The Bum's National Basketball League December Picks/Trends/News !!

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Preview: Bucks (10-15) at Lakers (3-21)
Date: December 15, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

The Milwaukee Bucks just ended the most notable streak in the NBA this season and now they will try to end another one by extending one for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Bucks seek to halt their nine-game road losing streak Tuesday night and hand the Lakers a seventh straight defeat.

Milwaukee (10-15) stunned Golden State 108-95 on Saturday, ending the Warriors' 28-game regular-season win streak and the defending NBA champions' 24-0 start. Greg Monroe had 28 points and 11 rebounds and Giannis Antetokounmpo notched his first career triple-double with 11 points, 10 assists and 12 boards.

"We definitely stuck together tonight," Monroe said. "We knew what they had coming in, a great run by them, especially coming off a championship."

Now the Bucks start a four-game trip that includes a rematch with the Warriors on Friday. Milwaukee is enduring its longest road slide since an 11-game skid Feb. 6-March 30.

"We have to build on this," Monroe said. "We have to take the things we did tonight and carry over to next game. Definitely the energy, the intensity we played with, how we played together."

A matchup with the league's second-worst team is an ideal opportunity to end those road woes. Los Angeles (3-21) was beaten by a combined 51 points in weekend losses at San Antonio and Houston to complete a 1-7 trip.

The Lakers will be back home for the first time since Nov. 29 as they continue to flounder in Kobe Bryant's final season. He's the second-worst shooter among qualifying players at 32.4 percent, and the worst on 3-pointers at 23.5.

There is some hope for Bryant's fans after some solid efforts on the trip, as he finally reached 50.0 percent from the field twice in the last four games. That included a 25-point effort in Saturday's 126-97 defeat to the Rockets in which he made 9 of 16 shots and added six assists and seven rebounds.

'It's like my rhythm is starting to come back a little and my legs are moving pretty well,' said Bryant, who is shooting 29.0 percent at home. 'I'm feeling good. I just worked and continued to run and lift and just hoping for the best.'

Lakers forward Julius Randle has totaled 11 points on 5-of-20 shooting in his last two games after scoring 35 on 13-of-26 shooting in his previous two.

"He just hasn't played well the last couple games period," coach Byron Scott said. "His energy hasn't been the same."

Jordan Clarkson is listed as doubtful and could miss a third straight game with an ankle injury. Rookie D'Angelo Russell is back in the starting lineup in Clarkson's place, totaling 36 points and 10 assists in the last two games.

These teams are both among the least efficient on both ends of the floor, with Milwaukee averaging 99.1 points per 100 possessions and Los Angeles a Western Conference-worst 96.8. The Bucks concede 104.7 points per 100 possessions and the Lakers are at 108.5.

Milwaukee has captured four of the last five meetings, with these clubs splitting two in 2014-15.

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Tuesday's Tip Sheet
December 15, 2015

Cavaliers (-2, 201) at Celtics – 7:35 PM EST

The last time these teams met came in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, as Cleveland pulled off a four-game sweep of Boston. The Cavaliers (15-7 SU, 8-14 ATS) covered in three victories, including in both wins at TD Garden. Cleveland snapped a five-game ATS skid in its last trip to the court, a 111-76 blowout of Orlando as 2 ½-point road favorites on Monday. David Blatt’s team has struggled in the role of an away favorite this season, posting a 2-6 ATS record, while losing outright at New Orleans, Detroit, and Milwaukee.

The Celtics (14-10 SU, 14-9-1 ATS) have won three of their last four games, coming off Saturday’s 98-93 triumph at Charlotte as three-point underdogs. Boston returns home where it looks to make up for Friday’s double-overtime loss to Cleveland’s opponent in the NBA Finals last season – Golden State in a 124-119 setback. Brad Stevens’ offense continues to score points, eclipsing the 100-point mark in six of the past seven games, but that has resulted in only four ‘overs’ in this span.

Nuggets at Wolves (-5 ½, 204)– 8:05 PM EST

These Northwest division rivals hook up for the third time this season, as Denver (10-14 SU, 11-12-1 ATS) captured the most recent matchup on Friday in a 111-108 home overtime victory. The Nuggets rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit, while receiving 52 points from its bench, led by Jameer Nelson’s 20 points. Rookie guard Emmanuel Mudiay sat out the game with a sprained ankle, as his status for tonight is unknown. Mike Malone’s club has heated up of late, winning four of their last five, capped off by Monday’s 114-108 home triumph over the Rockets as four-point ‘dogs, the third win over Houston this season. The Nuggets have lost four of five times playing with no rest this season, but managed three covers.

Minnesota (9-14 SU, 10-12-1 ATS) jumped out to a promising start, but the Wolves have gone backwards of late with losses in five of their past six trips to the court. Sam Mitchell’s squad lost both games on its mini two-game road swing, including Sunday’s 108-101 defeat at Phoenix as 5 ½-point underdogs. The Wolves are the worst team in the NBA to back from a pointspread perspective at home, posting a 1-10-1 ATS ledger. Minnesota has also failed to cover in the favorite role this season, compiling an 0-5 ATS mark, which includes a barely sneaking past the Lakers in their last opportunity, 123-122 in overtime as 7 ½-point chalk.

Rockets at Kings (-2 ½, 220) – 10:05 PM EST

One of the big questions surfacing in the Western Conference is when will Houston get their act together? The Rockets (12-13 SU, 9-16 ATS) lost to the Nuggets for the third time this season in Monday’s 114-108 defeat at the Pepsi Center, allowing at least 100 points for the eighth time in 10 games. Houston has won four of seven times with no rest this season, while beating Sacramento twice through the first seven weeks. In the last matchup at the Toyota Center 10 days ago, the Rockets knocked down 16 three-pointers and 32 free throws in a 120-113 victory, led by Dwight Howard’s 22 points and 18 rebounds.

Sacramento (9-15 SU, 11-13 ATS) looks to close out its three-game homestand with three victories, coming off wins over Utah and New York. The Kings will be without point guard Rajon Rondo tonight, who was suspended one game by the NBA for directing a homophobic slur at an official earlier this month. The absence of Rondo will be a huge loss for Sacramento as the former Celtics’ standout has delivered four consecutive double-digit assist games, while sitting out for the first time this season. Tonight’s total sits at 220, as the Kings have cashed the ‘under’ in five of the last seven games with a total of 215 or above. Sacramento has struggled with Houston recently, losing seven consecutive meetings, while managing to cover only once in this span as a 10 ½-point underdog at the Toyota Center last April.

Bucks (-2 ½, 197 ½) at Lakers – 10:35 PM EST

Will we see a major letdown spot for Milwaukee tonight? The Bucks (10-15 SU, 12-13 ATS) begin a four-game West Coast swing after pulling off a massive upset on Saturday, handing Golden State its first loss of the season in a 108-95 triumph as nine-point home underdogs. Milwaukee took advantage of a gassed Golden State squad that won at Boston in double overtime the night before as Jason Kidd’s team shot 49% from the floor, led by Greg Monroe’s 28 points. The Bucks began the season with a 2-1 road record, but have lost nine straight games away from BMO Harris Bradley Center.

The Lakers (3-21 SU, 8-16 ATS) return home from a 1-7 road swing, as Los Angeles covered only three times in eight games. Five of those seven losses came by double-digits, while Byron Scott’s club allowed 100 points in all seven contests, resulting in five ‘overs.’ The Lakers have won only once at Staples Center in seven tries, but have managed to cover in two home games against Central division foes (Indiana and Detroit). The underdog has cashed in four of the last five meetings between Milwaukee and Los Angeles, as the home team won each of the two matchups last season.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Short Sheet

Tuesday, December 15

Cleveland at Boston, 7:35 ET
Cleveland: 1-11 ATS on road after scoring 105 points or more 2 straight games
Boston: 33-18 ATS after 1 or more consecutive wins

Denver at Minnesota, 8:05 ET
Denver: 19-7 OVER after having won 3 of their last 4
Minnesota: 0-7 ATS in home games revenging a loss vs opponent

Houston at Sacramento, 10:05 ET
Houston: 9-1 ATS on Tuesday nights
Sacramento: 20-34 ATS as a favorite

Milwaukee at LA Lakers, 10:35 ET
Milwaukee: 30-16 ATS after playing 2 consecutive games as an underdog
Los Angeles: 25-39 ATS after having lost 5 or 6 of their last 7

[StarDust Bum]

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CLE at BOS 07:30 PM

BOS +1.0 TRIPLE PLAY

U 202.5 *****


DEN at MIN 08:00 PM

DEN +6.0 DOUBLE PLAY

U 203.0


HOU at SAC 10:00 PM

SAC -2.5 SLAM DUNK

O 220.0


MIL at LAL 10:30 PM

LAL +4.0 *****

U 198.5

[StarDust Bum]

A 4 - 1 Tuesday Night..........


Preview: Hornets (14-9) at Magic (13-11)
Date: December 16, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Since the start of November, only two Eastern Conference teams have a better home record than the Orlando Magic.

Not too shabby for a team that at this point last year had only three home wins.

With only one remaining road game in 2015, the Magic have an excellent opportunity to inch closer to the first place-Charlotte Hornets, beginning with Wednesday night's visit from the Southeast Division leaders.

Orlando (13-11) opens a stretch of seven of eight games at the Amway Center, with Monday's contest at New York being the only one on the road before New Year's Day. The Magic lost both of their October home games, but since the calendar flipped to November they've gone 7-2 at home to trail only Cleveland and Indiana in the East.

Orlando didn't win its seventh home game of 2014-15 until Feb. 11 and finished with the conference's third-worst home record at 13-28.

The Magic suffered an embarrassing loss to the Cavaliers in their last home game Friday but quickly moved on from that disappointment with Monday's 105-82 win over Brooklyn.

"This is a big stretch for us. Being at home, there are games that we can win and if we come out and play like we did (on Monday) it will be tough for other teams to beat us," forward Tobias Harris said. "It's about building consistency and consistency in the way that we play."

Nikola Vucevic scored 18 points and Elfrid Payton added 17 for the Magic, who shot a season-high 53.9 percent and made 9 of 21 3-pointers.

Orlando also got back to playing better defense after allowing Cleveland and Phoenix to average 109.0 points and 53.9 percent shooting in a pair of losses, limiting the Nets to 38.8 percent. Playing under Scott Skiles, the Magic are one of the league leaders in defensive field-goal percentage at 42.6 and improved to 10-2 when holding opponents to 95 points or less.

"It's just a relief to get back to playing good basketball," Harris said. "(Monday) we played a really good brand of basketball. We moved the basketball and played for each other and it's a game that we can use as an example to look back on. We've got to keep it going and play like this consistently."

Orlando's 3-point defense will be tested by the Hornets, who are averaging 10.0 made 3-pointers for one of the league's highest marks.

Charlotte (14-9), which is 1 1/2 games ahead of the Magic, hit 11 3s on Saturday against Boston but also missed a season-high 24 in a 98-93 loss, snapping a four-game winning streak. The Hornets, who made 18 3-pointers the previous night at Memphis, came out with little energy in the second half of a back-to-back.

Being fatigued won't be an issue this time as Charlotte has had a season-high three straight days off.

"Any couple days off in this league is pretty good," leading scorer Kemba Walker said after Monday's practice. "Being able to get in here and practice, clean up some things and just get better is always good."

Walker shot 5 of 15 on Saturday after totaling 51 points on 62.5 percent shooting in the previous two games. He had 72 points in his last two games against Orlando, which includes a career-high 42 on Dec. 27.

The Hornets, winners of five of six in Orlando, split the 2014-15 season series by winning twice at the Amway Center.

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Preview: Mavericks (14-11) at Pacers (14-9)
Date: December 16, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

Indiana's latest win came with Paul George playing limited minutes, and more immediate success might require the Pacers to do some of the same.

George is expected to play through an upper respiratory infection in Wednesday night's visit from Dallas, but the Mavericks weren't even able to handle the Pacers entirely without George last season when the emerging Monta Ellis was on their side.

George, who's among the league leaders at 26.5 points per game, played 24 minutes in Monday's 106-90 home win over Toronto, scoring 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting. He's been limited to 17.3 points on 34.8 percent in his last three games, but coach Frank Vogel said the illness is something that developed Tuesday morning and caused him to miss practice.

"He just woke up with a respiratory infection, something in his lungs," Vogel said. "He should be fine for (Wednesday). ... This is a winter chest cold."

Ellis had 18 points against the Raptors and has averaged 17.7 in his last three after entering that span at 11.6 in his first 20 games with his new team heading into his first game against his old. The greater relief might have been a defensive effort in which the Pacers limited the Raptors to 36.7 percent shooting after a 1-4 span in which Indiana gave up 115.4 points on 49.4 percent.

"The biggest thing was we got a win," said Ellis, who spent the previous two seasons in Dallas. "Hopefully we can string some wins together while we're back at home and get this thing back on the winning track."

Individually, it's C.J. Miles Vogel credits most with helping the team transition back into an offense based around George's strengths this season. Miles had 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the win over Toronto.

"He's maybe been the most vital guy in this transition because of his willingness to guard the fours and play the four offensively and allow Paul George to maintain his natural three-man, small forward position but still benefit from the offensive space that we can create by having a fourth shooter or playmaker out there," Vogel said. "So C.J. has been maybe the most vital guy."

The Pacers (14-9) won both meetings last season and have taken five of the last seven. Miles had a game-high 28 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 5 of 6 from 3-point range in a 104-99 home win over Dallas on March 29.

The Mavericks (14-11) ended a two-game losing streak with Monday's 104-94 home win over Phoenix. Deron Williams had 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting after missing Saturday's loss to Washington. The point guard, who's taken on some of the backcourt scoring load left by Ellis, has averaged 19.8 points in six games this month.

They've also seen more from fellow guard Raymond Felton, who has started seven straight games and averaged 12.6 points in five straight of reaching double figures.

Dallas is still looking for such consistency from Chandler Parsons, who scored 17 points in a season-high 28 minutes Monday. The small forward has been limited this season as he works his way back from offseason knee surgery. Progress has been slow with Parsons reaching double figures four times, though he's topped 25 minutes three times in his last five games after being held under that in each of his first 13.

"It's all about confidence right now," said Parsons, who scored 27 in the March loss in Indianapolis. "I am going to be rusty. I'm going to miss some shots and go through some slumps. I just got to stick with it."

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Heat (14-9) at Nets (7-17)
Date: December 16, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

Hassan Whiteside has played a key role on the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference.

That's why it's hard to imagine the Miami Heat parting ways with the shot-blocking center.

The trade winds, however, seem to be swirling as the visiting Heat try to win their seventh consecutive meeting with the offensively challenged Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.

Whiteside easily leads the NBA with 4.0 blocks per game - a mark that would surpass Mark Eaton's 3.5 as the highest in league history. With the 7-footer guarding the rim, Miami leads the East in defensive scoring (93.6) and is near the top in defensive field-goal percentage (42.0).

Whiteside finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and three blocks as the Heat (14-9) held Atlanta to 39.3 percent shooting and 8 for 33 from 3-point range in Monday's 100-88 road victory.

But because Whiteside is expected to be a max-level free agent next season, reports surfaced this week that he's being shopped in potential trades involving Houston's Dwight Howard and Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins. Miami, however, insists there are no truth to the rumors.

The Heat expect to have Whiteside patrolling the middle as they try to win back-to-back road games for the first time. They swept all four meetings with the Nets (7-17) last season after winning the final two games in a second-round playoff series in 2014.

Dwyane Wade could bounce back after finishing with seven points on 3-of-16 shooting against the Hawks. He's averaged 27.3 points in his last four meetings, including that postseason series.

Chris Bosh led the way against Atlanta with 24 points while hitting 4 of 6 from 3-point range and pulling down 10 rebounds. Gerald Green added 20 points and Luol Deng scored 18 with nine boards as Miami, 3-5 on the road, scored 100 away from home for the first time.

'We've got to bring this every game,' Green said. 'When the season ends, we want to be competing for a world championship.'

The Heat hope to continue that production against a Brooklyn team that has given up an average of 104.7 points and a 47.6 field-goal percentage while dropping four of six. The Nets allowed Orlando to shoot 53.9 percent in Monday's 105-82 home defeat.

They had reached 100 points in a season-best three straight games before finishing with a 38.3 field-goal percentage. Brooklyn ranks last in the league in 3-point percentage (30.7) and near the bottom in scoring (96.0), though the team is just ahead of Miami (95.8).

Jarrett Jack had 15 points and seven assists against the Magic, but Brook Lopez had 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting with only six rebounds. The 7-foot center has a tough matchup with Whiteside after averaging 10.7 points over his last three games.

"I kind of let us down and pulled us back," Lopez said. "I definitely need to be better.'

Brooklyn, seeking to break even on this six-game homestand, has scored 89.2 per game on 42.3 percent shooting while dropping 21 of the past 26 meetings with Miami, including the postseason.

Heat guard Goran Dragic is expected to play despite having a tooth knocked out Monday. He's averaged 19.6 points in his last five games against Brooklyn dating to his time with Phoenix.

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Preview: Timberwolves (9-14) at Knicks (11-14)
Date: December 16, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

While Karl-Anthony Towns has broken through what may have been an early rookie wall, struggling Kristaps Porzingis insists he isn't sure what that means.

In a matchup pitting two of the top four picks in this year's draft, Towns will try to help the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves avoid their eighth loss in nine games Wednesday night against Porzingis and the New York Knicks.

After he was selected first overall in the June draft, Towns - a New Jersey native - watched as Knicks fans booed the selection of Porzingis three picks later.

Both players, however, have justified those selections by earning the NBA Rookie of the Month award for their respective conferences in November. That doesn't surprise Towns heading into his first head-to-head matchup with the 7-foot-1 forward.

"(Porzingis) is very tall. I know that from the get," Towns said. "I heard he was very talented coming out and I'm just glad that he's been able to make my way up home proud."

Towns averaged 15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds over his first 12 games before encountering his first rough patch. He scored 8.4 per game over a five-game stretch from Nov. 23-Dec. 1.

The 6-foot-11 center has regrouped nicely, averaging 18.5 points on 61.3 percent shooting over his last six contests. He scored 18 to go along with six boards in Tuesday's 112-100 home loss to Denver that extended Minnesota's losing streak to three.

Porzingis, meanwhile, has become a fan favorite in the city that booed him in June. He averaged 14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds in his first 22 games before totaling 17 points on 6-of-25 (24.0 percent) shooting on New York's three-game western trip.

The Latvian sensation is confident he'll be able to get on track after missing all six of his field-goal attempts in his first scoreless effort Saturday, a 112-110 win at Portland.

"It's a couple of bad games," Porzingis insisted. "It happens. It happens to all of us, not only rookies. I'm just looking forward to the next game. I'm preparing myself as good as I can. I don't really know what a rookie wall is."

Porzingis should get some open looks against a Minnesota team that has allowed an average of 112.0 points and a 48.4 field-goal percentage over its last six games. The Timberwolves (9-15) let the Nuggets shoot 56.2 percent and 10 of 18 from beyond the arc.

Afterward, coach Sam Mitchell hinted that it was time to change the starting lineup.

"I want to sleep on it and make sure,' he said.

Minnesota swept last season's series with New York (11-14) for the first time since 2006-07 and has won the past two trips to Madison Square Garden. Kevin Martin had 22 points and Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins added 20 apiece in a 95-92 overtime win there March 19 in what was then a battle between the league's two worst teams.

Wiggins finished with 23 points and LaVine scored 20 on Tuesday. Wiggins leads the Wolves with 20.6 points per game, while LaVine has totaled 38 in his last two.

New York also has slipped defensively, allowing 105.0 points per game and a 46.9 field-goal percentage over its last five. Carmelo Anthony helped make up for those shortcomings Saturday with a season high-tying 37 points as the club ended its second four-game skid of the season.

The Knicks have won consecutive games once since a four-game run in mid-November.

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Preview: Celtics (14-11) at Pistons (14-12)
Date: December 16, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

It doesn't seem like the Boston Celtics have made much of an effort to hide their desire to acquire All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins in recent months.

With the Sacramento Kings now listening to offers, the Celtics have reportedly jumped back into the mix ahead of their matchup with emerging big man Andre Drummond.

As the Cousins rumor continues to swirl, Boston will try to regroup from an ugly home loss with its fifth win in six road games Wednesday night against the Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics first became linked to Cousins when the teams met in February. According to reports, general manager Danny Ainge was then pushing to get a deal done during the offseason after it seemed coach George Karl and Cousins couldn't co-exist.

Having collected a number of young players and draft picks, Boston has reportedly expressed interest once again with Sacramento now testing the market.

The Celtics (14-11) have been starting 6-foot-9 Jared Sullinger in the middle. Sullinger, whose name has been included in potential trade scenarios for Cousins, has been struggling with just 6.7 points per game and a 29.5 field-goal percentage in his last seven.

Boston certainly could use some interior size as it seeks to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since Nov. 22 and 24 following Tuesday's 89-77 home loss to Cleveland.

Since scoring 109.8 per game over their previous six, the Celtics have averaged 87.5 on 37.2 percent shooting in their last two. They could have a tough time getting on track against a Detroit team that ranks in the top 10 in defensive scoring (97.7).

"For whatever reason we were in mud a little bit on offense," coach Brad Stevens told the team's official website after falling to the Cavaliers.

The Celtics rank in the bottom third of the league with a minus-2.6 rebounding margin, while the Pistons are in the top five with a plus-3.5 mark. Drummond has had his way with undersized Boston, averaging 20.8 points on 61.5 percent from the field and 18.4 boards in the past five meetings.

Drummond averages an NBA-best 16.3 rebounds and ranks third among all centers with a career-best 17.7 scoring average. He had 20 points and 15 boards in Monday's 105-103 overtime home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers that ended a two-game winning streak.

Reggie Jackson finished with 34 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. The point guard is averaging 23.3 points while shooting 45.3 percent from 3-point range at home.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope totaled 37 points in the first two of this three-game stay for the Pistons (14-12), who have averaged 106.7 points during a 6-3 stretch overall.

"I like our group," coach Stan Van Gundy told the team's official website. "It's stepping up and competing hard against good teams. We're right there."

Drummond had 22 points and 14 rebounds and Jackson added 21 and 15 assists, but Boston snapped a six-game losing streak at Detroit in a 113-103 win April 8.

Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 34 points and was 4 of 8 from 3-point range in that contest. The point guard, who averages a team-high 20.5 points, will try to bounce back after he had a season-low 12 on 3-of-15 shooting against the Cavs.

Guard Avery Bradley has scored 19.7 per game and hit 10 3-pointers in his last three.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: 76ers (1-25) at Hawks (14-12)
Date: December 16, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The Atlanta Hawks have shot their way into a slump against some of the NBA's elite. They may be able to shoot their way out of it against the league's worst team.

The Hawks seek to snap a three-game skid and keep the Philadelphia 76ers winless on the road as the teams meet Wednesday night.

Atlanta (14-12) set out to prove its 60-win 2014-15 campaign wasn't a fluke by starting 7-1. The Hawks, though, have since dropped 11 of 18 and are trying to avoid a fourth consecutive loss for the first time since a six-game losing streak March 21-29, 2014.

Their shooting woes continued with Monday's 100-88 home loss to Miami, making 39.3 percent of their shots and 8 of 33 from 3-point range. Those long-distance issues have been one of the reasons Atlanta has regressed this season - it's 18th in the league in 3-point shooting at 34.1 percent after finishing second to reigning champion Golden State last season at 38.0.

"Obviously we're not playing well and we have to find a way to fight through this, to work through this," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We're having a hard time sustaining or fighting through any kind of adversity ... if things don't go well you have to go to the next play, the next possession, whatever it may be and I think that's an area we haven't been good recently."

Atlanta's skid can partially be attributed to its schedule - Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Miami are a combined 51-22 and lead their divisions, while the 76ers alone have more losses at 1-25.

Kyle Korver has typified the Hawks' troubles on the perimeter. After shooting a league-best 49.2 percent from 3-point range and making at least four 3s in 27 games last season, the 13-year veteran is connecting at a 39.0 percent clip and done so just twice thus far.

Jeff Teague is also looking for a slump-buster after totaling 11 points against the Spurs and Heat while shooting 2 for 17.

'I think I've been the worst of everyone,' Teague said. 'I have to step up and play a lot better.'

Budenholzer did get one positive from juggling his lineup Monday, as Kent Bazemore scored a career-high 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting while replacing Thabo Sefolosha.

As the Hawks fight their way through their offensive woes, the 76ers continue to battle them in every phase of the game. The young team again absorbed another painful lesson Monday in Chicago, scoring 37 points in the second quarter - Philadelphia's most in any quarter this season - but doing little else right in a 115-96 defeat.

"We had had a good second period and you knew they were going to come out of the locker room like they did," coach Brent Brown said after his team fell to 0-15 on the road. "The young guys need to learn how to get through that. It's a 48-minute game.'

Jahlil Okafor has averaged 22.3 points and 9.5 rebounds his last four games, further moving past his two-game suspension for fighting outside a Boston nightclub. The rookie center likely will bear more of the burden in the paint since Nerlens Noel is expected to miss a second straight game with a corneal abrasion of the left eye.

The 76ers snapped a seven-game skid against Atlanta with a 92-84 win March 7, but the Hawks rested three starters as part of their playoff push.

Philadelphia is also looking to end a 24-game losing streak to Eastern Conference opponents.

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Preview: Grizzlies (14-12) at Bulls (14-8)
Date: December 16, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Memphis thinks it might have found something in a smaller lineup, and Chicago's beginning to believe it's simply found something.

The Bulls will try for a fourth straight win Wednesday night against the visiting Grizzlies, who had one of their best offensive nights of the season with Zach Randolph coming off the bench.

Chicago (14-8) had to come from behind in Monday's 115-96 home win over Philadelphia, but a five-point halftime deficit was an afterthought following a 34-12 third quarter. The Bulls topped 50 percent shooting for just the second time this season (43 of 85) with Jimmy Butler scoring a game-high 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting after going 8 of 30 in the first two games of the winning streak.

"The movement, shot over 50 percent, 28 assists, played unselfish basketball," Fred Hoiberg told the team's official website. "I hope we are starting to get there. ... Once we get cutting and playing out there, it's tough to guard. I think we are getting there; I hope."

He didn't mention rebounding, but the Bulls have had an edge on the glass in eight straight games, including a 53-36 advantage over Philadelphia. Their margin in that span is plus-7.3 after posting a minus-3.0 mark through 15 contests.

Joakim Noah is averaging 12.3 on the winning streak, had 15 against the 76ers and said the team's motor hasn't been what it was in past seasons.

"Obviously (we) have an issue now playing with the right energy," Noah said. "It's definitely something we need to (do). This team has an identity of playing with intensity and the right energy; that's been our identity for a while. It's for us to find that and play hard the whole game."

Chicago has gone with less of an outside game by replacing Nikola Mirotic with Taj Gibson in the starting lineup over the last four contests, but it's resulted in Mirotic making 10 of 22 from 3-point range after entering that stretch at 32.6 percent.

Neither the Bulls nor the Grizzlies (14-12) thrive from the perimeter - they're 23rd and 28th in 3-point attempts per game - but while Chicago has embraced that with its lineup change, Memphis has adjusted the other way.

Tony Allen has been out the last two games with a knee injury, while Randolph has been used off the bench. The two have been replaced by Courtney Lee and Matt Barnes, who combined to go 7 of 9 from long range in Monday's 112-95 home win over Washington as Memphis shot a season-best 56.4 percent and hit 10 of 15 from 3-point range.

Barnes is averaging 15.0 points on 50.9 percent shooting and 44.1 from 3-point range in five games as a starter as opposed to 7.1 on 35.9 and 28.0 as a reserve, but it's the benefit two others receive that has coach Dave Joerger's attention.

"I certainly like the spacing. The two main guys who benefit from the spacing is Jeff Green and Mike Conley," Joerger told the team's official website. "Jeff Green really took advantage of it (in Sunday's loss in Miami), had a big night, got up 20 shots and was aggressive. Those kind of things make more guys threats and so we just have to learn to play that way."

Green has averaged 20.5 points and shot 50 percent in the last two games, while his former fellow starting forward adjusts to a new role. Randolph has averaged 10.0 points in 23.5 minutes over the last two games after starting his previous 182 games.

"It's different," Randolph said. "I've got to learn how to adjust to it. But as long as I go out there and keep playing hard, whether it's eight minutes or five minutes, I just need to go out there and do what I can do."

The teams have split four games over the previous two seasons with the road team winning each.

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Preview: Trail Blazers (11-15) at Thunder (16-8)
Date: December 16, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Damian Lillard became the face of the Portland Trail Blazers the moment LaMarcus Aldridge bolted in free agency, a defection that left Lillard with the task of taking on more responsibility for a team undergoing plenty of adjustment.

Getting contributions from up and down the roster helps ease that transition, just as the Oklahoma City Thunder experience their most success when Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook complement each other.

The Blazers still have a lot of work to do in order to reach that level, and they'll see it first hand when they visit the surging Thunder on Wednesday night.

Lillard has increased his scoring average from 21.0 points per game last season to 24.7 while having the ball in his hands more than during his first three years, when Aldridge often stood as the first option offensively.

Portland (11-15), though, isn't winning at the same rate with a revamped roster that also lost Wesley Matthews to Dallas in the offseason. C.J. McCollum started three games in his first two seasons but has become Lillard's backcourt sidekick, averaging 19.7 points after scoring 6.8 per game in less than half the minutes he's receiving this year.

Lillard scored 30 points and McCollum added 16 to help the Blazers beat New Orleans 105-101 on Monday.

'I think for me and (McCollum), that's something that we got to do a lot of this year - make guys better and put guys in a position to be successful,' Lillard said.

They did that with newcomers Gerald Henderson and Mason Plumlee against the Pelicans. Henderson hit 4 of 5 from 3-point range and finished with 19 points off the bench, and Plumlee had 15, 13 rebounds and six assists.

"We've seen so many guys step up in different games," Lillard said. "(It) shows that down the line when we grow and kind of put this thing together a little bit more, we see what guys can do now so we see how it can payoff later."

Even Durant and Westbrook didn't hit it off immediately. The Thunder finished 23-59 in Westbrook's rookie season of 2008-09 before they began building off each other's strengths to make a run to the NBA Finals just three years later.

Oklahoma City missed the playoffs last season with Durant sitting out 55 games due to injury, but it is beginning to click now with him healthy. The Thunder (16-8) have won five straight after sweeping a home-and-home with Utah, including Sunday's 104-98 overtime victory.

Durant scored 29 of his 31 points after halftime, and Westbrook finished with 25, 11 rebounds and five assists to help the Thunder overcome a 16-point deficit.

"To start that third quarter, we were a different team than we were to start the game," first-year coach Billy Donovan said. "We expended a lot of energy. Emotionally we played at a really high level."

Durant admitted to being too emotional during the first half, when he took only two shots.

'I was getting a little frustrated with myself and I just had to calm down,' Durant said. 'At halftime, I just told myself to calm down and go get the ball and try to score. That's what opened it up for my teammates.'

Westbrook had 36 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists as the Thunder fell 101-90 in the last meeting against Portland on April 13 without an injured Durant.

Lillard scored only 10 points but Meyers Leonard had a career-high 24.

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Preview: Wizards (10-13) at Spurs (21-5)
Date: December 16, 2015 8:30 PM EDT

Only five teams have knocked off the San Antonio Spurs, and one of them is the Washington Wizards.

It's hard to imagine them pulling off the season sweep.

A short-handed, last-place Washington team that hasn't won in San Antonio since the 1990s is all that stands in the way of the Spurs notching the longest home winning streak in franchise history Wednesday night.

San Antonio's run of 22 straight regular-season home wins includes a 13-0 record this season and dates back to an overtime loss to Cleveland on March 12. The Spurs (21-5) have matched the franchise record set during the 2010-11 season.

Four of the last five opponents to visit San Antonio lost by at least 20 points, and it seems Washington could be headed for a similar fate with leading scorer Bradley Beal sidelined while the Spurs are at full strength and pretty fresh.

All of their starters were rested for the final 16 minutes of a 118-81 drubbing of Utah on Monday.

"It's always great because it adds up," said Tony Parker, who had 18 points in 21 minutes. "All the rest that we're getting right now will help come playoff time."

The Spurs have won three straight by an average of 28.0 points, and Washington has often been blown out during a 15-game losing streak in San Antonio which dates back to Dec. 11, 1999.

Last season's trip was among the closest as the Wizards lost 101-92 after being within three points with five minutes to play. However, the Spurs were without Parker and Kawhi Leonard.

This time it's Washington (10-13) missing a top player with Beal (leg) out at least another 10 days. The Wizards wouldn't have beaten the Spurs without him when the teams met Nov. 4, as Beal had a game-high 25 points and hit the deciding 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds remaining in a 102-99 victory.

When asked about that loss Monday, Parker said "we felt like we had the game and we let it slip at the end," but added that his team is playing much better going into the rematch.

"I feel like we're improving a lot," he said. "I feel like we're a different team, so we're going in the right direction."

The first meeting was one of five games the Spurs have allowed 100 points. They've done that once in the past 14 games and are now allowing a league-low 87.9 per game.

"We're playing great defense," Parker said. "Every time you play great defense, it gives you opportunities to win games."

The Wizards' defense has left a lot to be desired.

While going 1-2 on a four-game trip which has coincided with Beal's absence, Washington is allowing averages of 110.0 points and 53.3 percent from 3-point range (40 for 75).

'Until we get a commitment to defend ... we're going to be on this roller coaster,' coach Randy Wittman said.

The Wizards are allowing an Eastern Conference-worst 105.6 points per game, including 100-plus in eight straight.

'Right now, our mindset is to outscore people," Wittman said. "Our team isn't made that way."

While Washington is the NBA's worst at defending the 3, allowing 41.1 percent, San Antonio is No. 1 at 30.6.

John Wall is 1 for 8 on 3-pointers in five games at San Antonio while getting held to an average of 13.2 points.

His two 3-pointers Monday were his only points in a 112-95 loss at Memphis. The Wizards are 1-5 when he fails to score at least 15.

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Preview: Pelicans (6-18) at Jazz (10-13)
Date: December 16, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

The Utah Jazz have struggled to get into a groove since last month's decisive victory over the New Orleans Pelicans and are entering the next matchup on the verge of a season-high skid.

Another visit from one of the NBA's worst road teams might allow them to avoid that Wednesday night.

Utah (10-13) took advantage of short-handed New Orleans in a 101-87 victory Nov. 28. Among the missing for the Pelicans (6-18) were Norris Cole, Tyreke Evans and Kendrick Perkins.

The Jazz have dropped six of eight since, and a 118-81 drubbing in San Antonio on Monday was their third consecutive loss. Utah had its fewest points this season and shot 40.5 percent in the second of back-to-back games, while the Spurs' 56.0 percent shooting was the best mark by a Jazz opponent.

"The sky kind of fell, but it happens," coach Quin Snyder said. "We had no juice, but that's the wrong team to play when you're out of gas. Their defense is terrific and they are a championship-level program."

The Jazz will seek their third win in four home games while trying to avoid their first four-game skid since March 21-27. In the opener of a three-game homestand, they'll face a Pelicans team that's 1-12 on the road even with a healthier lineup.

Evans and Cole have played in all seven games this month. Perkins appeared in his first game since Oct. 31 in a 98-94 loss to Chicago on Saturday, the start of a five-game road trip, but sat out a 105-101 defeat to Portland on Monday.

New Orleans couldn't maintain a 14-point lead against the Bulls and failed to get closer than four points after trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter versus the Trail Blazers.

"(The mistakes) we made are the ones we've been talking about for the last month. Until we get that get cured, we're not going to win a game. We're not going to be able to beat teams when we do silly things," coach Alvin Gentry said. "We're playing hard and competing like crazy. But it takes more than that to win games. You've got to play smart basketball."

Anthony Davis' 28 points against Portland were his most in his last four games. Evans had 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Evans is averaging 22.7 points in his last three games and 18.5 in his past two against Utah.

Davis had 36 points in last month's meeting and is averaging 36.7 on 71.4 percent shooting in his last three matchups.

He scored a career-high 43 in Utah on Nov. 22, 2014, and has matched that performance two times.

Utah's Gordon Hayward is averaging 23.2 points in his last six meetings with New Orleans and 23.8 in the last five at home.

He was held to a season-low four points on 1-of-5 shooting in San Antonio. Hayward was averaging 22.6 points while shooting 54.0 percent from 3-point range in his previous nine games.

Utah has won 14 of the past 17 home matchups with New Orleans and is seeking its third consecutive overall win in the series.

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Preview: Suns (11-15) at Warriors (24-1)
Date: December 16, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

(AP) - The Golden State Warriors did something for the first time this season: practice following a loss.

After returning home from a grueling two-week road trip that started with six straight wins to extend their record start to the season to 24-0 before finally losing in Milwaukee on Saturday, the Warriors have a chance to catch their breath.

They took a needed day off Sunday before returning to a light practice Monday as they gear up for their next game at home Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns.

'The perspective of being 24-1 is a little different than undefeated,' star guard Stephen Curry said. 'You don't have to answer questions about it, hopefully no more creative shirts in the stands and stuff like that. We can just play basketball. It is just about how we're playing. Obviously we want to continue to win games. We have to take our game to the next level.'

The road trip featured circuslike levels of attention with Cam Newton and several Carolina Panthers coming out for Curry's homecoming in Charlotte, a live feed of Curry's pregame warmup in Boston and an almost college-style atmosphere in Milwaukee with fans wearing T-shirts with '24-1' on the front.

But the streak also overshadowed parts of Golden State's game that had been slipping of late, including defensive rotations, stagnation on offense and too many sloppy turnovers.

'There was a lot of talk obviously with the streak and all that,' Curry said. 'At a certain point it kind of became about just winning the game. ... We didn't play our best for probably about three straight games. With the streak over and all that, hopefully we can get another one going, we can focus on the details of how we're playing and continue to get better and focus on the things that will help us win a championship let alone regular-season games.'

Now with just five games - all at home - in the next two weeks, the Warriors will have the time at practice to work on those little parts of their game.

'We're continuing to work toward being a championship team and that requires us getting better than we were last year,' interim coach Luke Walton said. 'We know that, our guys know that and we'll keep working at it. It's harder on the road and when you're constantly winning to focus on the little details. Now that we're back home I think we'll have the chance to clean some things up.'

That was tough to do on a trip that included two sets of back-to-backs, including the game against the Bucks a night after winning a double-overtime thriller against the Celtics.

The Warriors didn't make it to Milwaukee until 3 a.m. Saturday and just ran out of energy in the loss that ended the streak as they came just short of becoming the first team in NBA history to have a perfect trip of at least seven games.

'That's why it's so hard and nobody has ever won seven straight in a road trip before,' Walton said. 'It's a difficult thing to do, especially coming off that back-to-back. We just ran out of gas.'

While Golden State's streak reached 28 regular-season games, dating to last season, it fell five games short of the record set by the Lakers in 1971-72. There are still other marks to chase. The Warriors have won 28 straight home games in the regular season since losing to Chicago on Jan. 27 - 16 shy of the mark set by the Bulls in 1995-96. Golden State is also chasing the single-season wins mark set by those Bulls with 72.

The Warriors hope to get a boost sometime soon with the return of forward Harrison Barnes, who has missed eight straight games with a sprained left ankle. Walton said Barnes will miss both games this week before being re-evaluated.

But Klay Thompson reported his sprained ankle that kept him out of Friday's game in Boston and seemed to hamper him a bit in Milwaukee is much better and shouldn't be a factor Wednesday.

The Warriors rolled past Phoenix (11-15) in the first meeting as Curry scored 41 in a 135-116 rout Nov. 27. That matchup was on the road, and the Suns enter this one having dropped seven straight in Oakland.

Phoenix lost for the second time in three games Monday, 104-94 at Dallas. Eric Bledsoe had 23 points and seven assists for the Suns, who shot 41.3 percent in falling to 0-9 when being held under 100 points.

'We didn't convert some of our layups,' coach Jeff Hornacek told the team's official website. 'The 3-pointers we did OK; we had some good looks that we didn't make.'

Reserve forward T.J. Warren had a career-best 28 points in November against the Warriors, with Bledsoe and Brandon Knight adding 21 apiece.