ShotQuality Wire

PREVIEW: The Atlanta Hawks (15-12) travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets (8-18) on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET at Spectrum Center in a Southeast Division matchup. Atlanta comes in fresh off a home victory against Philadelphia, winning 120-117 , while Charlotte recently knocked off Cleveland in overtime, with Kon Knueppel leading the way with 29 points. The Hawks boast elite spacing and passing on offense, ranking first in both categories, while forcing turnovers at the fourth-best rate in the league. The Hornets counter with efficient free-throw shooting at 82.2% and solid spacing of their own, though they struggle defensively, allowing...

PREVIEW: The Detroit Pistons arrive in Dallas boasting elite rim defense ranked second in the league, yet they struggle with efficiency around the basket and from the free-throw line, presenting an intriguing paradox on that end of the floor. Fresh off winning 19 of their last 22 games , the Pistons are averaging 119.4 points on 48.5 percent shooting while holding opponents to 113 points on 44.7 percent , establishing themselves as one of basketball's most balanced teams. Cade Cunningham continues his breakout season with 27.1 points and 6 rebounds per contest , leading a deep roster that refuses to...

PREVIEW: Golden State arrives in Phoenix off a 136-131 road loss to Portland on Sunday , while the Suns suffered a heartbreaking 116-114 defeat to the Lakers on the same day . Both teams are searching for answers after slumping through the holiday stretch, with the Warriors ranking first in three-point volume at 50.1% of their shot attempts and the Suns forcing turnovers at the second-best rate in the league. Stephen Curry enters this matchup on fire, having scored 48 points and drained 12 three-pointers in his most recent outing , though he'll face defensive-minded wing Dillon Brooks, who was...

PREVIEW: The Houston Rockets arrive in New Orleans looking to snap a three-game road losing streak against the struggling Pelicans, who rank dead last in the Western Conference. Houston's offensive approach centers on strong rebounding efficiency and frequent midrange attempts, though they struggle with shot selection and turnover management. The Rockets are averaging 120.9 points on solid 48.7 percent shooting while allowing just 111.2 points per contest. Kevin Durant leads the way with 24.8 points per game, while Alperen Sengun contributes a well-rounded 23.5 points and 9.4 rebounds. New Orleans counters with an aggressive attacking style centered around rim pressure, though...

PREVIEW: The Oklahoma City Thunder bring elite two-way excellence into this matchup, ranking first in defensive three-point efficiency while forcing a league-leading number of turnovers. The Los Angeles Clippers counter with a high-frequency post-up attack ranked first in that category, though they struggle defensively against perimeter shooting and rank 26th in three-point defense. Both teams showcase efficient free-throw shooting, with Oklahoma City's 83.4% slightly edging LA's 83.1%. The Clippers arrive desperate to halt a four-game skid after losing to Memphis and currently sit last in the Pacific Division. Oklahoma City remains a dominant offensive force, averaging 123.1 points per game while...

PREVIEW: The Lakers meet the Jazz for the third time this season, and the Lakers aim for their third straight victory over Utah. Los Angeles has been in great form after sneaking past the Suns in a 116-114 road win on Sunday. The visitors boast elite rim efficiency and draw fouls at the highest rate in the league, creating a relentless attacking approach that has propelled them to consistent wins. The Lakers lead the NBA in free-throw rate and make 35.4 percent of their three-pointers while tallying 119.1 points per 100 possessions. Utah presents an intriguing matchup despite their defensive struggles,...

PREVIEW: The Miami Heat will visit the Brooklyn Nets on December 18, 2025 at Barclays Center, with Miami sporting a 14-12 record and Brooklyn holding a 7-18 mark. Miami enters this matchup as the league's pace leader while excelling defensively against perimeter shooting, though the team struggles with defensive rebounding. The Heat have dropped five consecutive games and sit just 1-4 against the spread during their recent skid. Norman Powell leads Miami's scoring attack, averaging 24.4 points per contest. Brooklyn has found recent momentum, having won four of their last six outings despite their placement at the bottom of the Eastern...

PREVIEW: The Indiana Pacers (6-20) host the New York Knicks (18-7) on Thursday in the two clubs' first meeting since Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks arrive in Indianapolis fresh off winning the NBA Cup on Tuesday, overpowering the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 behind 28 points from OG Anunoby and 25 from Jalen Brunson. The Knicks boast excellent defensive principles against perimeter shooting while ranking third in efficient three-point production, combining elite marksmen with strong offensive rebounding fundamentals. Indiana enters this matchup reeling from what may be its worst loss of the season, falling to Washington 108-89...

PREVIEW: The Denver Nuggets (19-6) are riding high as they prepare to extend their five-game winning streak against the Orlando Magic (15-11) on Thursday night at Ball Arena. Denver's elite offensive efficiency ranks first in the league, complemented by their exceptional three-point shooting and crisp ball movement that creates constant spacing challenges for opponents. Orlando, meanwhile, brings defensive intensity with their ability to limit three-point attempts and force strong rim protection, though they struggle significantly against quality perimeter shooting. The Nuggets are favored by 7.5 points with a point total set at 236.5, reflecting Denver's dominant form and home-court advantage. The...

PREVIEW: The Sacramento Kings will attempt to stop a three-game losing skid when visiting the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at Moda Center. The Trail Blazers head into their matchup against the Kings as an 8.5-point favorite. Sacramento enters the game ranked 29th in defensive three-point shooting, allowing high-quality looks from distance, while also ranking dead last in defending shots attacking the rim. Portland counters with three dynamic scoring threats in Deni Avdija (25.5 PPG), Jerami Grant (20.0 PPG on 39.5% from three), and Shaedon Sharpe (21.7 PPG), who can all punish Sacramento's perimeter...

PREVIEW: The Milwaukee Bucks enter Thursday's matchup ranking second in efficient three-point shooting and efficient rim attacks, yet they struggle mightily on the boards with the league's worst offensive rebounding rate and rank dead last in free-throw accuracy. Toronto's defensive prowess shows up in their ranking for forcing turnovers and limiting three-point quality, though their inefficient free-throw shooting at 76.6 percent remains a concern. The Bucks have lost 12 of their last 16 games , a troubling stretch that includes a 127-82 road defeat to Brooklyn where they managed just 39 percent shooting from the field. With Milwaukee's propensity for...

PREVIEW: The San Antonio Spurs (18-7) will attempt to extend their four-game home winning streak when hosting the Washington Wizards (4-20) on December 18, 2025 at Frost Bank Center. San Antonio enters as a double-digit 14.5-point favorite , reflecting their drastically different trajectories this season. The Spurs have gone 10-3 over their last 13 games after working through injury concerns , while the Wizards have lost 25 of their last 30 games . On the defensive end, San Antonio ranks 7th in limiting shots attacking the rim and boasts strong rebounding fundamentals , creating a formidable barrier for Washington's offensive...