Expert NBA GAME Previews

The Miami Heat head back to Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night for the second half of this mini-series, and the urgency is not exactly equal. Toronto is 44-35 and still fighting to lock down a clean playoff spot in the East, while Miami sits at 41-38 and is already stuck in the play-in. That changes the feel of the game

Chicago and Washington run it back Thursday night at Capital One Arena after the Bulls rolled to a 129-98 win in this same building on Tuesday. The Bulls are 30-49 and already out of the postseason picture, so this is less about standings and more about seeing which young pieces still have something to say over the final week. Washington

Boston heads to Madison Square Garden on Thursday night for a game with real playoff weight. The Celtics are 54-25 and can lock up the No. 2 seed in the East with a win, while the Knicks enter at 51-28 and still have a path to that same spot if they close strong. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET

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