The Houston Rockets dropped just four of their first 29 games but suddenly are losers of four straight contests entering Friday's meeting with the host Washington Wizards. Houston allowed a 26-point, third-quarter lead get away against Boston on Thursday and dropped a 99-98 decision.

The Toronto Raptors have been rampaging through December by winning 10 games in 11 attempts, but back-to-back defeats have them looking to get back on track in Friday’s home contest against the Atlanta Hawks. Toronto fell 124-107 on Wednesday at Oklahoma City, falling flat offensively one night after a 98-93 defeat at Dallas in losing consecutive games for just the third time this season.

The Miami Heat have taken advantage of a favorable stretch in the schedule to crawl back above .500. The Heat will try to stay hot when they host another team well below .500 in the finale of a four-game homestand Friday against the Brooklyn Nets.

The last time the Chicago Bulls faced Central Division rival Indiana, they fell apart down the stretch while suffering their 10th straight loss and watching their NBA-worst record drop to 3-20. The Bulls' season changed dramatically days later and they are one of the league's hottest teams entering a rematch with the Pacers at home Friday night.

The New Orleans Pelicans will go as far as Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins can take them, but Rajon Rondo is capable of pushing the two big men to even greater heights. Rondo will try to follow up a historic performance and lead the Pelicans to a fourth consecutive win when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder attempt to stretch their season-best winning streak to seven games when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. The Thunder opened a four-game homestand with impressive victories over Houston and Toronto to improve to a stellar 14-4 at home.

The Sacramento Kings are getting better results of late, and they continue to lean on their veterans in doing so. The Kings will try to build off perhaps their best victory of the season when they host the Phoenix Suns on Friday in the second of six straight home games.

Stephen Curry missed a date against his hometown Charlotte Hornets after suffering an ankle injury during a road trip earlier this month, and he won't quite be ready for the rematch. Curry is expected to miss his 11th consecutive game when the Golden State Warriors host the Hornets on Friday.

The Los Angeles Clippers are putting together some wins, are in the early stages of a long stretch at home and they may soon get star forward Blake Griffin back from a knee injury. The rival Lakers are headed in a different direction going into a Friday night matchup between the in-city foes at the Staples Center.