Preview Roundups
March 06, 2015
Toronto at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors hope to get back on track when they open a three-game road swing against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. The Raptors have lost six of their last seven and are coming off a 120-112 setback to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday to drop back-to-back games at the Air Canada Centre for the second time since early February. Toronto has not fared much better on the road losing four of its last five, including a 103-98 defeat to the lowly New York Knicks on Feb. 28.
Chicago at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler can take as much time as they need to recover from their injuries if E’Twaun Moore and Nikola Mirotic continue to pick up the slack. The two reserves will try to lead the Bulls to a third straight win when they visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday. The Pacers are winners of three straight and nine of 11 to pull within a half-game of the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference.
Sacramento at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The first two games of Sacramento's season-high eight-game road trip produced vastly different results. The Kings continue their long sojourn looking to establish some form of consistency when they visit reeling Orlando on Friday. After pasting New York by a 124-86 margin to begin the voyage, Sacramento offered little resistance in a 27-point loss at San Antonio on Wednesday, keeping with a recent trend of lopsided results.
Utah at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
Teams coming off tough road losses meet when the Philadelphia 76ers begin a five-game homestand against the Utah Jazz on Friday. The Jazz had their three-game win streak snapped Wednesday at Boston when Tyler Zeller scored at the buzzer, while the 76ers got victimized by Russell Westbrook’s 49 points in an overtime loss to Oklahoma City. "You walk a line of frustration and one of, you become a fan," 76ers coach Brett Brown said of Westbrook. "You just look at that and you scratch your head."
Miami at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Miami Heat haven't won three straight since a 3-0 start to the season, but they can change that Friday at Washington. The Heat have won four of their last six to move into seventh place in the Eastern Conference, but they need to stay hot to hold off a host of pursuers. The Wizards, meanwhile, have lost seven of their last eight to slip to fifth in the East.
Cleveland at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
A preview of a potential Eastern Conference playoff showdown is on tap Friday when the Atlanta Hawks host the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Hawks have won five straight and are running away with the East, but the Cavaliers are one of the contenders they might have to go through in the playoffs. Cleveland, which has won two straight and six of eight, is one of three teams battling for second place, far behind Atlanta.
Phoenix at Brooklyn 8:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns look to build off their win over the Orlando Magic when they continue their Eastern road swing against the Brooklyn Nets. The Suns had dropped two straight before posting a much-needed 105-100 victory over the Magic to stay close to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Phoenix has dropped 10 of its last 14 games and hopes to turn its fortunes around by winning in Brooklyn for the first time since Feb. 28, 2011.
Detroit at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Detroit Pistons will carry a four-game losing streak into a matchup against the Houston Rockets for the second time this season and they’ll shoot for a repeat performance Friday in the finale of their three-game road trip. The Pistons beat the Rockets by 13 points on Jan. 31 as Detroit guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored his season high of 28 points. Houston has won eight straight at home against the Pistons and will be trying to avoid its first three-game losing streak of the season.
L.A. Lakers at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies look to complete a four-game sweep of Los Angeles when they host the Lakers on Friday. Memphis has won the last five meetings and eight of the past 10 against Los Angeles since becoming the stronger franchise and changing the competitive nature of the series. The Lakers have lost 13 of their last 14 road games and fell 100-94 at the Miami Heat on Wednesday before traveling to Memphis.
Boston at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
With Anthony Davis healthy and dominating once again, New Orleans is primed to continue its pursuit of a playoff spot in the challenging Western Conference. Davis and the Pelicans look to keep alive their momentum when they continue a three-game homestand against Boston on Friday. After going 4-1 with Davis on the sidelines nursing a shoulder injury, New Orleans stayed hot in his return Wednesday against Detroit, eking out an 88-85 win behind a phenomenal performance by Davis.
Denver at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets have looked like a completely different team since showing head coach Brian Shaw the door. The Nuggets will try to improve to 3-0 under interim coach Melvin Hunt when they visit the defending champion San Antonio Spurs on Friday. The Spurs are in the process of turning things around as well and have won three straight since stumbling to four losses in a row during the rodeo road trip.
Dallas at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
Stephen Curry has a big performance to equal when the Golden State Warriors host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. The last time Curry stepped on the court against the Mavericks, he poured in 51 points for the second 50-point outing of his career and made 10 3-point baskets as the Warriors posted a 128-114 victory. Golden State has won the first two meetings with the Mavericks, who have lost three of their last four games.