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Western Michigan Broncos vs. Brigham Young Cougars Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NCAAF PREDICTIONS 9TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL STORYLINES


1. BYU is back in the postseason after last season's 4-9 finish snapped a run of 12-straight bowl appearances, but how motivated will the favored Cougars be for the Dec. 21 matchup against Western Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and a December trip to Boise? Before the postseason pairings were set on Dec. 2, more than a few Cougars were campaigning on social media for a warm-weather bowl, but instead they'll be playing on the blue turf at Albertson's Stadium for the second straight month following a 21-16 loss to Boise State on Nov. 3. "I'm excited," defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku said during the team's bowl news conference. "I wanted (to go) somewhere warm, but Idaho will do. It's a bowl game, so I'm just happy to be at a bowl game."


2. At 6-6 in Tim Lester's first season coaching his alma mater a year ago, Western Michigan was one of three bowl-eligible teams that did not receive a postseason invitation. But thanks in no small part to a regular season-ending win over eventual Mid-American Conference champion Northern Illinois, the Broncos are bowling for the fourth time in five seasons and will be making their second Potato Bowl appearance following a 2014 loss to Air Force in Boise. "It means everything," Western Michigan senior center John Keenoy told MLive.com on Dec. 2. "For the seniors, we're just happy to have another opportunity to play together as a team. This bowl is known around Western Michigan, we've been there, we're very excited to go and we get more practices for the young guys, so it's great for the program."


3. Both the Cougars and Broncos are expected to be led by freshman quarterbacks in the game. At BYU, Zach Wilson replaced benched senior Tanner Mangum for the Oct. 13 contest against Hawaii and has accounted for 10 total touchdowns and three interceptions on the season while guiding the Cougars to a 3-3 finish. Meanwhile, Western Michigan's Kaleb Eleby replaced injured junior Jon Wassink (ankle surgery) in the first quarter of an Oct. 25 loss to Toledo and has accounted for six TDs and two interceptions over the last four games.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: BYU -12

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN (7-5): It's been a season of streaks for the Broncos, who lost to Syracuse and Michigan to open the year, then reeled off six straight wins before dropping three in a row prior to the 28-21 victory over Northern Illinois. Western Michigan ranked third in the MAC in total (447.2 yards per game) and rushing offense (204.6), on the legs of All-MAC First-Team running back LeVante Bellamy (conference-best 97.7 yards) and Third-Team selection Jamauri Bogan (58.5). Defensively, the Broncos surrender 33.3 points (10th in the 12-team MAC) and 378 yards (sixth) as they're led by linebacker Drake Spears (6.8 tackles per game) and defensive lineman Ralph Holley (eight sacks).


ABOUT BYU (6-6): It's been an up-and-down season for the Cougars, who started 3-1 - including a 24-21 road win over then-No. 6 Wisconsin on Sept. 15 - but have lost five of eight games since, including a 35-27 setback against rival Utah in the regular-season finale as they failed to protect a 27-7 third-quarter lead. Due to injuries and personnel adjustments, no player finished with more than 459 rushing or receiving yards, but the Cougars do expect to have senior running back Squally Canada (412 rushing yards, five TDs) available after he missed the last two games with a concussion. Tight end Matt Bushman (25 receptions, 459 yards, two touchdowns) and wide receiver Talon Shumway (20, 319, three) are the team's top aerial targets while senior linebacker Sione Takitaki (99 total tackles, 8.5 for loss) leads a defense which allows only 21.7 points and 325 yards per outing.


PREDICTION: BYU 31, Western Michigan 23

Florida International Golden Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NCAAF PREDICTIONS 8TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


MAKERS WANTED BAHAMAS BOWL STORYLINES

1. Florida International's regular season ended on a disappointing note as its 28-25 loss to Marshall prevented the school from earning a coveted spot in the Conference USA title game. But all was not lost, however, as the Panthers still garnered a well-deserved trip out of the country to face Toledo on Dec. 21 in the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl in Nassau. It's FIU's second straight bowl berth under coach Butch Davis (0-1) - and only the fourth in the program's history - while Toledo has a much richer postseason tradition with eight bowl appearances in the last nine years and 18 overall.


2. While FIU stumbled a bit at the finish with two losses in its last four games to fall into a second-place tie in the East Division of C-USA, it still equaled the school record for victories (eight) - with a chance to surpass it with a Bahamas Bowl win. The sentiment was quite a bit different in Toledo, where the Rockets soared down the stretch to keep alive their bowl hopes, winning five of their last six contests to extend their streak of winning seasons to nine. Toledo also finished tied for second in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference - putting the teams on a collision course for the Bahamas Bowl, which annually pits the MAC against C-USA in a series currently even at two wins apiece.


3. Offense will be the name of the game when the teams meet for only the fourth time in their history, the last of which came when the Panthers posted a 34-32 victory in the 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl to take a 2-1 advantage in the series. FIU brings in a quarterback somewhat familiar to Toledo as James Morgan threw five touchdown passes against the Rockets in 2016 while starting for Bowling Green, and now he's lighting it up in his first season with the Panthers, throwing for multiple touchdowns in 10 of his last 11 games. The Rockets will counter with an offense that has scored at least 45 points in four of their last five games, surpassing 50 in three of those contests and six times overall this season.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Toledo -6

ABOUT FIU (8-4, 6-2 C-USA): Morgan proved to be the answer at quarterback this season, leading C-USA in both passer rating and yards per attempt while throwing 26 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions, but he saved his worst performance for the Panthers' biggest game - the season finale against Marshall in which he failed to throw a scoring pass for the first time all year and recorded his first multi-interception outing of the season with a pair of picks. While the passing attack grabs most of the attention, the Panthers also have a solid running game led by Napoleon Maxwell and D'Vonte Price, and the duo proved its worth by finding some wiggle room against a Marshall defense ranked ninth in the nation against the run. FIU's defensive front has been pushed around at times this season, giving up 4.6 yards per carry, which won't get the job done against a Rockets team that is relying much more on the ground game as it is averaging 5.3 yards per rush and 223.6 yards per contest.


ABOUT TOLEDO (7-5, 5-3 MAC): The Rockets thought they were set at quarterback with Mitchell Guadagni filling the void left by star Logan Woodside, but the MAC's most efficient passer (162.0 rating) missed the last four games due to injury and isn't expected to play in the Bahamas Bowl, leaving the job again in the hands of Eli Peters. Toledo hardly missed a beat without Guadagni, however, as the offense still chewed up chunks of yardage - producing over 430 yards in each of the last five games thanks to a powerful backfield-by-committee that amassed a total of 677 in the last two contests alone. While the Rockets expect to continue that success against FIU's not-so-dominant defensive line, their secondary will face its own challenge trying to contain the Morgan-led Panthers as the unit surrendered over 300 yards passing six times this season and ranks 102nd in the nation with 257.8 passing yards allowed per game.


PREDICTION: FIU 44, Toledo 40

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NBA PREDICTIONS 20TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be on the same court Friday night but still wearing different uniforms as the Los Angeles Lakers host the New Orleans Pelicans. James created some extra buzz for this matchup when he made comments earlier this week about eventually having the New Orleans star as a teammate in Los Angeles.


Davis isn't slated to become a free agent until the summer of 2020 and New Orleans will be able to offer him a five-year deal with $239 million this summer in a bid to keep him long term. "Obviously, it's cool to hear any high-caliber player say they want to play with me," Davis told reporters on Thursday in response to James' remarks. "But my job is to turn this team around. If we're 15-17, that means I'm not doing my job." Both teams have lost two straight games entering the matchup and Los Angeles is beginning a stretch in which six of eight games are at home after losing three of four on a road trip. "We could've had a pretty good road trip but 1-3 is definitely not the way we would like to have it," James told reporters after Tuesday's 115-110 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.


TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS New Orleans, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)


ABOUT THE PELICANS (15-17): Davis is feeling better than he did Wednesday, when he missed the entire second quarter and part of the third due to illness during a 123-115 road loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Davis still produced 27 points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes and his illness, along with ankle injuries to forwards Julius Randle and Nikola Mirotic, opened the door for backup Jahlil Okafor to score a season-best 17 points in 13 minutes. "I've just been staying ready," Okafor told reporters. "My teammates were telling me to keep going, so they gave me a lot of confidence."


ABOUT THE LAKERS (18-13): James recorded 36 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in the loss to the Nets as he bounced back from perhaps his worst game of the season. James had a season-low 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting with just six rebounds and three assists two nights earlier in a 128-110 loss to the Washington Wizards. Forward Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points against the Nets for his eighth 20-point effort in the last nine games and he is averaging 22.8 points during the stretch.


BUZZER BEATERS


1. The Pelicans averaged 128.7 points while sweeping last season's three meetings.


2. Los Angeles PG Lonzo Ball established season highs of 23 points and five 3-pointers during the loss to Brooklyn.


3. New Orleans SF Darius Miller scored a season-best 20 points and matched his career high of six 3-pointers in the loss to the Bucks.


PREDICTION: Lakers 130, Pelicans 127

Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NBA PREDICTIONS 20TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Utah Jazz aim to follow up one of their most impressive victories of the season when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. The Jazz stymied the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors 108-103 on Wednesday after losing four of their previous five games.


Utah held the Warriors to 40 percent shooting - including 10 of 31 from 3-point range - and made late-game stops while delivering the stunning victory. "We defended for a full game," Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell told reporters. "We were locked into the game plan. When you play defense like that, and we shoot the way we did, the outcome is going to be the way it was." The Jazz and Trail Blazers are playing two games in five days, including a Christmas night matchup in Salt Lake City. Portland won its past three games and five of its last seven after posting a 99-92 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.


TV: 10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet (Utah), NBCS Northwest (Portland)


ABOUT THE JAZZ (15-17): Mitchell was a porous 5-of-26 shooting while scoring 15 points against the Warriors and he is mired in a three-game shooting slump. Mitchell is just 21-of-69 over the span - a paltry 30.4 percent - despite averaging 21.3 points during the stretch. Center Rudy Gobert matched his season high of four blocked shots and recorded 17 points and 15 rebounds against Golden State for his fifth straight double-digit effort on the glass and his fourth double-double during the stretch.


ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (18-13): Portland has been receiving strong bench play of late as it outscored the Memphis reserves 44-14 two games after having a 58-26 edge in bench points against the Toronto Raptors. "It's great when guys are getting open, everybody's setting screens and being unselfish, looking for guys and not looking for their own shot, not looking to go one-on-one the whole time," backup forward Zach Collins told reporters. "It's contagious and everyone loves playing like that." Point guard Damian Lillard scored 24 points against the Grizzlies and scored 20 or more points in eight of nine games this month.


BUZZER BEATERS


1. The teams split last season's four meetings with both squads scoring 401 total points.


2. Utah PG Ricky Rubio missed all eight of his field-goal attempts versus the Warriors and is 8-for-32 over the past three games.


3. Portland SF Al-Farouq Aminu is averaging 5.5 points over the past two games after putting up 11.8 over the previous four contests.


PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 110, Jazz 104

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Sacramento Kings Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NBA PREDICTIONS 20TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Sacramento Kings are suddenly having trouble getting stops and not generating enough points to overcome the defensive mistakes. The Kings will try to bounce back when they host the struggling Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.


Sacramento surrendered 132 points in back-to-back losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder to fall into the team's first losing streak this month. The Kings opened a three-game homestand on Wednesday by allowing the Thunder to shoot 50 percent from the floor and race out to a 19-point lead at the half before falling 132-113. The Grizzlies are losers of four straight and six of the last seven games and failed to reach 100 points in any of those seven contests. "We've got to get it done - it's that simple," Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters after a 99-92 loss at Portland on Wednesday. "We can come up with schemes and tricks and all that, but on the offensive end of the floor we've gotta take the shots that are available to us."


TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS South (Memphis), NBCS California (Sacramento)


ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (16-15): Memphis center Marc Gasol went 4-of-13 from the floor in Wednesday's loss and is averaging 11.8 points on 36.1 percent shooting in 10 games this month while insisting the team is still holding together. "Of course, we have urgency," Gasol told reporters. "Of course, I mean, it's not working out the way we wish but everyone in this locker room and from the coaching staff is on the same page and we want to win, and just (when the team goes) through rough patches, that's when you hold onto each other even more." Point guard Mike Conley (hamstring) returned from a one-game absence on Wednesday and scored 23 points on 7-of-19 shooting.


ABOUT THE KINGS (16-15): Sacramento remains one of the surprise teams of the first two months of the season and got strong efforts from its backcourt in Wednesday's setback. Shooting guard Buddy Hield, 25, scored a career-high 37 points while knocking down 7-of-14 from beyond the arc and scored at least 20 points in each of the last five games to push his season average to a team-leading 19.9. Point guard De'Aaron Fox, 20, went for 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting on Wednesday while handing out 12 assists and is averaging 18.2 points and 7.4 assists.


BUZZER BEATERS


1. Kings SG Bogdan Bogdanovic (foot) sat out Wednesday and is day-to-day.


2. Memphis SF Omri Casspi (illness) sat out Wednesday and is questionable for Friday.


3. The teams split the first two meetings, with Sacramento earning a 97-92 home win on Oct. 24.


PREDICTION: Kings 109, Grizzlies 99

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NBA PREDICTIONS 20TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The San Antonio Spurs look to stretch their home winning streak against Minnesota to 11 games when they entertain the Timberwolves on Friday. San Antonio improved to 50-9 all-time at home against Minnesota with a 112-108 win on Oct. 17.


The Timberwolves haven't won in San Antonio since posting a 108-95 victory on April 17, 2013 in the regular-season finale when Rick Adelman was coach. Timing might not be on its side in this meeting either as Minnesota dropped five of its last six games while the Spurs won six of their past seven. San Antonio beat the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic by an average of 33 points in its last two contests and held six straight foes below 100 points. "We didn't change the strategy at all. We watched film, talked about some things, and I guess they listened," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters after Wednesday's 129-90 victory over Orlando. "Or maybe the other teams just all missed shots every night. I don't know. It's a big change, for sure."


TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), CW 35 (San Antonio)


ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (14-17): Minnesota is beginning a three-game road stretch on the heels of a devastating 129-123 overtime loss to the visiting Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. The Timberwolves held a 14-point lead at the outset of the fourth quarter and gave the lead away with Detroit's Andre Drummond tapping in a putback with 0.6 seconds left to send the game into overtime. "The fourth quarter is different and you have to react to what's going on, so that is disappointing," Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after Wednesday's game. "I think they had 78 (points) after three, and then a 40-point fourth quarter. And then all we had to do was get a stop, and we give up a second shot. That can't happen."


ABOUT THE SPURS (17-15): San Antonio shot 64.9 percent from the field and made 12-of-19 3-pointers in the rout of Orlando while recording assists on 29 of 50 field goals. "Everybody was hitting shots. We were moving the ball well with 29 assists," Spurs shooting guard Bryn Forbes told reporters. "That's the effort we want night-in and night-out. That's exactly what we're looking for." San Antonio's last four victories have been by an average of 32.3 points with a 25-point triumph over the Phoenix Suns marking the lowest margin of victory.


BUZZER BEATERS


1. The Timberwolves routed the Spurs 128-89 on Nov. 28 in Minneapolis.


2. San Antonio leads the NBA with a 3-point percentage of 39.6.


3. Minnesota PG Jeff Teague (ankle) will miss his third straight game.


PREDICTION: Spurs 121, Timberwolves 107

Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NBA PREDICTIONS 20TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


A pair of teams struggling to score will meet when the Chicago Bulls host the Orlando Magic on Friday. The Magic failed to reach 100 points in any of their last five games while the Bulls were held below the century mark in each of the last six contests.


Orlando, which earned a 97-91 victory over Chicago in Mexico City last week, won back-to-back games south of the border before coming back to the United States and getting crushed at home 129-90 by the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. "I don't think it was lack of energy, but we didn't play with energy," Magic shooting guard Evan Fournier told reporters. "We just played terrible - offensively and defensively with no awareness and no focus. Not enough for a team that wants to make the playoffs." The Bulls' offense is missing its leading scorer with Zach LaVine (23.8) sidelined two-to-four weeks due to an ankle injury suffered against the Magic in Mexico City, and they are trying to coax points out of different guards. Kris Dunn took the lead on Wednesday and scored 24 points on 11-of-21 shooting to keep Chicago in a 96-93 home loss to the Brooklyn Nets.


TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), NBCS Chicago


ABOUT THE MAGIC (14-16): Orlando's loss on Wednesday came without center Nikola Vucevic, who missed his first game of the season following the birth of his son. "He's doing good," Magic coach Steve Clifford told reporters of Vucevic. "I think his plan is - as long as (Wednesday) night goes well - to come in and practice (on Thursday) and hopefully go to Chicago and play on Friday." Rookie Mo Bamba started in Vucevic's place on Wednesday and managed seven points on 2-of-7 shooting before telling reporters, "I'm learning that this is an every-night league and we've got to bring it every night or things like this are going to happen."


ABOUT THE BULLS (7-25): Last season's leading scorer, power forward Lauri Markkanen, is off to a slow start after missing the first 23 games of 2018-19 and is averaging 14.4 points on 37.8 percent shooting since returning to the lineup. Markkanen attempted a season-low six shots while scoring eight points on Wednesday - matching point guard Ryan Arcidiacono for the fewest attempts among the starting five. Swingman Justin Holiday is in a shooting slump as well and is 6-of-32 from the floor over the last three games.


BUZZER BEATERS


1. Magic SF Jonathon Simmons (ankle) left Wednesday's game and is day-to-day.


2. Bulls F Jabari Parker (illness) missed the last two games and is day-to-day.


3. Chicago took all four meetings last season.


PREDICTION: Magic 102, Bulls 96

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NBA PREDICTIONS 20TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


Just when it seemed as if the Boston Celtics were putting everything together, they have taken a few steps back and now face a more challenging portion of the schedule. That stretch of six straight games against teams at .500 or better begins Friday night against the streaking Milwaukee Bucks.


"This is the NBA season. You just want to have great pockets of games, you have good consistent run, and then now you have a lapse," Boston guard Kyrie Irving told reporters after a 111-103 home loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, the team's second straight setback following an eight-game winning streak. "Now it's [time to] build it back up, continue to work every single day to be a very great team. It's a work in progress every day." Nine of the Celtics' last 10 games came against teams that will enter Friday with losing records, but the Bucks present a very different challenge as they try to reach the top of the Eastern Conference. Wednesday's 123-115 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at home gave Milwaukee three consecutive victories and five in its last six outings. The Bucks were the last undefeated team in the NBA at 7-0 before falling 117-113 at Boston on Nov. 1.


TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCS Boston


ABOUT THE BUCKS (21-9): Giannis Antetokounmpo put up another impressive line of 25 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one blocked shot in the win over the Pelicans. Five others scored in double figures, including two players -- Tony Snell and George Hill -- off of a bench that combined to produce 49 points on 17-of-28 shooting. "It's a huge statement. You need that throughout the season," coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. "You need your bench. It's a really important part."


ABOUT THE CELTICS (18-12): While Boston tries to figure out a way to get out of its latest rut, it must do so with a banged-up frontcourt, as Al Horford (knee) has missed six straight games and fellow center Aron Baynes suffered a broken hand in Wednesday's loss and is out indefinitely. Forward Marcus Morris also sat out Wednesday's game due to knee soreness as the team was beginning a stretch in which it plays 19 games in 36 days. "You want to prepare yourself the best you know how," Irving told reporters of the difficult stretch. "It's more about maintenance and survival right now."


BUZZER BEATERS


1. Irving had 29 points and 10 assists versus Phoenix and is averaging 29.3 points over his last four games.


2. Antetokounmpo led all players with 33 points and 11 rebounds in the first meeting.


3. Bucks PF Ersan Ilyasova has missed two straight games due to a broken nose.


PREDICTION: Bucks 113, Celtics 110

Indiana Pacers vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NBA PREDICTIONS 20TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Indiana Pacers are suddenly having some trouble scoring points and dropped their last two games following a seven-game winning streak. The Pacers will try to bounce back when they close out a two-game road trip by visiting the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.


Indiana shot 39.8 percent in a 92-91 loss to lowly Cleveland on Tuesday and fell off in the fourth quarter while suffering a 99-96 setback on the second night of a back-to-back at Toronto on Wednesday. "You have to execute down the stretch offensively and protect the basketball, certainly get an attempt at the rim or at the basket and defensively you have to get stops," Pacers coach Nate McMillan told reporters after watching his team get outscored 24-11 in the fourth quarter on Wednesday. "Tonight, we didn't do either." The Nets are winners of seven in a row and pulled out a 96-93 win at Chicago on Wednesday on the second night of a back-to-back after knocking off the Los Angeles Lakers at home. "After (Tuesday) night's win (against the Lakers) you could easily rest on your laurels and road back to backs have been tough for us so, really, if you want to rank the wins, as a coach, I'd put this first," Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. "I think it's growth. It's maturity. It's physical and mental growth. I'm just really pleased. This game was a trap game and I thought it was going to be a real dogfight and it was."


TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, YES (Brooklyn)


ABOUT THE PACERS (20-12): Indiana guard Victor Oladipo went 4-of-15 from the floor in Tuesday's loss and bounced back with 20 points on Wednesday, but also committed six turnovers. "Things like this happen, unfortunately," Oladipo told reporters. "Great teams just find a way to get out of it and just stay motivated, look forward. I know I have to be better down the stretch. I've excelled in those moments numerous times, so, just didn't go well the past two nights." Oladipo is 1-of-8 from 3-point range over the last two games after going 5-of-8 from beyond the arc in a 110-99 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday.


ABOUT THE NETS (15-18): Brooklyn guard Spencer Dinwiddie is the driving force behind the winning streak and scored 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting in 32 minutes off the bench on Wednesday. Dinwiddie is averaging 24 points during the winning streak, which comes on the heels of an eight-game slide. "We learn from our failures and from our mistakes," Dinwiddie told reporters. "We lost a lot of close games and when you have a lot of guys that are focused and locked in and trying to win and get better and hopefully make the playoffs, then you're going to improve. We're not a team that took those losses lightly."


BUZZER BEATERS


1. Pacers C Myles Turner recorded a double-double in each of the last two games and totaled nine blocks in that span.


2. Nets SG Allen Crabbe (knee) sat out the last four games and is questionable for Friday.


3. Indiana took the last eight in the series, including a 132-112 home win on Oct. 20.


PREDICTION: Pacers 113, Nets 110

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Preview and Predictions 2018-12-21
NBA PREDICTIONS 20TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The highlights have been few and far between for the Atlanta Hawks, but the rebuilding team heads to New York for a Friday matchup with the Knicks after perhaps their best performance of the season. Atlanta led by 11 points after one quarter and held off a late Washington rally on Tuesday for a 118-110 home victory, just the seventh time in 30 games the Hawks have walked off the court winners.


"I thought it was one of our best defensive games," Atlanta guard Jeremy Lin told the media after scoring 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and finishing 6-for-12 from the field. The Knicks also are struggling, having dropped three consecutive games and eight of their past nine following Wednesday's 131-109 road defeat at Philadelphia. There was a bit of good news for New York, as leading scorer Tim Hardaway Jr. returned after missing one game with planter fasciitis and scored a team-high 27 points. "I think just one game of rest really helped him," Knicks coach David Fizdale told reporters. "He came back and felt like himself."


TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), MSG (New York)


ABOUT THE HAWKS (7-23): Forward John Collins finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Wizards, and in his past 11 games has posted nine double-doubles and is averaging 20.6 points and 11.4 rebounds. Center Dewayne Dedmon has two consecutive double-doubles and is 6-for-6 from 3-point range in that span. The Hawks are third in the league in forced turnovers per game (17.1) but rank last in turnovers committed per contest (18.2).


ABOUT THE KNICKS (9-24): Hardaway averages 21.2 points per game and finished 3-for-7 from 3-point range Wednesday, after shooting 2-for-11 in his previous two contests. Guard Emmanuel Mudiay averaged 20 points per game in his previous nine games entering Wednesday, but finished with 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field. New York ranks last in the NBA in assists (19.8 per game).


BUZZER BEATERS


1. The Knicks have allowed 120-plus points four times in their previous eight games.


2. Atlanta G Vince Carter passed Paul Pierce for seventh place on the NBA's career 3-point list Wednesday (2,145).


3. New York is 2-0 against the Hawks this season, including a 126-107 home victory Oct. 17 in the season opener.


PREDICTION: Knicks 122, Hawks 106