Preview Roundups
March 03, 2017
New York at Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Wednesday that star rookie center Joel Embiid's season was over due to a knee injury and then went out and played like a team that had lost hope. The 76ers will try to find the energy to compete when they return home and host the New York Knicks on Friday.
Toronto at Washington 7:00 PM ET
The Washington Wizards struck the first blow in the battle for third place in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday and will try to gain another game over Toronto in the standings when they host the Raptors for the second leg of the home-and-home set on Friday. The Wizards snapped an eight-game regular-season skid in the series and pulled one game ahead of the Raptors with a 105-96 triumph at Toronto on Wednesday.
Miami at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
What appeared to be a lost or at least transitional season a month and a half ago has turned into one that could include a playoff series or more for the Miami Heat. The Heat have won 17 of their last 20 contests since an 11-30 start and can avenge one of the three losses during their surge when they visit the struggling Orlando Magic on Friday night for a Southeast Division battle.
Cleveland at Atlanta 7:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference at Boston on Wednesday but somehow came out of the game feeling good about themselves going forward. The Cavaliers will try to continue to build chemistry with some new pieces when they continue a three-game road trip by visiting the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
L.A. Clippers at Milwaukee 8:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers have controlled the series against Milwaukee and look to defeat the host Bucks on Friday for the ninth time in the past 10 meetings on Friday. The Clippers are outscoring the Bucks by an average of 12.2 during the stretch, which includes two victories last season.
Memphis at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks suffered through one of the worst scoring efforts in franchise history when they lost to the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season. Dallas will strive to put the ball through the hoop much more often on Friday, when it hosts the Grizzlies and attempts to put November's 64-point effort in the rearview mirror.
Brooklyn at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz suffered a big letdown in their return from a three-game road trip on Wednesday and will try to avoid a third consecutive loss overall when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. The Jazz dropped the finale of the trip at Oklahoma City 109-106 on Tuesday and could not get anything done offensively the next night in a 107-80 setback to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Oklahoma City at Phoenix 9:00 PM ET
Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook looks to record his fourth consecutive 40-point outing when the Thunder visits the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Oklahoma City is seeking its fifth victory in the past six games when it meets a Phoenix squad that is tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the worst record in the Western Conference.
San Antonio at New Orleans 9:30 PM ET
The San Antonio Spurs might have a chance to chase down the Golden State Warriors for the top spot in the Western Conference and they seek their sixth consecutive victory when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. The Spurs have been in close pursuit of Golden State and the Warriors could be wobbly after losing star forward Kevin Durant for at least four weeks due to a knee injury.
Boston at L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM ET
The Boston Celtics will try to build off perhaps their best win of the season when they begin a challenging five-game road trip at the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. After losing three of four, and looking very sluggish in a 16-point home loss to Atlanta on Monday, the Celtics made a dramatic turnaround with a 103-99 win over Cleveland two nights later.