Preview Roundups
March 24, 2017
Brooklyn at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards hope they have put their losing stretch behind them as they look to complete a four-game season sweep of the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Friday. Washington lost four of five games before posting a 104-100 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday and holds a one-half game lead over Toronto for third place in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets are working hard to stay in the race for a postseason spot but are running out of time as the schedule gets tighter. The Hornets will try to stay in the race and prove they can play with the top teams in the league when they host the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
Detroit at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
A lineup change failed to yield any dramatic improvements for the stumbling Detroit Pistons, who will try to snap out of their funk when they continue a four-game road trip at the Orlando Magic on Friday. The Pistons dropped the first two games on the trip and five of six overall to sink 1 1/2 games out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference entering Thursday.
Denver at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers will be playing at home on Friday, which means they'll probably look like a team that can do some damage in the playoffs. The Pacers will try to shake off another road loss and continue their high level at home when they host the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
Phoenix at Boston 7:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics are putting the heat on Cleveland and aim to create more pressure when they host the lowly Phoenix Suns on Friday. Boston has won five of its last six games and sits just one behind the Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers with 10 contests remaining.
Philadelphia at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls can't afford to lose to teams below them in the standings as they try to close the gap between themselves and the eighth-place Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia 76ers, who are out of the race and visit the Bulls on Friday, won't make it easy.
Atlanta at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls heading in opposite directions meet Friday night when the reeling Atlanta Hawks look to stop the bleeding at the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks have dropped five in a row and, coupled with the Bucks' recent 10-2 surge, enter this one with just a one-game lead on Milwaukee and Indiana for fifth place in the East.
New Orleans at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans won three consecutive games and five of their past six as they enter Friday's game against the host Houston Rockets. The Pelicans are in must-win mode if they want to chase down the final playoff spot in the Western Conference as they trail the eighth-place Denver Nuggets by four games with 11 remaining.
Minnesota at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Andrew Wiggins racked up a career-best 47 points against the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this season and he looks to enjoy another productive outing when his squad visits Los Angeles on Friday. Wiggins and his teammates are falling out of the Western Conference playoff race with four consecutive defeats as they face a Lakers' squad that has suffered six straight setbacks.
Sacramento at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
With a brutal stretch of schedule behind them, the Golden State Warriors are back to looking like a juggernaut primed for another run at an NBA title. The Warriors will go for their sixth straight win and try to solidify their standing as the top team in the Western Conference when they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday.