NBA Previews

Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen did not back down when tasked with a matchup against Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ stout defense on Friday night. Two nights later, Allen will face the team that drafted him when the Cavaliers host the struggling Brooklyn Nets. Donovan Mitchell will miss his sixth straight game with a bruised left knee, and the Cavaliers are a respectable 9-7 when he does not play this season. They improved to 3-2 in

The Los Angeles Clippers will look to avenge their recent loss in Milwaukee as they host the visiting Bucks on Sunday afternoon. Since losing to the Bucks on Monday, the Clippers have won two straight. The Bucks have gone 0-2 to start their four-game California road trip after falling to the Lakers on Friday night in a heartbreaker, 123-122. The Clippers will be on the second day of a back-to-back at home after taking down

Two teams battling for Eastern Conference playoff position meet when the Orlando Magic face the visiting Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Both teams are looking to bounce back from disappointing losses. Orlando had its five-game winning streak snapped in a 98-74 road defeat to the New York Knicks on Friday, while Indiana fell 113-111 at home Thursday to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Orlando was held to the lowest points total in the NBA this season in the

The visiting New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks will each put their three-game winning streaks on the line Sunday when they meet for the final time of the regular season. New Orleans is coming off a 103-95 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, holding on after nearly blowing a 35-point lead. The Pelicans are No 5 in the Western Conference and trail the No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers by three games. Atlanta defeated Memphis

The Portland Trail Blazers will attempt to end a nine-game home losing streak when they entertain the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night. Portland went winless on a seven-game homestand last month, then lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday and Houston Rockets on Friday. The Trail Blazers last won at home when they spoiled Damian Lillard’s homecoming and registered a 119-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 31. Portland will be playing the

The Brooklyn Nets have had wide swings already this week, beating the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday and then two days later losing to the Detroit Pistons. Now with another lowly team next on the schedule, the Nets can’t afford a setback when visiting the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. “I feel like every game is a must-win with us trying to make the playoffs,” Nets center Nic Claxton said. “We need to win.” While the

The Dallas Mavericks would prefer to avoid the play-in tournament. That’s why they can’t afford to squander an opportunity like they have on Saturday night. They’ll visit Detroit to face the Pistons, who just won their 10th game this season. Dallas sits eighth in the Western Conference standings. The top six finishers will automatically qualify for the opening round of the playoffs. The Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating Miami 114-108 Thursday. “Every

The early bird gets to help its playoff standing, at least this weekend, when the Los Angeles Clippers play the first of consecutive home games Saturday against the Chicago Bulls. The Clippers not only have to set the alarm clock in advance of Saturday’s afternoon game against the Bulls, but also take on the Milwaukee Bucks in an early game on Sunday. Los Angeles has delivered spotty results of late in its quest to move

The Oklahoma City Thunder are finally getting one of their recent additions integrated into the rotation. The Miami Heat are still waiting for their latest signee to make his debut. On Friday, the teams meet in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder looking to continue to regain their momentum as they battle near the top of the Western Conference, while the Heat aim to bounce back after a disappointing Thursday loss. In Oklahoma City’s 128-120 road