PREVIEW: The Atlanta Hawks visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 9:00 PM , bringing contrasting trajectories to Ball Arena. Denver enters with a 25-12 record while Atlanta sits at 18-21 , yet the Hawks arrive off momentum from a 117-100 victory over New Orleans. Atlanta excels with elite spacing and passing (both ranked 1st) while maintaining quick tempo (2nd) , creating a dynamic offensive system built on ball movement and court spacing. The Nuggets counter with efficient three-point shooting (2nd in the league) and equally strong passing (2nd) , establishing themselves as perhaps the league's most...

PREVIEW: The Houston Rockets bring elite offensive rebounding (33.1%) and efficient three-point shooting into their rematch against Portland, though they'll need to address their defensive rebounding struggles that rank 29th in the league. The Trail Blazers claimed a one-point thriller earlier this week, 103-102, in a defensive grind that came down to the final possession. Portland has momentum on their side, winning four straight and six of their last seven games with victories over notable opponents. For the home team, strong offensive rebounding (31.1%) and a high free-throw rate provide scoring opportunities, though inefficient three-point shooting (ranked 30th) and poor...

PREVIEW: The Los Angeles Clippers travel to the Barclays Center to battle the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night , bringing contrasting trajectories into this Eastern Conference matchup. The Clippers have won seven of their last nine games overall , establishing themselves as the more consistent squad heading into this contest. Los Angeles boasts efficient free throw shooting ranked first in the league and consistently attacks the rim on defense, allowing few such opportunities , a formula that has proven effective during their recent winning stretch. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets have lost four of their last five games , struggling to...

PREVIEW: The Los Angeles Lakers (23-12) will host the Milwaukee Bucks (16-21) on January 9, 2026 , setting up a clash between a West Coast contender and a team searching for consistency. Milwaukee boasts elite three-point shooting efficiency ranked first overall, while also excelling at attacking the rim from the fourth position , giving them multiple offensive avenues to exploit. However, the Bucks struggle with offensive rebounding ranked 29th and allow a concerning 43.7 percent of three-point attempts on defense , creating potential weaknesses Los Angeles can target. The Lakers counter with league-leading efficiency at the rim and a dominant...

PREVIEW: The New Orleans Pelicans (8-31) will try to stop a nine-game losing streak when visiting the Washington Wizards (10-26) , and both clubs find themselves searching for answers amid disappointing seasons. The Pelicans suffered a 117-100 road loss to Atlanta, with Zion Williamson contributing 22 points , while their attack has become increasingly predictable. New Orleans ranks last in the league in passing efficiency with numerous isolation plays, and their defense struggles mightily against three-point shooters, allowing 45.8% from distance . The Pelicans' inability to find rhythm on either end of the floor has created a perfect storm of...

PREVIEW: The New York Knicks bring efficient three-point shooting (ranked 4th) and efficient free-throw shooting (80.5%, ranked 7th) to Phoenix. , though they struggle defensively by allowing opponents to attempt a high volume of three-pointers at a 44.7% rate. The Suns counter with league-leading turnover creation and solid offensive rebounding at 29.8% , but they rank among the worst in the league at attacking the rim and spacing offensively. New York enters with a 24-13 record while Phoenix sits at 22-15 , and the Knicks are slight 1.5-point favorites in this matchup. The Knicks have posted a mediocre 5-5 record over...

PREVIEW: The Oklahoma City Thunder (31-7) visit the Memphis Grizzlies (16-21) at FedExForum on Friday night , with the visitors arriving as dominant favorites in what should be a revealing matchup between contrasting trajectories. The Thunder have won five of their last seven games overall and will look to stay hot after taking down the Jazz in a thrilling 129-125 overtime win on Wednesday , while the Grizzlies have been struggling, having lost five of their last six games and getting scorched by the Suns in a 117-98 loss on Wednesday. Oklahoma City's elite defensive identity shows up perfectly in...

PREVIEW: The Philadelphia 76ers will visit the Orlando Magic on Friday, January 9, 2026, looking to extend their three-game road winning streak. Philadelphia enters as a small 3-point favorite , setting up an intriguing matchup between two Eastern Conference teams with contrasting strengths. The 76ers boast elite free-throw shooting at 81.4% while maintaining a low turnover rate, though they struggle with 3-point efficiency and attacking the rim. Coming off a dominant 131-110 victory over Washington where they shot 54 percent from the field, the 76ers have won four of their last five games overall and appear to be hitting their...

PREVIEW: The Sacramento Kings (8-29) will attempt to break a six-game losing skid when visiting the Golden State Warriors (20-18) on January 9, 2026 at Chase Center. The Kings have struggled mightily this season, heading into the Bay on a six-game losing streak — their third losing streak of at least five games this season. The team will be missing Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray due to injuries, which could impact their performance further. Despite these challenges, Sacramento does have several veteran and accomplished perimeter players, including nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook, six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan and two-time All-Star Zach Lavine. The...

PREVIEW: The Toronto Raptors (23-15) will look to build on a three-game winning run when hitting the road against the Boston Celtics (23-13) on Friday, January 9, 2026 at TD Garden. Boston's 114-110 home loss to Denver on Wednesday night, coupled with Toronto's 97-96 victory over Charlotte, moved the Raptors within one game of the Celtics, who occupy third place in the Eastern Conference, and Toronto has won five of its last six games. Toronto boasts elite perimeter defense, ranking third in preventing low-quality three-point attempts, while also excelling as the league's third-best passing team. The Celtics counter with even...