PREVIEW: The Miami Heat (31-29) and Houston Rockets (37-21) meet for the first of two regular season matchups , with the Rockets carrying significant momentum into South Florida. Houston has won three consecutive games, including victories over the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, and Orlando Magic , with Kevin Durant scoring a season-high 40 points in the Magic victory. Miami, meanwhile, lost All-Star guard and leading scorer Norman Powell to a groin injury in their previous contest against Philadelphia , dealing a significant blow to their offensive firepower. The Heat fell 124-117 to the 76ers on Thursday, marking their second consecutive...

PREVIEW: The Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center without Steph Curry or Jimmy Butler, and with Kristaps Porzingis listed as questionable after missing three straight games with an illness. The Lakers arrive at 34-24, losers of three straight, having dropped games to a Celtics team missing Jayson Tatum, a Magic squad without Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, and a Suns team operating without Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. Los Angeles has the firepower to cover for dysfunction, with Luka Doncic averaging 32.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game and the ageless wonder LeBron...

PREVIEW: The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Utah Jazz 129-118 on Thursday behind Saddiq Bey's 42-point performance , and the teams reconvene Saturday for a rematch that carries significant playoff implications. Despite remaining near the bottom of the Western Conference, New Orleans has made tangible progress, winning consecutive games since starting point guard Dejounte Murray returned from Achilles surgery . However, Murray will sit out the rematch , leaving the Pelicans to navigate this road contest without their floor general. The team has won five of their last seven games and improved to 8-6 since defensive stalwart Herb Jones returned...

PREVIEW: The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday as Charlotte looks to extend a three-game winning streak. Both teams enter with identical 29-31 records, though Portland sits ninth in the West while Charlotte occupies tenth in the East. Over their last 10 games, the Trail Blazers have posted a 6-4 record while averaging 119.8 points and shooting 47.4 percent from the field. The Hornets have gone 7-3 in their recent stretch, averaging 115.8 points and connecting on 44.8 percent of their shots. Portland faces significant injury concerns heading into this matchup, with Deni Avdija day-to-day with a back...

PREVIEW: Toronto closes a three-game road trip with a favorable matchup against Washington. The Raptors remain near the top of the Eastern Conference standings despite recent inconsistency, and Tuesday's 112-91 win in Miami showcased their defensive prowess when locked in. Washington continues to struggle, owning the league's worst record and ranking near the bottom in defensive efficiency and point differential. Toronto opened as a 9.5-point road favorite, with the number climbing to 11, reflecting Washington's defensive vulnerabilities and Toronto's strong recent history in this matchup. Toronto's advantage lies in balance and discipline, with Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes anchoring the offense...