Preview Roundups
April 04, 2014
Denver at Memphis 7:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies look for their 11th consecutive home victory as they continue their quest for a Western Conference playoff spot when hosting the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Memphis is part of a three-way battle for the final two postseason berths in the West and will be looking to bounce back from a 2-3 road trip that concluded with Wednesday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Denver snapped a four-game skid by rolling to a 137-107 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
Orlando at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
Al Jefferson continues lead the way as the Charlotte Bobcats look to move closer to their first playoff berth since 2010 when they host the Orlando Magic on Friday. Jefferson recorded at least 25 points in 10 of his last 17 games for the Bobcats, who are two games behind Washington for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. “It starts with me,” Jefferson told the Charlotte Observer. “I’ve only been (to the playoffs) twice, but a lot of these guys have never been. I’ve got to show the way.”
Indiana at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors overcame injuries to Kyle Lowry and Amir Johnson last time out to strengthen their hold on top spot in the Atlantic Division. They're hoping they won't be shorthanded Friday night as they welcome the Indiana Pacers to town in a pivotal game for both teams. Toronto enters the night 2 1/2 games up on Brooklyn in the race for first place in the division, while the Pacers find themselves in a virtual dead heat with Miami for first in the conference.
Cleveland at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks were once the third-best team in the Eastern Conference and a near-lock for a playoff berth. The Hawks will be attempting to regain the No. 8 spot and end their free fall when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. Atlanta fell for the seventh time in eight games on Wednesday as the Cavaliers were polishing off the Orlando Magic, pushing Cleveland within two games of that coveted No. 8 spot.
Philadelphia at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics will attempt to snap a six-game losing streak when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday in a matchup of two teams playing out the string. Boston was crushed 118-92 at Washington on Wednesday, suffering its 10th straight road defeat and continuing to establish itself as one of the worst teams in the franchise's otherwise glorious history. The current edition's .307 winning percentage is the third-lowest all-time for the Celtics.
Detroit at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
The 2013-14 campaign has been a major disappointment for the Detroit Pistons and their fans — but they've had no trouble handling the Brooklyn Nets. The Pistons look for an unlikely four-game season sweep as they visit Brooklyn in a Friday night showdown. The Pistons are 5 1/2 games out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference following Wednesday's 101-94 loss to Indiana, while the Nets trail Toronto by 2 1/2 games for the Atlantic Division lead.
Minnesota at Miami 7:30 PM ET
Sitting in a virtual tie for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat can't afford any slip-ups if they want to secure homecourt advantage throughout the East playoffs. The Heat will try for their fifth straight win Friday when they host Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Miami's four straight wins have all come by double-digits, including a 96-77 rout of league-worst Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Washington at New York 7:30 PM ET
Good things continue to happen for both the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks and they’ll try to continue those trends when they collide Friday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Wizards beat the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night to clinch their first postseason berth since 2008 while a couple hundred miles to the northeast the Knicks were blowing out the Brooklyn Nets to slip ahead of the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks attempt to avoid the matching the franchise record for losses in a season when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Milwaukee has lost 11 consecutive road games and it appears to be a mere formality that it will end up surpassing the 1993-94 Bucks (20-62) for the worst record in team history with seven games left. The Bulls have won three straight games and are moving closer to locking up homecourt advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
New Orleans at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans await the status of star forward Anthony Davis as they continue a three-game road trip at Utah on Friday. Davis left the team's 137-107 loss at Denver on Wednesday - its third consecutive setback since a win over the Jazz last Friday - due to back spasms and the Pelicans likely will not take any chances with their best player with just seven games left. With Davis playing just 11 minutes Wednesday, the Pelicans gave up a season-high in points.
Oklahoma City at Houston 9:30 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder made a statement and kept themselves in the race for the top spot in the Western Conference by knocking off the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. The Thunder will attempt to carry that momentum into the second night of a back-to-back when they visit the Houston Rockets on Friday. Oklahoma City has been keeping Russell Westbrook (knee) out of back-to-backs and does not expect to play him Friday.
Phoenix at Portland 10:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers can reach the 50-win plateau for the 12th time in franchise history when they host the Phoenix Suns on Friday. The Trail Blazers have won four straight to move closer to sealing a playoff spot after losing eight of their previous 11, and they face a Suns team battling for the final two postseason bids in the Western Conference. Phoenix lost its last two contests and goes into Friday in a tie with Memphis for eight place, a half-game behind Dallas.
Sacramento at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors had an up-and-down two-game road trip that did little to clear up their position in the Western Conference playoff picture. The Warriors will attempt to gain some clarity in that regard with they return home to host the Sacramento Kings on Friday. Stephen Curry buried a game-winner in overtime to beat the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday but the loss of three starters caught up to the team in a 111-90 setback at San Antonio the following night.
Dallas at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks have inched ahead into the seventh position of the Western Conference race and have a solid chance to stay there when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Dallas made 14 3-pointers while posting a 113-107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday to move a half-game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns. Lakers center Pau Gasol (vertigo) will sit out for the fifth time in six games and might be done for the season.