Can the Nets make it three in a row?
It looks like all Brooklyn needed was a change. After suffering through an 11-game slide, the Nets have won their last two games post-trade deadline. They will look to extend it to three when they take on the Washington Wizards.
The Nets are on a high following their 28-point comeback against neighborhood rival New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Rookie Cam Thomas was instrumental in cutting down the deficit, scoring 16 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter.
The Nets didn’t have Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and newly-acquired Ben Simmons, but found enough gas in the tank to come up with the victory. New additions Seth Curry and Andre Drummond, meanwhile, continue to make an impact in just their second game. Curry had 20 points while Drummond pulled down 19 rebounds.
Even though the Nets don’t have much star power, they’re still looking very formidable as they host the Wizards in the last game day before the NBA All-Star Weekend.
The Wizards need all the help they can get as they sit in 11th place with a 26-31 record. They will have to muster a few more wins if they want to squeeze their way into the Play-in Tournament.
Kristaps Porzingis, Washington’s biggest trade deadline acquisition, won’t be available until after the All-Star break.
Will the Rockets end their six-game losing skid?
Remember when the Houston Rockets started the season 1-16 and went on a huge win streak? Well, the Rockets are sliding down the standings once again as they’ve lost their last six games. They’ll try to come up with a win, and might even start a new string of wins, when they square off against the Los Angeles Clippers
The Rockets have the worst record in the West, but they did give the league-leading Phoenix Suns a run for their money. Dennis Schroder provided 23 points, six rebounds, and nine assists for his new team before losing a close 124-121 decision to the Suns.
Interestingly, the Clippers are also coming off a loss versus the Suns. L.A. is still navigating the season without its best players while acclimating its trade acquisitions. Robert Covington reprises his role as a wing defender but the big blow for the Clippers is the loss of Norman Powell. The former Portland swingman was expected to provide a strong punch as a starter. However, he’s going to be out indefinitely with a foot injury.
