This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

Russell has struggled to stay on the floor since joining the Nets in a Dec. 29 trade from the Los Angeles Lakers. He's missed six of the team's 13 matchups while battling shin and hamstring ailments. The veteran point guard has shouldered a much heavier on-ball burden than with the Lakers during the first half of this season.

The Charlotte Hornets are still only 11-28 and destined for the lottery, but there are a few positive signs. The Hornets won their third game in a row and fourth in past five tries Monday over the Dallas Mavericks,

The Brooklyn Nets will remain without a key bench contributor for the remainder of their six-game road trip. Head coach Jordi Fernandez said Friday that Trendon Watford is unlikely to play during the West Coast swing. The 24-year-old has missed Brooklyn's last 12 games due to a left hamstring strain.

It's only January, and neither the Utah Jazz nor the Charlotte Hornets are in a position to make a run at a playoff berth this season. Still, Wednesday's matchup in Salt Lake City could have some implications for the two teams this spring.

Utah hosts the Charlotte Hornets after the Jazz defeated the Brooklyn Nets 112-111 in overtime. The teams match up Wednesday for the first time this season.

Clippers vs. Hornets Game Postponed Due To Wildfires, Events To Resume At Intuit Dome Jan. 13, UFC Returns Jan. 18

The sample size isn't a large one for newly-acquired Suns center Nick Richards, but our NBA betting picks think he'll continue to play a massive part in the Phoenix offense vs. a vulnerable Nets team.

In a recent interview, Kyrie Irving described his trade from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks as a victory.

The Nets will face a Utah team playing on the second night of a back-to-back, having been at Phoenix on Saturday. But the Jazz have won two of their prior four and have three straight winnable games, one versus the Hornets (fourth in the lottery seedings) and two against the Pelicans (second in the seedings).

The fixture is the first of a scheduled five-game homestand for LeBron James and his teammates. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks are each off a back-to-back set coming into this game inside the Paycom Center. These two teams last tangoed on F