Preview Roundups
March 04, 2015
New York at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
The streaking Indiana Pacers look to take another step toward claiming a playoff berth when they host the New York Knicks on Wednesday. The Pacers have won eight of their last 10 games, and the hot stretch has elevated them into the group of teams battling for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. “One day we’re tied for eighth, then we’re back in ninth,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel told reporters. “So we can’t look ahead. We have to take it game by game.”
Phoenix at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns desperately need a victory to stay in striking distance of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference when they visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The Suns dropped a 115-98 decision in a physical affair at Miami on Monday for their 10th loss in 13 contests to drop 2 ½ games behind eighth-place Oklahoma City. Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek will look for more intensity from his team and the Magic have dropped three straight after winning a season-high three in a row.
Utah at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Utah Jazz are not in the playoff hunt but are quietly putting together a strong stretch of basketball and showing off some hope for the future. The Boston Celtics, who host the Jazz on Wednesday, are in the postseason race but are not looking quite as promising of late. Both clubs will be playing the second night of a back-to-back as Utah searches for a season-best fourth straight win and Boston quickly tries to push past an embarrassing loss.
Charlotte at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
Two teams in the thick of the race for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference will go head-to-head Wednesday night when the Brooklyn Nets host the Charlotte Hornets. The seventh through 12th-place teams in the East began Wednesday within three games of each other, and the Hornets won Tuesday night to move into a tie for eighth with the Nets. The Hornets are 15-9 since Jan. 2, and that stretch included a five-game losing streak.
Cleveland at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
Kyrie Irving is back, LeBron James is in the zone and Cleveland is looking to climb the Eastern Conference standings when it visits Toronto on Wednesday. With Irving back in the lineup after a two-game absence and James producing 27 points in 26 minutes, the Cavaliers stretched their home winning streak to 12 games with a 110-79 rout of Boston on Tuesday. Cleveland led by as many as 44 points as it climbed to within a game of the Raptors in the race for second place in the East.
Memphis at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies look to get back on track when they visit the Houston Rockets in a Southwest Division showdown Wednesday. The Grizzlies have dropped three of their last four games and struggled mightily in the 93-82 loss to the Utah Jazz without Tony Allen (suspension) and Zach Randolph (illness) in the lineup. Memphis has seen its lead over the Rockets dwindle to 1 1/2 games atop the division and hopes to avoid losing back-to-back games for the second time in a week.
Denver at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets got a boost from changing up the coaching staff and will try to carry that momentum onto the road when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Nuggets fired head coach Brian Shaw on Tuesday and snapped a six-game losing streak behind interim coach Melvin Hunt later that night. The Timberwolves are finding it difficult to carry over the momentum gained by Kevin Garnett returning.
Detroit at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
Teams headed in opposite directions in regards to the postseason meet Wednesday when the New Orleans Pelicans host the Detroit Pistons. The Pelicans, despite playing without All-Star Anthony Davis (shoulder), have won five of their last six games and are one game behind injury-riddled Oklahoma City for the eighth spot in the West. The Pistons have lost three in a row, including at home to lowly New York, and now play seven games in the next 11 days with six being on the road.
Philadelphia at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
Oklahoma City expects to get one of its two stars back when the Thunder try for a second straight victory against host Philadelphia on Wednesday. The Thunder will be without Kevin Durant (foot) but Russell Westbrook (facial fracture) could return wearing a face mask when they aim for their ninth win in 11 games. The Sixers have lost two straight and seven of eight and own the second-worst record in the league.
L.A. Lakers at Miami 8:00 PM ET
This season has been a rollercoaster for the Miami Heat, as they’ve been plagued with health issues but have also shown an ability to put together a winning lineup. They’ll look to continue their most recent surge Wednesday when they host the Los Angeles Lakers. Miami looked great in a 17-point win Monday against the visiting Phoenix Suns, keeping them in seventh-place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Sacramento at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The nine-game rodeo road trip is over and the San Antonio Spurs play at home for the first time since Feb. 6 when they entertain the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. San Antonio went 4-5 on the long excursion as it continues to struggle but hopes a 101-74 trouncing of the Phoenix Suns in the finale is a sign the club is on the verge of getting it together. The Spurs are in seventh place in the Western Conference.
Milwaukee at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors are happy to be home after a tough road trip and will try to avoid a letdown when they host the road-weary Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. The Warriors went 3-3 on their six-game trip and finished up a string of four games in five nights with a last-second loss at Brooklyn on Monday. The Bucks are enduring the second night of a back-to-back and are trying to avoid a winless four-game trip.
Portland at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The Portland Trail Blazers have trouble leaving the court victorious when they are on the road and try to notch an away win when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Portland won at Sacramento on Sunday for just its second victory in its last 10 road games and will try to knock off a Los Angeles team that is 23-8 at home. Both teams enter with three-game winning streaks but the Clippers are 2-0 against the Trail Blazers this season.