The Indiana Pacers were riding a five-game winning streak before running into the NBA-best Boston Celtics on Saturday, and they got a good look at what they need to do to move up in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers will try to put some of those lessons into practice and embark on another winning streak when they host the Orlando Magic on Monday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to put a heavy burden on superstar LeBron James, who is proving he is up for the challenge. James will try to lead the Cavaliers to their eighth straight win when they visit the surging Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

While the Cleveland Cavaliers are charging fast, the early Eastern Conference front-runners will be meeting Monday in Boston, where the league-leading Celtics host the upstart Detroit Pistons. After its 16-game winning streak was halted last week in Miami, Boston picked itself up off the mat in a hurry with an easy triumph over Orlando and an impressive road victory one night later at Indiana - which had won five straight - without two starters.

The New York Knicks hope to have star forward Kristaps Porzingis back in action when they try to bounce back from an 0-2 road trip with a home matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. Porzingis, who has already had elbow and ankle issues this season, sat out Saturday's 117-102 loss at Houston due to a back injury.

The Houston Rockets have barely been tested in a four-game winning streak and have a great chance to extend their run when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. The four straight victories have come by an average of 23.3 points with Saturday's 117-102 triumph over the New York Knicks the closest affair of the bunch.

Southwest Division rivals Dallas and San Antonio will finish their four-game season series by Dec. 16, a front-loaded set that continues Monday when the Mavericks visit the Spurs. San Antonio utilized 32 points from LaMarcus Aldridge to claim the first encounter in Dallas earlier this month and run its winning streak in 'Big D' to five games.

The Golden State Warriors can afford to give Kevin Durant all the time he needs to rest a sore ankle if they keep playing like they did in the last two games. The Warriors will try to sweep a three-game homestand with another convincing victory when they host the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

The Los Angeles Clippers spent the last few seasons dominating the series against their arena-sharing rivals the Los Angeles Lakers, and it looks like they might be finding their stride. The Clippers will try to knock off their rivals and earn a third consecutive win when they serve as the home team against the Lakers on Monday.