Preview Roundups
March 08, 2013
Oklahoma City at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder have shown a vulnerability away from home in the past three weeks, but they will face one of the least taxing road tests when they visit the reeling Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night. Oklahoma City eked out a one-point win Thursday at the New York Knicks, who were playing without Carmelo Anthony, the league's second-leading scorer. The Thunder have won three straight overall but are only 2-3 in their last five road games.
Indiana at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers will have to avoid the dangers of looking ahead when they travel to face the Orlando Magic on Friday with a showdown with the Miami Heat looming Sunday. Indiana can't afford to overlook the Magic, who nearly knocked off the Heat on Wednesday. Orlando has won the past three meetings, including a 97-86 home win Jan. 16, and hasn't lost to Indiana at home since December 2007.
Washington at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets were in danger of losing their third straight game Wednesday night. They rallied, however, and will lead a tight pack vying for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings when they host Washington on Friday. The Nets overcame a 10-point halftime deficit with a marvelous third-quarter display in dispatching Charlotte 99-78 on Wednesday. With the win, Brooklyn enters Friday with a narrow lead over Atlanta, Chicago and Boston in the standings.
Dallas at Detroit 7:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks are beginning to run out of time to make a playoff push. The Mavericks will be looking to move back within five games of .500 when they open a four-game road trip at the Detroit Pistons on Friday. Dallas seemed like it had some momentum going in the right direction for the first time in months with a strong start to February. Losses in four of the last six games have taken some wind out of the sails.
Memphis at Cleveland 7:30 PM ET
Riding the momentum of one of their hottest stretches of the season, the Memphis Grizzlies will be seeking to end a drought of nearly 10 years in Cleveland when they visit the Cavaliers on Friday night. The surging Grizzlies have won 10 of their last 11 games, with the only loss coming at the red-hot Miami Heat last Friday. Off to the best start in franchise history, Memphis has won the last three meetings with the Cavaliers, but they have dropped seven straight in Cleveland dating to Nov. 29, 2
Atlanta at Boston 8:00 PM ET
The Boston Celtics have moved a season-high six games over .500 after winning four in a row, including a dramatic 83-81 victory at Indiana on Wednesday. Paul Pierce is dealing with a bone bruise on his left knee, but he’s expected to be in the lineup when the Celtics host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. Atlanta and Boston are both battling for playoff position, with the Celtics holding the seventh spot and the Hawks in fifth. The teams split two games at Philips Arena earlier this season.
Philadelphia at Miami 8:00 PM ET
The Miami Heat will put its franchise-record 16-game winning streak on the line when it hosts the struggling Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. The Heat haven't lost since Feb. 1 at Indiana, though they've certainly had to pull off some late-game magic to keep the streak alive. LeBron James hit a driving, left-handed layup for the winning basket in a 97-96 home win over Orlando on Wednesday, three nights after the Heat rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the New York Knicks.
Utah at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls are both fading entering Friday’s contest in Chicago. Utah has lost five of six contests after a late-game collapse in Cleveland on Wednesday and stands just 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Chicago was routed by San Antonio on Wednesday and fell to 6-9 since the beginning of February to slip to sixth in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.
Portland at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs have shown no ill effects from the Tony Parker injury. They will try to remain perfect without their star point guard when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Since Parker was ruled out for four weeks with an ankle injury, the Spurs have won two games by 39 and 18 points, respectively. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili scored 18 points apiece in a 101-83 win over Chicago on Wednesday that improved San Antonio's home record to 25-3.
Phoenix at Sacramento 10:00 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns may need to ask for volunteers for their depleted frontcourt on Friday when they visit the Sacramento Kings, who have plenty of their own problems. The Kings are last in the Western Conference with 21 wins and sit one game behind the Suns, who are coming off a 27-point home loss to Toronto. Phoenix will be without center Marcin Gortat, who suffered a season-ending foot injury against the Raptors. Suns center Jermaine O’Neal remains out while attending to his ailing daughter.
Toronto at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers look to follow up a superlative come-from-behind victory when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday. Los Angeles trailed by as many as 25 points before eventually closing the game on a 20-0 run to beat the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday. Los Angeles has an opportunity to move above .500 for the first time since being 6-5 on Nov. 20. Toronto routed the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday to snap a five-game skid.
Houston at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
Things have not been easy in the first two games of a long homestand, but at least the Golden State Warriors have come through at the end. The Warriors will be looking to make it three in a row when they host the Houston Rockets on Friday. After dropping four straight on the road, Golden State returned home and trailed in the fourth quarter against both Toronto and Sacramento before pulling out narrow wins.