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The NBA will feature five games on Thursday night, beginning with a 7:00 PM ET matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic. Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Ohio will air the game live locally.
Thirty minutes later, the Miami Heat will take on the Philadelphia 76ers in a nationally-televised encounter. The NBA on TNT will cover the game.
At 8:00 PM ET, the Portland Trail Blazers will be in Texas to battle the San Antonio Spurs. CW35 and ROOT-SP+ will simulcast the game on their local channels.
The crucial matchup between the OKC Thunder and Utah Jazz starts at 9:00 PM ET. ATTSN-RM and Bally Sports Oklahoma will air the game live locally.
Thursday night’s NBA games will end in Phoenix, Arizona, where the Suns will host the visiting Denver Nuggets at 10:00 PM ET. The NBA on TNT will televise the game nationally.
All games are also accessible via the NBA League Pass except those covered by TNT.
The Miami Heat are still hoping to overtake the Brooklyn Nets for a guaranteed spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs
The Miami Heat (42-37) are on the heels of the Brooklyn Nets (44-36) for the sixth seed and outright playoff berth. Miami still has three games left, starting with Thursday night’s battle against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Heat can clinch a guaranteed ticket to the playoffs if they win their remaining three games and then the Nets go 0-2. If Brooklyn finishes 1-1, they get the coveted spot even if Miami runs the table.
The Miami Heat are winless against the Brooklyn Nets this season, which gives the tiebreaker to the Barclays Center tenants.
Complicating Miami’s plan to win the game against the Philadelphia 76ers will be the presence of leading MVP candidate Joel Embiid. “The Process” is available and is raring to close out his season with a bang after dropping 52 points against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.
Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is questionable for the Denver Nuggets against the Phoenix Suns
NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has led the Denver Nuggets to the best record in the Western Conference. Despite a crucial loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, Denver won the conference due to the Memphis Grizzlies' loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Jokic returned to play versus the Rockets after a three-game absence due to tightness in his right calf. “The Joker” struggled all night, prompting questions about the severity of his injury. He has been ruled questionable again for Thursday night’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns, like the Nuggets, are already assured of an appearance in the playoffs. They’ve already locked up the fourth seed and first-round home-court advantage.
Monty Williams, the Suns’ coach, however, sees a great opportunity to give Kevin Durant more time to familiarize himself with his new teammates. KD has played only seven games this season for the Phoenix Suns and is looking for more repetition with his team.
Durant is available to play for the Suns versus the Nuggets.
