The Indiana Pacers missed out on two straight opportunities to prove themselves on the road against fellow Eastern Conference contenders and are losers of five of their last seven games. The Pacers will try to get back on track at home against the NBA-worst New York Knicks on Tuesday before facing a gauntlet of Western Conference contenders.

Philadelphia All-Star center Joel Embiid played superb in his return to the court and looks for another dominant effort when the 76ers host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. Embiid missed eight games due to a knee injury before contributing 33 points and 12 rebounds in Sunday's 106-89 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

The Los Angeles Lakers are seeing their season rapidly disintegrate and will look to halt a five-game losing streak when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. Los Angeles dropped 11 of its last 14 games as it opens a five-game road trip in the Windy City.

The Milwaukee Bucks own the best record in the NBA but are mired in what constitutes a slump in an otherwise magnificent season. The Bucks will try to snap a three-game road losing streak and avoid falling for the fourth time in six games when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

The San Antonio Spurs are trying to stay out of the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference and avoid a potential first-round date with the Golden State Warriors and are surging with wins in five straight games. The Spurs will try to make it six in a row when they visit the in-state rival Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.

All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns is expected to miss his second straight game when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Towns injured his right knee during Saturday's win over the Washington Timberwolves but an MRI exam didn't reveal serious damage.

All-Star point guard Damian Lillard has a chance to become the second-leading scorer in franchise history when the Portland Trail Blazers visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. Lillard (12,540 career points) needs 23 to pass LaMarcus Aldridge (12,562) and will likely someday threaten the franchise mark held by Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler (18,040).