Preview Roundups
March 17, 2018
Atlanta at Milwaukee 6:00 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in one of the final Eastern Conference playoff positions entering Saturday’s home game against the Atlanta Hawks, but their coach was far from pleased with what he saw Wednesday in Orlando. The Bucks were defeated 126-117 by the Magic, trailing by 16 points after one quarter and leading head coach Joe Prunty to describe his team’s effort as “horrible.”
Indiana at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers both have their eyes on the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference and are trying to navigate through a packed field of contenders for that slot. The battle will take on a head-to-head feel when the Pacers, who currently occupy third and sit one game ahead of the Wizards in the standings, visit Washington on Saturday.
Houston at New Orleans 7:00 PM ET
The Houston Rockets are winners of 20 of their last 21 games and are cruising toward the top seed in the Western Conference and the top overall seed in the NBA playoffs. The New Orleans Pelicans, who host the Rockets on Saturday, are in a much more tenuous position among a group of teams fighting between No. 4 and No. 10 in the West.
Dallas at Brooklyn 7:30 PM ET
Two of the worst teams in the NBA square off Saturday, when the Brooklyn Nets host the Dallas Mavericks. Brooklyn has lost 18 of its last 21 contests to fall 27 games below .500, while Dallas is just a tad better at 25 below the break-even mark.
Charlotte at New York 7:30 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets will try to extend the New York Knicks' misery when the teams meet Saturday in Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have lost nine straight after Thursday's 118-110 setback against Philadelphia, blowing a 13-point lead in the second half in their eight consecutive defeat at home.
Cleveland at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers aim to complete a four-game sweep of Chicago for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign when they visit the Bulls on Saturday. Cleveland posted a victory in Chicago earlier this season for just the second time in the past nine games in the Windy City.
Denver at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets are a game out of a playoff spot in the wild Western Conference race as they begin a season-high seven-game road trip Saturday at the Memphis Grizzlies. The Nuggets won their only home game in a 19-day span with Thursday's 120-113 victory over the Detroit Pistons, riding another triple-double by Nikola Jokic to a much-needed triumph.
Minnesota at San Antonio 8:30 PM ET
The battle for playoff spots in the Western Conference figures to come down to the final weeks of the regular season, and both the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves are in the mix. The Spurs will be trying to hang onto a spot and earn a win at the expense of one of the teams in front of them in the standings when they host the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Sacramento at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The streaking Utah Jazz aim to post their ninth consecutive victory when they host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Utah's stretch of success has allowed it to elevate into the tie for seventh place in the Western Conference with the San Antonio Spurs.
Golden State at Phoenix 10:00 PM ET
The injury ravaged Golden State Warriors strive to extend their winning streak against Phoenix to 13 games when they visit the Suns on Saturday. The Warriors will be without three All-Stars in forward Kevin Durant (rib) and guards Stephen Curry (ankle) and Klay Thompson (thumb), and reserves will be asked to carry the load for a second straight night.
Detroit at Portland 10:00 PM ET
An 11-game winning streak is apparently not something that earns a team a great deal of separation in the Western Conference, though the Portland Trail Blazers have certainly improved their outlook. The Trail Blazers will try to make it 12 straight and keep their firm grasp on the No. 3 spot in the West when they host the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.