Preview Roundups
February 20, 2015
New Orleans at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans expect to get two of their top four scorers back from injury when they visit the Orlando Magic on Friday night looking to end a three-game losing streak. Leading scorer and rebounder Anthony Davis (shoulder), along with Ryan Anderson (elbow), each missed losses to Utah and Indiana before the All-Star break. The Pelicans attempt to regain their footing in the Western Conference playoff chase against Orlando, which is 2-2 since the firing of coach Jacque Vaughn.
Indiana at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
With an eight-day layoff to rest bumps and bruises, an extended homestand beginning in the next week and the possible return of All-Star Paul George in the next month, the resurgent Indiana Pacers have their eye on the postseason. The Pacers try to build upon their best stretch of the season Friday when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers have won four of their last five games and three straight on the road to pull within two games of the eighth playoff spot in the East.
Toronto at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks look to earn their NBA-leading 44th victory when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday. The Hawks are keen to continue where they left off before the All-Star Break as they won 22 of their last 25 contests, including a franchise-record 19 straight from Dec. 27 to Jan. 31, to open up a 10-game lead atop the Southeast Division. Atlanta is currently riding a 12-game home winning streak and sets its sights on beating the Raptors for the second consecutive time.
Chicago at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons went into the All Star break separated by a large gap in the Eastern Conference standings but deep in the same playoff race, and both will try to better their postseason positioning when they meet Friday night in Detroit. The Bulls won four straight leading into the break to move ahead of the Washington Wizards and into third place in the East. The Pistons are knotted in a group of teams from seventh to 12th place, all within two games of each other.
Miami at New York 7:30 PM ET
As the sun sets on New York superstar Carmelo Anthony's season, Dwayne Wade is ready to start his anew - this time with another running mate - as he leads Miami into a Friday night matchup at the Knicks. The Heat pulled off one of the big trades prior to Thursday's deadline, nabbing star guard Goran Dragic from Phoenix for two players and two picks. Dragic's arrival coincides with Wade's return from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the last seven games before the All-Star break.
Phoenix at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns are battling for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference with less than two months left in the regular season but picked now to move in a different direction. The Suns will begin life after Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Phoenix dealt the two point guards away on Thursday in a flurry of activity in front of the NBA trade deadline, leaving it with a very different look.
Cleveland at Washington 8:00 PM ET
With the toughest remaining schedule of any Eastern Conference team, it's a good thing that Cleveland is playing its best basketball of the season. The challenge begins Friday when the Cavaliers begin a stretch of 11 of 14 games on the road when they visit the Washington Wizards. Nine of those 14 clubs currently sit among the top eight in their respective conferences and will provide a big obstacle for Cleveland stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, who have never been part of a playoff push.
Houston at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
The Houston Rockets look to defeat Dallas for the third straight time this season when they visit the Mavericks on Friday. Houston recorded both of those victories on its home floor and is making the first of two visits to Dallas. The Rockets are resuming play after the All-Star break, while the Mavericks hope to bounce back from a 104-89 loss Thursday to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their return to the floor.
Denver at Milwaukee 8:30 PM ET
Milwaukee was one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference prior to the All-Star break, but was not content to rest on its laurels. After shipping away star guard Brandon Knight in a mega three-team deal, the Bucks look to keep their momentum going when they host Denver to begin the second half of the season Friday. In steps 2013-14 Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, who came over from Philadelphia in the swap, looking to help replace the team leader in scoring and assists.
Portland at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers are comfortably in playoff position and will attempt to continue building momentum when they visit the Utah Jazz on Friday. The Trail Blazers, who have won four of five, added to their scoring depth by acquiring guard Arron Afflalo from Denver on Thursday at the trade deadline to augment a lineup featuring three players averaging at least 16 points. Utah is looking to the future and has shown some improvement of late while winning two of its last three contests.
Boston at Sacramento 10:00 PM ET
George Karl makes his debut as coach of Sacramento when the Kings host the Boston Celtics on Friday. The veteran coach hasn’t been on the sidelines since the 2012-13 season when he was the leader of the Denver Nuggets and was fired after the season. Karl is Sacramento’s third coach of the season following Michel Malone and Tyrone Corbin, and the Kings are sputtering through the season and far out of the Western Conference playoff race.
San Antonio at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors enter the stretch run with the best record in the NBA and are four games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Warriors will hope that momentum carried through the long All-Star break when they host the defending-champion San Antonio Spurs on Friday. The Spurs are playing their second game in as many nights after falling at the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.
Brooklyn at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets and host Los Angeles Lakers should draw far less interest Friday when they meet for the first time this season. Nearly a year ago, the matchup drew international attention when Nets forward Jason Collins made his season debut, becoming the first openly gay player in the four major U.S. professional sports leagues. Collins, as well as most of the key players from that game, is long gone and the TV ratings for both teams have plummeted this season.