Preview Roundups
March 18, 2015
Brooklyn at Cleveland 7:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers return home after a four-game, seven-day road trip to take on the desperate Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. The Cavaliers paid for the tiring stretch with a 106-92 loss at Miami on Monday that ended a four-game winning streak and LeBron James told reporters, “I feel our legs just kind of gave out.” Kevin Love, who was rested the last two games, is expected to return for Cleveland against a Brooklyn squad that has won two straight as it tries to stay in the playoff hunt.
Detroit at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
Since Reggie Jackson was traded to Detroit last month things have turned sour for the Pistons, but he and the Pistons have something to build upon when they visit Philadelphia on Wednesday. Jackson broke out for 23 points and a career-high 20 assists against just two turnovers in a 105-95 victory over Memphis on Tuesday, helping Detroit snap a 10-game losing streak. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 24 points — 16 in the third quarter — as the Pistons won for the first time since Feb. 22.
Portland at Miami 7:30 PM ET
After getting a much-needed victory against LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat continue their postseason push Wednesday when the Portland Trail Blazers visit. The Heat, who have won five of their last six home games, are in a three-way tie with Boston and Indiana for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Dwyane Wade scored 21 of his 32 points in the first half and Goran Dragic added 20 and nine assists in the 106-92 triumph over Cleveland.
Minnesota at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors seem to have recovered from their recent swoon, and a visit from the Minnesota Timberwolves should help them continue in the right direction. The Raptors aim for their seventh consecutive win over the Timberwolves, and their 11th straight home victory in the series Wednesday night. The Timberwolves have lost five straight overall and six in a row on the road, where they are 5-27.
Indiana at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers look to resume their run toward an Eastern Conference playoff spot when they visit the suddenly-struggling Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. The Pacers have dropped two straight after winning seven in a row and are tied for seventh with Boston and Miami while awaiting the possible return of All-Star Paul George from a broken leg. Chicago has been battling through several injuries this month and owns just one victory - against Philadelphia - in the last six games.
San Antonio at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs look to continue their recent dominance over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. San Antonio has won five straight meetings, including two by 28 points or more, and has emerged victorious in nine of the last 10 games in the series. The Spurs had won seven of their last eight before dropping a stunning 104-100 overtime decision to the lowly New York Knicks, which sent them tumbling into seventh spot in the Western Conference.
Boston at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
While Boston has thrust itself into the heart of the Eastern Conference playoff race, Oklahoma City is trying to hang on in the West. The surging Celtics carry a season-high five-game winning streak into a Wednesday night matchup at the Thunder, who are starting a four-game homestand and hoping for good news on the injury front. Oklahoma City forward Serge Ibaka is likely out for the rest of the regular season following right knee surgery, while reigning MVP Kevin Durant is nearing a return.
Orlando at Dallas 8:00 PM ET
Chandler Parsons has helped lead Dallas to consecutive impressive victories, and the Mavericks look for their third win in a row when they host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Parsons is 18-of-26 from the field during the span and poured in 31 points in Monday’s 119-115 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder after scoring 22 points during a 129-99 trouncing of the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Orlando fell 107-94 to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday for its fifth straight loss.
L.A. Clippers at Sacramento 10:00 PM ET
The Sacramento Kings are not putting up much of a fight against postseason hopefuls of late, and the Los Angeles Clippers are hoping for the same treatment when they visit on Wednesday. The Kings have dropped nine of their last 11 games while allowing an average of 111 points and are dealing with some key injuries. The Clippers are enduring the second night of a back-to-back after squeezing out a 99-92 win over Charlotte on Tuesday.
Atlanta at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The top two teams in the NBA square off on Wednesday when the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks visit the Western Conference-leading Golden State Warriors. The two teams are cruising toward landing No. 1 seeds for the playoffs and Atlanta possesses a league-best road mark of 23-10, while Golden State has a dominating 30-2 home record. This is the second and final regular-season meeting between the teams and the Hawks prevailed 124-116 at home on Feb. 6.
Washington at Utah 10:30 PM ET
The Utah Jazz are the hottest team in the NBA right now and they’ll shoot for their seventh straight victory when they host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. The Jazz are a lot different team than the one that lost to the Wizards in mid-December to fall to 6-18. Utah has since won six more games than it’s lost in a turnaround similar to what the Detroit Pistons experienced earlier this season before starting point guard Brandon Jennings went down with a season-ending Achilles injury.