ShotQuality Wire

PREVIEW: The Atlanta Hawks arrive at Chase Center with elite offensive spacing and passing prowess, ranking first in both categories, while also pushing tempo with the second-ranked quick pace in the league. The Hawks have won four of their last six games and are riding momentum after routing the shorthanded Nuggets 110-87 on Friday. Jalen Johnson led that effort with 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Dyson Daniels recorded his first career triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. However, Atlanta's perimeter defense remains a vulnerability, allowing the 25th-most shots attacking the rim and ranking 23rd...

PREVIEW: The Brooklyn Nets travel to FedExForum in Memphis on Sunday afternoon to face the Grizzlies , bringing contrasting momentum into a matchup that could define both teams' playoff aspirations. Brooklyn enters coming off a second consecutive loss to the LA Clippers at home , while Memphis has also dropped back-to-back games, including a heartbreaker at home to Oklahoma City. The Nets rank second in three-point shooting frequency at 48.1 percent of their attempts from deep, showcasing high offensive spacing , yet this strength is undermined by their glaring defensive liability. Brooklyn's perimeter defense ranks 27th in the league, allowing...

PREVIEW: The Houston Rockets (22-13) arrive at Golden 1 Center as 12.5-point favorites to face the Sacramento Kings (8-30) , setting up a clash between a squad built on offensive rebounding excellence and a team desperately seeking answers. Houston has cooled off lately, dropping three of their last four games, including a 111-105 loss to Portland on Friday , yet they still maintain a commanding record in the Western Conference. The Rockets rank first in offensive rebounding at 33.3 percent and also lead the league in total rebounds per game at 49.3 , giving them a significant advantage on the...

PREVIEW: The Miami Heat (20-18) face the Oklahoma City Thunder (32-7) on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at Paycom Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder have been in great form as they've won six of their last eight games overall. The Miami Heat have cooled off a bit lately, as they've dropped three of their last four games overall and will be looking to snap a two-game skid after getting thrashed by the Pacers in a 123-99 road defeat. The Heat operate with a quick tempo offense and rank first in frequency of post-up shots, while the Thunder excel defensively by allowing...

PREVIEW: The Milwaukee Bucks arrive at Ball Arena riding strong offensive efficiency, ranked first in three-point shooting and third in attacking the rim , while they've won six of their last nine games after outlasting the Lakers 105-101 on the road. Denver counters with the second-best three-point shooting in the league and excellent ball movement, ranking third in both categories , though the Nuggets have lost five of their last eight games and are hampered by recent injuries. The Bucks arrive with a full roster while Denver remains without Nikola Jokic, Cameron Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas, with Jamal Murray and...

PREVIEW: The New Orleans Pelicans visit the Orlando Magic on Sunday at Kia Center with tipoff scheduled for 3:00pm EST. The Magic are favored by 6.5 points in this matchup. New Orleans ranks 1st in high-frequency attacking at the rim but sits 30th defensively against rim attacks, while Orlando ranks 3rd in rim attacks and 4th in rim defense. The Pelicans struggle with three-point shooting efficiency at 29th league-wide and allow opponents to launch threes at a 45.7% rate, the worst in the NBA. The Pelicans snapped a nine-game losing streak with a victory over Washington on Friday. Orlando's defensive identity...

PREVIEW: The New York Knicks visit Portland to face the Trail Blazers on Sunday , marking a pivotal matchup between two teams heading in opposite directions. New York has dropped three consecutive road contests, while Portland has won seven of their last eight games including a five-game winning streak. The Knicks boast elite three-point shooting ranked third in the league and stellar free-throw accuracy at 80.5 percent , giving them reliable scoring weapons when games tighten up. However, the Knicks are struggling overall with five losses in their last six outings and a below .500 record on the road. Portland ranks...

PREVIEW: The Philadelphia 76ers (21-15) will aim for a fifth straight road win when they visit the Toronto Raptors (23-16) on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET . These Atlantic Division rivals sit separated by just a half-game in the standings, making this matchup a crucial barometer for both teams' playoff positioning. The 76ers boast elite free throw shooting at 81.6%, ranking fifth league-wide, while controlling turnovers at a sixth-ranked rate , but they struggle with perimeter shooting and defensive intensity near the rim. The Raptors, meanwhile, showcase second-ranked passing efficiency and fourth-ranked prowess attacking the basket, while forcing turnovers at an...

PREVIEW: The San Antonio Spurs (27-11) travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves (25-14) , with both squads battling fatigue on the second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio is rolling with confidence after beating the Lakers and Celtics , while Minnesota is coming off a painful road loss to Cleveland . Defensively, the Spurs rank among the league's best at preventing attacking rim opportunities, though they struggle against shots at the basket (ranked 24th). Minnesota's defense allows quality three-point attempts at an elite rate (ranked 28th), a potential vulnerability the Spurs can exploit. The Spurs have shown a tendency to...

PREVIEW: The Phoenix Suns (23-15) look to build on a five-game home winning stretch when hosting the Washington Wizards (10-27) on January 11, 2026. The Suns enter as double-digit favorites by 14.5 points , a significant gap that reflects their recent dominance and the Wizards' prolonged struggles. Phoenix has gone 8-2 in their past 10 contests, with a 9-1 record against the spread during that span , showcasing the kind of consistency that separates contenders from pretenders. Looking at ShotQuality metrics, the Suns rank second in forcing turnovers and third in offensive rebounding, strengths that should allow them to control...