Preview Roundups
April 26, 2014
Indiana at Atlanta 2:00 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks are not intimidated by the top-seeded Indiana Pacers and are on the verge of taking a commanding lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series. The Hawks will try to grab a 3-1 advantage when they host the Pacers in Game 4 on Saturday. Indiana appeared to straighten itself out in Game 2 and made some changes to the lineup that helped against Atlanta’s spread offense, but it still could not stop point guard Jeff Teague.
San Antonio at Dallas 4:30 PM ET
After an easy win in San Antonio on Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks attempt to carry momentum home for Game 3 against the Spurs on Saturday. The Mavericks won 10 of 14 on the road down the stretch and dominated Game 2, but they split their last 10 home games. "I like our intensity right now, but it’s a little dangerous going home,” Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki told the Dallas Morning News. “We’ve been a decent road team all year, but at home we haven’t figured it out yet.”
Miami at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
Miami attempts to take a commanding 3-0 series lead on Saturday when the scene shifts to Charlotte and the Heat visit the Bobcats in the first-round Eastern Conference matchup. Miami posted victories by 11 and four points while hosting the first two games as forward LeBron James averaged 29.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. Bobcats center Al Jefferson is averaging 18 points and 11.5 rebounds as he continues to play through a painful plantar fasciitis injury in his left foot.
Oklahoma City at Memphis 9:30 PM ET
Tensions are running high with the Oklahoma City Thunder trailing Memphis in the Western Conference first-round series heading into Saturday’s crucial Game 4 on the Grizzlies’ home floor. Memphis recorded a 98-95 overtime victory on Thursday to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook is upset over criticism hurled his way. Making the task of evening the series tougher is the fact that Memphis has won 15 straight home games.