NBA Previews

The Brooklyn Nets are still within striking distance of a play-in berth. The first two opponents of a five-game road trip present a good opportunity to improve their chances. The Nets will begin the trek with a visit to Detroit on Thursday. They’ll head to Charlotte on Saturday for the second leg of the journey. The Pistons and Hornets are two of the four teams below them in the Eastern Conference standings. The Nets are

The Rockets were seeking to get additional mileage out of their gritty performance against the Phoenix Suns, a physical affair Saturday that not only resulted in a rare Houston road victory but also showcased what can be accomplished when the team remains in the fight. The Rockets maintained that level of aggression in the first half of a home back-to-back on Tuesday, outlasting the San Antonio Spurs 114-101 by stifling Spurs rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama.

The Philadelphia 76ers won’t have much time to dwell on a 112-107 loss against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday in New York. Less than 24 hours later, the Sixers will be back home to oppose the depleted Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Kelly Oubre Jr. led five Philadelphia players in double figures with 30 points at Brooklyn. Tobias Harris scored 18 points, Cameron Payne added 15, Kyle Lowry contributed 14 and Buddy Hield had 13. Payne

The Atlanta Hawks and the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers are playing with depleted rosters, but both teams enter their Wednesday matchup with confidence following victories on Tuesday. Cleveland, without key players Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus and Evan Mobley (who exited with a left ankle injury), took down the NBA-best Boston Celtics 105-104 after wiping out a 22-point, fourth-quarter deficit. Reserve forward Dean Wade erupted for 20 of his career-high 23 points in the final quarter, sparking

Jordan Poole is starting to show why the Washington Wizards acquired him from the Golden State Warriors during the offseason. The Wizards, who have lost 15 games in a row, will need another strong shooting night from Poole when they host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Orlando has won four straight games and 12 of its past 15. The Magic are playing the second night of a back-to-back set after earning a 101-89 road win

The Los Angeles Lakers and visiting Sacramento Kings meet Wednesday, each with a chance to improve their playoff standing following recent success against some of the top teams in the Western Conference. The Lakers are coming off a 116-104 victory on Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who entered the week as the top team in the West. The Kings earned a 124-120 overtime victory on Friday in Minneapolis over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who slid

The Philadelphia 76ers descended into a skid when they first lost Joel Embiid to a left knee injury. While it is still unknown when Embiid will return, the 76ers may be starting to regain their footing. The Sixers will seek a third straight victory when they face the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Tuesday night. Embiid last played on Jan. 30 in Philadelphia’s 119-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors, when he was injured

New York Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson has ravaged the Atlanta Hawks on two occasions this season. The undermanned Knicks, however, may be without their floor general on Tuesday when they bid for a season sweep of the Hawks in New York. Brunson sustained a left knee contusion during the opening minute of New York’s 107-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. Brunson initially was listed as questionable to return during the second quarter

The Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat, who haven’t met since Opening Night, are set for a rematch. The Heat won that game by a point, and the teams’ seasons have gone in vastly different directions since. The Pistons are tied for the worst record in the NBA, and the Heat are vying for a guaranteed playoff spot. Miami, 10-3 in the past 13 games, will host the Pistons on Tuesday night. After a 5-1 road