Entering action Jan. 17, the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets were separated by 2 1/2 games at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but the landscape has changed in a dramatic way entering their matchup Friday in New York. The Heat will be looking to extend their stunning 12-game winning streak - which includes a pair of wins over the Nets - while Brooklyn is aiming to snap an 11-game slide and a 13-game losing streak at home.

The soap opera surrounding the New York Knicks keeps getting more ridiculous, with cryptic tweets from team president Phil Jackson one day and legendary former players being escorted out of the stands and arrested the next. On the court, star forward Carmelo Anthony will try to fight off the trade rumors for another day when the Knicks host the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

Kawhi Leonard doesn't like to miss basketball games and the San Antonio Spurs are glad he's back on the floor as they enter Friday's road contest against the Detroit Pistons. Leonard returned from a one-game absence due to a quadriceps injury to score 32 points and lead the Spurs to a 111-103 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

Milwaukee Bucks power forward Jabari Parker has been lost for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee and the Bucks attempt to move forward when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Parker is expected to be sidelined for approximately 12 months after suffering the second major knee injury of his three-year career.

With Kevin Durant's first trip back to Oklahoma City looming on Saturday, the Golden State Warriors might be in danger of overlooking their opponent on Friday if it were any team other than the Memphis Grizzlies. The Warriors will try to get the better of the only team to beat them twice this season when they visit the Grizzlies on Friday.

The New Orleans Pelicans can't seem to sustain any momentum and may have hit rock bottom with a 127-94 home loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. The Pelicans will try to pick up the pieces as they kick off a four-game road trip that will take them into the All-Star break with a visit to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

Two teams surging up the standings in the Eastern Conference square off when the Indiana Pacers visit the Washington Wizards on Friday. The Wizards had a 17-game home winning streak come to an end on Monday but bounced back with an overtime win at Brooklyn on Wednesday while the Pacers' seven-game winning streak was coming to an end in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins will return to action after serving a one-game suspension when the Sacramento Kings host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. Cousins received an automatic suspension for picking up his 16th technical foul and the Kings rose to the challenge without him while registering an impressive 108-92 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

The Chicago Bulls could be without All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler for the fourth consecutive game when they visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Butler is bothered by a bruised heel and he reported issues to team trainers when he attempted to partake in Wednesday's shootaround.