Jonathan Daniel
NBA playoff hopefuls will clash head-to-head in four of the 10 games on the schedule for Friday. Here's a complete breakdown of what's on tap in the association.
Plenty of potential NBA playoff teams will be in action on Friday night, but post-season hopefuls will only face off in head-to-head match-ups in four of the 10 games on tap. As far as premium match-ups, the Pacers will host the Lakers, the Grizzlies will take on the Nuggets, the Heat will try to extend their winning streak to 21 games in a contest against the Bucks and the Warriors will host the Bulls. Elsewhere around the league, various teams in the playoff chase will need to focus and bring intensity to help avoid a costly loss against a lottery team.
There is no official word regarding Kobe Bryant's status for Friday, but he was initially listed as 'out indefinitely' after suffering a severe ankle sprain on Wednesday, and it is expected that he will sit against Indiana. As one reporter said on Thursday night, the chances of Bryant playing in either of L.A.'s next two games is "not good."
The action gets good around 8:30 p.m. ET as the Heat will take on a Bucks team that has given them some trouble over the last three seasons. Then at 9 p.m. ET the red-hot Grizzlies will start a big game against a Nuggets team that's been very good lately. Memphis has won 14 of its last 15 games, and the Nuggets have won 10 straight, but the spotlight belongs to LeBron James and the Heat, who have ripped off an amazing 20-game win streak.
In the final game of the evening, the ailing Bulls draw a tough road match-up against the Golden State Warriors in a contest where both squads will be hungry for an important win. The Bulls and Warriors will follow the Timberwolves and Rockets in the national games on NBATV.
NBA Schedule for Friday, March 15
| AWAY | HOME | TIME (ET) | NATIONAL TV | AWAY TV | HOME TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakers | Pacers | 7 p.m. | TWC Sportsnet | FOX Sports Indiana | |
| Hornets | Wizards | 7 p.m. |
FOX Sports New Orleans | CSN-MidAtlantic | |
| Bobcats | Raptors | 7 p.m. | SportsSouth-Charlotte | TSN2 | |
| Suns | Hawks | 7:30 p.m. | FOX Sports Arizona | SportSouth-Atlanta | |
| Magic | Thunder | 8 p.m. | FOX Sports Florida | FOX Sports Oklahoma | |
| Timberwolves | Rockets | 8 p.m. | NBATV | WFTC | CSN-Houston |
| Cavaliers | Mavericks | 8:30 p.m | FOX Sports Ohio | FOX Sports Southwest-Dallas | |
| Heat | Bucks | 8:30 p.m. |
Sun Sports | FOX Sports Wisconsin | |
| Grizzlies | Nuggets | 9 p.m. | SportSouth-Memphis | Altitude | |
| Bulls | Warriors | 10:30 p.m. | NBATV | WGN | CSN-BayArea |
More in the NBA:
• 7 thoughts on Kobe's controversial injury
• Did Dahntay Jones intentionally hurt Kobe Bryant?
• The evolution of the "Stretch 4"
• Can the Nets keep Andray Blatche?
• Ziller: Playing board games with DeMarcus Cousins
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