Since the last time I wrote one of the stories, the Philadelphia 76ers won not just once but twice to avoid tying an NBA record with a 0-18 start. I'm not even sure the Sixers are the worst team in the NBA right now. That designation has to go to the utterly disappointing Detroit Pistons. I was in the camp that thought the Pistons would be fighting for a playoff spot under new coach/team president Stan Van Gundy, but they are 3-18 and enter Tuesday's game on a 12-game losing streak. The franchise record is 14 in a row. Here's a look at that and every game on Tuesday's schedule.

Raptors at Cavaliers (-5.5, 207.5)

Both clubs had to travel after playing Monday as Toronto hosted Denver and Cleveland was in Brooklyn. Cleveland won in Toronto on Friday, 105-91, for its sixth straight victory. LeBron James had 24 points and a season-high 13 assists while Tristan Thompson had 21 points and 14 rebounds. Cleveland's last loss entering Monday was at home to Toronto, 110-93, on Nov. 22. The Cavs blew an early 18-point lead in that one. After outscoring Toronto 34-21 in the first quarter, Cleveland was outscored 64-37 in the next two and didn't recover. Louis Williams led the Raptors with a career-high 36 points. The Raptors still had a healthy DeMar DeRozan then and he had 20 points. He remains out indefinitely with a groin injury.

Key trends: The Raptors are 2-6 ATS in the past eight meetings. The "over/under" has gone over in five of Toronto's past six in the second of a back-to-back.

Early lean: Cavs and over.

Trail Blazers at Pistons (+7.5, 197.5)

I really don't understand how a team with Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe, Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings can be so lousy. Detroit lost No. 12 straight on Sunday at home to Oklahoma City 96-94. For some unknown reason, Smith was the guy who attempted a potential tying late 3-pointer, and of course he missed (Smith is shooting 26.4 percent from long range in his Pistons career). That guy is just a knucklehead and has the worst shot selection in the NBA. Portland started a five-game road trip with a 103-99 win at the Knicks on Sunday for its fourth straight win overall. LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 11 rebounds as the Blazers improved to 9-0 vs. the East. Portland has won three straight games against Detroit.

Key trends: The Blazers are 0-4 ATS in their past four after a win. Detroit is 1-7 ATS in its past eight at home vs. teams with a winning road record. The over is 6-0 in the past six meetings.

Early lean: Take the points and over.

Mavericks at Grizzlies (-3.5, 204.5)

Matchup of the night here clearly -- will be shown on NBA TV -- as Dallas is the NBA's highest-scoring team and Memphis has the No. 1 defense in the league in points against. The Grizzlies ended a two-game losing streak on Sunday with a 103-87 win over Miami. Something got into Grizzlies reserve Jon Leuer in that one as he had a season-high 20 points and tied a career best with 12 boards. Memphis made 59 percent of its shots overall. Dallas has won six of seven and routed the Bucks 125-102 on Sunday behind 28 points from Chandler Parsons. This will be Vince Carter's first game against his former team as he was Memphis' big offseason acquisition but has struggled. Dallas won three of four vs. Memphis a season ago.

Key trends: The Mavs are 4-0 ATS in their past four meetings. The over is 5-0 in the past five.

Early lean: Grizzlies and under.

Knicks at Pelicans (-8, 196.5)

The Knicks are 4-18 for the first time in franchise history and enter on an eight-game losing streak. Coach Derek Fisher admits his team might be "doubting" the triangle offense right now. It's not like New York is getting blown out. Seven of its past eight losses have been by seven points or less. In their past five defeats, the Knicks have been within one score of the opposition with less than five minutes to play. New Orleans ended a two-game skid on Sunday with a 104-87 blowout at the Lakers. Luke Babbitt, who has been starting, sprained his knee in the game and is day-to-day. The Knicks and Pelicans split last year. New York has won five straight in New Orleans.

Key trends: New York is 1-5 ATS in its past six vs. teams with a losing record. The over is 5-1 in New Orleans' past six at home.

Early lean: Knicks and under.

Bucks at Thunder (-10.5, 204.5)

Here comes Oklahoma City, which is finally healthy for the most part. It has won four of its past five games, although those wins were all against terrible teams. Still, you can only beat what's on your schedule. Kevin Durant had 28 points in Sunday's two-point win in Detroit. The team has been limiting his minutes thus far off the broken foot. Durant hasn't played more than 30 yet. The Bucks have lost four of five and gave up a season-high 125 points in Dallas on Sunday. Center Larry Sanders returned to the starting lineup. He had played just 19 minutes off the bench in Friday's win at Miami because of an illness. Oklahoma City lost in Milwaukee 85-78 on Nov. 11 but neither Durant nor Russell Westbrook was healthy then.

Key trends: The Bucks have covered six of their past eight following a loss of more than 10 points. The under is 4-0 in the past four meetings.

Early lean: A few too many points. Go Bucks and under.

Spurs at Jazz (TBA)

San Antonio beat visiting Minnesota 123-101 on Saturday despite playing without Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker Ginobili has a minor left shoulder injury while Parker has a strained left hamstring. Both are questionable here. The Jazz played in Sacramento on Monday night. The team was hoping that starting guard Alec Burks could return for that. He has missed two straight games with a shoulder surgery that likely will need offseason surgery. Burks is averaging 13.3 points per game. Utah entered Monday on an eight-game skid. San Antonio swept last season's series and has won five straight vs. Utah.

Key trends: Utah has covered just one of its past 12 vs. teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better. The under is 6-0 in the past six in Utah.

Early lean: Have to wait on Manu and Parker.

Heat at Suns (-6, 203.5)

Phoenix had to play at the L.A. Clippers on Monday. Guard Isaiah Thomas was questionable to play in that one after missing the past six with an ankle injury, so he's probably questionable at best here. The Heat are starting to really feel the post-LeBron effects as they have lost four straight to drop to 9-11. They have allowed at least 103 points in each of the four and scored more than 87 points just once. The Heat's last four opponents have averaged 55.9 percent shooting and 39 of 73 (53.4 percent) from 3-point range. Last season Miami swept Phoenix and has won eight straight overall vs. the Suns and six in a row in Phoenix.

Key trends: Miami is 3-12 ATS in its past 15 vs. the West. The under has hit in seven of Phoenix's past 11 in the second of a back-to-back.

Early lean: Heat and over.

Kings at Lakers (TBA)

Second of a back-to-back for Sacramento as it hosted Utah on Monday night. The Kings will be without star center DeMarcus Cousins at least all this week as he's dealing with some sort of virus. The Lakers have lost three straight, and Coach Byron Scott has shaken up his starting lineup. For Sunday's game against New Orleans, Scott inserted power forward Ed Davis and point guard Ronnie Price into his starting unit while Carlos Boozer and Jeremy Lin came off the bench. Didn't matter as the Lakers lost by 17 and Lin appeared to hurt his leg. Coming off the bench ended Boozer's streak of 588 straight games as a starter. This is the first meeting of the season between the teams. The Lakers won three of four last year and have won five straight at home vs. Sacramento.

Key trends: The Lakers have covered the past six meetings. The under is 4-0 in L.A.'s past four overall.

Early lean: Won't like L.A. to win outright much this season but do here against a tired Kings team without its best player. Also go under.

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