With the trade deadline and All-Star Weekend both in the rearview mirror, all eyes are on the push to the playoffs around the NBA.
The highlight of the second half could be the race for the No. 1 seed in the West. The Timberwolves currently hold a 1.5-game advantage, but the Thunder, Clippers and Nuggets are all within striking distance.
Meanwhile, the Lakers and Warriors are facing an uphill battle just to avoid the Play-In Tournament even after recent stretches of success.
Over in the East, the Celtics seem poised to land the top seed but the No. 4-seeded Knicks and No. 8-seeded Magic are separated by just three games. The Magic, Thunder and Pacers are among the teams who missed the playoffs last season but could be in position to make some noise in April and beyond. How they finish the regular season could determine how high their ceiling will be when the tournament begins.
When does the action resume? Here’s a look at when the NBA returns from the All-Star break.
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Are there NBA games today?
There are no NBA games scheduled for Monday, Feb. 19, with players still enjoying their break from the regular season.
The NBA’s biggest stars are still returning from Indianapolis, where three days of festivities celebrated the unofficial midpoint of the regular season. The players will get some more time to rest and recover for what could be a grueling finish to a long season.
The NBA traditionally doesn’t schedule any games the day after the end of All-Star Weekend, even with the day often falling on the Presidents’ Day holiday.
When is the next NBA game?
The NBA regular season will resume on Thursday, Feb. 22, after a week-long break from the action.
Thursdays are typically a quiet day around the NBA, with a focus on nationally televised TNT games, but Feb. 22 will be an action-packed slate of games as the league returns from the All-Star break. There are 12 games on the schedule Thursday, including Suns vs. Mavericks and Lakers vs. Warriors on TNT.
Elsewhere around the NBA, the 76ers will host the Knicks as both teams deal with significant injuries, while the Clippers and Thunder do battle in a game that could go a long way toward determining seeding in April.
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Upcoming NBA schedule
Thursday, Feb. 22
| Time (ET) | Matchup | TV channel |
| 7 p.m. | Magic vs. Cavaliers | — |
| 7 p.m. | Pistons vs. Pacers | — |
| 7 p.m. | Knicks vs. 76ers | — |
| 7 p.m. | Nets vs. Raptors | — |
| 7:30 p.m. | Suns vs. Mavericks | TNT |
| 8 p.m. | Celtics vs. Bulls | — |
| 8 p.m. | Rockets vs. Pelicans | — |
| 8 p.m. | Clippers vs. Thunder | — |
| 9 p.m. | Wizards vs. Nuggets | — |
| 9 p.m. | Hornets vs. Jazz | — |
| 10 p.m. | Lakers vs. Warriors | TNT |
| 10 p.m. | Spurs vs. Kings | — |
Friday, Feb. 23
| Time (ET) | Matchup | TV channel |
| 7:30 p.m. | Raptors vs. Hawks | — |
| 7:30 p.m. | Cavaliers vs. 76ers | ESPN |
| 8 p.m. | Suns vs. Rockets | — |
| 8 p.m. | Clippers vs. Grizzlies | — |
| 8 p.m. | Wizards vs. Thunder | — |
| 8 p.m. | Heat vs. Pelicans | — |
| 10 p.m. | Bucks vs. Timberwolves | ESPN |
| 10 p.m. | Hornets vs. Warriors | — |
| 10 p.m. | Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers | — |
| 10:30 p.m. | Spurs vs. Lakers | — |
