Expert NBA GAME Previews

The Philadelphia 76ers head to Toyota Center on Thursday night for a game that still matters quite a bit for both sides. Philadelphia enters at 43-36 and is trying to stay out of the East play-in mess, while Houston is 50-29, riding a seven-game winning streak, and still pushing for stronger playoff positioning in the West. Tipoff is set for

The Indiana Pacers head to Barclays Center on Thursday, April 9, for a 7:30 PM ET matchup with the Brooklyn Nets in a game that carries more lottery weight than playoff meaning. Indiana comes in at 18-61, Brooklyn sits at 20-59, and both teams are deep into evaluation mode with the regular season nearly over. Fans can catch the game

The Lakers head to Chase Center on Thursday night in a game that still matters, even if the roster situation has turned messy fast. Los Angeles is 50-29 and still chasing Western Conference seeding, but the tone has shifted over the last few days. A team that looked like a real contender not long ago is now trying to stop

The Minnesota Timberwolves head to the Kia Center on Wednesday night for a matchup that matters to both playoff races. Minnesota is 47-32 and sitting sixth in the Western Conference, trying to firm up its postseason position on the road at 7:00 PM. Orlando comes in at 43-36, eighth in the East, and riding a three-game winning streak after a

The Milwaukee Bucks head to Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, April 8, for a 7:00 PM matchup against the Detroit Pistons in a game that looks lopsided on paper and, honestly, probably should. Detroit enters at 57-22 and has already locked up the top seed in the East, while Milwaukee comes in at 31-48 and is playing out the stretch

Dallas heads to Phoenix on Wednesday night for a 10:00 PM matchup at Mortgage Matchup Center, and the two teams are playing for very different reasons. The Mavericks enter at 25-53 and are mostly evaluating young pieces down the stretch, but Cooper Flagg has turned that process into something worth watching every night. Phoenix comes in at 43-35, sitting seventh

Oklahoma City heads to Intuit Dome on Wednesday night for a 10:00 PM ET tip in a game that looks straightforward on paper but still carries real betting tension. The Thunder are 63-16 after hammering the Lakers 123-87 on Tuesday, good for first in the West, and they have now won six straight while taking 18 of their last 19.

Portland heads to Frost Bank Center on Wednesday night for a game that matters on both ends of the Western Conference bracket. The Trail Blazers are 40-39 and still trying to climb out of the 9-seed, while San Antonio is 60-19, locked into no worse than second in the West but still chasing Oklahoma City for the conference’s top record.

Atlanta opens this one on the road at Rocket Arena on Wednesday, April 8, with tipoff set for 7:00 PM ET in a matchup that looks a lot like a first-round Eastern Conference preview. The Hawks come in at 45-34 and still have real pressure on them in the race to stay out of the play-in, while Cleveland is 50-29