At this point in the NBA regular season, with just a couple of weeks of basketball remaining, we know where a lot of teams stand. The teams at the top — the Thunder, the Spurs, the Pistons — are set for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, biding their time until they get to prove themselves on the grandest stage. The teams at the bottom — the Pacers, the Pelicans, the Mavericks — already know their season ends soon, and they’re looking ahead to the draft.
Then there are those teams in the middle, the ones that are still jockeying for position as the postseason looms. This week on NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, the NBA on NBC brings you four such teams, all of them trying to ensure the best possible playoff scenario. Let’s take a look at what’s ahead.
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Who’s playing on the NBA on NBC’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday this week (March 31)?
Jalen Brunson excited during a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.
The last full month of NBA regular season action draws to a close this Tuesday, and NBC and Peacock have got a pair of outstanding games to help you send March off in style. It starts March 31 at 8 p.m. ET, when the New York Knicks head south to face the Houston Rockets, then continues at 11 p.m. ET, when the Portland Trail Blazers visit the Los Angeles Clippers.
Both games will air live on NBC in their respective regions, with both games streaming on Peacock. NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico, Reggie Miller, and Zora Stephenson will be on hand to call Knicks-Rockets, while Noah Eagle, Derek Fisher, and Grant Liffmann are set to call Blazers-Clippers.
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What to expect from the NBA on NBC’s games on Tuesday, March 31New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets
Karl-Anthony Towns, 32, of the New York Knicks in action during the game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Both the Knicks and the Rockets look to be playoff bound at this point, with New York battling it out with Boston for second place in the East, and Houston right on the bubble between an automatic berth and a Play-In Tournament appearance in the West. If Houston collapses in the home stretch, they could end up in Play-In territory, so they need to keep winning so they can head straight into a postseason series. Fortunately, the Rockets have Kevin Durant, who just passed Michael Jordan on the all-time career points list, and they’ve got the best group of rebounders in the league. Unfortunately, they’re facing a very tough Knicks team led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. It’ll be a battle between two of the league’s best defenses, and so expect a tough contest.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers plays defense during the game against the Sacramento Kings.
The late game features two squads in the Blazers and Clippers who both seem bound for Play-In games, thanks in part to some midseason turnarounds, particularly on LA’s part. Kawhi Leonard’s having a great season for the Clippers, and they’re one of the most efficient shooting teams in the NBA right now. But they’re neck and neck with Portland in the standings, and the Blazers will be looking to get their first win over their fellow Western Conference team this week. It’s a bit late in the game for either team to fall completely out of playoff contention, but the right combination of wins could make the postseason path much easier, so the Clippers will be hoping to press their home court advantage while the Blazers will be fighting to avoid a sweep against LA this season.
NBA on NBC
The NBA is officially back on NBC and Peacock, with exclusive games every week across broadcast and streaming featuring some of the biggest stars in the game.
The action kicks off every week with Peacock NBA Monday, featuring exclusive games streaming only on Peacock. Then on Tuesday nights, check out NBC’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, which features two marquee games in primetime. With Sunday Night Football wrapped up, the NBA has also taken over NBC’s weekends with Sunday Night Basketball, with a primetime showcase game every week to wrap up the weekend.
Check out the full schedule for every NBA game on NBC and Peacock this season right here.
From real-time stats and predictive fun to highlight clips and immersive angles, Peacock’s suite of NBA features puts you in control of how you watch the game:
Courtside Live: An interactive, mobile-first viewing experience with new camera feeds and immersive perspectives that bring you to center court. Available weekly for select games throughout the 2025-2026 season.
Peacock Performance View: Unlock a next-level broadcast with dynamic overlays showing playing insights, heat maps, scoring probabilities, and more.
Can’t Miss Highlights: Swipeable vertical highlights on the Peacock mobile app for quick recaps of clutch moments, momentum shifts, and standout plays, wherever you are.
Peacock ScoreCard: Turn every game into an interactive experience. Pick from a range of cards and watch as your predictions come true.
Catch Up With Key Plays: Instantly revisit the most pivotal game moments with a curated playlist you can access anytime below your player controls.
Sign up for Peacock now to make sure you’re not missing a second of the NBA action. You can also gift the experience!