Expert NBA GAME Previews

Blazers out to end playoff drought, face Suns in play-in round Phoenix coach Jordan Ott is confident regarding the host Suns’ mindset entering their play-in tournament game against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. “We’ll be juiced and ready to rock,” Ott said as the Suns look to return to the postseason after missing out last year. Trail Blazers

Hornets happy to be home for play-in clash with Heat In order to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the No. 9 seed Charlotte Hornets will need to win a pair of games this week in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. The first of those games is set for Tuesday when they host the No. 10 seed

The Orlando Magic head to Xfinity Mobile Arena on Wednesday, April 15, for a 7:30 PM tip against the Philadelphia 76ers in this Eastern Conference play-in matchup. Both teams finished the regular season at 45-37, but Philadelphia earned the tiebreaker by taking two of the three meetings in the season series. The game will be broadcast on Amaz, and the

The Golden State Warriors head to Intuit Dome on Wednesday night for the Western Conference 9-vs-10 play-in game, with tip set for 10:00 PM ET. Los Angeles finished the regular season 42-40 and 23-18 at home, while Golden State closed 37-45 and just 15-26 on the road. The Clippers also beat the Warriors 115-110 in this same building on Sunday

The final game of the season does not mean nothing here, even if neither team is headed to the postseason. Chicago comes into Dallas at 31-50 after another frustrating year in the East, while the Mavericks are 25-56 and trying to close out an ugly season with one more good offensive night at home. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m.

The Denver Nuggets head to Frost Bank Center on Sunday night for a regular-season finale that still carries real playoff weight. Denver is 53-28, has won 11 straight, and can lock up the No. 3 seed in the West with a win. San Antonio is 62-19, already secured in the No. 2 spot, and has been just as hot lately

The Memphis Grizzlies head to Toyota Center on Sunday night for the regular-season finale, and this is one of those matchups where the standings tell only part of the story. Memphis is 25-56 and limping to the finish line after seven straight losses, while Houston is 51-30 and already locked into the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. Tipoff

Sunday’s regular-season finale might end up being a dress rehearsal for Wednesday. The Warriors head into Intuit Dome at 37-44 already locked into the No. 10 seed in the West, which means they know they are opening the play-in on the road no matter what. The Clippers are 41-40 and still have more to sort out. Los Angeles can still

The New Orleans Pelicans close the season on the road Sunday night when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in Minneapolis. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. New Orleans enters at 26-55 and well out of the playoff picture, while Minnesota is 48-33 and already locked into the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. That means