The Hawks and Pistons are set to face off in an important game on Wednesday as the Eastern Conference playoff race heats up. With only three weeks left in the regular season, every game becomes crucial in shaping the playoff landscape. Here is a must-watch matchup for each of the 30 NBA teams this week.
Eastern Conference
Atlanta Hawks:
- Schedule: Monday vs. Grizzlies, Wednesday at Pistons (ESPN), Friday at Celtics, Saturday vs. Kings
- Game to Watch: Wednesday at Pistons (ESPN): The Hawks are on a hot streak, winning 12 of their last 13 games to secure a spot in the top six in the East. Wednesday’s game against the Pistons is their final chance to grab a win against the conference leaders.
Boston Celtics:
- Schedule: Wednesday vs. Thunder, Friday vs. Hawks, Sunday at Hornets
- Game to Watch: Wednesday vs. Thunder: The Celtics square off against the Thunder in a rematch of two recent champions. Their last meeting was a nail-biter with OKC coming out on top by just two points.
Brooklyn Nets:
- Schedule: Monday at Trail Blazers, Wednesday at Warriors, Friday at Lakers, Sunday vs. Kings
- Game to Watch: Monday at Trail Blazers: The Nets aim to end a seven-game losing streak as they take on the Trail Blazers in Portland on Monday.
Charlotte Hornets:
- Schedule: Tuesday vs. Kings, Thursday vs. Knicks (NBA TV), Saturday vs. 76ers, Sunday vs. Celtics
- Game to Watch: Saturday vs. 76ers: The Hornets look to climb the rankings and bridge the gap with the 76ers in the race for a playoff spot. The outcome of this game could determine the head-to-head tiebreaker between the two teams.
Chicago Bulls:
- Schedule: Monday vs. Rockets, Wednesday at 76ers, Friday at Thunder, Saturday at Grizzlies
- Game to Watch: Wednesday at 76ers: The Bulls face an uphill battle sitting at 12th in the East. They need a win against the 76ers to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
- Schedule: Tuesday vs. Magic (NBC/Peacock), Wednesday vs. Heat, Friday vs. Heat (NBA TV)
- Game to Watch: Tuesday vs. Magic (NBC/Peacock): The Cavs aim to maintain their winning streak as they take on the Magic in hopes of clinching the season series.
Detroit Pistons:
- Schedule: Monday vs. Lakers, Wednesday vs. Hawks (ESPN), Thursday vs. Pelicans, Saturday at Timberwolves (ABC)
- Game to Watch: Monday vs. Lakers: The Pistons face tough competition against the Lakers and Hawks at the start of the week.
Indiana Pacers:
- Schedule: Monday at Magic, Wednesday vs. Lakers, Friday vs. Clippers, Sunday vs. Heat
- Game to Watch: Monday at Magic: The Pacers are looking to break a 16-game losing streak starting with a matchup against the Magic.
Miami Heat:
- Schedule: Monday vs. Spurs (Peacock), Wednesday at Cavaliers, Friday at Cavaliers (NBA TV), Sunday at Pacers
- Game to Watch: Monday vs. Spurs (Peacock): The Heat aim to snap a four-game losing streak as they face the red-hot Spurs.
Milwaukee Bucks:
- Schedule: Monday at Clippers, Wednesday at Trail Blazers, Saturday vs. Spurs (Prime Video), Sunday vs. Clippers (NBA TV)
- Game to Watch: Wednesday at Trail Blazers: The Bucks take on former point guards in a matchup against the Trail Blazers.
New York Knicks:
- Schedule: Tuesday vs. Pelicans, Thursday at Hornets (NBA TV), Sunday at Thunder (NBC/Peacock)
- Game to Watch: Sunday at Thunder (NBC/Peacock): The Knicks look to extend their win streak as they face the Thunder in a rematch.
Orlando Magic:
- Schedule: Monday vs. Pacers, Tuesday at Cavaliers (NBC/Peacock), Thursday vs. Kings, Sunday at Raptors
- Game to Watch: Sunday at Raptors: The Magic aim to move up the rankings in the East standings as they face the Raptors.
Philadelphia 76ers:
- Schedule: Monday vs. Thunder, Wednesday vs. Bulls, Saturday at Hornets
- Game to Watch: Saturday at Hornets: The 76ers look to maintain their lead over the Hornets and secure a top-six seed in the East.
Toronto Raptors:
- Schedule: Monday at Utah, Wednesday at Clippers, Friday vs. Pelicans, Sunday vs. Magic
- Game to Watch: Sunday vs. Magic: The Raptors aim to climb the standings as they face the Magic in a crucial matchup.
Washington Wizards:
- Schedule: Wednesday at Jazz, Friday at Warriors, Sunday at Trail Blazers
- Game to Watch: Wednesday at Jazz: The Wizards aim to bounce back from a losing streak as they face the Jazz.
Western Conference
In the Western Conference, the Rockets and Wolves will battle it out on Wednesday to secure a better position in the standings.
Dallas Mavericks:
- Schedule: Monday vs. Warriors (Peacock), Wednesday at Nuggets, Friday at Trail Blazers (NBA TV)
- Game to Watch: Monday vs. Warriors (Peacock): Cooper Flagg of the Mavericks looks to make a case for Rookie of the Year as they face the Warriors.
Denver Nuggets:
- Schedule: Tuesday at Suns (NBC/Peacock), Wednesday vs. Mavericks, Friday vs. Jazz, Sunday vs. Warriors (NBC/Peacock)
- Game to Watch: Tuesday at Suns (NBC/Peacock): The Nuggets aim for a season sweep against the Suns to boost their playoff position.
Golden State Warriors:
- Schedule: Monday at Mavericks (Peacock), Wednesday vs. Nets, Friday vs. Wizards, Sunday at Nuggets (NBC/Peacock)
- Game to Watch: Wednesday vs. Nets: The Warriors await the return of Stephen Curry as they face the Nets in a key matchup.
Houston Rockets:
- Schedule: Monday at Bulls, Wednesday at Timberwolves (ESPN), Friday at Grizzlies, Sunday at Pelicans
- Game to Watch: Wednesday at Timberwolves (ESPN): The Rockets aim to extend their lead over the Wolves in the standings.
LA Clippers:
- Schedule: Monday vs. Bucks, Wednesday vs. Raptors, Friday at Pacers, Sunday at Bucks (NBA TV)
- Game to Watch: Monday vs. Bucks: The Clippers look to continue their winning streak as they take on the Bucks.
Los Angeles Lakers:
- Schedule: Monday at Pistons, Wednesday at Pacers, Friday vs. Nets
- Game to Watch: Monday at Pistons: The Lakers aim for a double-digit win streak as they face the Pistons.
Memphis Grizzlies:
- Schedule: Monday at Hawks, Wednesday vs. Spurs, Friday vs. Rockets, Saturday vs. Bulls
- Game to Watch: Friday vs. Rockets: The Grizzlies aim to impact the top of the Western Conference as they take on the Rockets.
Minnesota Timberwolves:
- Schedule: Wednesday vs. Rockets (ESPN), Saturday vs. Pistons (ABC)
- Game to Watch: Wednesday vs. Rockets (ESPN): The Wolves aim to secure a top-four spot in the West as they face the Rockets.
New Orleans Pelicans:
- Schedule: Tuesday at Knicks, Thursday at Pistons, Friday at Raptors, Sunday vs. Rockets
- Game to Watch: Tuesday at Knicks: The Pelicans look to continue their strong performances as they face the Knicks.
Oklahoma City Thunder:
- Schedule: Monday at 76ers, Wednesday at Celtics, Friday vs. Bulls, Sunday vs. Knicks (NBC/Peacock)
- Game to Watch: Monday at 76ers: The Thunder aim to extend their win streak as they face the 76ers.
Phoenix Suns:
- Schedule: Tuesday vs. Nuggets (NBC/Peacock), Saturday vs. Jazz (NBA TV)
- Game to Watch: Tuesday vs. Nuggets (NBC/Peacock): The Suns aim to climb the standings as they face the Nuggets.
Portland Trail Blazers:
- Schedule: Monday vs. Nets, Wednesday vs. Bucks, Friday vs. Mavericks (NBA TV), Sunday vs. Wizards
- Game to Watch: Friday vs. Mavericks (NBA TV): The Blazers aim to secure a top-eight spot in the Play-In race as they face the Mavericks.
Sacramento Kings:
- Schedule: Tuesday at Hornets, Thursday at Magic, Saturday at Hawks, Sunday at Nets
- Game to Watch: Tuesday at Hornets: The Kings look to continue their strong performances as they face the Hornets.
San Antonio Spurs:
- Schedule: Monday at Heat (Peacock), Wednesday at Grizzlies, Saturday at Bucks (Prime Video)
- Game to Watch: Monday at Heat (Peacock): The Spurs aim to maintain their momentum as they take on the Heat.
Utah Jazz:
- Schedule: Monday vs. Raptors, Wednesday vs. Wizards, Friday at Nuggets, Saturday at Suns (NBA TV)
- Game to Watch: Friday at Nuggets: The Jazz look to shake up the top of the Western Conference as they face the Nuggets.
This week’s matchups promise plenty of excitement as teams jockey for postseason position. Stay tuned for more NBA action on NBA League Pass.
