Latest News and Notes Ahead of Wednesday's Top NBA Games
A packed 13-game slate for the NBA on Wednesday night includes a few rematches from earlier this season, trips back home for a few stars and the league's two best teams in action against two of younger franchises in the NBA.
The San Antonio Spurs are doing what they usually do: win games without anybody seeming to care. Led by rising star Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs have won 24 of their first 29 games this season, including the last six in a row.
San Antonio's run of excellence has been relatively overshadowed by the 26-1 start from reigning league MVP Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
Heading into Wednesday's action, here's a look at a few notes and matchups for the premier games to watch throughout the evening.
Houston Rockets vs. Orlando Magic: Another return home for Dwight Howard and Elfrid Payton's ankle
James Harden is the main attraction in Houston, but on Wednesday night, all eyes will be on Dwight Howard and another return to his professional roots in Orlando.
Howard was easygoing in his post-shootaround interview, including sending a compliment toward Orlando's current big man: Nikola Vucevic.
"I just think he's a really good player," Howard said when asked about Vucevic's game.
"He can basically do it all, except playing the point guard position," Howard said with a grin.
Despite a trip to the Western Conference Finals last season, it's been a rocky road this season for Howard and the Rockets.
Rockets head coach Kevin McHale was fired on Nov. 19 after a 5-7 start.
However, interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has helped turn things around a bit in Houston, and the Rockets are 10-7 since McHale's departure.
The Rockets have won eight of their last 11 games and will face the upstart Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
The Magic will be at full strength, according to Magic head coach Scott Skiles.
Payton sat out the final three quarters due to the sore left ankle as a precaution during the Magic's win over the New York Knicks on Monday night.
New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Cavaliers' final tune-up before Finals rematch and Carmelo Anthony's status
All eyes will be on Oracle Arena during the NBA's Christmas Day slate in two days, as the Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Golden State Warriors in a NBA Finals rematch.
But before LeBron James and the Cavaliers get another crack at the reigning champions, James and the Cavs will take on Carmelo Anthony and the surprising New York Knicks.
Wednesday will mark the third time already this season that the two teams have played, with Cleveland winning both meetings prior to Wednesday's matchup.
This meeting will mark the first time that Kyrie Irving and former Knick Iman Shumpert will be in Cleveland's rotation.
Irving (knee surgery) returned this past Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers after missing the first 24 games, while Shumpert has played in three of four possible games since returning from wrist surgery in the offseason.
Shumpert missed last Thursday's meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder with a groin issue, but he returned to action on Sunday.
As for the Knicks, there's still a matter of Carmelo Anthony's status.
"It's alright. We'll see what happens later," Anthony said when asked about the condition of his ankle.
"If I can go tonight, I can go. If I can't, I can't. As of right now, I'll just see later on," Anthony said.
Knicks forward Kyle O'Quinn is still recovering from an ankle injury as well and is considered a game-time decision.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: The Spurs train rolls into Minnesota to meet the Karl-Anthony Towns/Andrew Wiggins duo
When a team like the Warriors starts a season 26-1, you would assume that they're already lapping the field.
That's where the Spurs come in.
Along with the acquisition of LaMarcus Aldridge, the Spurs are getting more and more out of Kawhi Leonard every night.
The Tim Duncan-Tony Parker-Manu Ginobili trio are still producing as usual, but it's the new centerpieces of the Spurs that have teams fearing San Antonio's arrival into their cities.
The Spurs are as healthy and as scary as ever, while the young Timberwolves are predictably struggling.
Despite the 11-17 start, Minnesota has a core of the future.
Karl-Anthony Towns is playing like an All-Star as a rookie, Andrew Wiggins is finding his way to untapping his full potential, while Ricky Rubio is the perfect facilitator at point guard.
It's an intriguing matchup that will display the future of both franchises in the spotlight.
Utah Jazz vs. Golden State Warriors: Steve Kerr's semi-return, Luke Walton's status and more
Steve Kerr is back on the sidelines for the Warriors.
At practice.
The 2014-15 NBA Coach of the Year has yet to coach a game this season following complications with offseason back surgery.
Despite the issues, Kerr says he's feeling better and plans to return soon.
As for his interim replacement, Luke Walton, he's come down with an issue as well.
Walton missed Golden State's practice on Monday due to an illness, but heĀ is expected to be back coaching on Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz.
On Nov. 30, the Jazz came close to ending the Warriors' unbeaten streak at 18, but reigning MVP Stephen Curry took the game over in the final quarter, scoring 10 points in the final 6:20 to extend the winning streak at the time to 19 games.
Similar to the Timberwolves, the Jazz have a talented young group of players that make life difficult for opponents to score the ball, even without Rudy Gobert on the floor (knee injury).
Another trap game potentially for the Warriors?
Despite having a couple days off prior to Wednesday's game, this has all the makings of a good, competitive contest again.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Durant, Westbrook and the allure of the Black Mamba
Stephen Curry has been a human flamethrower this season.
Paul George has returned to his old self off a broken leg.
But nobody is talking about the play of Kevin Durant this season.
The 2013-14 NBA MVP might be having his best season to date alongside partner-in-crime Russell Westbrook.
Durant is averaging 26.8 points per contest and shooting 52.1 percent from the field.
Westbrook, a former star at nearby UCLA, is averaging 25.4 points and 9.4 assists per contest; second in the NBA.
The 19-9 Thunder have remained in Los Angeles for Wednesday's meeting with the Lakers after a nail-biting win earlier in the week against the Clippers.
Speaking of the Lakers, Kobe Bryant has begun to show a few flashes of his old self in recent performances. Bryant scored 31 points in Tuesday's come-from-behind win in Denver.
During Oklahoma City's time in Los Angeles this week, Bryant and Durant sat down together and had dinner.
Durant is lined up to become an unrestricted free agent in 2016, and the Lakers are rumored to be in the hunt for the former MVP.
Bryant missed the first meeting between the two teamsāa 118-78 drubbing by the Thunderābut with his recent play, Wednesday could make for an interesting contest.
