This article was taken over by us From 5 newslettersa daily look at everything NBA related. To receive the newsletter in your inbox every morning, subscribe Here.

---

Knicks vs. Thunder preview

Two of the NBA’s hottest teams collide as New York and Oklahoma City put their winning streaks on the line in the first of two competitive games on NBA television tonight.

In the NBA’s 79-year history, both teams have appeared in just three games with a winning streak of nine or more. It’s the fourth tonight when the Knicks (9 straight wins) visit the Thunder (13 straight wins) at 8 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

The Knicks are looking for their 10th straight win, a milestone they haven’t reached since 2013, while the Thunder are looking to tie the franchise record set by the 1995-96 SuperSonics with 14 straight wins. The matchup also highlights two of the stars who dominated in December: Karl-Anthony Towns and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the East and West Kia Players of the Month, respectively.

Through the numbers

Towns led New York to a 12-2 record last month, averaging 23.2 points and a league-high 14.6 rebounds per game. In the meantime, Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC to a 12-1 record in December and led the NBA with 33.3 points per game on 56.3% shooting and 2.5 steals.

The Knicks rank third in offensive rating (120.1). Before their streak, the Knicks ranked 17th in defensive rating (113.7); During their run, they moved up to second place (106.2).

The Thunder, on the other hand, lead the league in defensive rating (102.8) and steals (11.9 per game). Their offense rose from 11th (113.7) to fifth (116.9) during their series.

Depth testing

Both teams show outstanding lineup depth. The Knicks are the first team in NBA history to have four different players score more than 40 points in a game before January 1st (Towns, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby).

The Thunder have four of the top five players in defensive rating among those averaging 20+ minutes per game: Isaiah Hartenstein, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace.

With elite stars and balanced rosters, the stakes are high in this rare showdown of back-to-back Titans.

---

Hawks vs. Lakers preview

LeBron James and Trae Young headline a rematch of one of the best games of the season.

In the nightcap of Friday’s NBA TV doubleheader (10:30 p.m. ET), the Atlanta Hawks visit the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of their Dec. 6 thriller, in which Trae Young’s game-winning three-pointer secured a 134-132 overtime victory against LeBron secured James and company.

In that game, Young posted an unprecedented 31 points, 20 dimes and five 3s, capped by the game-winning triple that made it 134-132 for the Hawks with 7.4 seconds left.

On the other hand, James recorded 39 points, 10 boards, 11 dimes, three blocks, two steals and six 3s – another unprecedented stat line. Anthony Davis also filled the stat sheet as he and James became the first pair of teammates to each score 38+ Points, 10+ Reb, 8+ Ast and 2+ Blk in the same game.

Jump back

The victory was Atlanta’s sixth straight, but followed a 1-4 victory. Since then, the Hawks have found their footing the way they have won four of its last five games. Young is averaging 26.2 points and 10.8 assists and the Hawks’ bench leads the league with 53.6 points per game during that span.

For Los Angeles the defeat ended 2:7. But since then, the Lakers have gone 7-3, with their stars leading the way. James averaged 27.0 points, 8.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds, Davis added 23.0 points and 12.4 rebounds and Austin Reaves increased his scoring average to 21.3 points per game during the period.

Will Young deliver another historic performance, or can James and the Lakers get revenge?