For the second year in a row, the NBA All-Star Game will not feature a player from the Chicago Bulls. Zach LaVine — a two-time All-Star in 2021 and ’22 — was passed over Thursday for a reserve spot in the Eastern Conference despite ranking 10th in the East in scoring (24 points per game) and shooting 51.

Quickley made a stirring return on New Year’s Day, scoring 21 points and adding 15 assists as the Raptors blew out Brooklyn to snap an 11-game losing streak, only to be lost again after five more games, this time with a hip issue.

The Chicago Bulls traveled to TD Garden to face the defending champs, the Boston Celtics, on Wednesday night. Although the Bulls beat the former champs, the Denver Nuggets, on Monday night, their luck ran out on Wednesday as they lost to the Celtics 122-100.

Jalen Brunson had 30 points and 15 assists, OG Anunoby scored 23 points and the New York Knicks beat the Denver Nuggets 122-112 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory.

The pecking order at the top of the league has been set for a while (as evidenced by very little movement at the top of this week's Power Rankings), but the deadline provides a quick shot of adrenaline and variety,

Jalen Brunson had 30 points and 15 assists, OG Anunoby scored 23 points and the New York Knicks beat the Denver Nuggets, 122-112, on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) for their fifth straight victory. Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points,

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone gave New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson credit for his great third quarter.

Let’s have fun by starting with trading De’Aaron Fox.

Though the strength of schedule over this span hasn’t necessarily been impressive, Phoenix has been better recently, winning nine of its last 13 games. So, as the team continues its pursuit of Jimmy Butler, the Suns (24-22) are moving their way up the standings.

The Chicago Bulls traveled to Boston for a Wednesday night contest against the Celtics, as they would be without star guard Zach LaVine due to personal reasons.

For a team that has struggled internally on defense for the better part of most of the year, the Knicks' strong performance shows that the team is improving when it matters most. The victory is New York's fifth straight and sixth victory in their last seven tries.

Toronto hosts Chicago looking to prolong its five-game win streak. The teams match up Friday for the first time this season.