NBA Previews

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

The Minnesota Timberwolves, minus one of their stars, will go for their third win in a row when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on short rest Friday night. Minnesota is coming off a hard-fought, 113-111 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in Indianapolis. It marked the Timberwolves’ first game since losing Karl-Anthony Towns to a torn meniscus in his left knee. Towns will undergo surgery next week, and he could miss the rest of

A piecemeal starting lineup Wednesday night was enough to help the Orlando Magic leapfrog the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings. The Knicks hope they’re almost done with the days of mixing and matching lineups due to injuries. The surging Magic and skidding Knicks hope to welcome back key players Friday when Orlando visits New York in a potential playoff preview. The Magic won their fifth straight game Wednesday by overcoming a 21-point