Preview Roundups
February 22, 2018
Brooklyn at Charlotte 7:00 PM ET
The Charlotte Hornets are 5 1/2 games out of the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference with 25 games left in the regular season and the stretch run begins when they come back from the All-Star break and host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. The Hornets snapped a four-game slide with a win at Orlando heading into the break.
New York at Orlando 7:00 PM ET
The New York Knicks' loss of All-Star forward Kristaps Porzingis to a season-ending knee injury and an eight-game slide going into the All-Star break altered the team's plans for the remainder of the regular season. The Knicks are expected to give younger players big roles the rest of the way, beginning with a visit to Orlando to face the similarly-sinking Magic on Thursday.
Washington at Cleveland 8:00 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers aren't showing many troublesome spots with their revamped roster as they search for their fifth consecutive win when they host the Washington Wizards on Thursday. Cleveland scored 120 or more points in each contest, the first victory occurring before the trading deadline and others coming after the reconfiguration.
Philadelphia at Chicago 8:00 PM ET
The Philadelphia 76ers have their sights on a playoff spot and seek their sixth consecutive victory when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Philadelphia closed out play before the All-Star break on a roll and continuing that caliber of play over the final third of the campaign could give the franchise its first playoff berth since the 2011-12 season.
Oklahoma City at Sacramento 10:00 PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder are sliding in the wrong direction with six losses in nine games as they resume play after the All-Star break with a road game against the Sacramento Kings. The Thunder don't receive any help from the schedule either with the Sacramento outing marking the first in a stretch in which five of six are on the road coming out of the break.
L.A. Clippers at Golden State 10:30 PM ET
The three-time defending Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors return from the All-Star break on Thursday in an unfamiliar position -- second place. The Warriors will try to break out of the malaise that seemed to infect the team in the two weeks before the break when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.