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NBA Game Previews for Fri, Nov. 20

Miami (7-4) at Toronto (5-7), 7 p.m. ET -- STATS reports: Even Dwyane Wade endures stretches of poor shooting at times. He isn’t accustomed to poor games against the Toronto Raptors, though. Wade struggled with his shot as the Miami Heat suffered consecutive losses for the first time this season, but he appears to have a good opportunity to end his problems in a matchup with the Raptors on Friday night. Miami (7-4) has lost three of four after a fast start, with its star guard shooting 32.4 percent (12 for 37) over the last two games - a 100-87 loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night and a 105-90 defeat at Atlanta the following evening... Toronto has struggled defensively this season, allowing 107.8 points per game. The Raptors gave up at least 100 points in losing their last three after holding their previous two opponents under 90.

Memphis (3-8) at Philadelphia (5-6), 7 p.m. ET -- STATS reports: Elton Brand hadn’t been contributing much during the first three quarters of the Philadelphia 76ers’ recent games, so coach Eddie Jordan decided to keep him on the bench for the final 12 minutes. In their latest contest, Brand made his presence felt while logging his most floor time of the season. Brand’s breakout performance gave the Sixers a huge lift in avoiding a third straight loss, and they’ll hope to see another impressive effort from the veteran big man Friday night as they look for a sixth consecutive win over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies... Memphis has won two in a row, and though beating Minnesota and the Los Angeles Clippers at home are hardly marquee victories, coach Lionel Hollins’ team is happy with any momentum after parting ways with Allen Iverson this week.

Cleveland (8-4) at Indiana (5-4), 7 p.m. ET -- STATS reports: Cleveland (8-4) was without O’Neal (shoulder) in the past three games and forward Anderson Varejao (hip) for the last two. While Varejao is expected to return Friday, a bigger concern may have arisen Wednesday. James banged his wrist on the basket while dunking late in the game in Washington. Cleveland blew a 17-point second-quarter lead and went on to lose 108-91... Indiana (5-4) had won three straight at home and five overall heading into a visit from New York on Wednesday, and Granger scored 30 points in the first half to give the Pacers a 69-54 edge at the break. However, they shot 24 percent after halftime, Granger was held to three points and the Knicks rallied for a 110-103 win.

Houston (7-5) at Atlanta (10-2) 7:30 p.m. ET -- STATS reports: The Hawks have barely been tested during a six-game winning streak that’s propelled them to the conference’s best record, and they’ll look to make it seven in a row Friday night against the visiting Houston Rockets... Joe Johnson leads the way with 23.6 points per game, but it seems the Hawks are at their best when Smith is producing. He averaged 14.0 points and 6.2 rebounds through the first six games but has averaged 18.5 points, 12.5 boards and 2.7 blocks during the win streak—Atlanta’s longest since a seven-game run from March 7-19... The Rockets needed an impressive fourth quarter to blow open a close game at Minnesota on Wednesday. Luis Scola had eight of his team-high 20 points in the final 4:35, and Houston turned a one-point lead after three into a 97-84 win.

Orlando (9-3) at Boston (9-3), 8 p.m. ET -- STATS reports: The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic waged a back-and-forth seven-game series in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, with the Magic eliminating the Celtics in Boston en route to the NBA finals. Based on their early success this fall, the teams may have to meet again if either wants to play for the title for a second straight year... In addition to Lewis’ suspension, Orlando has dealt with injuries or illness that have caused Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass to miss time. Point guard Jameer Nelson is expected to be out 4-6 weeks after having knee surgery Wednesday... The Celtics’ play, however, has been uneven after their 6-0 start. They lost back-to-back games against Atlanta and Indiana before rebounding with a 109-95 victory over Golden State on Wednesday.

Washington (3-7) at Oklahoma City (6-6), 8 p.m. ET -- STATS reports: Washington Wizards veterans Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler are certainly happy to have Antawn Jamison back. With James Harden coming around, the Oklahoma City Thunder may soon have their own trio of stars. Following an outstanding effort in Jamison’s return, the Wizards look to win two straight for the first time as they visit a promising young Thunder team Friday night... Jamison had 31 points, 10 rebounds and brought some much-needed leadership as Washington snapped a six-game losing streak... Oklahoma City lost 108-94 to the Magic on Wednesday night, a day after beating Miami 100-87, but it finally got a strong performance from Harden.

Sacramento (5-5) at Dallas (9-3), 8:30 p.m. ET -- STATS reports: Josh Howard has missed eight straight games as he recovers from offseason left ankle surgery, Shawn Marion sat out with a sprained left ankle sustained in a 115-113 OT win at Milwaukee on Monday night and Dallas has been without Erick Dampier the last three games due to an unknown illness... Howard isn’t ready to come back, Dampier has been undergoing tests to determine the nature of his illness and Marion’s status is uncertain. The Mavs will be just fine if Nowitzki continues his clutch play. He had 11 points after regulation against San Antonio and made a winning, buzzer-beating jumper in OT against the Bucks... Sacramento has injury issues of its own. The Kings are without Kevin Martin, who will miss at least another six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a hairline fracture in his left wrist Nov. 9. Andres Nocioni missed a 101-87 loss to Chicago, his former team, Tuesday night due to a hip pointer.

Charlotte (3-8) at Milwaukee (6-3), 8:30 p.m. ET -- STATS reports: The Milwaukee Bucks began their current homestand with plenty of questions, especially considering they were without top scorer Michael Redd. With a win Friday night over the Charlotte Bobcats, they can finish it in near-perfect fashion, and they may get Redd back to form a menacing scoring tandem with emerging rookie Brandon Jennings. A 115-113 overtime loss to Dallas on Monday has been Milwaukee’s only defeat in the first five games of this homestand, and the surprising Bucks (6-3) have won five of six overall... Charlotte could not pull out a win at the 76ers on Wednesday despite a strong performance from newcomer Stephen Jackson, who scored 26 in his second game with the Bobcats following a trade with Golden State... InsideHoops.com notes: Andrew Bogut is out 2-4 weeks with a leg injury.

Portland (9-4) at Golden State (3-8), 10:30 p.m. ET -- STATS reports: The Warriors granted Stephen Jackson's wish Monday, dealing him to Charlotte along with Acie Law for guard Raja Bell and forward Vladimir Radmanovic. “We can get back to playing basketball,” general manager Larry Riley said of his team, which went into Tuesday’s game in Cleveland with seven healthy players. Golden State lost that contest 114-108 in Radmanovic’s debut, and it got an eighth player the next night in Boston when Bell - who has a partially torn ligament in his left wrist - offered to play and scored 11 points in a 109-95 loss... While Portland has been hot lately - its only loss since Nov. 3 came in overtime at Atlanta - it hasn’t exactly been beating up on tough competition. The Hawks are the only team with a winning record the Blazers faced in the last eight games.

Denver (8-3) at Los Angeles Clippers (4-9), 10:30 p.m. ET -- STATS reports: Poor play away from the Pepsi Center has been holding the Denver Nuggets back somewhat. Perhaps a road contest with the Los Angeles Clippers will give them a boost. Following two more successful home games, the Nuggets travel to Los Angeles looking to extend a seven-game winning streak against the struggling Clippers on Friday night. A 4-0 record at the Pepsi Center has helped put Denver (8-3) in a tie for first place with Portland in the Northwest Division. After beating the Lakers 105-79 there last Friday, the Nuggets continued their home dominance four days later with a 130-112 victory over Toronto... When healthy, Gordon teams with Baron Davis to give the Clippers a formidable backcourt. Davis shot 8 for 13 and finished with 23 points versus the Grizzlies, although he turned the ball over four times.

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