Just when it looked like the Chicago Bulls were on their way up the standings and destined to earn a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the inconsistency that plagued them all season returned in a loss to the lowly New York Knicks. The Bulls will try to avoid a second straight loss to a team already eliminated from the race when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.

The Brooklyn Nets are enjoying a season-long three-game winning streak and look to tack on another victory when they visit the Orlando Magic on Thursday. The Nets possess the worst record in the NBA but are finishing the season well and recorded a 121-111 home win over the Magic on Saturday.

The Indiana Pacers snapped out of their funk and kept a loose grip on a spot in the top eight in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. The Pacers will try to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since early February and knock off another team above them in the East when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

The New York Knicks have already been eliminated from the postseason race in the Eastern Conference and are limiting the minutes of some of the better players on the roster, but that doesn't mean they've given up on the season. The Knicks will try to shake things up by beating a second straight postseason contender when they host the Washington Wizards on Thursday.

The Atlanta Hawks are sliding in the wrong direction with nine losses in 11 games and aim to begin a turnaround when they host the Boston Celtics on Thursday. It won't be easy for the Hawks as the game against Boston, the second-place team in the Eastern Conference, is followed by consecutive contests versus East-leading Cleveland.

The Portland Trail Blazers are trying to avoid a three-game losing streak at the wrong point in the season when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. Portland is battling the Denver Nuggets for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and its lead took a hit with the two straight defeats, including a 110-109 loss at Minnesota on Monday.