Preview Roundups
April 08, 2015
Toronto at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors look to get back on the winning track when they begin a four-game road trip against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. The Raptors have dropped two in a row, including a 117-116 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics, to fall one game behind the Chicago Bulls in the race for the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
Chicago at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
Former MVP Derrick Rose could return to the lineup for the first time in almost two months when the Chicago Bulls visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, starting a five-game stretch in eight days to end the regular season. Rose, who is averaging 18.4 points in 46 games this season, underwent minor knee surgery in late February and was reportedly upgraded from out to questionable.
Washington at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards have been riding a roller coaster for the last two months but look like they’re on their way back up at the right time. The Wizards will try to notch their fourth straight win and make up some ground in the Eastern Conference when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
Boston at Detroit 7:00 PM ET
The Boston Celtics will attempt to protect their playoff spot when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. Boston sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference but the Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets are all still in contention.
Atlanta at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
Brooklyn looks to strengthen its playoff chances and deliver some payback when it hosts Atlanta on Wednesday in the continuation of a three-game homestand. After winning six straight and 10 of 12 to vault into seventh place in the Eastern Conference, the Nets were crushed 131-99 in a visit to the Hawks on Saturday.
Indiana at New York 7:30 PM ET
Paul George is back and the Indiana Pacers are looking to make a late dash for the playoffs as they visit the New York Knicks on Tuesday. The Pacers are one game behind the eighth-place Boston Celtics with five games to play and are counting on George to supply an extra boost.
New Orleans at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans just jumped in front of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the race for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, though the schedule is not doing them any favors. The Pelicans will complete a brutal back-to-back when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Cleveland at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up the Central Division and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Cavaliers will try to take a step closer to that goal when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Houston at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs are racking up victories and will face another hot team in the visiting Houston Rockets in Wednesday’s opener of a back-to-back between the two teams. San Antonio pounded Oklahoma City on Tuesday for its eighth straight victory and 18th in the past 21 games.
L.A. Lakers at Denver 9:00 PM ET
Two teams long out of the playoff race square off Wednesday when the Denver Nuggets host the Los Angeles Lakers. Denver is sputtering with four consecutive defeats and has lost by an average of 16.3 points during the skid, while the Lakers have lost six of their last seven contests after suffering a 105-100 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
Sacramento at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz will look for a second straight win over the Sacramento Kings when the teams meet Wednesday night in Salt Lake City. The visiting Jazz beat the Kings 101-95 on Sunday as Rodney Hood scored a season-high 25 points, the fourth time in the last month he set his season high. Utah has won four of its last five overall, while Sacramento ended a five-game losing streak with a win Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Phoenix at Dallas 9:30 PM ET
With a playoff spot locked up, Dallas sets its sights on getting healthy and beginning to play better basketball when it hosts Phoenix on Wednesday. The Mavericks have secured the seventh seed despite losing six of their last eight games and the first two of their current three-game homestand.
Minnesota at Portland 10:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers are fighting for homecourt advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, and might need it more than any other team. The Trail Blazers will try to confirm their homecourt dominance when they host the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.