NBA Previews

The Phoenix Suns will try to close out a winning Eastern Conference road swing when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Milwaukee, which is 2-3 since March 6, seeks consecutive wins for the first time since it won its sixth straight game on March 4. Forward Khris Middleton is set to return from a left ankle sprain as the Bucks try to get back on track. On Thursday, the Bucks (43-24) rallied to outscore

The Minnesota Timberwolves will finish off a six-game road trip when they visit Salt Lake City for a pair of games against the Utah Jazz. The Timberwolves, who haven’t played since their huge come-from-behind win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, first play the Jazz (29-37) on Saturday night. The teams will play a second game at the Delta Center on Monday night. Coming into the two-game matchup, Minnesota (45-21) finds itself 1.5 games

The New Orleans Pelicans are surging with just one month left in the regular season. And Zion Williamson is leading the way. The Pelicans (40-26) have won five of their past six games, including a 112-104 home victory against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Williamson had 34 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and in the past four games he has averaged 29.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Williamson and the Pelicans

The Philadelphia 76ers will look to snap a two-game losing streak when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. After falling 106-79 to the New York Knicks on Tuesday, the Sixers lost 114-105 to the Milwaukee Bucks two days later. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers (36-30) with 30 points against the Bucks, while Tobias Harris added 15, Cameron Payne 13 and Kyle Lowry 12. The Sixers continued to struggle without reigning Most Valuable Player

Cleveland welcomed five-time All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell back to its lineup on Wednesday in New Orleans. And given how unevenly they performed during his seven-game injury absence, the short-handed Cavaliers certainly were elated to have Mitchell back and contributing as they prepare to visit the Houston Rockets on Saturday. But what resonated for the Cavaliers (42-24) in their 116-95 victory over the Pelicans was yet another stifling defensive performance, one that came with Cleveland still

The Los Angeles Clippers and the New Orleans Pelicans are both trying to avoid the play-in tournament. The Clippers (42-23) are in fourth place in the tightly bunched Western Conference, three games ahead of the fifth-place Pelicans (39-26) as the two prepare to meet Friday night in New Orleans. Los Angeles increased its lead by beating the Bulls 126-111 on Thursday night in Chicago to end a two-game losing streak. Paul George scored 28 points

The Phoenix Suns have lofty aspirations and a desire to be compared to the best teams in the league. That didn’t go well when the Suns made a stop in Boston on Phoenix’s current four-game road trip. Phoenix (38-28) is presented a chance to rebound in the second game of a back-to-back against the Charlotte Hornets (17-49) on Friday night. The Suns fell for the second time in three games with a 127-112 setback to

The injury-depleted Toronto Raptors are in search of more than another moral victory Friday night when they take a five-game losing streak into their clash against the visiting Orlando Magic. The Raptors completed a 0-4 road trip Wednesday night with a 113-104 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The Raptors will face a challenge in the Magic, who are coming off a 114-106 home victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday and have won six of

The Miami Heat fought their way out of the play-in tournament and reached the NBA Finals last season. They would like to avoid that extra step this spring, which is why their weekend visit to Detroit could prove pivotal. The Heat will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak when they face the Pistons on Friday and will remain in the Motor City for a Sunday afternoon tilt. The Heat (35-30) are currently in