The Washington Wizards sit 4 1/2 games out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot entering Friday’s home matchup with the Atlanta Hawks and need to turn things around after losing six of their past eight games. The Wizards ended a western road trip at 1-3 following Wednesday’s 125-104 defeat at Portland, and a defense allowing an NBA-worst 120.2 points per game surrendered 125-plus points five times in the past seven games.

Whether or not Gregg Popovich will be back on the bench remains unknown as the San Antonio Spurs visit the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. Popovich missed Tuesday's 104-103 road win over the Charlotte Hornets for "personal business" and the team declined to reveal whether or not he made the trip to Charlotte.

The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't playing their best basketball of late but managed to avoid a three-game slide with a 114-107 triumph at Detroit on Wednesday. The Thunder will try to clinch a winning three-game trip when they visit the New York Knicks on Friday.

Jayson Tatum returned from a one-game layoff Wednesday night in Cleveland to get the Boston Celtics on the right path following an embarrassing collapse the night before. The All-Star forward will try to lead his team to its second win over the Utah Jazz in a span of 10 days when the teams reconvene in Boston on Friday.

The Indiana Pacers were feeling good about themselves with wins in four straight games before getting a look at how far they are from the top in a 119-100 loss at NBA-best Milwaukee on Wednesday. The Pacers will try to bounce back and win for the seventh time in nine games when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

The Orlando Magic are stuck in a defensive slump and it is threatening their playoff positioning. The Magic will try to fix things on the defensive end and snap a three-game slide when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

The New Orleans Pelicans are running out of time to make a move in the Western Conference and can't afford to let the losing streak run any longer. The Pelicans will try to snap a three-game slide when they host the Miami Heat on Friday.

The suddenly hot Memphis Grizzlies look to post their fourth consecutive victory when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Memphis was struggling with five straight setbacks before bouncing back strong with three wins by an average of 31.7 points.

All-Star guard Damian Lillard energized Portland in his return from a groin injury and looks to build on the effort when the Trail Blazers visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Lillard missed six games due to a groin injury but made four 3-pointers and scored 22 points in Wednesday's 125-104 home win over the Washington Wizards.

The top two NBA MVP contenders will be on the same floor when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks visit LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Reigning MVP Antetokounmpo has led the Bucks to the NBA's best record while James has helped the Lakers to the second-best mark.