Sports

Washington Wizards (10-33, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (17-28, 12th in the Eastern Conference)

Charlotte, North Carolina; Saturday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Washington travels to Charlotte looking to stop its five-game road losing streak.

The Hornets are 5-4 against Southeast Division teams. Charlotte averages 14.6 turnovers per game and is 6-8 when it wins the turnover battle.

The Wizards are 2-4 in division matchups. Washington ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 11.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Marvin Bagley III averaging 2.6.

The Hornets are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points lower than the 47.5% the Wizards allow to opponents. The Wizards are shooting 45.9% from the field, 1.8% lower than the 47.7% the Hornets' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the third time this season. The Hornets won the last meeting 126-109 on Dec. 24, with LaMelo Ball scoring 23 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kon Knueppel is shooting 48.2% and averaging 19.0 points for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 18.6 points over the last 10 games.

Alex Sarr is scoring 17.2 points per game and averaging 7.4 rebounds for the Wizards. Bub Carrington is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 5-5, averaging 116.3 points, 49.1 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.1 points per game.

Wizards: 1-9, averaging 108.3 points, 42.1 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.9 points.

INJURIES: Hornets: Mason Plumlee: out (groin), Tre Mann: out (illness), Grant Williams: out (knee), KJ Simpson: out (hip).

Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic: out (knee), Bilal Coulibaly: out (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Trae Young: out (quad), Marvin Bagley III: out (illness).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Los Angeles Lakers (26-17, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (19-26, 12th in the Western Conference)

Dallas; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Mavericks take on Los Angeles.

The Mavericks are 11-18 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas is 7-10 in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Lakers have gone 19-12 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 5-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Mavericks average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 fewer makes per game than the Lakers allow (13.6). The Lakers average 116.0 points per game, 0.6 fewer than the 116.6 the Mavericks allow to opponents.

The two teams play for the second time this season. The Lakers defeated the Mavericks 129-119 in their last matchup on Nov. 29. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 38 points, and P.J. Washington led the Mavericks with 22 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cooper Flagg is averaging 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games.

Luka Doncic is averaging 33.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.6 steals for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 22.4 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 7-3, averaging 117.2 points, 46.8 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points per game.

Lakers: 4-6, averaging 111.8 points, 41.5 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.4 points.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Daniel Gafford: out (ankle), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: out (hand).

Lakers: Austin Reaves: out (calf), Adou Thiero: out (knee).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.