Sports On Television: April 15, 2012

It's Sunday, which means another day filled with sports on the tube. Basketball is entering the final games before the playoffs, with teams jockeying for positioning. The NHL is already in the playoffs and MLB is still kicking off their young season. What's on the television in sports?

NBA Basketball: Miami Heat at New York Knicks (1:00 PM, ABC)
This could be a first-round preview for the NBA playoffs. The Miami Heat are sitting comfortably with the No. 2 seed. The New York Knicks are warming up, currently holding onto the No. 7 seed, though only 3.5 games behind the Atlantic-leading Boston Celtics. With the Orlando Magic falling apart, there's a fairly good chance that the Knicks could leap the devastated Magic by this time next week. The Heat are 2-0 against the Knicks this year, beating them by double-digits in both games.

NASCAR Racing: Camping World Truck Series Carolina 200 (1:00 PM, SPEED)
The truck series returns to Rockingham, the first NASCAR event since the Cup series left The Rock in 2004.

MLB Baseball: Cincinnati Reds at Washington Nationals (1:30 PM, Fox Sports Ohio)
Our beloved Cincinnati Reds have lost three-straight to the Nationals during the four-game weekend series. Can they avoid being swept? Can the $400 million offense score some runs and get on base? Mike Leake is expected to take the hill today.

MLB Baseball: Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox (1:30 PM, TBS)
After sweeping the New York Yankees to start the season, the Rays have lost four of their next five, including the first two games against the Boston Red Sox, who have lost five of their first six games to start the season. Apparently everyone is streaking.

PGA Tour: The Heritage (3:00 PM, CBS)
Carl Pettersson (-12) and Colt Knost (-11) hold the leaderboard in South Carolina during an event void of star-power.

Stanley Cup Playoff: Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers (3:00 PM, NBC)
The Flyers are holding onto a 2-0 lead after outscoring the Penguins 12-8 during the first two meetings.

Indy Racing: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (3:30 PM, NBC Sports)
With two races in the books, Indy will fire up engines on the streets of Long Beach this afternoon. If you want open-wheel racing where a tap means wrecked cars (therefore added caution) on a road-course, with much of it impassible, then this brand of racing is for you. And you said NASCAR is boring...

NBA Basketball: Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers (3:30 PM, ABC)
Los Angeles has already clinched a playoff berth but the Dallas Mavericks, currently holding onto the No. 6 seed, are only three games secured for the playoffs. A losing streak could still potentially knock them out. Of course that depends on the Phoenix Suns, looking in from the outside, which probably means the Mavs are safe.

Stanley Cup Playoff: New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers (7:30 PM, NBC Sports)
Martin Brodeur recorded his 100th postseason win during the Devils 3-2 win over the Panthers in Game One. The puck drops for Game Two drops at 7:30.

MLB Baseball: Los Angeles Angels at New York Yankees (8:00 PM, ESPN)
The Angles' 3-5 start has put them 3.5 games behind the AL West leading Texas Rangers. Actually the Angels are behind every team in the AL West during this insanely young baseball season. The Yankees, on the other hand, have won four of their past five after being swept during the opening series by the Rays.

Stanley Cup Playoff: Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 PM, NBC Sports)
The Kings have won comfortable 4-2 in game one and two in the first round.