Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder strive to halt a three-game losing streak when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Westbrook aims for his 31st triple-double of the season, which would tie him with Wilt Chamberlain (1967-68) for second place behind record-holder Oscar Robertson (41 in 1961-62).

The Dallas Mavericks are one of several teams fighting to earn the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference and are playing at a high level after turning the team over to Dirk Nowitzki and a plethora of youngsters. The Los Angeles Lakers, who visit the Mavericks on Tuesday, turned their team over to the youngsters as well but have less hope for the immediate future as they toil in last place in the West.

The Phoenix Suns just got done knocking off one Eastern Conference contender and will try to do it again when they host the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. The Suns took the first three of the five-game homestand to pull ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and out of the basement in the West, capped by Sunday's 109-106 triumph over the Boston Celtics.