Eight losses in the last nine games, capped by a last-second setback in a must-win game on Tuesday, have the Detroit Pistons teetering on the brink of irrelevancy in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons will try to pull out of the funk and get back into the race when they host the NBA-worst Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers figure that it's only a matter of time before they pull out of their recent funk and re-establish themselves as the top team in the Eastern Conference and an NBA title contender. The Chicago Bulls, who host the Cavaliers on Thursday, are hoping Cleveland takes its time finding that playoff switch.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are looking for back-to-back victories after ending a six-game slide when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. The Lakers are one of the few teams experiencing a tougher time than the Timberwolves as they have dropped 16 of their past 18 contests.

The Los Angeles Clippers have been an up-and-down team since the All-Star break and are hoping to ride the momentum of an impressive victory when they visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. Los Angeles registered a high-octane 133-124 win over the visiting Washington Wizards on Wednesday to remain 1 1/2 games behind the fourth-place Utah Jazz and one game ahead of the sixth-place Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference playoff race.

The Houston Rockets averaged 128 points in two victories over Portland earlier this season and look to complete a three-game season sweep when they visit the Trail Blazers on Thursday. Star guard James Harden averaged 32 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in the wins that came by an average of 16.5 points.