Conference finals previews headline NBA weekend

This weekend the NBA brings out some of the league's heavy hitters for some national TV action. Sunday the Chicago Bulls get a shot at one of the teams they're chasing in the Eastern Conference when they visit the Miami Heat (1 pm Eastern, ABC). And the three-time defending Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers visit the West-leading San Antonio Spurs (3:30 pm Eastern, ABC).

First comes Saturday, when four teams clinging to playoff hopes clash. In Houston the Rockets, 3.5 games out of the eight spot in the West, host the eight seed in the East, the Indiana Pacers (8:30 pm Eastern). And in Portland, the Trail Blazers, tied for the six spot in the West, host the Charlotte Bobcats, who are only a game out of the eight spot in the East (10 pm Eastern).

And Sunday good action remains after those two potential conference finals previews. In a game matching the five and six seeds in the East the New York Knicks visit the Atlanta Hawks (6:30 pm Eastern, ESPN). The Phoenix Suns, now just a game and a half out of the last playoff spot in the West, visit the Northwest-leading Oklahoma Thunder (7 pm Eastern). Also, the Dallas Mavericks, winners of seven in a row, host the Memphis Grizzlies, who now own that eight spot in the West (7:30 pm Eastern). And the Boston Celtics, still the best team in the East, visit the Milwaukee Bucks, who sputter along 3.5 games out of the eight spot in the East (9 pm Eastern, ESPN).

Chicago blew a 17-point halftime lead Wednesday night in Atlanta and lost 83-80. Miami, meanwhile, going into its game Thursday night vs. Orlando, had last played last Sunday, a 91-86 loss to New York.

So going into Thursday night's action Miami sat in the two spot in the East, a game and a half back of top-seeded Boston and a game and a half up on the third-seeded Bulls.

Chicago and the Heat have met twice this season, the Bulls winning both games at home. Back in January Chicago beat Miami 99-96, and last week the Bulls pulled out a 93-89 decision.

Chicago has played just 14 games this season with both C Joakim Noah and F Carlos Boozer on the floor, going 10-4 straight-up and 8-6 vs. the oddsmaker.ag pointspreads in those games.

The Lakers beat Minnesota on Tuesday night 90-79 for their fifth victory in a row. San Antonio, meanwhile, won at Cleveland on Wednesday night 109-99. So with the best record in the league at 50-11 the Spurs lead the West by 5.5 games over second-place Dallas and 7.5 games over the third-seeded Lakers.

These two teams met twice earlier this season, with San Antonio winning both games. Back just after Christmas the Spurs stifled LA 97-82 at home, and a month ago San Antonio went into Staples Center and beat the Lakers 89-88.

The Spurs are without G Tony Parker, who's dealing with an injured ankle.