PREVIEW: The Toronto Raptors (21-15) face the Atlanta Hawks (17-20) on January 5, 2026. The matchup takes place Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Atlanta brings elite spacing and passing to the offensive end, ranking first in both categories, while Toronto counters with strong defensive versatility and rim-attacking ability. The Raptors have won three of their past four games and will look to build momentum after dominating the Hawks on Saturday. The Hawks have lost eight of their last ten contests and are searching for consistency after their two-game winning streak was snapped by Toronto. However, Atlanta...

PREVIEW: The Charlotte Hornets travel to Oklahoma City Monday night to face the Thunder at Paycom Center , with vastly different trajectories heading into this matchup. Charlotte has lost five of its last eight games , while Oklahoma City has won 34 of their last 40 regular season contests , establishing themselves as one of the league's elite teams. The Hornets average 115.9 points on 45.6 percent shooting while allowing 118.5 points, compared to Oklahoma City's 121.9 points on 49.4 percent shooting while holding opponents to just 107.2 points . The efficiency gap between these squads is substantial, with the...

PREVIEW: The Chicago Bulls arrive at TD Garden for their first matchup against the Boston Celtics of the season, looking to build on their recent road success. Chicago ranks third in quick tempo play and fourth in high-frequency attacking around the rim, creating an up-pace offensive identity that thrives on movement and ball pressure. However, the Bulls sit ninth in the Eastern Conference at 17-18 after dropping seven straight games between late November and early December. With Josh Giddey and Coby White sidelined, Chicago's offensive weapons are severely limited, making this an uphill battle against a defending team. Boston enters this...

PREVIEW: The Philadelphia 76ers (19-14) will try to build on a three-game winning run when hosting the Denver Nuggets (23-12) on January 5, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The 76ers are positioned as double-digit favorites by 11.5 points , but this matchup carries significant intrigue given Denver's injury woes. Christian Braun, Nikola Jokic, Jonas Valanciunas, Tamar Bates, and Aaron Gordon are out for the Nuggets , a devastating blow to a team built around two-time MVP caliber play. Denver enters with elite offensive efficiency, ranking 2nd in three-point shooting and 2nd in passing quality , yet these weapons may...

PREVIEW: The Golden State Warriors travel to face the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 10:00 PM , setting up a matchup between two Western Conference rivals with contrasting momentum. The Warriors arrive with a 19-17 record after securing a victory against the Utah Jazz , leaning heavily on their elite three-point arsenal— they rank first in high-frequency three-point shooting at 49.8% attempts. The Clippers, held by Tyronn Lue, carry a 12-22 record and are searching for answers following a loss to the Boston Celtics . Despite their record disparity, both squads enter Monday...

PREVIEW: The New York Knicks visit the Detroit Pistons in a battle of the top-ranked clubs in the Eastern Conference , with the home team holding a slight edge in the standings. Detroit's elite rim defense ranks first in the league, while they attack the basket at the second-highest rate, creating a physical presence that will test New York's depth. The Knicks counter with efficient three-point shooting ranked third overall and strong offensive rebounding at nearly 30 percent , giving them multiple scoring avenues. However, New York allows opponents to launch three-pointers at the 28th-highest rate defensively, a potential vulnerability...

PREVIEW: The Phoenix Suns visit the Houston Rockets on Monday night at Toyota Center, with the Suns bringing elite turnover-forcing defense (ranked 2nd) and strong offensive rebounding (29.9%), while the Rockets counter with the league's best offensive rebounding (32.9%) and a high-frequency midrange game. Phoenix arrives riding momentum after winning six of their last seven games, including a thrilling 108-105 victory over the Thunder last night. Jordan Goodwin led the charge with 26 points on eight made three-pointers, while the team shot 44 percent from the field and connected on 17 of 43 from beyond the arc. The Suns remain...

PREVIEW: The Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers meet Monday in NBA action at the Moda Center. The Jazz will be attempting to snap a three-game losing streak , while the Trail Blazers have won 4 of their last 5 games . Utah enters this matchup with some notable defensive vulnerabilities, ranking 28th in defending shots attacking the rim and 27th in three-point attempts allowed, suggesting Portland's attack could find open lanes. The Jazz are averaging 119.7 points on 46.2 percent shooting while allowing 126.8 points on 49.1 percent shooting , indicating they'll need tighter defensive execution on the road. Portland...