Preview Roundups
March 27, 2013
Atlanta at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks missed a chance to officially punch their ticket to the playoffs their last time out, but they'll get another opportunity to do so if they can claim a road victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Atlanta has won four straight at Toronto dating to March 17, 2010. The Raptors have dropped four straight overall, and a fifth consecutive defeat would move them one step closer to being eliminated from playoff contention.
Milwaukee at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks are staring at a potential first-round playoff matchup with the reigning champion Miami Heat and they have only themselves to blame. The Bucks are sitting in the eighth slot in the Eastern Conference - 1 1/2 games behind Boston - as they prepare for Wednesday's matchup at the Philadelphia 76ers. Milwaukee has lost three straight and six of eight but still maintains a 7 1/2-game cushion over ninth-place Philadelphia.
Orlando at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Bobcats look to defeat Orlando for the third consecutive time when they host the Magic on Wednesday. Charlotte has the worst record in the NBA but is just 1 1/2 games behind Orlando and a victory would greatly improve the Bobcats’ chances of overtaking the Magic. Orlando has lost seven straight games and injuries continue to ravage the squad. Charlotte has lost back-to-back games after winning the previous two.
Boston at Cleveland 7:00 PM ET
The Boston Celtics have little time to recover from another bad loss before visiting the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Playing their second straight game without starters Kevin Garnett and Courtney Lee, the Celtics suffered a 100-85 home loss to New York on Tuesday, their fifth straight setback. Boston is close to clinching another playoff berth but is also nearing the undesirable eighth spot in the East. The Celtics are just 1 1/2 games up on eighth-place Milwaukee.
Memphis at New York 7:30 PM ET
The New York Knicks scored an impressive victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday to vault themselves back into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference. They will try to keep that momentum going when they return home to face another rugged defensive team in the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies rank near the top in the NBA in scoring defense but suffered a curious loss at Washington on Monday and have stumbled on the road.
Miami at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Miami Heat’s winning streak has reached 27 games and the host Chicago Bulls will take their swipe at ending it on Wednesday. Chicago defeated the Heat in Miami on Jan. 4 but suffered a 19-point home loss to the Heat on Feb. 21. Miami is six games behind the record set by the 1971-72 Lakers and has won 13 road games during the streak. The Bulls have lost 13 of their last 22 games.
L.A. Clippers at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
The Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Clippers continue their four-game road trip Wednesday, when they take on the streaking New Orleans Hornets. Los Angeles began its trek Tuesday with a 109-102 overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The setback prevented the Clippers from clinching a winning road record for the first time in club history and matching the franchise mark for wins in a single season.
Indiana at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers are far from healthy as they embark on a very difficult portion of the schedule beginning Wednesday at Houston. The Pacers, who overcame the absence of four regulars in a 100-94 win over Atlanta on Monday, play five of their next six on the road, with the one home game coming against Oklahoma City. At the very least, there is a chance that some or all of their injured players could return for the game against the Rockets.
Washington at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
The last time the Washington Wizards saw the Oklahoma Thunder in early January, they pulled out a two-point win at home - only their fifth victory in 33 games. That was also Washington's last game before the return of star point guard John Wall, who is coming off a career-best performance and will look to guide the Wizards to a third straight victory over the Thunder when the teams meet in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
L.A. Lakers at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers' long climb up the Western Conference standings could be for naught if they can't turn around a recent slide, as the Lakers' cushion for the eighth-place spot is down to one game as they try to snap a three-game losing streak Wednesday at Minnesota. Los Angeles has won 21 consecutive meetings — including 10 straight at Minnesota — and is trying to sweep the season series for the sixth consecutive campaign. The Timberwolves are no longer in the playoff race.
Denver at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
Two days after having their franchise record-tying 15-game winning streak come to an end, the Denver Nuggets attempt to avoid consecutive losses for the first time since mid-February when they visit the Western Conference-leading San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Denver suffered a 110-86 setback to the New Orleans Hornets on Monday, ending the franchise's longest winning streak since it captured 15 in a row from Dec. 20, 1969-Jan. 25, 1970 as the ABA's Denver Rockets.
Phoenix at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz snapped out of their funk with a win on Monday and are trying to jump back into the top eight in the Western Conference. The Jazz will keep looking to take advantage of a home-friendly schedule when they host the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. Utah’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers kicked off a finishing stretch that will see the team play eight of its final 12 games at home, where it has gone 25-9.
Sacramento at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors are playing some of their best basketball of the season at the right time. They will be trying to put some more space between themselves and the rest of the pack at the bottom of the Western Conference playoff bracket when they host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. The Warriors have won six of their last eight and have Stephen Curry playing at an MVP level. The Kings have dropped two straight.
Brooklyn at Portland 10:30 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets might be a little envious of the Portland Trail Blazers when the teams meet at the Rose Garden on Wednesday. While Portland plays eight of its final 12 games at home, the Nets are 3-1 midway through their epic eight-game road trip. Brooklyn stands 2 1/2 games back of third-place Indiana in the Eastern Conference, while Portland sits 2 1/2 games out of eighth place in the West.