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Utah Heads to Seattle

Kevin Durant and the rebuilding Seattle SuperSonics had to expect some growing pains. They weren't, however, expecting to set a franchise record for futility less than two weeks into the season.

Durant looks to help the Sonics avoid matching the longest winless start in team history on Friday when they host the Utah Jazz in a Northwest Division matchup.

Road Woes

Jarrett Jack won a tight position battle to earn the starting point guard spot for the Portland Trail Blazers at the beginning of the season. He lost the job three games into the campaign, but now he's relishing his new role.

After coming off the bench to lead the Blazers to their first win, Jack looks to continue his strong play as a reserve Friday when the Blazers host the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Philly Cure

The Toronto Raptors hope a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night can help them halt a three-game losing streak.

The Raptors (2-3) have won five of their last six games against the 76ers (2-2), including the last three trips to the Wachovia Center. Toronto opened the season with a 106-97 home win over Philadelphia on Oct. 31.

Game of Kings

Three straight blowout losses on the road to start the 2007-08 season left the Sacramento Kings pining to come home. After winning their opener at Arco Arena, the Kings are anxious to take the court again in one of the NBA's loudest venues - even if it means facing LeBron James and the defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

Sacramento will try to put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season Friday night when it hosts Cleveland.

Not All About McGrady

In his five full seasons in the NBA, Yao Ming has emerged as one of the league's best big men while helping the Houston Rockets become a legitimate title contender. Yi Jianlian, Yao's 6-foot-11 teammate on the Chinese national team, is hoping to do the same with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The countrymen meet in the NBA for the first time on Friday when the Rockets host the Bucks in the most highly anticipated matchup between two Chinese players in league history.