The Washington Wizards weren't happy with their defensive effort in the first game of the current homestand, but they've turned things around on that end over the last two contests. The Wizards will try to maintain that defensive effort and clinch a winning homestand when they host the Sacramento Kings in the finale of the four-game stay on Sunday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have not notched consecutive wins since opening the season 2-0 but have a chance for a rare winning streak when they visit Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks on Monday. Porzingis returned from a one-game absence (elbow) to score 34 points in a rout of the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, and his Knicks have won seven of nine.

The Giannis Antetokounmpo-Eric Bledsoe pairing is off to a strong start, and the Milwaukee Bucks are hoping to move to 3-0 in the Bledsoe era when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. The Bucks dropped four straight and five of six before adding Bledsoe in a trade with the Phoenix Suns.

The combination of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis continue to give opposing teams fits while leading the New Orleans Pelicans, who aim for their fifth victory in the past six games when they host the struggling Atlanta Hawks on Monday. Cousins and Davis combined for 60 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists Saturday as the Pelicans beat the Los Angeles Clippers 111-103, pushing New Orleans above .500 on the season.

The first meeting between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns produced a high-scoring showcase for many of the teams' young stars. Lonzo Ball, Devin Booker and others will be on high alert when the teams tangle again in Phoenix on Monday night.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will attempt to fix a struggling defense when they cap a three-game road trip against the Utah Jazz on Monday. Following a five-game winning streak in which the final three opponents were held to 99 points or fewer, the Timberwolves allowed an average of 121.5 points through the first two games of the trip - both losses.

The Denver Nuggets are winners of three straight and seven of nine as the offense continues to find its groove. The Nuggets will try to make it four in a row on Monday, when they make a brief one-game road trip to visit the Northwest Division rival Portland Trail Blazers.

The Golden State Warriors are rolling right along and are dominating opponents by an average of 21.5 points during a six-game winning streak. The Warriors will try to make it seven in a row and wrap up a perfect four-game homestand when they host the Orlando Magic on Monday.

Frustration seems to be building for the Los Angeles Clippers, who will try to snap a five-game losing streak when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. The Clippers picked up three technical fouls during a 111-103 loss to New Orleans on Saturday, as a banged-up bunch could not keep up with Pelicans stars Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.