Preview Roundups
March 27, 2017
Orlando at Toronto 7:30 PM ET
The Toronto Raptors look to extend their winning streak to six as they continue to prepare for a fourth straight playoff run when the Orlando Magic pay a visit on Monday night. The Raptors, who are 3 ½ games out of first in the East and one behind Washington for third, knocked off Dallas 94-86 on Saturday for their fifth straight to clinch a spot in the postseason.
Detroit at New York 7:30 PM ET
Time is running out for the Detroit Pistons, who try to salvage the finale of their four-game road trip when they meet the New York Knicks on Monday at Madison Square Garden. Detroit dropped three straight games and six of its last seven contests after a 115-87 setback in Orlando on Friday - its fifth straight loss on the road - and is one-half game behind Chicago for ninth in the Eastern Conference, and one game back of eighth-place Miami for the final playoff spot.
Cleveland at San Antonio 8:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in danger of falling out of first place in the Eastern Conference and they won't have an easy time stopping the bleeding against a team in hot pursuit of the top spot in the West when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. The Cavaliers' latest defensive debacle came in a 127-115 home loss to Washington on Saturday and resulted in a tie for first in the East with Boston, with a visit to the Celtics on the horizon.
Oklahoma City at Dallas 8:30 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to have issues on the road and will have little time to rebound from their latest such setback when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. A 135-127 loss at Houston on Sunday gave the Thunder a 14-21 record on the road, the third worst mark in the NBA among the 16 teams that entered the day holding down a playoff spot.
Memphis at Sacramento 10:30 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies will try to salvage the finale of their four-game road trip when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Monday. The Grizzlies are averaging 88.7 points in dropping the first three contests on the trek, including a 106-94 setback at Golden State on Sunday that was their eighth loss in 12 games.
New Orleans at Utah 10:30 PM ET
The Utah Jazz are struggling, questioning their commitment and could be without their leading scorer when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. Gordon Hayward is questionable with a quadriceps contusion suffered in Saturday's 108-95 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers - the fourth defeat in five games for the Jazz, who narrowly are clinging to fourth place in the Western Conference.