Preview Roundups
April 12, 2017
Detroit at Orlando 8:00 PM ET
The Orlando Magic look to end the season on a high note, after experiencing the largest margin of defeat in franchise history, when they host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. The Magic have dropped seven of eight as their disappointing season draws to a close, but none worse than the 122-75 setback Monday at Chicago when they shot 34.5 percent from the field.
Toronto at Cleveland 8:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers are not playing their best heading into the regular season finale but still have a chance to finish with the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers will try to snap out of a three-game slide and change their momentum heading into the playoffs when they host the third-place Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
Milwaukee at Boston 8:00 PM ET
In a scenario that seemed unlikely a week ago, the Boston Celtics can clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks in the finale of the regular season for both teams Wednesday night. After losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers last Wednesday and then at the Atlanta Hawks the next night, the Celtics trailed the Cavaliers by 1 1/2 games with three to play and with Cleveland holding the tiebreaker between the two teams.
Philadelphia at New York 8:00 PM ET
The New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers will both watch the playoffs from home again this spring, but at least one team is feeling good about its future. The 76ers will try to snap a seven-game slide when they visit the Knicks in the regular season finale on Wednesday.
Washington at Miami 8:00 PM ET
The Miami Heat will need some help to reach the postseason, but they must take care of their own business first when the playoff-bound Washington Wizards pay a visit on Wednesday night. The Heat can reach the postseason with a victory over the Wizards along with a loss by either Indiana (Atlanta) or Chicago (Brooklyn), which are both playing at home on Wednesday.
Brooklyn at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls head into the final day of the regular season with their playoff fate still undecided as three teams vie for the final two spots in the Eastern Conference. The host Bulls can clinch their spot Wednesday with a win over the NBA-worst Brooklyn Nets.
Dallas at Memphis 8:00 PM ET
The Memphis Grizzlies will have their final tune-up before a daunting first-round playoff matchup when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday in the regular-season finale for both teams. The Grizzlies are locked into the seventh seed in the Western Conference and will take on the Southwest Division champion San Antonio Spurs in the opening round.
Minnesota at Houston 8:00 PM ET
The Houston Rockets attempt to reach the 55-win mark for just the sixth time in franchise history when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves in Wednesday's regular-season finale. The Rockets will be the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoff derby after topping 50 wins for the third time in four seasons.
Denver at Oklahoma City 8:00 PM ET
The regular-season finale is meaningless for Oklahoma City but it does pack importance for the Denver Nuggets when they visit the Thunder on Wednesday. Denver would like to halt a nine-game skid against Oklahoma City - including three losses this season - when it completes a campaign in which it posted the ninth-best record in the Western Conference.
Atlanta at Indiana 8:00 PM ET
The Indiana Pacers look to clinch their sixth playoff berth in the last seven seasons when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday in the final game of the regular season for both teams. The Pacers, who have won four straight, enter the day in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, a game behind Milwaukee and one up on both Chicago and Miami.
San Antonio at Utah 9:00 PM ET
The Utah Jazz are in must-win mode as they host the San Antonio Spurs in Wednesday's regular-season finale and also need help from the Sacramento Kings. The Jazz are tied for the No. 4 postseason seed in the Western Conference and must beat the Spurs and have Sacramento defeat the Los Angeles Clippers to gain homecourt advantage for their first-round playoff series against the Clippers.
Sacramento at L.A. Clippers 10:30 PM ET
The Los Angeles Clippers are ending their regular season with a flourish and have a chance to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs when they host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday in the finale for both teams. The Clippers have won six in a row - one shy of their season high - and can clinch the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a win over the Kings or a loss by Utah, which is hosting San Antonio on Wednesday.
L.A. Lakers at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors no longer possess their season-best 14-game winning streak but aim to finish the regular season on a positive note when they host the suddenly hot Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Top-seeded Golden State dropped a 105-99 decision to Utah on Monday and figures to limit the minutes of its starters to remain fresh for the postseason.
New Orleans at Portland 10:30 PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans are limping to the finish line, and their two stars again will be on the sidelines when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers for Wednesday's regular-season finale. Power forward Anthony Davis will miss his third straight game with a knee injury and center DeMarcus Cousins will sit out his fourth consecutive contest due to Achilles' tendon soreness when the Pelicans attempt to end their five-game slide.