Miami.

To counter that loss, the Magic picked up Rafer Alston, leading up to the trading deadline. He got off to a sluggish start in his first game against the Bobcats, going 1-of-9 with eight assists and three steals in the 92-80 victory. Sunday he seemed to find his way, scoring 12 points and nine assists in the rout of the Heat 122-99. Three of those assists went to Dwight Howard’s stellar 32 points and 17 rebounds.

The Bulls (25-31) have also had an inconsistent stretch, but unlike the Magic, the Bulls did not get off to a tremendous start to have the ability to ride it out. Chicago followed up a two-game winning streak with a 98-91loss to Indiana. In that game, Brad Miller, John Salmons and Tim Thomas made their Chicago debut after being picked up in a trading deadline acquisition. The trio combined for 23 points off the bench in the losing effort.

Ben Gordon scored 28 and has averaged that same amount over his last six games. Although Gordon, like his teammates, have struggled against Orlando. Gordon has averaged only 11.4 points in his last five games against the Magic and the Bulls have dropped six straight to Orlando.

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Spurs vs. Mavericks

San Antonio vs. Dallas

With two key players out, two of the Texas NBA teams have has to fill large holes. For San Antonio has been missing Manu Ginobili‘s presence of the bench. His achievements were so impressive a season ago that he won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. While not receiving an award for his efforts of the bench, Jason Terry is still missed by his team, Dallas. Each player will be missing another two weeks or so and will miss out when their teams face each other Tuesday in San Antonio.

Ginobili had missed the first 12 games of the season after surgery on his left ankle. Now his right ankle is bothering him. Terry, who leads the league with 20 points off of the pine is recovering from surgery on his left hand.

Grab a date and prepare for the dance, San Antonio because the Spurs are having their homecoming. As February is in its final week, the Spurs (37-17) will play at the AT&T Center for the first time in the month.

With nearly 11,000 miles of travel over 19 days, the Spurs had been evicted from their home while the rodeo dazzled the locals. They went a respectable 5-3 on the grueling trip and still lead the Southwest Division. The last time the Spurs played at home was January 31st, a 106-93 victory over New Orleans.

They capped the extensive road trip with a 98-67 destruction of Washington. Former Wizard Roger Mason led the team with 25 points and hit 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Mason needed to step up as Tim Duncan was held to a dozen points and Tony Parker netted 9. San Antonio is 8-8 in games without Ginobili.

In their last game, Dallas (33-22) had an easy time of it, thrashing Sacramento 116-95. The Mavericks were able to rest their starters and rely more heavily on the bench on the basis of their 70-50 halftime advantage. That gave some reserves and role players more time to shine. Brandon Bass recorded his season high of 20 points while James Singleton set his high with 19 points and also grabbed 12 rebounds. The Mavericks won their third game in five games that Terry has been absent.

Dallas has dropped four out of their last five against San Antonio. The teams have split their two prior contests this season with each team winning on the road. The Spurs won their most recent matchup in overtime on December 9th, 133-126.

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Phoenix vs. Charlotte

Phoenix -4  vs. Detroit

Two teams that were on different planes a few weeks ago have been streaking in opposite directions. The Phoenix Suns have had trouble winning consistently lately, while the Charlotte Bobcats have been winning more frequently lately. It could possibly be the growing pains for one team has persisted, while the other has grown out of it as these two teams were involved in a six-player swap on December 11th and will meet up for the first time since then Friday night in Charlotte.

Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley were sent to Phoenix in exchange for forward Boris Diaw, guard Raja Bell and guard Sean Singletary. With no clear victor in the trade the result on the court will have to stand as proof and it appears Charlotte (17-25) got the better of the deal as they have won four of their last five.

In their last game, on Wednesday, the Bobcats improved to 10-9 since the trade with a 101-86 home victory over Memphis. Diaw and Bell have been paying off in spades for Charlotte. Diaw is averaging 13.6 points along with Bell’s 12.1 since the trade.

Charlotte looks to continue their momentum, win two straight and defeat Phoenix for the first time in its five year history on Friday. As it stands right now, Charlotte is only 2 ½ games out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

The Suns (23-17) have bested the Bobcats in each of their eight previous games, but have little confidence left after losing four of their last five overall. Phoenix is 10-7 since the trade and is tied with Dallas for the final playoff spot in the West. Many of those 10 victories came early on after the trade. Now the Suns have been struggling as was evidenced in their 114-109 loss to New York on Wednesday.

Jason Richardson, who came over in the trade, did his best to earn his team a victory by posting 27 points against 20 points for Shaquille O’Neal. Richardson has averaged 15.7 points since joining the Suns.

This will be the first matchup of the teams this season. Last year, with a lot of the components of each team’s current squad on the other team, Charlotte lost both games by an average of 23 points.

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Dallas vs. Detroit

Dallas  +3 1/2 vs. Detroit

In his two seasons coaching the Detroit Pistons, Coach Rick Carlisle made his name with a stingy defense, with his current squad, the Dallas Mavericks—well not so much. Carlisle’s present team will travel to face his former team Friday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Dallas’ defense reached a new low in their last contest, Wednesday night in Milwaukee. They allowed the Bucks to score the most points they have given up in seven years en route to a 133-99 rout. It was also the Mavericks’ (24-18) worst loss since November 2001.

Giving up 99 points per game, Dallas has seen that stat bloom to 109.6 in their last seven contests, of which they have lost five. Dirk Nowitzki is trying his best to keep his teams in these games. Over the past five games, he has averaged 31.4 points and has shot 52 percent.

The Pistons (24-17) are looking for their third straight victory after dropping five in a row from January 10th-January 17th. Wednesday, they defeated Toronto 95-76 in a solid defensive effort which saw Detroit hold the Raptors to 42.5 percent shooting. Tayshaun Prince led the way with 25 points on 11-of-16 from the field.

Detroit has been solid on defense much of the season, ranking fourth in the NBA in field goal defense and fourth fewest points allowed per game with 92.7. Their recent slide has more to do with their offense than their defense as they have struggled to reach 100 points. The Pistons have hit the century mark only once in the last 15 games.

This will be the first meeting of the year between the teams. They have alternated wins and losses in each of their last eight meetings at the Palace of Auburn Hills, with the Pistons taking the most recent game played there 90-67 last February 3rd.

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Cavaliers vs. Golden State

Cleveland -6 1/2 vs. Golden

Alternating wins and losses over their last four, the Cleveland Cavaliers have not been their usual juggernaut selves, however they have a great shot at turning around this trend by winning two straight against the 30-loss Golden State Warriors when the teams met up Friday night at Oracle Arena.

Cleveland (32-8) was defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the opening game of their western road trip 105-88, but they bounced back to defeat Portland 104-98. The victory over the Trail Blazers prevented Cleveland from losing two straight games for the first time all season. The Cavaliers are in close step with Boston and Orlando for the race for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

After being beaten up by the Lakers, the Cavs’ defense returned against the Blazers. Cleveland held Portland to 40.7 percent shooting one game after allowing their season worst 52.4 percent to Los Angeles.

Cleveland is leading the league in scoring defense by only allowing 89.6 points per contest. A matchup with Golden State may seem easy on paper, but the Warriors are averaging a little over 107 points per game and that is without their high-octane scoring guard Monta Ellis, who will return to the lineup for the first time this season on Friday.

The Warriors (13-30) will welcome back Ellis, who has been out while recovering from a sprained ankle from a scooter accident during the off-season. The relationship between the player and the team was strained when Golden State suspended him for 30 games without pay for the incident after the Warriors had signed him to a six-year $66 million dollar contract just prior to the accident. He was rewarded handsomely for his career year a season ago when he averaged 20.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

This will be the second and final meeting of the year between the clubs. Cleveland held Golden State’s potent offense in check in their first meeting November 28th in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 112-97 and held the Warriors to 39.8 percent shooting. The Cavs have won four of the last five matchups and the last two at Oracle Arena.

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Cavaliers vs. Celtics

Cleveland -4 vs. Boston

The last time that Cleveland and Boston met, the Cavaliers was not yet the elite team they have become and the Celtics were beginning their steamrolling over everyone, including Cleveland. The Cavs were the Celtics first victim in their opening night matchup.

With Boston (29-8) unable to jumpstart themselves out of the doldrums, the Cleveland Cavaliers have taken over the best record in the Eastern Conference and will look for revenge for the October 28th 90-85 road loss to Boston when the teams met up for the first time this season in Cleveland on Friday night.

The Cavaliers (28-6) have climbed the ladder, but have not played their best ball lately, going 2-2 in their last four after winning 25 out of their previous 27 games. Even with both teams not playing their best, most feel this could be the preview of the Eastern Conference Final and would be a marvelous rematch of teams so familiar with each other after last seasons seven-game conference semi-final won by Boston.

Cleveland’s 2-2 stretch has come with losses to some of the lesser teams in the NBA. On December 30th, they lost the back half of a home-and-home series with Miami and last Sunday they lost at Washington. They rebounded with a home victory against Charlotte 111-81.

The Celtics are in for a fight if they expect to break their three game losing streak in Cleveland. The Cavaliers remain the lone NBA undefeated team at home, with an 18-0 record. Boston’s woes had largely been on the road, but now it has been infiltrating their home arena, TD Banknorth Garden. The Boston Celtics were defeated by Houston in Boston 89-85 in a game in which Boston was held to 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Missing this game will be Cleveland’s Zyrdunas Ilgauskas. The center has missed the past three games with a chipped ankle bone and is expected out until February.

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Mavericks vs. Knicks

Dallas -8 vs. New York

A once promising season for the New York Knicks now resembles many of their seasons of the last decade. The NBA and fans of the Knicks hopeful of a renaissance in Madison Square Garden may have spoke to soon as New York has dropped eight out of their last ten.

Some hope was reborn with New York (13-20) defeated Boston on Sunday, but the fact that the Celtics have been losing to everyone lately and the Knicks followed that victory with a devastating loss to the doormat of the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder, 107-99, on Tuesday. Any hope was deflated.

Thursday the Knicks can attempt their next rise from the ashes as they travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks. It will be quite the uphill battle for New York who has not won in eight trips to Dallas, their last road win was in 1999. The Mavericks (21-13) also look to wrap up the two-game season sweep, having beaten the Knicks at MSG 124-114 in overtime on November 16th. A victory Thursday will give the Mavericks nine straight victories over the Knicks and victories in 14 of the last 15 matchups between the teams.

Dallas continues their stretch against some of the weaker teams in the league and while they have been victorious in most games, they have struggled, including overcoming double-digit deficits in wins over Minnesota and Philadelphia and a 20 point loss to the cellar dwelling Memphis Grizzlies.

Tuesday the Dallas Mavericks rebounded with a 107-102 home victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Dirk Nowitzki blocked a shot and nailed the game winner with under a minute to play. Dallas has now 11-2 in their last 13 home games. Still Dallas had to go on an 11-1 run to come back and win.

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Nuggets vs. Cavaliers

Denver -1 vs. Cleveland

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are playing so well this season that they are gaining fans wearing the opponent’s jerseys in the stands. As the Cavaliers wrapped up their 20th victory in 22 games Wednesday in Minnesota, the beleaguered Timberwolf faithful watched their team lose their 11th game in a row, they remaining fans gave James a standing ovation for his performance in the 93-70 victory for his team. James was being lauded for his 32-point game.

No one expects a similar scene from a contending team, especially from the Denver Nuggets fans who have seen James and the Cavs as a sort of rival since James and the Nuggets Carmelo Anthony came into the league in the same 2003 draft class.

Two of the NBA’s red hot teams will clash Friday night in the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets (17-8) look to rebound from a 108-96 road loss to Houston and look to avoid losing two games in a row for the first time since Chauncey Billups joined their squad. The loss in Houston snapped Denver’s four-game winning streak, but the club has still won eight of their last 10 and is 16-5 since the trade which brought Billups back to his hometown.

While Denver is hot, no one has been hotter than Cleveland (21-4), who saw their 11-game upswing broken by Atlanta last Saturday. They will attempt to start another streak tonight when they play Denver, a team they have already beaten once this season 110-99 in a November 13th game in Cleveland.

The Cavs have emerged as the NBA’s best defensive team by allowing a mere 89.2 points per contest while the Nuggets defense has steadily improved since Billups’ arrival. A season ago, Denver allowed 107 points per game, second from last in the league. This season they have shaved a hearty nine points off their average and have held opponents to 42.7 percent shooting, leaving them third in the NBA behind Boston and Cleveland.

The Nuggets had a lapse in their stellar defense when they allowed the Rockets to score 108 points in their 108-96 setback Tuesday night. Anthony netted 22 points for Denver, while Billups was held to 8.

Cleveland has not fared well in Denver, losing three straight there. Their last victory in the Pepsi Center came in 2004.

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Lakers vs. Heat

Los Angeles -7 1/2 vs. Miami

Winning has become so regular in Los Angeles that the Lakers even manage to win when some of their top players are sick. Tuesday night Lamar Odom was suffering from an upper respiratory infection but still managed to eclipse his season high of 17 points and 12 boards to help his team edge the New York Knicks 116-114 at the Staples Center. Odom was pressed into service after Pau Gasol was at home watching the game on television due to strep throat.

Odom is feeling better and will play when the Lakers (21-3) set out on a four-game eastern road trip starting Friday night in Miami. Gasol did not practice on the off days and his return against the Heat is questionable. With or without their star center, Los Angeles will look for their fifth straight victory and 15th in their last 17 games.

Injuries have not hampered the Heat’s best players this season, but that has not stopped Miami (12-12) from struggling, especially lately. Miami looks to snap a three-game losing streak against L.A. after they lost to the Bucks 98-83 at home. Dwayne Wade struggled mightily Monday night, making only five of his 16 shots from the field, finished with a pedestrian 15 points.

Wade was not the only Heat star to sputter against Milwaukee. Udonis Haslem only netted two points and is averaging a miniscule 5.3 points and 31.6 percent shooting over the last three games.

The Lakers swept the two-game season series a year ago and have won four out of the last five over the Heat. Los Angeles has also won three straight in Miami, the Heat’s last win came in 2004.

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Magic vs. Spurs

Orlando -2 1/2 vs. San Antonio

With or without Dwight Howard, the Magic continue to win. Orlando has not started a season this hot since 1994-95, when they started 22-5 and made it all the way to the NBA Finals, the only appearance for the nearly 20-year old team. Nonetheless, they will be very happy to have their All-Pro forward back for tonight’s home game with San Antonio.

The game with the Spurs opens a four-game home stand for the Southeast Division attic dweller Magic (19-6). Howard has missed the last two games for Orlando with a knee injury, but the Magic won both, including their last game, 109-98 at Golden State Monday night. Rashard Lewis picked up the pace without Howard by scoring 21 points, five assists and eight rebounds while Jameer Nelson ruled the court with 32 points in the win over the Warriors.

The NBA’s renaissance story this season has been the San Antonio Spurs (15-9). Hampered by injuries and bad play, the perennial power sputtered out of the gate at 0-3 and lost five of its first seven. As players have come back from injuries and slowly regained form, the Spurs have regained theirs, winning 10 of their last 14. They lost their last time out to New Orleans largely because of they misfired on 17 of their final 21 shots and only hit at a 38.3 percent clip from the field.

The loss to the Hornets halted the Spurs six-game winning streak, but they look to get on track against the Magic, a team they have had a lot of success against over the years. San Antonio has beaten Orlando in 10 of the last 13 games and have won the last three straight, including both games last season. The Magic have not beaten the Spurs in Orlando since April 2006.

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