Preview Roundups
April 04, 2015
Philadelphia at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
After a miserable performance, the slumping Charlotte Hornets continue their desperate attempt to secure a playoff spot for the second straight season when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. The Hornets are two games behind the Miami Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot, are also behind Boston and Indiana and coming off a 93-74 defeat at Indiana on Friday.
Brooklyn at Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets visit the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday in a possible preview of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Hawks locked up the top seed in the East last week while the Nets are among a group of teams fighting over the Nos. 7 and 8 spots.
Miami at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
The Miami Heat continue to cling to postseason hopes as they enter Saturday’s game at the Detroit Pistons with a half-game lead for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Heat aren’t exactly building momentum as they’ve lost five of seven and their starting backcourt of Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade is dealing with various issues.
Boston at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics face a difficult road to an Eastern Conference postseason berth with four of their final six games coming against division leaders. The Celtics start that quest when they visit the Toronto Raptors, the Atlantic Division champion, on Saturday night while standing one-half game behind Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot.
Washington at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
After a stretch in which it seemed to lose its way on the defensive end, Memphis has rediscovered its strength. The Grizzlies continue their pursuit of the second seed in the Western Conference on Saturday when they take on Washington in the continuation of a four-game homestand.
Golden State at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks are still knocking around the bottom of the Western Conference playoff picture but look to be locked into the No. 7 spot. That spot comes with the benefit of avoiding a first-round meeting with the Golden State Warriors, who will try to extend their latest winning streak to 12 straight when they visit the Mavericks on Saturday.
Orlando at Milwaukee 8:30 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks look to move closer to their third playoff berth in nine seasons when they host the Orlando Magic on Saturday. The Bucks responded to a six-game losing streak by winning four of their last six, including a 110-101 triumph at Boston on Friday, and face a challenge against talented 7-0 center Nikola Vucevic after he recorded a career-best 37 points.
L.A. Clippers at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers are in the midst of a hot streak and look to capture their ninth win in 10 games when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. Los Angeles is tied for fifth place in the Western Conference with the San Antonio Spurs and is just two games behind second-place Houston and Memphis in the bunched-up West.
Utah at Phoenix 10:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns have lost five straight games to fall out of the race for a playoff spot and now are in danger of falling below .500. The Suns will try to avoid a losing record when they host the Utah Jazz on Saturday.
New Orleans at Portland 10:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans are craving the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and can take another step when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. New Orleans has won four consecutive games to move within a half-game of the Oklahoma City Thunder and a victory over the Trail Blazers would move them into a tie for the eighth spot.