ShotQuality Wire

PREVIEW: The Atlanta Hawks (17-19) battle the Toronto Raptors (20-15) on January 3, 2026 at Scotiabank Arena. Kristaps Porzingis has returned to the lineup and that's coincided with two straight wins for the Hawks. Atlanta excels at high spacing on offense (ranked 1st) and good passing (ranked 1st), giving them elite ball movement capabilities. This represents a good opportunity for the Hawks to get another Eastern Conference win and start climbing back into a playoff position after their disastrous December showing. The Raptors are currently 4th in the Eastern Conference and Scottie Barnes is having arguably the best season of his...

PREVIEW: The Boston Celtics bring elite perimeter defense that forces opponents into low-quality three-point attempts, while simultaneously ranking second in attacking the rim and maintaining excellent ball security with a low turnover rate. Boston arrives having won six of their last seven games and is coming off a convincing 120–106 win over the Kings. , with the team averaging over 120 points per game while shooting 37.3% from deep during their recent stretch. The Clippers counter with league-leading free throw efficiency at 84.1% and rank first in post-up frequency , though they struggle with ball movement and generate excessive isolation...

PREVIEW: The Charlotte Hornets, ranked fourth in high spacing on offense and fifth in three-point shooting frequency at 45.9%, will test the Chicago Bulls' defensive vulnerabilities when they visit United Center on Saturday night. The Bulls rank 28th in defending rim attacks, which could prove costly against a Hornets squad that has been bitten hard by injuries but still features multiple scoring threats. Charlotte's efficient free-throw shooting at 81.0% and ability to force opponents into difficult looks defensively present real challenges, though their 25th-ranked turnover rate and 27th-ranked rim efficiency could work against them. The Hornets arrive in Chicago on...

PREVIEW: The Houston Rockets arrive in Dallas riding a four-game winning streak, while the Mavericks are struggling through a four-game losing stretch. Houston enters as a 7.5-point favorite , and their offensive dominance is hard to ignore. The Rockets rank first in offensive rebounding efficiency at 32.8% and maintain efficient three-point shooting, though they attempt threes at a lower frequency than league average. With four players averaging 15.8 points or more led by Kevin Durant's 25.4 points per game, Houston averages 120.5 points to rank fifth in the league while shooting nearly 50% from the field. Dallas boasts elite perimeter defense,...

PREVIEW: The Minnesota Timberwolves arrive in Miami fresh off a 126-102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks , looking to snap a troubling stretch that has exposed significant defensive vulnerabilities. Minnesota's defensive profile reveals concerning weaknesses, particularly an average defense against rim attacks ranked 9th and average frequency attacking the rim at 9th , suggesting they lack the rim protection necessary to compete against aggressive offensive teams. Anthony Edwards scored 30 points in the Hawks defeat , but individual scoring prowess hasn't translated into team success as of late. On the offensive end, the Wolves show efficient rim attacking at 8th...

PREVIEW: The Philadelphia 76ers bring elite defensive prowess against three-point shooting, ranking fourth in limiting quality attempts from beyond the arc, while simultaneously struggling with inefficient perimeter shooting themselves at 25th in the league. Fresh off back-to-back victories including a 123-108 road triumph over Dallas, the 76ers arrive in Manhattan with momentum and confidence. Tyrese Maxey continues to lead the charge, averaging 30.7 points and 6.9 assists as the team's offensive engine. The 76ers enter this matchup as the healthier squad with a rest advantage over their division rivals. The Knicks counter with efficient three-point shooting ranked fourth in the NBA...

PREVIEW: The Portland Trail Blazers visit the San Antonio Spurs on January 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center , with the Spurs holding a significant advantage in their season records at 25-9 compared to Portland's 15-20. San Antonio's defense is elite at the rim, ranking second in few shots allowed attacking the basket while forcing opponents into difficult looks , which should prove problematic for a Portland team that ranks 28th in efficiency when attacking the rim. The Trail Blazers do bring offensive rebounding prowess to this matchup, ranking second with a 31.5 percent offensive rebound rate , offering a...

PREVIEW: The Golden State Warriors bring elite three-point shooting prowess into this matchup, ranking first in high-frequency three-point attempts at 49.7%, while boasting strong free-throw efficiency at 82.1%. Their defense shows particular strength against the arc, ranking fifth in three-point defense by allowing low-quality looks. Golden State enters as a double-digit favorite at 12.5 points , and despite fielding a roster filled with players in their mid-thirties led by Steph Curry, the Warriors have climbed the Western Conference standings after winning five of their last six games. Curry continues putting up 28.7 points per game on 46.8% shooting and a...