Six weeks into the NBA season and injuries continue to play a major role. Below is a look at all four matchups in the NBA for Tuesday night, along with the injury status of key players in each game.

DENVER (-5½) at ATLANTA

Atlanta forward Joe Johnson missed Sunday’s 117-92 loss at Sacramento and is questionable tonight due to his calf injury. Johnson has been one of the most valuable players in the league this season and has led the Hawks in scoring in virtually every game this year.

Johnson’s league-leading streak of 376 consecutive games was snapped on Sunday and his availability tonight is of extreme importance to the Hawks as he leads the team in scoring (28.7 ppg) and minutes played (41.8 mpg). Johnson is shooting 50-percent from the field, including 40-percent from three-point range.

Denver was in a difficult scheduling spot last Saturday in their 105-90 road loss at Dallas as the Nuggets were playing their third game in four nights without rest. The Nuggets will be extra focused for tonight’s game as they lost 98-96 at home versus Atlanta last Wednesday in which the Nuggets blew a 17-point lead.

SEATTLE at MILWAUKEE (-4½, 206) (NBA-tv)

Seattle has played their past three games without their leading scorer, Ray Allen, but the Sonics have still gone a perfect 3-0 SU, compared to just 1-4 SU in the five previous games before Allen was injured. Allen will be out for at least another two weeks due to an ankle contusion and leads the team in scoring (25.3 ppg) and minutes per game (40.7 mpg).

Milwaukee is coming off a 115-107 loss at New York on Saturday and the Bucks remain one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Milwaukee has allowed 104 points per game and 49-percent shooting this season and this weak defense has made it difficult for them to cover as a favorite. In fact, Milwaukee has not won any of their past seventeen games in regulation time by more than six points.

Milwaukee has regained the services of Charlie Villanueva who returned from an elbow injury on December 8th after missing ten straight games. Villanueva scored 24 points last Saturday at New York and overall he is third on the team in scoring (14.9 ppg) and second in rebounding (7.0 rpg).

L.A. LAKERS at HOUSTON (-2)

Kobe Bryant is still suffering from an ankle sprain, but he is expected to play tonight after scoring 34 points in Sunday night’s 106-99 home win versus the Spurs. Bryant leads the team in scoring (26.4 ppg) and is second in assists (4.4 apg).

The Rockets might be without Tracy McGrady tonight who is questionable after leaving Saturday’s game at Washington with back spasms. McGrady played 34 minutes in the 114-109 win against the Wizards and scored 28 points. Yao Ming leads the team in scoring this season (25.5 ppg), but McGrady is second in points (19.2 ppg) and first in assists (6.3 apg).

Surprisingly, both the Lakers and Rockets have played well without their superstars this season as the Lakers are 3-0 SU/ATS without Bryant, while the Rockets are 2-0 SU/ATS when McGrady has been limited (23 minutes or less).

SACRAMENTO at GOLDEN STATE (-3, 214) (NBA-tv)

Golden State blew a 72-56 halftime lead at Seattle on Sunday and lost 117-115. The Warriors have now gone just 3-8 SU (4-7 ATS) during their past eleven games and they will once again be without one of their best players, Jason Richardson, who has missed the past four games due to a knee injury. Richardson is third on the team in scoring (14.3 ppg) and assists (3.1 apg).

Sacramento has also been struggling and stands just 1-5 SU (2-4 ATS) during their past six games. The Kings only win during that span came on Sunday when the beat Atlanta 117-92 that was playing without their best player, Joe Johnson. Sacramento was without forward Kenny Thomas who missed the game due to an undisclosed illness. Thomas is questionable tonight and leads the team in rebounding (8.0 rpg).
 

Steve Merril
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