Preview Roundups
April 07, 2019
Miami at Toronto 12:00 PM ET
The Miami Heat have dropped three straight games to fall out of playoff position in the Eastern Conference and desperately need a road victory over the Atlantic Division champion Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon. The Heat lost two straight contests against Boston to start the week before scoring just 18 points in the fourth quarter of a 111-109 defeat at Minnesota on Friday, and sit one game behind eighth-place Detroit in the East.
San Antonio at Cleveland 3:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs attempt to move up in the Western Conference standings with two regular-season games left against non-playoff teams, starting with a road contest against the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon. The Spurs are 4-5 in their last nine games after a 129-112 victory at Washington on Friday, but trail the sixth-place Los Angeles Clippers by one game and seventh-place Oklahoma City by a half game.
Oklahoma City at Minnesota 3:30 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder are pulling out of their late-season slide and starting to pick things back up, just in time to get right for the postseason. The Thunder will try to push their winning streak to three in a row when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
Charlotte at Detroit 4:00 PM ET
The Detroit Pistons are stumbling down the stretch and fell into the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference with a third straight loss on Friday. The Pistons will try to avoid falling out of the top eight in the East when they host another desperate team in the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
Brooklyn at Indiana 5:00 PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets picked up a big win Saturday night to bolster their NBA playoff chances, and can take another big step toward securing a berth Sunday at the Indiana Pacers, who still hold out hope for home court advantage in the first round. The Nets took advantage of a Milwaukee Bucks team that had already sewn up the No. 1 seed and rested superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, picking up a 133-128 win Saturday.
Dallas at Memphis 6:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies can complete a dominant four-game sweep in the season series when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night in a matchup of non-playoff teams. The Grizzlies won the first two meetings this season by a combined 40 points and knocked off the Mavericks 122-112 in Dallas on Friday behind the first career triple-double from guard Delon Wright.
Atlanta at Milwaukee 7:00 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks have accomplished just about everything a team possibly can in the regular season, and now it is time to tune up for the playoffs - beginning with Sunday’s home contest against the Atlanta Hawks. The Bucks, who lost to Brooklyn at home on Saturday, already have clinched the league’s best record, and the focus now is on making sure MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo and key scoring option Khris Middleton are healthy as both have battled injuries down the stretch.
Phoenix at Houston 7:00 PM ET
The Houston Rockets are surging toward the postseason and still have a shot at the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference as they prepare for the final two games of the regular season. The Rockets will try to secure their sixth consecutive victory when they host the West-worst Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Orlando at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Orlando Magic are looking like the cream of the crop in a crowded race for the final three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and are on the cusp of snapping a six-year postseason drought. The Magic need just one win to clinch a playoff berth heading into Sunday's visit to the Boston Celtics, who also have plenty to play for in their home finale.
Washington at New York 7:30 PM ET
The New York Knicks are on the verge of establishing the worst record in their long franchise history, a fate they can try to avoid with a strong finish over the final three games. The first of those contests comes Sunday night against the visiting Washington Wizards.
L.A. Clippers at Golden State 8:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors are on the verge of clinching the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs and are firing on all cylinders as the regular season winds to a close. The Los Angeles Clippers, who visit the Warriors on Sunday, are still trying to sort out their spot in the bottom half of the West and will likely wind up somewhere between the No. 6 and the No. 8 spot.
Denver at Portland 9:00 PM ET
The Denver Nuggets try for their seventh straight victory over Portland when they visit the Trail Blazers on Sunday with each club's playoff position still to be decided. Denver is two games behind first-place Golden State in the Western Conference with three to play and 1 1/2 games clear of Houston for the No. 2 seed while Portland is clinging to a one-game lead over Utah for fourth and home court advantage in the first round.
New Orleans at Sacramento 9:00 PM ET
The Sacramento Kings energized their home fans with an exciting brand of basketball amid the team's best season in 13 years. They get one more chance to play in front of the hometown crowd when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday in the finale at Golden 1 Center.
Utah at L.A. Lakers 9:30 PM ET
The red-hot Utah Jazz try for their eighth straight victory when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Utah, which will wind up no worse than fifth in the Western Conference, is one game behind Portland for fourth place - and home court advantage in the first round - but must finish ahead of the Trail Blazers to get the No. 4 seed because they lost three of five in the season series.