TheSpread.com

Entering on a High Note

The New Orleans Hornets had a hard time cementing their status as one of the NBA's elite teams before their torrid January left little doubt.

Fresh off the best month in franchise history, the Hornets look to bounce back from their first loss in three weeks and start February on a high note as they open a three-game road trip against the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

Living on The Road

The Orlando Magic have learned to feel at home on the road this season. To get a victory in their next stop, they'll have to beat a team fresh off its most lopsided win in 25 years.

Orlando looks for its sixth win in seven games on Friday when it travels to Philadelphia, where the 76ers are coming off a 43-point victory.

Sliding Fast

After opening a season-high nine-game road trip in disappointing fashion, the Los Angeles Lakers continue their trek Friday in Toronto, where the Raptors have been blowing out opponents lately.

The Lakers (28-16) lost to Detroit 90-89 on Thursday, their fourth defeat in five games.

In The Thick of Things

The Cleveland Cavaliers remain in the thick of the Eastern Conference standings despite having had to deal with injuries all season. Meanwhile, a relatively healthy roster has done little for the Seattle SuperSonics.

With Anderson Varejao now sidelined, the Cavaliers look to sweep a three-game road trip and their season series with the lowly SuperSonics as the teams meet Thursday night.

Huge Challenge

The offseason acquisitions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen sparked the Boston Celtics' dramatic turnaround. The Celtics hope the absence of those players doesn't have the opposite effect.

After surviving their first game without both Garnett and Allen, the short-handed Celtics face a bigger challenge as they host the surging Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.