The Charlotte Hornets are taking advantage of a string of games against lesser opponents and look to make it four wins in a row when they host the New York Knicks on Monday. After sitting out the Hornets' record-setting 140-79 pasting of Memphis, Dwight Howard returned Saturday to help Charlotte post a 102-98 victory at Dallas.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a chance to split a four-game road trip when they visit the Detroit Pistons in the finale on Monday. The Lakers dropped the first two stops at Indiana and New Orleans before snapping a four-game slide with a 100-93 win at Memphis on Saturday.

The Denver Nuggets are finally learning how to win on the road, just in time to stay in the race for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are 2-2 on their seven-game trip, but the road gets tougher when they visit the red-hot Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are fighting to stay in the top eight in the Western Conference and trying to move up at the same time and get the luxury of playing the next three games against teams at the bottom of the standings. The Timberwolves begin that stretch by hosting the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

Despite a rash of injuries, the Boston Celtics still have life in the race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics look to remain perfect on their four-game road trip and win their fourth straight overall contest when they visit the league-worst Phoenix Suns on Monday.