Preview Roundups
April 11, 2014
Washington at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards have plenty of work to do in the final four regular-season contests with their first voyage into the playoffs in six years on the horizon. The Wizards look to find their rhythm with power forward Nene back in the lineup and win the battle for sixth place in the Eastern Conference, starting with a visit to the Orlando Magic on Friday. Washington is tied with Charlotte for the sixth spot, which would mean a first-round matchup with Toronto instead of Indiana or Miami.
New York at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors look to clinch the Atlantic Division for the second time in franchise history when they host a desperate New York Knicks team Friday night. Toronto has won four straight and seven of eight to get within a victory - or a Brooklyn Nets loss - of locking down the division for the first time since 2006-07. A win Friday would also match the club record for victories in a season, also accomplished in 2006-07 and in 2000-01.
Charlotte at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Charlotte Bobcats are winners of five straight and are making a run at the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics, who host the Bobcats on Friday, are losers of nine in a row and are making a run at the third-worst record in the league. Charlotte is tied with the Washington Wizards for the No. 6 spot and the right to avoid the Indiana Pacers or the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
Atlanta at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets haven't lost a home game in more than two months, which is bad news for the Atlanta Hawks, who need a win at Barclays Center on Friday as they try to lock up their seventh straight trip to the postseason. The Hawks have a two-game lead over the New York Knicks for the final berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Atlanta has struggled to a 12-27 road mark, which might be a tough trend to buck with Brooklyn having won a franchise-record 15 straight at home.
Indiana at Miami 7:30 PM ET
The two best teams in the Eastern Conference are struggling down the stretch, but one of them moves closer to claiming the top seed in the East when the Indiana Pacers visit the Miami Heat on Friday. Indiana holds a half-game edge over Miami entering the clash and a victory would reduce its magic number to one for clinching the No. 1 spot. The Pacers are just 8-12 over their past 20 games while the Heat is in the midst of a 10-11 stretch.
Detroit at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls likely won't be disappointed to see the visiting Detroit Pistons come to town Friday. The Bulls, who are trying to edge Toronto for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, have sent the Pistons home with a loss in 14 of their last 15 visits to the United Center. Chicago has won a season-best six straight — the last five by double digits.
Philadelphia at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies have an opportunity to improve their playoff chances when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. The Grizzlies began a two-game homestand with a clutch 107-102 win over Miami on Wednesday, and are one game behind the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference. Memphis ends its season with a visit to Phoenix on Monday followed by a game at home against Dallas.
Houston at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Houston Rockets try to find a way to seal the fourth seed in the Western Conference over the final week of the regular season, beginning with a visit to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. The Rockets lead Portland by a 1 ½ games for fourth place and could be without their top scorers in a battle of two of the best offensive teams in the league. James Harden’s status is uncertain after suffering a shin injury Wednesday while Dwight Howard (ankle) has missed 10 of the last 12 games.
New Orleans at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans will be without All-Star forward Anthony Davis when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. The club announced Thursday that Davis will miss the final four games due to the back injury that has either sidelined him or limited his play dramatically since he was hurt in late March. Oklahoma City can all but clinch the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a victory, which would be its 10th straight over the Pelicans.
Cleveland at Milwaukee 8:30 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers were officially eliminated from the playoff race in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday, making Friday’s showdown with the host Milwaukee Bucks a battle for lottery position. The Bucks are nearly assured of finishing with the worst record in the NBA and are losers of six straight as they begin the final stretch of the regular season. The Cavaliers are trying to hold off the slumping New Orleans Pelicans for the ninth-most ping-pong balls.
Phoenix at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs can clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory Friday night against the visiting Phoenix Suns, but they also could get in if the New Orleans Pelicans can pull off an upset against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a game scheduled to start 30 minutes before the Spurs and Suns tip off. It will be interesting to see how San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich approaches the game after his veterans played 24 hours earlier in a hard-fought 109-100 win at Dallas.
Portland at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers attempt to sweep the season series from Utah for the first time when they visit the struggling Jazz on Friday. Portland has won this season’s three previous matchups by an average of 17 points and is surging toward the finish line with six victories in its last seven overall games. The Trail Blazers are 1 1/2 games behind the fourth-place Houston Rockets in the Western Conference race.
Golden State at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers matched the franchise record for losses in a season while giving up an NBA season-high 145 points on Tuesday. The Lakers will try to avoid a record-setting loss and hold an opponent under 140 when they host the Golden State Warriors on Friday. The Warriors are on the second night of a back-to-back after falling to Denver on Thursday and are a game up for the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference.