The Toronto Raptors have played well since acquiring Rudy Gay and the Washington Wizards have excelled since John Wall returned. The two teams meet Tuesday in Washington, aiming to resume their recent improvement. Toronto is 5-2 since acquiring Gay from the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal that also included the Detroit Pistons. Washington is 10-8 since Wall returned from a knee injury. The visiting team has won the last nine games in the series.

Two teams that limped into the All-Star break will try to start the second half on a high note when the Orlando Magic hosts the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday. The Bobcats have the worst record in the NBA, as they've lost 35 of 40 since a 7-5 start, but they could soon have company at the bottom from Orlando. The Magic have endured losing streaks of 10 and 12 games over the past two months.

The Brooklyn Nets have made strides after years of losing, but there are still reminders of those dark seasons. They face one such reminder on Tuesday when they host the Milwaukee Bucks, who have defeated the Nets 13 straight times, in the front end of a home-and-home set. The last time these two teams met was also the last game before Brooklyn fired Avery Johnson. Since then, the Nets have gone 17-8 under P.J. Carlesimo, winning their last two before the All-Star break.

The Memphis Grizzlies entered the All-Star break with three straight wins and look to pick up where they left off when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday. The Grizzlies struggled briefly after trading forward Rudy Gay to Toronto on Jan. 30, but they’ve gone 6-4 over their last 10 games to remain in fourth place in the Western Conference playoff race.

The injury-plagued Chicago Bulls hope a few days off to refresh will help them as they begin their push toward the playoffs with a road contest against the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday. The Bulls lost two straight and four of five going into the all-star break, but they're still solidly in playoff position, sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference and just three games out of second. The Hornets will try to continue the upward swing they started before the break. New Orleans has won two straight

Most teams enjoyed a fairly quiet All-Star weekend, but the Boston Celtics managed to make news when center Kevin Garnett said he will not waive his no-trade clause with Thursday’s trade deadline fast approaching. As a result, Garnett is fully expected to accompany the Celtics on Tuesday when they visit the Denver Nuggets, who entered the All-Star break on a three-game losing streak.

The Golden State Warriors are hoping to emerge from the long All-Star break as a different team. The Warriors will be attempting to snap a five-game losing streak when they visit the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. Golden State has had its defense disappear during the losing streak and has allowed an average of 118 points in the last five games. The Jazz are one of the teams chasing the Warriors in the West and have won two straight.

The San Antonio Spurs seek their 10th consecutive win in Sacramento when they visit the Kings on Tuesday. San Antonio hasn’t lost in Sacramento since early in the 2007-08 campaign and notched a win on the Kings’ home floor in early November. Overall, the Spurs have won 14 of their last 15 games and boast the best record in the NBA. Sacramento has lost back-to-back games and 10 of its last 13 contests.

The Portland Trail Blazers are hoping the five-game slide that they endured leading into the All-Star break will be a thing of the past when they get back on the court on Tuesday. Hosting the Western Conference-worst Phoenix Suns should make it easier to earn that elusive victory. The Blazers have allowed an average of 109.8 points during the losing streak and were embarrassed 99-63 at New Orleans on Wednesday.