Get up to speed on the latest NBA news, plus a quick look at some storylines and tidbits worth noting today:
1. Celtics seek 10th straight win: Long win streaks to open a season are nothing new to the Celtics under coach Brad Stevens. Back in the 2017-18 season, Boston started 0-2 … and then won 16 straight games. Tonight the Celtics visit the injury-plagued Golden State Warriors (10:30 ET, ESPN) in search of their longest win streak since that 2017 run. So far this month, Boston ranks No. 2 in effective field goal percentage while Golden State has the NBA’s worst Defensive Rating (116.6).
2. Rockets’ challenging stretch continues: Out West, the hottest team is the Houston Rockets, who have won five in a row as they get ready to host the Indiana Pacers (8 ET, League Pass). During that five-game run, the Rockets have amassed the best Defensive Rating in the NBA. However, the Rockets have been a below-average rebounding team so far and have to find a way to keep the Pacers’ Domantas Sabonis (14.5 rpg) off the glass.
3. Spurs off to a slow start: At 5-6, San Antonio is off to its worst start since starting back-to-back seasons with that mark in 2008-09 and ’09-10. In those other two instances, San Antonio managed to win 50 or more games and make the playoffs. However, to get back to that spot, the Spurs have to start tonight in Orlando (7 ET, League Pass) by tightening up a defense that ranks in the bottom half of the NBA.
4. Welcome back, Mike: Twelve seasons, 11,733 points, 4,509 assists and 788 games played. Those are just some of the numbers Mike Conley amassed as a consistent force for the Memphis Grizzlies. Now the point guard for the Utah Jazz, Conley takes his first trip back to the old Grindhouse (8 ET, ESPN) to see his replacement, rookie Ja Morant, for the first time. From the memories of the “Grit and Grind”-era teams to a veteran vs. youngster matchup at the point, this game is one to catch.
Legendary Mike mic'd up moments throughout the years presented by @budweiser – tomorrow at 7pm
Grizz vs. @utahjazz – get your tix now: https://t.co/Ynu4BFUFgg pic.twitter.com/huY2eZrwXT
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) November 14, 2019
5. The day Elgin scored 71 …: Back on this date in 1960, Los Angeles Lakers legend Elgin Baylor tallied 71 points, an NBA record at that time, in a 123-108 victory over the Knicks in New York. But Baylor’s record lasted less than two years as Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points against New York on March 2, 1962.
