Basketball

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown will miss the game against the Denver Nuggets after entering the league's health and safety protocols.

DENVER (AP) — There was a time when an NBA team had some sense of how things were shaping up by Christmas. Even if just a glimmer of its place in the overall landscape. Then the Boston Celtics made a run to the 2022 NBA Finals after being under .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jusuf Nurkic scored 27 points, including a career-high five 3-pointers, to go with 14 rebounds and six assists as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 124-113 on Monday night.

San Antonio Spurs (11-22, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (14-19, 12th in the Western Conference) Oklahoma City; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Thunder -6.5; over/under is 235.

Atlanta Hawks (17-16, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (17-17, eighth in the Eastern Conference) Indianapolis; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Pacers -1.

Houston Rockets (10-23, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (24-10, first in the Eastern Conference) Boston; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Celtics -14.

Charlotte Hornets (9-25, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (16-18, 10th in the Western Conference) San Francisco; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Warriors -4.

Minnesota Timberwolves (16-18, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (21-12, second in the Western Conference) New Orleans; Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Los Angeles Clippers (20-15, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (15-18, 10th in the Eastern Conference) Toronto; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Raptors -5.

Milwaukee Bucks (22-11, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (14-19, 11th in the Eastern Conference) Chicago; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee into a matchup against Chicago.