ShotQuality Wire

PREVIEW: The Boston Celtics travel to Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, February 22 at 3:30 PM ET to face the Los Angeles Lakers , setting up a matchup between two Eastern and Western Conference heavyweights competing for playoff positioning. Boston enters as the second seed in the East with a 36-19 record while Los Angeles sits fifth in the West at 34-21 , making this a standings game with significant implications down the stretch. The Celtics rank first defensively in preventing quality three-point attempts while maintaining the second-best turnover rate in basketball , showcasing a disciplined approach that limits easy scoring...

PREVIEW: Brooklyn enters Sunday's matchup against Atlanta riding a three-game losing streak, looking to snap a troubling skid that has defined their season thus far. The Nets rank dead last in defensive three-point shooting, allowing high-quality attempts from beyond the arc while simultaneously struggling with their own perimeter shooting efficiency. Michael Porter Jr. remains the offensive engine, averaging 24.7 points per game with 7.2 rebounds for Brooklyn. The team's high turnover rate and sluggish offensive pace have compounded their struggles against a Hawks squad that excels in transition opportunities. Atlanta counters with elite spacing and playmaking, led by Jalen Johnson's impressive...

PREVIEW: The Charlotte Hornets bring efficient free throw shooting and high-volume three-point attempts to Capital One Arena, where they'll look to maintain their offensive rhythm against a defensively vulnerable Wizards squad. Washington allows the most points in the Eastern Conference at 122.7 per game while permitting opponents to shoot 47.7%. Charlotte ranks third in three-point shooting at 37.2% and averages 15.5 made threes per game, giving them a significant scoring advantage in a matchup against a defense designed to struggle. The Hornets' spacing on offense ranks fourth league-wide, creating easier scoring opportunities when they operate their pick-and-roll sets and motion...

PREVIEW: The Cleveland Cavaliers arrive in Oklahoma City ranked third in efficient rim attacks and seventh in both three-point efficiency and transition play, while the Thunder boast the league's best rim defense and rank second in forcing turnovers. The Cavaliers travel to face the reigning champion Thunder, coming off a seven-game winning streak. Oklahoma City will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, ruling out its primary offensive engine and secondary creator. Cleveland's newly acquired perimeter defenders like Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis were brought in specifically to disrupt rhythm and create pressure. The Cavaliers have won 12 of their last...

PREVIEW: The Indiana Pacers will host the Dallas Mavericks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday , marking a critical clash between two struggling franchises searching for answers. This represents the Pacers' first home game since February 3rd, following a grueling six-game road trip that ended with back-to-back losses to Washington. Indiana will be without several key contributors including Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith due to various injuries , forcing the team to rely on secondary options. Defensively, the Pacers rank first in limiting three-point attempts while ranking 27th in defensive quality against three-pointers, suggesting opponents can find success from...

PREVIEW: The Denver Nuggets visit Golden State at Chase Center on Sunday, February 22, at 3:30 p.m. ET , setting up a clash between two teams headed in opposite directions. Denver dominated Portland 157-103 on Friday , while Golden State fell to Boston 121-110 on Feb. 19 , creating a stark confidence gap entering this matchup. The Warriors sit eighth in the West at 29-27, while Denver claims third place with a 36-21 record. The Nuggets rank second in efficient three-point shooting and possess the league's third-best turnover rate, while the Warriors lead the NBA in three-point attempt frequency at...

PREVIEW: The New York Knicks enter Sunday's matchup as significant favorites, holding a 36-21 record and sitting third in the Eastern Conference , while the Chicago Bulls are attempting to snap an eight-game losing streak at 24-33 and 12th in the conference. New York's defensive prowess shines through their rankings, including just the 5th-best mark in preventing quality three-point attempts and a top-5 finish in allowing low-quality long-range looks , making them a formidable obstacle for teams seeking offensive rhythm. The Knicks continue to dominate offensively, ranking third in scoring with 117.7 points per game while shooting at a 47.2%...

PREVIEW: The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers meet in non-conference action on Sunday at 9 p.m. EST in Inglewood, California. The Clippers have gone 14-11 in home games while sitting 5-7 in one-possession contests, while the Magic are struggling on the road at 11-16. Orlando's defense ranks second in limiting three-point attempts allowed, and the team excels at attacking the rim and drawing fouls with a high free throw rate, though their three-point shooting efficiency remains problematic at 26th in the league. The Magic dominated their previous matchup against Los Angeles, winning 129-101 on Nov. 21 with Jalen Suggs scoring...

PREVIEW: The Philadelphia 76ers travel to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST, with the Timberwolves favored by 8.5 points. The 76ers will be without Joel Embiid due to a knee injury , which significantly impacts their offensive capabilities heading into this matchup. Philadelphia excels at drawing fouls with an efficient free throw shooting rate ranking fourth at 81.6 percent, along with a high free throw rate that ranks sixth , yet their three-point shooting remains a liability. Tyrese Maxey leads the 76ers with 28.9 points and 6.7 assists per game , tasked with carrying an...

PREVIEW: The Portland Trail Blazers host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night at the Moda Center in a nationally-televised matchup featuring two teams with contrasting trajectories heading into the contest. Portland is favored at -2.5 points with an over-under set at 236.5 total points. The Blazers bring significant offensive rebounding prowess— ranking second in the league with a 30.9 percent offensive rebounding rate —but they're hampered by defensive vulnerabilities that could prove costly. Portland ranks 30th in three-point defense, allowing high-quality looks from distance, while also posting the worst passing metrics in the league with excessive isolation plays. Phoenix has won...

PREVIEW: The Toronto Raptors are staying out on the road to take on the Milwaukee Bucks inside the Fiserv Forum for the second game after the All-Star break. Both teams opened their post-break schedule with victories, with the Raptors defeating the Chicago Bulls by nine points on the road, while the Bucks topped the New Orleans Pelicans by double digits. Toronto has dominated the season series, winning two of the first three meetings and now has a chance to clinch the season series victory with another triumph. Milwaukee has found recent momentum, winning six of their last seven games including...