Preview Roundups
March 16, 2015
Toronto at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers seek their eighth victory in nine games when they host the Toronto Raptors on Monday. The recent success has helped Indiana move into seventh place in the tightly bunched Eastern Conference with the assumption that star forward Paul George (leg) will soon return to action for the first time this season. Toronto has lost 10 of its last 12 games and has slipped three games behind the second-place Cleveland Cavaliers.
Portland at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers opened a five-game road trip in style and look to make it two straight victories when they visit the Washington Wizards on Monday. Portland notched a 113-97 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday and has won eight of its last nine games to move within one game of the second-place Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference. “You want to peak toward the end of the season,” star forward LaMarcus Aldridge told reporters, “and right now we’re peaking at the right time.”
Philadelphia at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics are enjoying their best stretch of basketball this season and are on the verge of jumping into a postseason spot. The Celtics will try to take one more step forward when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Boston has won a season-high four straight games and nine of 12 to move within a half-game of the eighth-place Charlotte Hornets in the Eastern Conference.
Denver at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets played themselves out of the postseason race a long time ago but are still having an impact on the Western Conference. The Nuggets will try to knock off another playoff contender and log a fifth straight win when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. Denver will be fighting off some fatigue after putting a dent in the New Orleans Pelicans’ playoff hopes with a double-overtime victory on Sunday.
Brooklyn at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets are running out of time to turn things around and get back into the race in the Eastern Conference. The Nets will attempt to post back-to-back road wins for the first time this month when they visit the Western Conference-worst Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. Brooklyn snapped a five-game slide with a win at lowly Philadelphia on Saturday and is three games behind eighth-place Charlotte in the East.
Cleveland at Miami 8:00 PM ET
LeBron James makes his second visit to Miami this season and hopes to leave with a win this time when the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Heat on Monday. James spent four seasons with Miami and won two championships before rejoining the Cavaliers, and his first trip back to South Beach was a 101-91 loss on Christmas Day. Cleveland has won four straight games and is in second place by three games in the Eastern Conference after posting a 123-108 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Oklahoma City at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
Russell Westbrook continues to pace Oklahoma City while Kevin Durant is sidelined and the point guard seeks another strong outing when the Thunder visit the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Westbrook had 36 points and 11 rebounds as Oklahoma City registered a 109-100 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday to move into eighth place in the Western Conference by one game over New Orleans. Dallas is in a three-way tie for fifth in the West and clobbered the Los Angeles Clippers 129-99 on Friday.
Charlotte at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz are making things very difficult for teams trying to secure their playoff positions. The red-hot Jazz will try to push their winning streak to six and throw a wrench into another team’s postseason plans when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Utah has little chance of jumping up into the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference but has been one of the best teams in the league over the last month-plus with 12 wins in the last 15 games.
Atlanta at Sacramento 10:00 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks routed Sacramento seven days ago and look to notch another easy victory when they visit the Kings on Monday. Atlanta has defeated Sacramento 13 consecutive times and the 130-105 home victory last week was extremely easy. The Hawks set the tone with a 76-point first half, recorded an NBA season-high 42 assists on 53 baskets and shot 60.2 percent from the field while making 20 3-pointers, six from Kyle Korver.
L.A. Lakers at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
Some fans weren’t happy about the Golden State Warriors resting key players on Friday, but the team certainly seemed to benefit from the rest. The Warriors will try to blow out their second straight hapless opponent when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. Golden State left Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguodala on the bench at Denver on Friday, and Curry and Thompson combined for 12 3-pointers on Saturday.