[Lynx]

GAME 1

vs.

Key Matchups

&

vs.

After clinching the Central Division title Monday, Detroit Pistons coach Flip Saunders' next goal is to clinch home-court advantage through the Eastern Conference in the playoffs.

The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons look get one game closer to that goal as they host their closest competition to that goal, the Miami Heat.

Detroit has an 8 1/2-game lead over the Heat and has won six of its last seven home games over Miami.

The Heat may be without Shaquille O'Neal, who is listed as questionable with a sore thumb and missed Tuesday's 100-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Pistons' starting five have avoided injuries this season as Detroit has used the same starting lineup in all 66 games this season, matching the 2002-03 Warriors for the longest streak to start a year since 1980.

GAME 2

vs.

Key Matchup

vs.

The San Antonio Spurs look to extend their winning streak to six games when they visit the Denver Nuggets to begin a five-game road trip.

The Spurs lead Dallas by a half-game in the Southwest Division and have the best record in the Western Conference. San Antonio is tied with the Mavericks for the best road record in the conference at 23-10.

The Nuggets wrapped up a seven-game road swing with a 109-94 victory over New Orleans on Saturday. Denver went 5-2 on the trip to take control of the Northwest Division, which it now leads by 5 1/2 games over Utah.

GAME 3

vs.

Key Matchup

The Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers meet at the Staples Center, with both of the Pacific Division rivals eyeing the final Western Conference playoff spots.

The Kings are percentage points ahead of the Lakers for the seventh playoff spot in the Western Conference. Ninth-place New Orleans is one game back, with 10th-place Utah just one game further behind.

Sacramento hasn't missed the playoffs since the 1997-98 season. Los Angeles failed to reach the postseason last year, but hasn't done so in consecutive years since the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons.

The Kings have won four of their last five meetings with the Lakers, including two of three this season. Artest is averaging just 12.8 points on 26.3 percent shooting in his last four contests away from home

Bryant is averaging 39.0 points against the Kings this season, including a 51-point effort in the Lakers' 118-109 loss on Jan. 19.

Coverage begins 7:30 pm EST - Only on ESPN​

 

[GoDWade]

thx for the thread, lynx

 

[Shady*]

Great day for NBA fans with ESPN.

 

[ChiBron]

LA/Sac on ESPN too? Neither kings.com or lakers.com say it's on ESPN though. And my guide says SA vs. Denver.

Anyway, can't wait for Heat/Pistons! I hope Shaq's playing.

 

[Sir Patchwork]

I think Spurs and Nuggets will be on for almost everyone. Yahoo says (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/scoreboard) Kings/Lakers will be on too, so maybe it's just an extremely regional thing. I don't know.

Either way, Pistons and Heat is the game of the night. I hope Shaq is healthy, so it'll be like a preview of the conference finals. Although if he isn't healthy, that might be a more realistic preview, knowing Shaq.

 

[Lynx]

They took Kings/Lakers game down last minute, hence I wasn't able to watch the game. Could have been a lot better had they put the game on ESPN2 instead of stupid college basketball game. :curse:

Patchwork, let's talk about Wade's shooting night. Has Shaq brought up not getting the ball enough in 2nd half?

 

[The One]

​

missed postseason... in consecutive years since the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons.

in 82 the Lakers won a campionship against the Sixers. In 83 the Lakers lost in the first round of the playoffs.

It was in the 70's when they missed the playoffs in consecutive years.

 

[pac4eva5]

in 82 the Lakers won a campionship against the Sixers. In 83 the Lakers lost in the first round of the playoffs.

It was in the 70's when they missed the playoffs in consecutive years.

OMG!!!

 

[Lynx]

in 82 the Lakers won a campionship against the Sixers. In 83 the Lakers lost in the first round of the playoffs.

It was in the 70's when they missed the playoffs in consecutive years.

Yep, it was a typo.