Preview Roundups
February 23, 2018
Boston at Detroit 7:00 PM ET
The Boston Celtics limped into the All-Star break with an 0-3 homestand while falling out of first place in the Eastern Conference. They hope some rest and a change of scenery sparks a turnaround, beginning with a visit to the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
Atlanta at Indiana 7:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers have 24 games remaining in the regular season, starting with Friday’s home contest against the Atlanta Hawks, and the return of Glenn Robinson III should help out a team looking to solidify its playoff positioning. The small forward makes his season debut after missing four months following left ankle surgery, as the Pacers sit fifth in the Eastern Conference just two games behind third-place Cleveland entering Thursday.
Charlotte at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets are facing an uphill climb in their bid to claim an Eastern Conference playoff berth and certainly will be counting heavily on Kemba Walker. The All-Star guard was stellar in Charlotte's first game after the break and will be shooting for another big performance in Friday's game against the host Washington Wizards.
Milwaukee at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors blasted through the final two weeks before the All-Star break with seven straight wins to jump to the top of the Eastern Conference. The Raptors will see if that momentum carried through the break when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
Minnesota at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Houston Rockets breezed into the All-Star break with a 10-game winning streak and the top spot in the Western Conference, and now they just need to hang on for another 25 games. The Rockets will see if the momentum carried through the break when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
Cleveland at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The new-look Cleveland Cavaliers got off to a bumpy start when the season resumed following the All-Star break. Cleveland looks for a better showing when it visits the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, one night after suffering a 110-103 home loss against Washington.
Miami at New Orleans 8:00 PM ET
The Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans went into the All-Star break on very different paths, but they emerge holding down the eighth and final playoff spot in their respective conferences. The Heat will try to turn things around against the streaking Pelicans when the teams meet Friday night in New Orleans.
San Antonio at Denver 9:00 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs come back after the All-Star break to the exact same place they left off -- visiting the Denver Nuggets. The Spurs dropped a 117-109 decision at the Nuggets on Feb. 13 and slumped into the break with losses in three straight and five of six.
L.A. Clippers at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers look to record their seventh consecutive victory over Phoenix when they visit the struggling Suns on Friday. Los Angeles was a hot squad prior to the All-Star break with 13 wins in 18 games but fell 134-127 to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday in its first game after play resumed.
Portland at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz were the hottest team in the NBA entering the All-Star break and hope to remain on a roll when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. The Jazz turned around a disappointing first half with 11 straight wins entering the break, including a 115-96 triumph in Portland on Feb. 11.
Dallas at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks went into the All-Star break in 14th place in the Western Conference but managed to embroil themselves in a pair of off-court controversies during the week off. The Mavericks will try to return the focus to the court when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.