NBA on Sling TV: Wizards at Bulls, Spurs at Kings
Wizards vs. Bulls (8pm ET Wednesday, ESPN)
John Wall had trouble getting shots to fall Tuesday against the Pelicans, making just five of 17, but still managed a triple-double, posting 16-12-11 to help Washington best New Orleans 109-89. The win brought the Wizards’ record to 26-29 and within three games of the Bulls and Hornets in the hunt for the final playoff spot in the East. But, before that can happen, the Wiz need to leapfrog past the Pistons, who are one game ahead.
Following a huge upset victory over the Raptors, the Bulls won again Sunday, defeating the lowly Lakers 126-115 as Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol and E’Twaun Moore each scored at least 20 while three more Bulls broke 15 points. Collectively, the Bulls were lights out shooting .557 from the floor and .684 from three. The win was Chicago’s second in a row as the team remains without the services of Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic, who both appear to be at least two weeks away from their return. The Bulls are now 29-26 as they hold onto to a two-game lead over Detroit for the last playoff spot in the East.
Watch the Washington Wizards vs. the Chicago Bulls at 8pm ET Wednesday on ESPN.
Spurs vs. Kings (10:30pm ET Wednesday, ESPN)
Just as Tim Duncan returned from an extended absence, the Spurs are now playing without Manu Ginobili, who took a knee to the groin so severe it required immediate surgery, and Kawhi Leonard, who’s dealing with a calf strain that put him on the bench for the last three games and could keep him sidelined tonight. Nonetheless, the Spurs continue to win more than they lose. Recently, they beat on the Lakers and Suns to bring them to 47-9 – just three-and-a-half games behind the Warriors for the top spot in the West. San Antonio’s bid to break the single-season point differential record is in peril as they’re down to 12.4, putting them just a tick ahead of the ‘72-’73 Lakers’ mark of 12.3.
The Sacramento Kings’ all-star big man Boogie Cousins has been struggling with a sore tailbone while Omri Casspi and Marco Belinelli have both missed time due to dental extractions – this has to be the first time in league history that a team has simultaneously lost two of its first six guys to tooth-pullings. But, on Tuesday, Cousins was in full effect, scoring 39 points with nine rebounds while the Tooth Fairy twins were back in action combining for 23 points in 43 minutes as the Kings defeated the Nuggets 114-100. The Kings are 24-31 and trail the Jazz by three-and-a-half for the final playoff spot in the West.
Watch the San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings at 10:30pm ET Wednesday on ESPN.
All stats courtesy ESPN and Basketball Reference.