Wednesday 11-15-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - NY Rangers at Chicago

W/L TRENDS

NY Rangers

Rangers are 5-0 in their last 5 games following a win. Rangers are 6-0 in their last 6 overall. Rangers are 25-9 in their last 34 vs. Western Conference. Rangers are 39-15 in their last 54 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Rangers are 11-5 in their last 16 vs. Central. Rangers are 35-16 in their last 51 when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game. Rangers are 78-38 in their last 116 vs. a team with a losing record. Rangers are 2-6 in their last 8 road games. Rangers are 0-5 in their last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.

Chicago

Blackhawks are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. Metropolitan. Blackhawks are 4-1 in their last 5 Wednesday games. Blackhawks are 12-4 in their last 16 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Blackhawks are 94-43 in their last 137 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Blackhawks are 8-18 in their last 26 overall. Blackhawks are 5-12 in their last 17 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game. Blackhawks are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Blackhawks are 1-4 in their last 5 home games.

OU TRENDS

NY Rangers

Over is 4-0 in Rangers last 4 overall. Over is 5-0 in Rangers last 5 vs. a team with a losing record. Over is 4-0 in Rangers last 4 games following a win. Under is 4-1 in Rangers last 5 Wednesday games. Over is 4-1 in Rangers last 5 vs. Western Conference. Over is 14-4-4 in Rangers last 22 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Over is 7-2 in Rangers last 9 vs. Central. Over is 3-1-1 in Rangers last 5 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game. Over is 9-3-2 in Rangers last 14 games playing on 3 or more days rest. Over is 5-2-1 in Rangers last 8 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Over is 5-2 in Rangers last 7 road games.

Chicago

Under is 4-0 in Blackhawks last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Under is 10-2-6 in Blackhawks last 18 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game. Under is 5-1 in Blackhawks last 6 home games. Over is 4-1 in Blackhawks last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 3-1-1 in Blackhawks last 5 games playing on 2 days rest. Over is 6-2 in Blackhawks last 8 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Under is 33-14-12 in Blackhawks last 59 vs. Metropolitan.

HEAD TO HEAD

Under is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings in Chicago. Rangers are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Chicago. Under is 6-1-1 in the last 8 meetings. Road team is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Trends - Boston at Anaheim

W/L TRENDS

Boston

Bruins are 4-1 in their last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest. Bruins are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. Western Conference. Bruins are 11-4 in their last 15 vs. Pacific. Bruins are 13-5 in their last 18 vs. a team with a losing record. Bruins are 7-3 in their last 10 games following a home loss of 3 or more goals. Bruins are 40-19 in their last 59 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400. Bruins are 3-10 in their last 13 Wednesday games. Bruins are 1-4 in their last 5 overall. Bruins are 1-5 in their last 6 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. Bruins are 0-4 in their last 4 road games.

Anaheim

Ducks are 7-2 in their last 9 Wednesday games. Ducks are 13-6 in their last 19 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Ducks are 28-13 in their last 41 games playing on 2 days rest. Ducks are 50-24 in their last 74 vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Ducks are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. Atlantic. Ducks are 2-6 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Ducks are 1-4 in their last 5 home games. Ducks are 1-5 in their last 6 overall.

OU TRENDS

Boston

Over is 4-0 in Bruins last 4 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Over is 5-1-1 in Bruins last 7 following a loss of 3 or more goals. Under is 4-1 in Bruins last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 4-1 in Bruins last 5 vs. Pacific. Over is 16-5-3 in Bruins last 24 vs. a team with a losing record. Under is 3-1-2 in Bruins last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400. Over is 15-6-3 in Bruins last 24 road games. Over is 17-8-2 in Bruins last 27 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game. Over is 33-16-8 in Bruins last 57 Wednesday games.

Anaheim

Over is 5-1 in Ducks last 6 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game. Over is 4-1 in Ducks last 5 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Under is 9-3-1 in Ducks last 13 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Under is 8-3-2 in Ducks last 13 games playing on 2 days rest. Under is 5-2 in Ducks last 7 vs. Atlantic. Under is 7-3 in Ducks last 10 home games. Over is 9-4-2 in Ducks last 15 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.

HEAD TO HEAD

Over is 4-1-4 in the last 9 meetings. Over is 3-1-2 in the last 6 meetings in Anaheim. Bruins are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings in Anaheim. Bruins are 0-7 in the last 7 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Calgary Flames hope their red-hot offense travels well as the team opens a season-long 12-day, six-game road trip against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena. The Flames emerged victorious for the fifth time in their last six games on Monday after erupting for five goals in the third period of a 7-4 win over St. Louis.

"This is an important road trip for us," said Johnny Gaudreau, who scored and set up a goal during the third period to extend his point streak to seven games (five goals, seven assists). "We learned some things at home. ... I think we if we keep playing like we do, the road we'll be all set." The 24-year-old Gaudreau has collected seven points (two goals, five assists) in six career encounters with the Red Wings, with two goals and an assist coming in Thursday's 6-3 win in Calgary. Anthony Mantha recorded a goal and two assists in that tilt to raise his point total to eight (four goals, four assists) in a six-game stretch. The 23-year-old, however, was held off the scoresheet two nights later as Detroit opened its five-game homestand with a nine-round shootout loss to Columbus.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TVAS, Sportsnet (Calgary), FSN Detroit-Plus

ABOUT THE FLAMES (10-7-0): Sam Bennett is brimming with confidence as his newly formed line with rookie Mark Jankowski and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr have wasted little time getting up to speed. "Having all four lines contribute (on Monday) is big for our confidence," the 21-year-old Bennett said. "We knew we could generate offense from all four lines. It wasn't a matter of if, but when." Jankowski has answered being held off the scoresheet in his first seven games by collected three goals and an assist in his last two while logging a career-best 14:25 of ice time versus the Blues.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (8-8-2): Justin Abdelkader is brandishing quite the shiner after sustaining a fractured cheekbone in a fight with Calgary's Troy Brouwer, but the 30-year-old Michigan native considers himself fortunate that he'll be able to suit up for the rematch with the Flames. "I'm lucky that it's not a displaced fracture," Abdelkader told MLive. "It's still in alignment. It could be worse. Obviously, it's a frustrating injury anytime that happens, but definitely fortunate, too." Fellow forward Martin Frk is not as fortunate, however, as he sustained a groin injury in Tuesday's practice that will sideline him for a week.

OVERTIME

1. Detroit G Jimmy Howard has yielded just 14 goals in his last seven games, but has just a 3-3-1 mark to show for it.

2. Calgary LW Matthew Tkachuk has recorded eight points (two goals, six assists) in his past nine contests.

3. Red Wings C Darren Helm missed practice on Tuesday for the second straight day with an undisclosed injury, although coach Jeff Blashill said he is questionable to face the Flames.

PREDICTION: Red Wings 2, Flames 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The New York Rangers' dismal start to the season rapidly is fading away in the rear-view mirror as they motor ahead on the NHL's longest active winning streak. The Rangers aim to extend that run to seven straight games on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks as they vie for their fifth consecutive victory at the United Center.

Captain Ryan McDonagh extended his assist streak to four games on Saturday after setting up his sixth goal in that stretch in a 4-2 victory over Edmonton. The 28-year-old also had an assist in his last visit to the Windy City, setting up fellow defenseman Nick Holden's goal 55 seconds into overtime in a 1-0 victory over the Blackhawks on Dec. 9. While New York has turned its season around by registering at least three goals in 10 of its last 12 games (8-2-2), Chicago owns just a 4-7-1 mark in that stretch to find itself losing ground in the Central Division. The Blackhawks have awoken from an offensive slumber with nine goals in their last two contests after mustering just 19 in their previous 10.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN

ABOUT THE RANGERS (9-7-2): Special teams have been key over the last six games for New York, which is 8-for-19 on the power play and 13-for-14 on the penalty kill. "Any skill player will tell you when you're having success on the power play, it will drive the rest of your game," said defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who has collected a point on four of the eight power-play goals. "The ability to just get touches on the puck, positive touches, making passes and having a little time and space out there, it allows you to slow the game down in your mind." Mika Zibanejad, who already has a career-high five power-play goals in 18 games, has recorded 12 of his team-leading 18 points in his last nine contests.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (8-8-2): Alex DeBrincat has adjusted to getting his feet wet by collecting seven points (five goals, two assists) in his last seven games, including three goals and an assist in his last two. "Well, we've been encouraged every single day we've seen him this year," coach Joel Quenneville said of the 19-year-old Michigan native. "... The fact he's starting to score a little bit more gives us an added sniper. But he does a lot of good things, not just scoring. He complements your team game." Corey Crawford endured a night he'd like to forget in Sunday's 7-5 setback to New Jersey, and will look to erase that memory on Wednesday when he faces the Rangers for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

OVERTIME

1. New York RW Michael Grabner, who is riding a four-game point streak (four goals, one assist), has scored seven goals, set up another and is a plus-8 in his last eight contests.

2. Chicago LW Brandon Saad leads the team with seven goals, but has just one in his last 12 games.

3. Rangers LW Rick Nash, who has recorded four goals and one assist in his last four games overall, has registered more assists (27) and points (52) versus the Blackhawks than against any other NHL opponent in his career.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Rangers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Anaheim Ducks celebrated their past Monday but now must return to the current grim reality when they continue a five-game homestand against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night. Anaheim has dropped five of six following Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay, which came on the eve of the Hall of Fame inductions of Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya.

Although the Ducks suffered a narrow 2-1 loss to the league-best Lightning, coach Randy Carlyle said at Tuesday's practice he was not happy with the team's approach. "Our team game has to get better," Carlyle said. "We played a game we weren't proud of for the first half of the game against Tampa. We didn't have the puck enough and we played in awe of them. We don't want to duplicate that again." Like Anaheim, the Bruins are dealing with a plethora of injuries and are mired in a slide that has seen them drop three in a row and four of five following a home-and-home sweep by Toronto. "If you keep playing hard, good things will happen," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We can't start feeling sorry for ourselves if it's not going our way."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet360, NESN (Boston), Prime Ticket (Anaheim)

ABOUT THE BRUINS (6-6-4): Cassidy ruled out forwards Brad Marchand and rookie Anders Bjork for the first two games in California, saying both players were nicked up in Saturday's 4-1 setback to Toronto. There was some positive news on the injury front as center David Krejci, sidelined for the past 10 games with an upper-body injury, practice Tuesday without a non-contact jersey. "We'll have a better assessment tomorrow, but he felt good today," Cassidy said of Krejci.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (7-7-3): Forward Jakob Silfverberg established career highs last season with 23 goals and 49 points, but he started the season in a dreadful slump with only four assists through the first 10 games. The 27-year-old Swede has rediscovered his scoring touch since, however, netting five goals in the past seven goals, including three in the past two contests. Ducks goaltender John Gibson, winless in his last four starts, has never faced the Bruins.

OVERTIME

1. Anaheim has won the past seven meetings against the Bruins.

2. Boston G Tuukka Rask is 1-5-1 with a 3.56 goals-against average against Anaheim.

3. Ducks C Rickard Rakell had three goals and an assist in two encounters with the Bruins last season.

PREDICTION: Ducks 4, Bruins 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The New York Knicks will try to bounce back from a second-half collapse when they host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday in the finale of a three-game homestand. After routing Sacramento in the opener of the homestand, the Knicks built a 23-point lead against a listless and seemingly frustrated Cleveland Cavaliers squad Monday night before LeBron James helped the visitors storm back to steal a win.

"We can't keep having games like this," guard Courtney Lee told the New York Post. "We're going to give fans -- I know my mother is going to have a heart attack. We let it slip away. For us to get up 20 on this team it speaks volumes for how far we've come, but still got to go a little ways." New York will take aim at a struggling Jazz squad that is without star center Rudy Gobert (knee) for about a month and remains the only Western Conference team without a road win (0-4). Utah completed a stretch in which it played eight of nine at home with a 109-98 loss to Minnesota on Monday, its fifth defeat in six games. Rookie Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting but his fellow starters were 9-for-29 from the floor as the Jazz scored fewer than 100 points for the eighth time.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE JAZZ (6-8): Utah began the home-heavy stretch with three straight wins but it lost four of its next five in Salt Lake City, and coach Quin Snyder knows his squad will not succeed on its four-game road trip unless something changes. "The road provides additional adversity," Snyder told reporters after the loss to Minnesota. "And to do those things on the road, it's generally harder, and so it requires more concentration and certainly more than we had tonight." Point guard Ricky Rubio could probably use a change of scenery after averaging seven points on 24.3 percent shooting with 20 assists and 13 turnovers in the last four games at home.

ABOUT THE KNICKS (7-6): New York rallied around 19-year-old Frank Ntilikina in Monday's loss when the rookie was involved in a near-altercation with James in the first quarter. "It showed the chemistry of the team, our thinking. We'll fight together in all our games," Ntilikina told reporters after recording six steals off the bench. "It was good to have them right here and they know I'll be here for them. That's just how we are." Tim Hardaway Jr. recorded his second double-double in the last three games with 28 points and 10 rebounds while Enes Kanter notched his sixth of the season with 20 and 16.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Knicks PF Kristaps Porzingis is averaging 31 points on 52.9 percent at home.

2. Utah PF Jonas Jerebko made his first start of the season Monday and scored a season-high 13 points.

3. The Jazz have won three straight over the Knicks to tie the overall series at 47 wins apiece.

PREDICTION: Knicks 109, Jazz 100

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Sacramento Kings have struggled offensively through their first 13 games, but the NBA's second-lowest scoring offense travels to Atlanta on Wednesday to face a Hawks team that is allowing points in bunches. The Hawks are surrendering 110.4 points per game - fifth-worst in the league - and had a streak of seven games with 110-plus points allowed snapped in a 106-105 loss Monday at New Orleans, but the Kings have been just as bad on offense, scoring only 94.6 points per contest.

Not surprisingly, the two teams have combined to win just five games through the season's first four weeks, Sacramento falling Monday 110-92 at Washington in failing to score 100 points for the ninth time in 13 games despite a 32-point first quarter. "We had a lot of possessions where we didn't communicate right or just didn't get in the right spot at the right time," Kings guard George Hill told the media after scoring a team-high 16 points, as the Kings fell to 1-7 on the road. Atlanta lost its fourth in a row Monday despite leading by 14 points at one point, getting 22 points from Kent Bazemore. "There are a lot of positives," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters afterward, "the way the guys competed against a good team."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports California (Sacramento), FSN Southeast (Atlanta)

ABOUT THE KINGS (3-10): Forward Zach Randolph is one of only three Sacramento players averaging in double figures at 12.7 points per game, scoring 12 points Monday. Rookie De'Aaron Fox ranks third in assists among first-year players, averaging 5.2 per contest to go with 11.8 points per game. Sacramento has lost three games by 27 points, and five of its road losses have come by 15-plus points.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (2-12): Forward Tyler Cavanaugh impressed against New Orleans' imposing frontcourt Monday, scoring a career-high 16 points (4-for-4 from 3-point range) with six rebounds. Dennis Schroder, Atlanta's leading scorer at 19.8 points per game, has scored just 18 in his past two games on 7-of-34 shooting from the field. The Hawks rank fifth in the NBA in free-throw shooting (80.4 percent) and have made at least 70 percent of their attempts in all 14 games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Atlanta G Marco Belinelli has scored in double figures his past four games, averaging 15.5 points.

2. Kings G Vince Carter missed his third consecutive game Monday with a kidney stone.

3. The Hawks are shooting 44.9 percent from 3-point range in their past two games.

PREDICTION: Hawks 108, Kings 105

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Miami Heat just came off a six-game road trip and will make a brief stop at home on Wednesday to host the Washington Wizards. The Heat, who are 3-3 in their own arena, head back on the road for the second leg of the home-and-home series between Southeast Division rivals on Friday.

Miami had a chance to pull off a winning road trip but dropped a 112-103 decision at Detroit on Sunday to settle for a 3-3 excursion. "We grew, certainly," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters of the road trip. "When we went out on this road trip 13 days ago, I think we're a better ball club now. Ultimately, that's what you want. Of course, right now we feel like we could have finished the road trip a little bit better. We'll be able to maintain the proper perspective on this as long as we're continuing to get better." The Wizards are continuing to get better as well and picked up their third straight win with a 110-92 win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday. Washington will play 11 of its next 14 games on the road.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, FS Sun (Miami)

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (8-5): Washington is gearing up for its long stretch of road games by incorporating the whole roster, and the bench is beginning to play with confidence on both ends of the floor. "We have just been communicating," forward Mike Scott told the team's website of the bench's success in the last two games. "I've been telling Tim (Frazier) as our defense gets stretched off the bench, just keep talking to us, keep us motivated. It's been working. A team will go on a little run but we will just go right back at them. It's been working." Scott scored 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting in Monday's win while knocking down a season-high three 3-pointers.

ABOUT THE HEAT (6-7): Center Hassan Whiteside is trying to find some consistency at both ends of the floor and finished the road trip with three straight solid outings. The 28-year-old was benched for most of the second half during a 97-80 loss at Golden State in which he managed three points on 1-of-9 shooting but quickly bounced back with a double-double in two of the last three games, including 20 points and 12 rebounds in Sunday's loss. The non double-double of the bunch came on Friday at Utah, when he grabbed 20 rebounds, blocked three shots and grabbed three steals but was held to eight points in an 84-74 triumph.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Heat PG Goran Dragic is 17-of-17 from the free-throw line in the last three games.

2. Washington SF Otto Porter Jr. shot 54.5 percent or better from the floor in each of his last nine games.

3. Miami took all four meetings last season and five straight in the series.

PREDICTION: Wizards 109, Heat 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Memphis Grizzlies will try to snap out of a slump and pick up their first win against an Eastern Conference opponent when they open a four-game homestand against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. A 110-103 loss at Milwaukee on Monday capped the Grizzlies' 2-3 road trip, gave them five losses in the last seven games overall and dropped coach David Fizdale's team to 0-3 against the East.

"We try to pride ourselves on our toughness and I didn't think we held up our end of the bargain," Fizdale told reporters Monday. The Pacers have lost five in a row in Memphis and enter this one struggling through a 1-5 stretch that includes Sunday's 118-95 home loss to Houston. "When they get off to a fast start, there's no looking back," guard Victor Oladipo said of the Rockets, who raced to a 35-18 lead after one quarter. "You have to have a great start to beat a team like that in a 48-minute game. We had a little trouble matching up in transition." Oladipo scored a game-high 28 points and is averaging 26.5 on 59.5 percent shooting over the last two contests.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE PACERS (6-8): After the dismal first quarter in Sunday's loss, Indiana's second unit did well to keep pace with the high-powered Rockets, led by Damontis Sabonis (17 points, five rebounds) and Lance Stephenson (eight points, season-high 10 boards). Coach Nate McMillan was pleased with the effort, although he was well aware that Houston superstar James Harden was off the floor for much of that stretch. "When Harden went off the floor, we were able to get some things going and Lance was part of that second group," McMillan told reporters. "I look at both sides of the ball with our guys. We got to be a team that plays two ways."

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (7-6): Mike Conley made 2-of-12 shots in the loss to the Bucks as his season-long struggles continued, but the veteran point guard is confident he has nailed down the problem. "It's all mental. This game is mental," he told the media. "I've been through it, the ups and downs, and I always come out on top. It's no different this time. I'm just going to take it day by day and keep improving. We just need to figure it out. It's tough." Tyreke Evans has picked up much of the slack and scored 27 points against Milwaukee, giving him an average of 24.7 in six games this month.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies rookie SF Dillon Brooks matched a season-high with 19 points against the Rockets and is shooting 54.8 percent from the floor over a four-game stretch.

2. Memphis entered Tuesday ranked second in the NBA in opponents' field-goal percentage (43.1), while Indiana was 29th (47.6).

3. Pacers PF Thaddeus Young missed all seven of his shots against Houston at home but is averaging 15.6 points on 51.9 percent in eight road games.

PREDICTION: Grizzlies 104, Pacers 96

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to win three straight games for the first time this season when they finish a three-game homestand against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Paul George has been the catalyst for the two-game run with an average of 39.5 points while making 11 3-pointers, including seven in Sunday's 112-99 win over Dallas.

Russell Westbrook added 27 on his birthday as the Thunder survived without starters Carmelo Anthony (back) and Steven Adams (calf). "We've got to be ready for anything," George told the media. "When Steven went down, Dakari (Johnson) stepped up. Melo went down and it was a huge contribution from a bunch of guys. ... We've got to be that team. We're fortunate to have two other guys who can take the (scoring) load, but it's even better when we've got young guys who can step up and help the team." The Bulls may be an easy target as they plod along on a four-game losing streak that includes a 39-point setback at San Antonio on Saturday. That margin of defeat eclipsed Chicago's 32-point loss against Oklahoma City at home on Oct. 28, when the Bulls shot 28.2 percent from the floor in matching their lowest offensive output since Feb. 21, 2013.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE BULLS (2-9): Rookie Lauri Markkanen was limited to 15 minutes at San Antonio due to an ankle injury that also caused him to miss Monday's practice, but coach Fred Hoiberg is hopeful that his leading scorer (14.3 points per game) will be ready to go Wednesday. Robin Lopez and Bobby Portis led the way in the blowout loss with 17 points apiece while Kris Dunn chipped in 15. Dunn is averaging 13.7 points and three steals over a three-game span.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (6-7): Anthony and Adams are day-to-day but the squad can have confidence in fill-ins Jerami Grant and Johnson. Grant had 10 points and season highs of eight rebounds and three assists while subbing for Anthony on Sunday and Johnson made 8-of-11 shots in limited action this season, including consecutive starts in place of Adams. Westbrook needed only 28 minutes to record a triple-double (12 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists) in last month's visit to Chicago.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. George played at least 42 minutes in each of his last three games.

2. Chicago entered Tuesday's action last in the NBA in scoring (93.6) and shooting (40.9 percent).

3. Bulls F Nikola Mirotic, who suffered several facial fractures when he was punched by Portis in the preseason, returned to practice Monday but has not been cleared for contact.

PREDICTION: Thunder 120, Bulls 98

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Cleveland Cavaliers are winners of consecutive games for the first time since the opening two games of the season and are showing some fight, with LeBron James leading the charge. James will try to guide the Cavaliers to a season-high third straight win when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

James got into a war of words with New York Knicks center Enes Kanter during and after Monday's trip to Madison Square Garden but got the last laugh when Cleveland overcame a 23-point deficit en route to a 104-101 win. James collected 23 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds and three blocks in the win and is averaging 28.1 points, 8.8 assists and 7.4 rebounds while logging a league-high 38.1 minutes. The Hornets are just happy to be home after going winless on a four-game trip that ended with a 90-87 setback at Boston on Friday, which marked their lowest-scoring output of the season. "Where we're falling short is details," Hornets coach Steve Clifford told the Charlotte Observer. "When you're not good at the little things, that's where you give up 8-0 runs, or you come down and blow (offensive) sets or blow coverages. Those are things we've always been really good at, and we're not."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (7-7): James got some help on Monday from shooting guard Kyle Korver, who scored 19 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and buried five 3-pointers in the frame. "I needed one to go down first; I think I missed the next two after that," Korver told reporters. "I actually felt great. I've played this game for a long time and I've had many bad shooting nights. I kept shooting and kept at it." Korver totaled 34 points and eight 3-pointers in the last two games after totaling 10 points in the previous two contests.

ABOUT THE HORNETS (5-7): Charlotte is planning on guard Nicolas Batum (elbow) making his season debut on Wednesday after he spent the last three days practicing with the team. "If it's my call, yes," Batum told the Charlotte Observer after practice on Tuesday of playing against the Cavaliers. "If the coaches and the training staff are OK with it, it should be a go tomorrow." Batum averaged career highs of 15.1 points and 5.9 assists in 2016-17 while adding 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cavaliers PG Derrick Rose (ankle) sat out the last three games and is day-to-day.

2. Hornets PG Kemba Walker shot 33.9 percent from the field, including 5-of-25 from 3-point range, on the road trip.

3. Cleveland took all four meetings last season and six straight in the series.

PREDICTION: Cavaliers 109, Hornets 107

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Detroit Pistons own the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and are winners of five straight, but they are about to put their record to the test. The Pistons, who just finished up a sweep of a five-game homestand, will begin a three-game trip and a stretch with nine of 11 on the road when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

Detroit began that homestand with a 105-96 win over the Bucks on Nov. 3 and earned the five straight wins by an average of 10.2 points. "The next three games on the road against teams you beat at home," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters after a 112-103 win over the Miami Heat to close out the homestand on Sunday. "So you know they want back at you. The challenges just keep mounting. You put wins in the bank because you know there are going to be tough stretches in the season. So you put wins in the bank and our guys on this homestand did a hell of a job." The Bucks are winners of three straight games and are having no trouble working point guard Eric Bledsoe into the rotation. Bledsoe scored 15 points on Monday - his highest total in three games with the team - as Milwaukee pulled off a 110-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

ABOUT THE PISTONS (10-3): Detroit is being led by Tobias Harris, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson but is starting to give other players more chances and was rewarded with season highs of 14 points and five rebounds from rookie shooting guard Luke Kennard in Sunday's win. The Duke product, who found himself out of the rotation completely at the beginning of the homestand before a steady increase in playing time over the final four games, logged a season-high 28 minutes off the bench on Sunday. "We have a lot of guys that make plays like that and I want to be a player that would be able to make those plays," Kennard told reporters. "If my shot's not falling, I want to make an impact in other ways."

ABOUT THE BUCKS (7-6): Milwaukee star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered 27 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals while logging 44 minutes on Monday, and coach Jason Kidd would like to see the players around his star step up. "We can count on and look and watch Giannis, but we need everybody to participate on the offensive end and I thought he did a great job of finding guys," Kidd told reporters. Antetokounmpo got some shooting support on Monday from Khris Middleton, who went 4-of-5 from 3-point range after going 4-of-16 in the previous four games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Harris went 21-of-35 from 3-point range during the homestand.

2. Bucks PF Mirza Teletovic (knee) missed the last three games and is unlikely to play on Wednesday.

3. Milwaukee took the last four in the series.

PREDICTION: Bucks 105, Pistons 103

[Can'tPickAWinner]

A west coast trip that started out well is turning sour for the Orlando Magic, who dropped their last two games to fall to 1-2 on the four-game trip. The Magic will try to come out even and avoid a season-high third-straight loss when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

Orlando struggled on the defensive end in a 125-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday and wasn't happy with its offensive effort in Monday's 110-100 setback at the defending champion Golden State Warriors. "I think the problem tonight was definitely offensively," Magic guard Evan Fournier told the team's website. "The ball stuck too much. Obviously, they scouted us really good and we could never find a rhythm offensively. It was a mix of them being more physical, messed up some coverages and then when we have to walk the ball up, it's hard for us offensively." The Trail Blazers snapped a two-game slide with a 99-82 win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday to move to 3-2 on their six-game homestand. Portland, which will play six of its next seven games on the road, leaned on its bench to avoid a three-game losing streak.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), NBCS Northwest (Portland)

ABOUT THE MAGIC (8-6): Point guard Elfrid Payton is still working his way back into shape after missing eight games with a hamstring strain and sat out the loss at Denver on the second night of a back-to-back before struggling at the Warriors. Payton was held to four points on 2-of-8 shooting in 25 minutes at Golden State after going 9-of-16 from the floor in his first two games back. Fellow point guard D.J. Augustin is dealing with his own hamstring strain and is expected to sit out his seventh straight game on Wednesday.

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (7-6): Evan Turner led the bench effort on Monday with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting as the reserves shot 17-of-26 from the floor. "I just think we went on a run and was able to keep it defensively and offensively," Turner told reporters. "I think we're all clicking, I think we picked up our communication. Slipped away a little bit but then I think our first unit put together their own run and the second unit came in and held it up." The bench play is picking up some of the slack for star guard Damian Lillard, who is 4-of-23 from 3-point range over the last four games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Magic rookie PF Jonathan Isaac (ankle) sat out Monday and is not expected to play on Wednesday.

2. Trail Blazers rookie PF Caleb Swanigan made his first start on Monday and managed six points on 2-of-5 shooting in 20 minutes.

3. The teams split the season series in 2016-17, with Orlando earning a 112-103 win in Portland on Feb. 23.

PREDICTION: Magic 116, Trail Blazers 109

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Philadelphia 76ers won the first half of their Staples Center doubleheader and will aim to make it a sweep when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Two days after a 21-point loss at Golden State, the 76ers squeaked past the Los Angeles Clippers 109-105 on Monday, riding a 32-point, 16-rebound effort from Joel Embiid.

Ben Simmons chipped in 22 points and 12 rebounds as the youngsters continued to impress for Philadelphia. "They're two of the best players in the league already," Sixers guard JJ Redick told reporters. "They're both MVP-caliber players. They're fantastic and we're all along for the ride." The Lakers have some quality young talent as well and managed to snap a three-game slide with a 100-93 victory at Phoenix on Monday to salvage the finale of a four-game road trip. The teams split a pair of meetings last season, with the road team winning each time.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE 76ERS (7-6): Embiid and Simmons get the headlines as Philadelphia's "process" comes to fruition, but Robert Covington deserves plenty of credit for taking his game to new heights this season. The fifth-year pro hit 5-of-8 3-pointers and all four of his shots inside the arc while scoring a career-high 31 points in the win over the Clippers. Covington entered Tuesday tied for fifth in the NBA in 3-point percentage (50.0) and ranked third in triples per game (3.7).

ABOUT THE LAKERS (6-8): The starters combined for 54 points while shooting 36.4 percent in the win at Phoenix while the bench took over, led by Jordan Clarkson's 25 points. "Just seems more focused and serious about what we're doing," coach Luke Walton told the Los Angeles Times of Clarkson, who is shooting 51.2 percent from the field and averaging a team-high 15.5 points in only 21.4 minutes. "Just his overall approach each day. Asking questions to the way he's been practicing. The effort he's been giving on defense for the most part is a huge step up from last year. Just his overall presence around the court." Veteran Corey Brewer provided a rare boost off the bench with 13 points after being held to five or fewer in each of his first 13 games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Lakers F Brandon Ingram is averaging eight points - nearly six below his season average - on 7-of-27 shooting over a three-game span.

2. Philadelphia entered Tuesday fifth in the NBA from long distance (38.8 percent), while Los Angeles was last (30.2).

3. Sixers PG Jerryd Bayless (wrist) missed four straight games and is doubtful for this one.

PREVIEW: Lakers 112, 76ers 110

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The San Antonio Spurs look to defeat the host Minnesota Timberwolves for the 13th consecutive time when the teams square off on Wednesday. The Spurs continued their dominance of Minnesota with a season-opening 107-99 victory behind 25 points and 10 rebounds from power forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

The Timberwolves last defeated the Spurs on April 8, 2014 but are a much-improved team with All-Star Jimmy Butler joining young stars Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. Minnesota possesses an 8-5 record, which matches the franchise's best start since the 2001-02, when the team led by Kevin Garnett opened with a 10-3 surge. Aldridge scored a season-best 32 points on Tuesday as San Antonio topped Dallas 97-91 for its fifth victory in six games. The triumph over the Mavericks was the 500th career regular-season road win for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who ranks third all-time in that category behind Pat Riley (520) and Don Nelson (517).

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (San Antonio), FSN North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE SPURS (9-5): Aldridge is thriving in the go-to scoring role with All-Star Kawhi Leonard sidelined and is averaging 22.5 points with 11 20-point performances. The five-time All-Star averaged 18 points or fewer in each of his first two seasons with San Antonio but is resembling the player he was in Portland, where he averaged 21 or more in each of his final five campaigns before departing as a free agent. "Everything is good. I am definitely more confident," Aldridge said after the win over Dallas. "I'm playing my game more this year. Pop has definitely tweaked some things so I can be myself out there more, be more confident, and it's working out for us."

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (8-5): Another key component in Minnesota's improvement are veteran additions Taj Gibson and Jamal Crawford. The 37-year-old Crawford (9.2 scoring average) supplies scoring punch off the bench while the 32-year-old Gibson (10.2 points, 7.6 rebounds) does the dirty work inside while providing top-notch defense. "He just has a workmanlike attitude every single day," Crawford told reporters. "When he's saying something, it comes from a safe place. It's not with an agenda, it's for the betterment of the team. I'll go to war with him any day of the week."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Spurs have won their last six road meetings with the Timberwolves.

2. Towns recorded 24 points and 13 rebounds in Monday's 109-98 win over Utah for his 10th double-double of the season.

3. There remains no firm timetable for the return of Leonard (quadriceps), who finished third in last season's MVP voting and second the previous campaign.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 103