Can the Nets cope without Michael Porter tonight? ...

It was just last Wednesday in Charlotte that the Knicks ran up a 129-101 margin, the game effectively over by halftime as NY had cruised to a 72-46 lead. Jalen Brunson scored 33 despite taking off most of the 4th Q as Mike Brown's troops shot 57% from the floor. The Knicks continue to effectively compensate for the absence of OJ Anunoby, out since mid-November. Note, too, how NY (lost at Boston last night) has also won immediately after its previous four losses. Meanwhile, the Hornets' road trip got off to a bad start on Monday when whipped by the Nets in Newark. Prior to the preceding 2-game mini-uptick, Charlotte had dropped seven in a row, and LaMelo Ball's numbers remain decidedly down. Play Knicks

It's a bad soap opera for the Clippers, who have lost 14 of 16, and now dealing with the fallout of the unceremonious departure of PG Chris Paul, whose contract is being bought out by the team. Even the best efforts of Kawhi Leonard aren't helping. Paul has been just a bit player in the LA collapse but the whole saga is indicative of how the season has unraveled. Meanwhile, the Hawks have been at the opposite end of the spectrum, continuing as a pleasant surprise even minus Trae Young (knee) for the past month. Kristaps Porzingis also misses action again tonight but Atlanta continues finding offense from ex-Duke Jalen Johnson, scoring at a brisk 33 ppg clip the past three games. Play Hawks

Is Memphis better team minus Ja Morant? His disruptive presence hasn't been missed the current 5-1 Grizzlies run; Morant has been out since November 15 due to a calf strain. Playing at a more controlled pace minus Morant, the Griz have hit a sweet spot, and ex-Purdue big Zach Edey scoring 32 on Sunday in the win at Sacto suggests he's become a new integral part of the offense. As such, Memphis will try to get Edey the ball down low in halfcourt sets, potentially slowing the pace. As for the Spurs, still no Wemby or Stephon Castle, two of their top three scorers, and note the meeting two weeks ago at Frost Bank Center landed only on 212 points (111-101 SA). Play Grizzlies-Spurs Under

The Celtics haven't much changed the way they play minus Jayson Tatum, still hoisting plenty of 3-balls (43 pg) as their preferred mode of attack. Last season, however, most of the matchups vs. the Knicks, especially in the second round of the East playoffs, were played at a bit slower pace and landed on the under side. It's perhaps worth noting that in six of their past seven games, the Knicks scorelines have failed to clear 231 points, as Mike Brown is mostly getting a good buy-in on the stop end as did Tom Thibodeau for much of the past few seasons. Play Knicks-Celtics Under

Second nights of back-to-backs are always ripe for the old NBA zig-zag to resurface but we're hardly sure that applies to this clash. The Rockets are a nightmare fundamental matchup for many teams, Utah included, especially if Sunday's 129-101 Houston demolition is any indicator. The Rockets, however, have been doing that to many teams with their lineup full of 6-11 sorts, and now Kevin Durant (25 points on Sunday) back to active duty as well after a recent absence Among other issues for the Jazz was getting outrebounded 50-33 by Ime Udoka's bigger lineups on Sunday. Note how Utah has also lost contact with the Warriors and Thunder the past two weeks. Play Rockets

No coincidence, perhaps, that the Grizzlies have started to play better and win some games minus Ja Morant, whose last action came on November 15 but out since with a strained calf. Memphis has won and covered four of its last five without Morant's disruptive presence, with the last three of those wins on the road. Prior to those three, and also minus Morant on Nov. 20, the Griz routed Sacto 137-96 at FedEx Forum behind 29 points from Santi Aldama. Note the Kings are faltering again after a brief 2-game uptick, and continue minus Domantas Sabonis, out until at least mid-December with knee issues. Play Grizzlies

The reported return of Anthony Davis to the Mavs lineup adds some extra sauce to this matchup so the two key pieces in last winter's mega-trade (Davis and Luka Doncic) will both be on the floor. Not sure how much Davis, who last played on October 29 before his calf injury, is going to help 5-14 Dallas, which has had a rocky first month-plus both on and off the court and still not full-strength with Kyrie Irving remaining sidelined and Dereck Lively also expected to miss tonight. It's all different for the Lake Show, in a celebratory 5-game win streak at the moment with Doncic (43 more points vs. the Clips on Tuesday) on fire and LeBron now back to active duty. Play Lakers

The Bucks have had something of an excuse for their six-game skid with Giannis (thigh) sidelined for most of the slump. The Greek Freak might be able to feature tonight (gametime decision) for his first action since November 17, but Milwaukee was only 4-5 earlier this month in games that Giannis participated. The problems run deeper for Milwaukee and Doc Rivers doesn't appear to be solving them. Meanwhile, the Knicks continue to roll, especially in front of Spike Lee and others at MSG, where Jalen Brunson & friends are 8-1 this season and return tonight after nearly 2 weeks away. Mike Brown has been able to navigate cleverly around the recent absence of OJ Anunoby, and Brunson (28.6 ppg) certainly doing his part. Play Knicks

We have duly noted the recent mini-uprising by the Kings, who have played their best two games of the season the past two vs. the Nuggets and T-wolves. Yet, eight straight losses preceded these past two wins, most of those by double-digit margins, and Domantas Sabonis remains sidelined. While Doug Christie has unlocked something in his team, we need more convincing the Kings are on their way back. We do know that the Suns seem to have arrived, and we'll dismiss the loss to the Rockets as Houston is simply a superior team. The Suns have recovered to win their last three handily off of a loss, and expect that to continue at Golden 1 Center. Play Suns

Granted, the Rockets don't have all of their 6-11 brigade available, as Kevin Durant and Steven Adams will miss tonight at Chase Center, but this sis till one fo the most imposing teams in the league, having stormed to an 11-2 mark since losing their first two games. Houston is still bigger than Golden State, which doesn't really have proper matchups vs. Alperin Sengun or Jabari Smith, especially with Draymond Green (undersized, but still capable of flustering opposing bigs) having missed Monday's game vs. the Jazz because of a foot injury, and ? for tonight. The Warriors have been far less consistent than Houston, losing three of four entering tonight, and the absence of Jonathan Kuminga has lessened Steve Kerr's options. Play Rockets

The years of the Clippers dominating the Lakers ended a couple of seasons ago, and there hasn't been this apparent gap between the two LA teams--in the Lake Show's favor--in some time. Kawhi Leonard did return to active duty for the Clips on Sunday, but his 20 points weren't nearly enough to prevent a 15-point loss, as the Clips seem to have grown old and slow overnight, and James Harden following his 55-point game in Charlotte with 5 for 16 shooting against the Cavs. The Lakers have been a revelation, and LeBron's return was muted after the Lake Show had been playing so well without him. Deandre Ayton likely out tonight, but Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves aren't...that's the best news. Play Lakers.

We can excuse the Magic for Sunday afternoon's loss at Boston, a wicked bit of scheduling in a back-to-back after beating the Knicks at Kia Center less than 24 hours earlier. Orlando's season had turned around prior with wins in six of seven, much of that minus Paolo Banchero (groin; still sidelined), but able to benefit from offseason add Desmond Bane (22 ppg last five) beginning to feel comfy in his new surroundings, plus G Jalen Suggs avoiding the injury room. Speaking of injury rooms, Philly's version is overloaded these days with Joel Embiid and Paul George (again) out, and exciting Baylor rookie G VJ Edgecombe (calf) also in the infirmary tonight. Play Magic.

Occasionally, the Wizards have been able rise up with competitive efforts in recent weeks, but the bottom line is 14 straight losses. Playing competitively two games in a row has been a step too far Adam Keefe's often-overmatched side. To wit: all but three loss margins in the current skid have come by double-digit margins. The Wiz have also played a road-heavy schedule but are 0-6 at Cap One Arena, where there is no homecourt edge. Meanwhile, the Hawks are a pleasant surprise, having won seven of nine and 8 of 11 thus far on the road, where they have extended margins (most recently by 17 at New Orleans last week), and doing this without Trae Young the past three weeks. Play Hawks.

We see occasional blips from Dallas but the Mavs continue to look in disarray. With Kyrie Irving out and Anthony Davis likely sidelined, Dallas is a shell of itself on the court. Also, this is just the fifth road game of the season for the Mavs, with the only win on their travels at lowly Washington, and losses by eight or more in the other three away. Miami is minus Norman Powell tonight but might not lose much as Tyler Herro is set to make his season debut after recovering from an ankle injury. The Heat continues as a pleasant surprise, now four straight wins and covers, all vs. teams playing much better than Dallas. Play Heat.