The Chicago Bulls started their five-game homestand with hope, but after three straight losses, they now face a critical test of character when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. “It’s right here to define the season,” Bulls guard Coby White said. “Are we going to let it spiral and keep going downhill? Or take a stand and come out ready to compete?” Chicago’s latest loss—a 110-96 defeat to the shorthanded Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday—was especially frustrating. The Hawks, missing three starters and a key reserve, never trailed, and two recent call-ups from their G League affiliate combined for 46 points. Nikola Vucevic addressed the locker room postgame, calling out the team’s inconsistent defense, rebounding, and communication on switches.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ impact was undeniable in his first game against the Minnesota Timberwolves as an opponent last month. Now, the New York Knicks hope he can return to the lineup when they host his former team on Friday night in the teams’ second and final regular-season meeting. Both squads had Thursday off after playing on Wednesday night in dramatic fashion. Towns, who is day-to-day with a sprained right thumb, was also reported to have a bone chip in the injured thumb, which he hurt in Monday’s 124-119 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Without him, the Knicks are 2-2 this season, but his production has been difficult to replace. Towns is averaging 25.4 points and 13.9 rebounds and has 34 double-doubles

The Boston Celtics are searching for answers as they prepare to host the Orlando Magic on Friday night. After a blistering start to the season, Boston has been inconsistent lately, going 7-7 in its past 14 games. A 110-97 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday was the latest setback, as the Celtics failed to score 100 points for the third time this season—all coming in their last three losses. Boston was outscored 85-68 over the final three quarters in Toronto, raising concerns about its recent play. “Just stick together,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of his message to the team. “We’re not playing our best basketball … We just have to find a way to enjoy the challenge.” One

Don’t let the standings fool you—the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz are heating up, even if they’re sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference. With both teams showing signs of life recently, Friday’s game in New Orleans could be a turning point for either squad. The Pelicans (12-28) have had a rough season, but things are starting to look up. They’ve won three of their last four games and five of their last eight, despite battling a string of injuries to key players. The Jazz (13-27) are also showing signs of improvement. They’ve split their last six games, and while they fell 117-112 to Charlotte on Wednesday, they were missing a big chunk of their roster. The Pelicans