NBA Previews

An afternoon game in the return from a challenging road trip occasionally develops into a trap game for playoff teams. The New York Knicks, however, responded well enough and then received some favorable results in the standings. With an eye on third place in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks play the second of four straight games against losing teams Monday night when they host the Detroit Pistons. The Knicks (42-28) clinched a second straight winning

A year ago this was a matchup of the two top teams in the Western Conference. This season the Memphis Grizzlies vs. the Denver Nuggets doesn’t hold the same meaning. Memphis (24-47) has gone from contender to the lottery in fewer than 12 months, in large part due to injuries that have decimated the roster. The Grizzlies lost Ja Morant for the season months ago and haven’t been able to replicate their success from last

The Phoenix Suns look to stay above the Western Conference play-in line when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Monday in the second of two games in three nights between the teams. The Suns (42-29) easily won the first game of the set 131-106 Saturday as Devin Booker (32 points) and Kevin Durant (25) combined for 57 points in just three quarters. Phoenix led throughout and by as many as 32 points while winning

Houston guard Jalen Green was again the fulcrum of another exceptional offensive performance for the Rockets on Saturday, and his coach says the recent burst is largely about Green’s decision-making. Green tallied 41 points — one shy of his career high — on 15-of-22 shooting in the Rockets’ 147-119 victory over the Utah Jazz. Houston (35-35) extended its winning streak to eight games and improved to 10-1 this month. Green has been at the heart

Enduring a season-series sweep at the hands of the NBA-best Boston Celtics has taught the Chicago Bulls a few things. The Bulls hope to channel perhaps the most important lesson on the list when they host the Washington Wizards on Monday: It pays to be resilient. Saturday’s 124-113 home loss to Boston was Chicago’s third setback against the Celtics, who were without Jaylen Brown (right ankle sprain), Kristaps Porzingis (right hamstring), and Jrue Holiday (shoulder).

The Boston Celtics, winners of nine straight, could clinch the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference on Monday when they open a two-game series in Atlanta. Boston (57-14) needs one victory — or a Milwaukee Bucks loss — to mathematically nail down first place for the playoffs. Another win would give the team its most victories since the 2008-09 team went 62-20. “We’re just hungry for more,” Boston’s Sam Hauser said after Saturday’s 124-113

The Miami Heat, who have lost six of their past nine games, are set to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. Miami (38-32) is only 17-16 at home and entered the weekend outside of the guaranteed top-six playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. For context, the Heat went 27-14 at home last season. While it doesn’t answer why the Heat have been better on the road (21-16) this season, the team has suffered several

The Philadelphia 76ers are finding it increasingly difficult to put points on the scoreboard with star Joel Embiid on the injury report. Philadelphia (38-32) looks to address its ongoing shooting slump when it visits the Los Angeles Clippers (44-25) on Sunday. Los Angeles completed a two-game sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday and holds the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff race. The Sixers are in eighth place in the East after

The New Orleans Pelicans have won eight of their last 10 games, putting themselves in position to avoid the Western Conference play-in tournament. They’ll get an optimal opponent against which to try and fatten their record while wrapping up a four-game road trip on Sunday afternoon. Coming off a solid victory at Miami on Friday night, the Pelicans visit the banged-up, floundering Detroit Pistons. Detroit will carry a five-game losing streak into the contest. New