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Orlando heads to Brooklyn trying to stop a defensive slide that has lingered for weeks. The Magic allowed at least 120 points in nine of their past 16 games and were overwhelmed Tuesday in Washington, where turnovers and fouling turned the game early. Jamahl Mosley benched his starters midway through the third quarter after another slow start. Brooklyn enters in better form than its early-season record suggests. After opening 1-11, the Nets have stabilized and are playing more connected defense outside of a brief three-game lapse last week. Their home win over Denver showed improved spacing, balanced scoring, and better shot selection, especially with Nic Claxton close to returning. For broader matchup context, visit the NBA previews hub. Brooklyn opened

Houston and Portland open a two-game set with both teams trending up. Each has won five of its last six, and both offenses are playing with confidence. The Rockets arrive after Kevin Durant buried a late three to beat Phoenix, a moment that carried personal weight after his offseason move to Houston. Portland continues to play its best basketball of the season. The Trail Blazers routed Utah on Monday and followed that with a road win in San Antonio earlier in the week. Ball movement and defensive communication have fueled this stretch, and the energy at home has been noticeable. For broader league context and matchup notes, visit the NBA previews hub. Houston opened -3 and has been bet down

Two struggling teams meet in the nation’s capital as the Dallas Stars visit the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and both sides are desperate to stabilize after rocky stretches. Washington (5-6-4 in its last 15) enters this one clinging to playoff position in the East but still searching for back-to-back wins for the first time since early December. The Caps snapped a brief losing skid with a 7-4 win over Anaheim on Monday, powered by a vintage Alex Ovechkin performance and a breakout game from rookie Justin Sourdif. On the other side, Dallas is mired in its worst stretch of the season — a six-game losing streak (0-3-3)

Two Central Division rivals on the rise meet Wednesday night as the St. Louis Blues visit the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Puck drops at 8:00 p.m. ET, and both teams are coming off weekend wins as they chase ground in the Western Conference playoff race. St. Louis (19-17-5) swept Vegas and Montreal at home last week and now looks to win three straight for the first time all season. The Blues sit just outside the wild card picture, clinging to slim separation from Chicago, who has won three in a row — all against playoff-caliber opponents. These teams have split two matchups this season. Chicago routed the Blues 8-3 back in October before St. Louis responded with a