InsidetheHardwood

NBA, college hoops & WNBA news, info, previews and recaps.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Game 1 of the season for us
@ButlerMBB v @Pitt_MBB

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Oklahoma City visits Los Angeles tonight at 8-4, looking to recover from consecutive losses to Portland and remain unbeaten in NBA Cup group play.

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 29.7 points per game.
• Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 in Wednesday's 118-108 loss to Portland.
• Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace remain out.

The Thunder beat the Clippers 108-101 on October 25, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 34. Oklahoma City is 1-0 in West Group B but has gone 5-4 since that first meeting.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Portland visits Sacramento tonight at 8-3, opening a six-game road trip after sweeping two games against Oklahoma City.

• The Trail Blazers have won five of their first six road games.
• Deni Avdija scored 28 points in Wednesday's win over the Thunder.
• Portland is 7-4 against the spread this season.

The Blazers beat Sacramento 128-120 in their first meeting, with Avdija scoring 26. Portland is 0-1 in NBA Cup play, making tonight an important opportunity to get back into contention.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Golden State visits San Antonio tonight without Stephen Curry, who will be reevaluated in two weeks after suffering a right oblique tear.

• The Warriors are 8-4 after an eight-game winning streak.
• Yaxel Lendeborg averages 21.7 points and 7.4 rebounds.
• Brandin Podziemski scored 22 points with four threes against Houston.

Golden State lost 115-108 to the Rockets on Wednesday. Now the Warriors face a Spurs team that has won ten straight games, their toughest test yet without Curry.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Memphis visits New Orleans tonight at 7-4 after losing four of its last five games.

• Ty Jerome has scored 20+ points in five straight games.
• Jerome and Jaylen Wells each scored 22 in Wednesday's 123-118 loss to Denver.
• Zach Edey is out with left ankle injury management.

The Grizzlies opened the season 6-0 but have struggled since. They also lost 135-134 in overtime to New Orleans on November 3, despite 40 points from Jerome.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Atlanta visits Chicago tonight at 7-5, having won four of its last five games.

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker averages 21.9 points and has scored 20+ in five straight games.
• Dyson Daniels averages 3 steals per game.
• The Hawks average 31.7 assists and 118.3 points per game.

Atlanta is coming off a 124-114 loss to the Lakers, despite 21 points from CJ McCollum. The Hawks are 1-0 in NBA Cup play and face a Bulls team riding an eight-game losing streak.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Cleveland visits Miami tonight at 6-6 after James Harden delivered his best game of the season against New York.

• Harden scored 32 points, shooting 9-of-14 from the field and 5-of-7 from three.
• Donovan Mitchell leads Cleveland with 22.8 points per game.
• Evan Mobley is out with a toe injury.

The Cavaliers are 1-0 in NBA Cup play and looking for another road win after beating the Knicks 115-107. Cleveland is averaging 116.4 points per game.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Milwaukee visits Orlando tonight at 1-11, looking to end an eight-game losing streak in NBA Cup play.

• Tyler Herro leads the Bucks with 21.9 points per game.
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. averages 16.1 points and 5.7 rebounds.
• Milwaukee ranks 28th in scoring at 106.8 points per game.

The #Bucks are allowing 121.3 points per game and have been outscored by 14.5 points per contest. Their only victory came against Indiana.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

The #Knicks visit Indiana tonight at 6-5, looking to rebound from Wednesday's 115-107 loss to Cleveland.

• Jalen Brunson leads New York with 26.0 points and 5.2 assists per game.
• Karl-Anthony Towns averages 20.9 points and an NBA-leading 13.5 rebounds.
• The Knicks rank second in the NBA with 48.0 rebounds per game.

New York has won four of its last five games. The Knicks face a Pacers team that has been outrebounded by 6.5 boards per game this season.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Stonehill College is leaving the Northeast Conference to join the Metro Conference beginning in 2027-28.

• The Skyhawks moved to Division I in 2022-23.
• Stonehill will become the Metro's 14th member.
• The school sponsors 23 varsity sports.

The move follows Le Moyne's announcement last month and gives the Metro its largest membership in conference history.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Tracy McGrady says the Orlando #Magic contacted him about potentially retiring his No. 1 jersey.

• McGrady played four seasons in Orlando from 2000 to 2004.
• He won two NBA scoring titles with the Magic.
• Orlando confirmed discussions but said no timeline has been set.

Shaquille O'Neal remains the only Magic player to have his jersey retired by the franchise.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Federal prosecutors say text messages show Terry Rozier and a friend planned to bet on a Charlotte Hornets teammate finishing under his statistical totals.

The allegation adds another element to the federal gambling case involving Rozier.

Rozier has pleaded not guilty to charges connected to an alleged betting scheme involving his own performance in a March 2023 game. The allegations remain unproven.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Dejounte Murray wants a trade from the #Pelicans.

• Agent Rich Paul and team officials have begun working toward a resolution.
• Murray is averaging 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists in nine games.
• New Orleans acquired him from Atlanta in 2024.

The 30-year-old guard has a $30.8 million player option for 2027-28. No trade has been announced.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Los Angeles hosts Oklahoma City tonight at 2-8, looking to turn around a season marked by injuries and defensive struggles.

• Darius Garland leads the #Clippers with 20.4 points and 6.9 assists per game.
• Los Angeles allows 118.1 points per game.
• The Clippers committed 13 turnovers in Tuesday's 133-110 loss to Phoenix, but allowed the Suns to hit 22 three-pointers.

Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal and Yanic Konan Niederhäuser remain sidelined. The Clippers are 0-1 in NBA Cup play and face a #Thunder team that has already beaten them once this season.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Sacramento hosts Portland tonight at 1-10, trying to end a four-game losing streak against a Trail Blazers team that has won eight of its first 11 games.

• Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. scored 33 points against Portland in October.
• Zach LaVine scored 31 in Sacramento's most recent game against Orlando.
• Domantas Sabonis recorded a triple-double in the first meeting with Portland.

The #Kings have struggled to turn competitive performances into wins. They lost their first matchup with the Blazers by eight points and now get another chance at home in NBA Cup group play.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

San Antonio hosts Golden State tonight at 10-2, looking for its 11th consecutive victory.

• Victor Wembanyama averages 30.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.4 blocks.
• He's averaging 32.6 points and 11.4 rebounds during the winning streak.
• Dylan Harper recorded 18 points and 10 assists against Chicago.

The #Spurs erased a 22-point deficit to beat the Bulls 124-119 on Wednesday. Both San Antonio and Golden State enter tonight's NBA Cup matchup at 1-0 in West Group C.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Utah visits Houston tonight at 1-11, searching for its first road victory and an end to a ten-game losing streak.

• Keyonte George averages 20.4 points and 6.5 assists.
• Darryn Peterson scored 22 in Wednesday's loss to Orlando.
• Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic are all out.

The #Jazz have lost their first five road games and are 0-1 in NBA Cup play. Houston is also 0-1 in the tournament, making this an important West Group A matchup for both teams.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Houston hosts Utah tonight at 9-3, looking for its third straight victory in NBA Cup play.

• Alperen Sengun averages 21.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists.
• The Rockets allow just 106.5 points per game, fourth in the NBA.
• Houston is 9-3 against the spread this season.

The #Rockets have won seven of their last ten games. Steven Adams and Clint Capela are out, leaving Houston without two of its centers against a struggling Jazz team.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

New Orleans hosts Memphis tonight at 4-8, with its defense becoming a major concern.

• The #Pelicans have allowed 139, 138 and 145 points in their last three games.
• Zion Williamson scored 29 in Wednesday's 145-111 loss to Brooklyn.
• Trey Murphy III and Bennedict Mathurin are both listed as doubtful.

New Orleans has lost four straight, including a 51-point defeat to Golden State. Both teams lost their NBA Cup openers, making tonight's West Group B matchup important for their tournament hopes.

[InsidetheHardwood @hardwoodbb]

Chicago hosts Atlanta tonight at 1-9, trying to snap an eight-game losing streak without rookie Caleb Wilson.

• Wilson averaged 18.9 points and 6.2 rebounds before fracturing his right hand.
• Jalen Smith scored 23 points in Wednesday's 124-119 loss to San Antonio.
• The Bulls allow an NBA-worst 128.8 points per game.

Chicago blew a 22-point lead against the Spurs and has lost nine of its first ten games. The Bulls swept all three meetings with Atlanta last season.

#Bulls #Hawks