The Detroit Pistons have absorbed back-to-back brutal beatings and attempt to bounce back when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Detroit has averaged just 74.5 points while being whipped by margins of 28 and 34 points in consecutive road games and the poor outings follow a stretch in which the Pistons won 12 of 14 games.

The Philadelphia 76ers are in a three-way battle for the third seed in the Eastern Conference and every contest now falls in the crucial category. The 76ers look to close a homestand with their third straight victory when they face the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

The Charlotte Hornets are falling out of the race for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference due to a lackluster stretch that includes losses in 11 of the last 15 games. The Hornets will try to avoid letting their latest slide reach three straight losses when they visit the Washington Wizards on Friday.

The Milwaukee Bucks remain the class of the Eastern Conference and own the best record in the NBA as they ease their way toward clinching the No. 1 seed and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. The Bucks could be getting a look at their first-round opponent when they finish out a three-game road trip by visiting the Miami Heat on Friday.

The Houston Rockets attempt to defeat Phoenix for the 10th straight time when they host the Suns on Friday. Houston prevailed in 16 of the past 18 matchups, including a 118-110 win in Phoenix on Feb. 4.

Portland shooting guard CJ McCollum looks to continue his torrid play when the Portland Trail Blazers visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. McCollum scored 25 or more points in each of the past four games, including a 35-point outing in Tuesday's 125-104 road win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The San Antonio Spurs are trying to avoid one of the bottom three seeds in the Western Conference playoffs and own the NBA's longest current winning streak at six straight games. The Spurs will try to make it seven in a row on Friday, when they host the NBA-worst New York Knicks in the opener of a four-game road trip.

The Los Angeles Clippers had a five-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday but still look like a lock to earn one of the top eight spots in the Western Conference. The Clippers will try to strengthen their position when they host the already-eliminated Chicago Bulls on Friday in the continuation of a six-game homestand.