Preview Roundups
April 16, 2014
Chicago at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
Two hot teams jockeying for playoff positioning square off on Wednesday when the Chicago Bulls visit the Charlotte Bobcats in the regular-season finale. Chicago has won eight of its last nine home games and can claim the third seed in the Eastern Conference if it defeats the Bobcats and Toronto loses to New York in its finale. Charlotte has won seven of eight games and would finish sixth if it wins and Washington falls to Boston in its last game.
Indiana at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
Despite an uneven month of basketball, the Indiana Pacers reached their stated goal by clinching homecourt advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. Coach Frank Vogel, whose team is 5-9 in its last 14 games, is expected to rest at least three starters in the regular-season finale when the Pacers visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Reportedly, Vogel will sit leading scorer Paul George along with Lance Stephenson, David West and reserve C.J. Watson against the Magic.
Dallas at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
There is a lot at stake for both Dallas and Memphis when the Mavericks visit the Grizzlies in Wednesday’s regular-season finale. Both squads badly crave a victory, not just because it would equate to a 50-win season but also because the winner claims the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and will avoid top-seeded San Antonio in the opening round of the playoffs. The Grizzlies have won four straight games and clinched their postseason spot with Monday’s victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Atlanta at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
With the visiting Atlanta Hawks locked into the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and the Milwaukee Bucks assured of the NBA's worst record, Wednesday's regular-season finale might have all the excitement of an October exhibition. Atlanta isn't likely to risk an injury to any of its stars with a series against top-seed Indiana looming, but the reserves might be able to knock off the Bucks. Regardless of the outcome, Milwaukee will finish with the worst record in franchise history.
Utah at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves can secure their first non-losing campaign since 2004-05 on Wednesday when they host the Utah Jazz. The Timberwolves missed out on a chance to wrap up a winning season with road losses in Sacramento and Golden State, but a recent flurry of strong scoring performances should give the team hope entering the offseason. With Kevin Love sidelined by an elbow injury on Friday, Corey Brewer tied a franchise record with a career-high 51-point explosion against Houston.
Houston at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
The Houston Rockets locked up the No. 4 spot and homecourt advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs on Monday. The Rockets figured to rest some of their key players when they close out the regular season by visiting the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. Houston is taking on a Pelicans team with several key players injured but still has to find someone to guard swingman Tyreke Evans, who is closing out the season with a bang.
Detroit at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
With a fourth consecutive Northwest Division title secured, the Oklahoma City Thunder set their sights on clinching the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference when they host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday as the NBA closes the curtain on the regular season. Oklahoma City can ensure a meeting with Memphis or Dallas in the playoffs and homecourt advantage for a potential second-round showdown with the Los Angeles Clippers with a victory or a Clippers' loss.
L.A. Lakers at San Antonio 8:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers will end their season against the San Antonio Spurs for a second consecutive year when the teams meet Wednesday night in San Antonio in the final regular-season game. The Spurs are headed to the postseason for the 17th consecutive season, while the Lakers will miss out on the playoffs for just the third time since 1976. San Antonio swept Los Angeles in the first round last season before losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
Washington at Boston 8:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards can clinch the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win in the finale of the regular season at Boston on Wednesday. Washington has won three in a row to keep the surging Charlotte Bobcats in seventh place by a game, but the Bobcats own the tiebreaker if the teams tie on the final day of the season. The Wizards, who could also leap to the No. 5 seed if Brooklyn loses its final two games, defeated a Miami team resting some players for a 114-93 win on Monday.
Brooklyn at Cleveland 8:00 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets are making it clear that they care more about the health of their team entering the playoffs than seeding. The Nets can still lock up the No. 5 spot, however, with a win when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in the regular-season finale Wednesday. Brooklyn was missing three key players in a loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday and leads the Washington Wizards by one game for the fifth spot.
Philadelphia at Miami 8:00 PM ET
The Miami Heat are locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and that appears to be just fine with the two-time defending champions. “It will be no disappointment when the playoffs start,” Dwyane Wade said of losing the No. 1 seed. “It will be a new season and we will be looking forward to it.” The slumping Heat will face either the Washington Wizards or Charlotte Bobcats in the first round of the playoffs, but first they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
Toronto at New York 8:00 PM ET
Toronto and New York made preseason headlines with a blockbuster trade that was designed to help the Raptors build toward the future while giving the Knicks a shot at upending Indiana and Miami. More than five months later, the Raptors are Atlantic Division champions while the Knicks prepare for a long offseason. Toronto looks for its franchise-best 49th victory Wednesday as it wraps up its regular-season schedule with a game at Madison Square Garden.
L.A. Clippers at Portland 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers have set a franchise record with 57 victories and still have a chance at landing the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers in Wednesday’s regular-season finale. Los Angeles recorded a 117-105 win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday and can claim the second seed by defeating Portland combined with an Oklahoma City loss to Detroit. Portland has won four straight games and is locked in as the West’s No. 5 seed.
Phoenix at Sacramento 10:30 PM ET
The Phoenix Suns will look for a reason to get motivated for their season finale Wednesday at Sacramento, two days after being eliminated from the postseason for the fourth year in a row. The Suns can finish the NBA's best turnaround, as a win would give them 23 more victories than a year ago and tie the 2007-08 Golden State team for the most wins by a team (48) without qualifying for the playoffs. Unfortunately, Phoenix now owns four of the top six all-time best records for non-playoff teams.
Golden State at Denver 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors locked up the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and clinched the fifth 50-win season in franchise history on Monday, but questions about health remain. The Warriors will close out their regular season at the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday without center Andrew Bogut, who is out indefinitely with a broken rib. Bogut likely won’t be the only Golden State player getting a rest with the playoffs secure.