How ridiculously good is the Western Conference this season? Entering Monday you had five teams on winning streaks of at least three games: Memphis, Golden State, San Antonio, Dallas and the L.A. Clippers. Then you look at the sad East by comparison, which got even weaker over the weekend when the conference-leading Toronto Raptors lost their best player, DeMar DeRozan, for several weeks with a torn tendon in his left groin (yikes!). There are three East teams on losing skids of at least eight. Here's a look at each game on the schedule Tuesday, with Raptors-Kings available for live betting at WagerWeb on NBA TV.

Bucks at Cavaliers (-10, 201)

Cleveland is the only team with a winning streak of at least three games in the East, and the Cavs look for No. 4 against an improved Bucks team in their first meeting of the season. I'm not exactly ready to say that Cleveland is fixed as two of those wins were against lousy teams Orlando and Indiana. The 23-point victory over Washington was impressive, however. The Cavs beat the Pacers by 12 on Saturday without starting center Anderson Varejao due to a rib contusion. Varejao, averaging 10.9 points and 6.9 boards, could return for this one as he nearly played vs. Indiana. The Bucks were trounced at home by Houston on Saturday in the second of a back-to-back for Milwaukee. Zaza Pachulia (personal reasons) and John Henson (sprained left foot) missed the game but could return.

Key trends: The Bucks are 7-1 ATS in their past eight after a loss. The "over/under" has gone under in six of Cleveland's past seven overall.

Early lean: Cavaliers and under.

Celtics at Hawks (-7, 210.5)

Boston has lost four straight and seven of eight. The C's were gashed at home by San Antonio 111-89 on Sunday. What is going on with Rajon Rondo at the free-throw line? He was 0-for-2 vs. San Antonio and is now a crazy 9-for-30 on the season. Boston is hoping to get back rookie guard Marcus Smart for this one. He has missed nine straight games with a sprained left ankle. Atlanta has won four of five and played probably its best game of the season Saturday in routing Charlotte 105-75. The Hawks led by as many as 44. Atlanta has scored 90-or-more points in every game (15), the team's longest streak of 90-plus scoring to start a season since 1989-90 (34)

Key trends: The home team has covered five of the past seven meetings. The under is 6-1 in the past seven in Atlanta.

Early lean: Atlanta and under.

Lakers at Pistons (-4.5, 206)

You may want to avert your eyes from this one. Detroit enters on an eight- game losing streak and has allowed exactly 104 points in losing the past three. It's the longest losing streak in Stan Van Gundy's coaching career. Van Gundy tried starting Kyle Singler and bringing Greg Monroe off the bench in Sunday's loss to Golden State and it didn't matter. The Lakers ended a four-game skid with a 129-122 overtime upset of visiting Toronto on Sunday. Kobe Bryant had a triple-double with 31 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds. He's the oldest player in league history with a 30/10/10 game. Bryant also became the first player in NBA history with at least 30,000 points and 6,000 assists.

Key trends: The over is 6-1 in the Lakers' past seven on the road. The Pistons are 3-10 ATS in their past 13 vs. teams with a losing record.

Early lean: Detroit and over.

Nets at Knicks (-1, 186.5)

New York got back Carmelo Anthony on Sunday, but it didn't help as the Knicks lost 86-79 at home to Miami for their fourth straight loss. Anthony had 31 after missing the previous two games due to back spasms. The Knicks' 34 halftime points were one more than the season-low 33 they scored in their previous game against Oklahoma City on Friday night. The Knicks visited Brooklyn on Nov. 7 and lost 110-99. Deron Williams had 29 for the Nets. Anthony had 19 points on 5-for-20 from the field.

Key trends: The Knicks are 1-8 ATS in their past nine at home. The favorite is 4-1 in the past five meetings.

Early lean: Nets and under.

Thunder at Pelicans (TBA)

Oklahoma City is interesting again as Russell Westbrook returned from his broken hand on Friday and had 32 points in a rout of the Knicks. He was amazing, making 12 of 17 shots and adding eight assists and seven rebounds in only 23 minutes. Reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant was rumored to possibly make his season debut Friday as well but didn't. He might here. The Pelicans have lost three straight and not topped 91 points in any of them. Hornets players not named Anthony Davis totaled just 50 points in Saturday's loss in Washington.

Key trends: The Thunder are 7-1 ATS in their past eight in New Orleans. The under is 5-1 in the past six meetings.

Early lean: Have to wait and see if Durant plays.

Mavericks at Bulls (-2.5, 203.5)

Dallas has won three straight heading into Chicago and brings the NBA's best offense against one of its best defenses (although that defense hasn't been quite as good as usual yet this year). The Mavs avoided a potential trap game Saturday in Philly, winning 110-103 behind 20 points and 13 rebounds from Tyson Chandler. Dirk Nowitzki didn't play, but he's not hurt. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle just knew he didn't need Dirk to beat the Sixers. Nowitzki will be back in there Tuesday. The Bulls ended their seven-game "Circus Trip" at 4-3 with a 102-84 win in Brooklyn on Sunday. It looks like Derrick Rose is actually healthy for the time being -- knock on wood. However, valuable sixth man Taj Gibson missed his fourth straight game due to a sprained left ankle. He's probably not going to play.

Key trends: The under is 6-1 in the past seven meetings. The Bulls have covered seven of the past eight vs. Dallas.

Early lean: Chicago and under.

Trail Blazers at Nuggets (+2.5, 212)

Second of a back-to-back for Denver as it visited Utah on Monday night. Portland bounced back from a 13-point home loss to Memphis on Friday, ending the Blazers' nine-game winning streak, with a 107-93 win over Minnesota on Sunday. With 15 rebounds, star LaMarcus Aldridge moved into a tie with Buck Williams for the fourth-most career rebounds in franchise history at 4,861. The Blazers have beaten Denver twice this season, scoring at least 116 points in both and winning by 16 and 17 points. Portland has won six straight overall in the series.

Key trends: Portland is 5-0 ATS in the past five in Denver. The over is 4-1 in those.

Early lean: Blazers and over.

Pacers at Suns (TBA)

Phoenix has dropped three of four since winning 106-83 at Indiana on Nov. 22. The Suns were upset at home by Orlando on Sunday night, 93-90. Phoenix was without guard Isaiah Thomas for a third straight game with a bruised ankle, and he's questionable to return. The Pacers have played four straight games without starting center Roy Hibbert due to a sprained left ankle, but he's hoping to return here. Phoenix has won three straight overall in this series.

Key trends: Indiana is 4-0 ATS in its past five after a loss. The Suns have covered eight straight meetings.

Early lean: Phoenix rout whether Hibbert plays or not.

Raptors at Kings (TBA)

Tough break for the Raptors as DeRozan technically has a torn left adductor longus tendon, and there is no timetable for his return to the court. It's a pretty rare type of injury. DeRozan, the only player on the team to appear in all 82 games during the 2010-11 and 2012-13 seasons, missed just 10 games over five-plus seasons before this injury. The Raptors clearly have missed him as Toronto lost Friday at home to Dallas after DeRozan left and then was shocked at the Lakers on Sunday night. Greivis Vasquez made his first start of the season in place of DeRozan at shooting guard vs. L.A. and scored 19 points. The Kings have lost three straight. Star center DeMarcus Cousins has missed the past two with a virus. The team thinks he has a good shot of playing here, but that's why the TBA.

Key trends: The Kings are 5-1 ATS in their past six vs. the East. The over is 5-1 in Toronto's past six on the road.

Early lean: If Cousins plays, definitely the Kings.

Magic at Warriors (TBA)

Orlando ended a four-game skid with a 93-90 win in Phoenix on Sunday behind 21 points from Tobias Harris. Orlando won its fifth road game, eclipsing the total the Magic had all of last season (4-37). Golden State has an NBA-high nine-game winning streak going. The Warriors handled the Pistons 104-93 in Detroit on Sunday to end a perfect five-game road trip. Star Steph Curry missed the final eight minutes of the game with a sore left ankle, but precautionary X-rays were negative. Still, you may see him sit this one out (hence the TBA). There's a chance that forward David Lee finally returns from his injury.

Key trends: Orlando is 7-2 ATS in its past nine on the road. The over is 4-0 in Golden State's past four Tuesday games.

Early lean: I'd take the Magic and the points here, which are likely to be many. It's a bit of a trap game for the Warriors off a long road trip. I personally don't think Curry plays.

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