Two teams that are recovering from slow starts square off Thursday when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Houston Rockets. The Thunder have won six straight after an 0-4 start while Houston has rolled off three straight road victories after opening 1-5.

The road trip isn't going so well for the Boston Celtics, and the frustration is starting to show. Kyrie Irving and company will try to keep their focus on their own issues on the court and avoid a three-game slide when they Celtics visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

CJ McCollum has put a slump behind him and looks to follow up his best outing of the season when the Portland Trail Blazers host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. McCollum exploded for 40 points in Tuesday's 118-103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks and also added six assists and five rebounds.

The Golden State Warriors remain the team to beat in the NBA, but the Milwaukee Bucks are building something special and are intent on proving they belong among the game's elite. The Bucks will try to prove as much when they visit the Warriors in the second of a four-game west coast road trip on Thursday.