NBA Previews

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have undoubtedly been the driving forces behind the Oklahoma City Thunder’s rise to the top of the Western Conference standings this season. But as they’ve surged since the All-Star break, the Thunder’s two other regular starters — Luguentz Dort and Josh Giddey — have played bigger roles on the offensive side. The Thunder (47-20) are looking for that trend to continue Wednesday when they host the Utah Jazz

The Minnesota Timberwolves, buoyed by a spectacular moment in a come-from-behind victory, will go for their fourth win in a row when they face the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday in Minneapolis. Minnesota (47-21) will play on short rest after erasing a 16-point deficit and pulling away for a 114-104 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday in Salt Lake City. The Timberwolves finished their six-game road trip with a 4-2 record. Now, they will open

The Orlando Magic have been on the move recently and there’s no reason to stop now. The Charlotte Hornets will visit on Tuesday night, and the Magic’s bid to reach the postseason might depend on taking care of business against teams in the lower part of the standings. “Every game is not going to be high-flying,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Our guys are finding ways to win, and I think that’s important in this

Hoping to maintain their tenuous grip on one of the final play-in spots in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers now face the prospect of playing the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at home without either of their top two players. Lakers forward Anthony Davis is being listed as questionable for Monday’s game with a corneal abrasion that knocked him out of Saturday’s 128-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors after one quarter. Fellow star

The Boston Celtics will have a chance to improve the NBA’s best record when they face the visiting Detroit Pistons on Monday night. Boston (53-14) was missing three starters but extended its winning streak to five games with a 130-104 victory over the Washington Wizards on the road Sunday. The Celtics played without center Kristaps Porzingis (right hamstring strain) and guards Jaylen Brown (ankle) and Derrick White (hand). Porzingis hasn’t played in Boston’s last five

The Philadelphia 76ers will look for their second victory in a row Monday when they host the Miami Heat. The Sixers (37-30) struggled for a bit Saturday but pulled away for a 109-98 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 22 and Buddy Hield had 14 for the Sixers, who played without Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton and Robert Covington. Embiid, the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player,

The New York Knicks get a chance to demonstrate just how much their defense has improved when they get a rematch with the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, this time in San Francisco. The playoff hopefuls met Feb. 29 in New York, with the Warriors riding 31 points from Stephen Curry and 25 from Jonathan Kuminga to a 110-99 road win. Since then, the Knicks (40-27) have won five of seven, holding their opponents

The Minnesota Timberwolves concocted a successful recipe against the Utah Jazz on Saturday to win despite not having Karl-Anthony Towns or Rudy Gobert on the court. Take a whole lot of Anthony Edwards, add a big heaping of Mike Conley and throw in a healthy side of Naz Reid. To keep pace with Western Conference leaders Denver and Oklahoma City, Minnesota might have to rely on a version of that formula Monday night again in

Ayo Dosunmu is staying aggressive when his opportunities arise, and the Chicago Bulls could not be more pleased. After erupting for a career-best 34 points in Saturday’s home win against the Washington Wizards, Dosunmu will aim for an encore Monday when Chicago hosts the Portland Trail Blazers. Still without guard Coby White (right hip strain), who missed his second straight game Saturday, the Bulls have seen Dosunmu make the most of increased minutes with a