One month into the NBA season, it's a good time to take a look at who is trending up and down in the league.
Trending up
The Pelicans started where they left off last season — in the cellar. They began 0-8 but have gone 7-4 since, and Tuesday’s 105-88 win over the Lakers was their fifth in a row at home. It’s nice to know they don’t plan on wasting another great season by Anthony Davis — at least not yet.
The Celtics started the season unevenly, going 3-4 in their first seven games. They’ve been much better as of late, going 7-3 in their last 10. The team is still gelling with several new pieces, but if things keep progressing, they could be a tough out for anyone in the playoffs.
MORE: The players with the most to prove this NBA season
Trending down
The Hornets had a sizzling start to 2016-17, going 6-1 in the first seven games and tying Cleveland for the top spot in the East. Since then, the Hornets are just 4-7. Their 10-8 record is still good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference, exactly where they finished last year, but it suggests that maybe talk of them being a serious contender in the Eastern Conference should wait on a bigger sample.
The Trail Blazers were expected by many to leapfrog the Thunder among Western Conference contenders. Almost 20 games into the season, the Blazers are still struggling to live up to those expectations. At 9-10 they are in eighth place in the conference. They're just 4-6 in their last 10 games.
DEVENEY: The Blazers are facing a big-time question about their future
Stud of the Night
Anthony Davis continued his hot start to the season, scoring 41 points, grabbing 16 rebounds and adding four blocks in the Pelicans' victory.
MORE: Stats and info from Davis' huge night
Dud of the Night
Tuesday was one of those low-efficiency nights for James Harden. "The Bearded One" scored 26 points, but hit just 8 of 23 field goal attempts as the Rockets fell 120-101 to the Trail Blazers.
Tweet of the Night
Sean Kilpatrick was putting in work against the Clippers on Wednesday, erupting for 38 points and 14 rebounds as the Nets came away with a 127-122 win in double overtime.
👀 Former D-League All-Star @SeanKilpatrick was on ANOTHER LEVEL tonight for the @BrooklynNets! https://t.co/KhTPqKrNZe
— NBA D-League (@nbadleague) November 30, 2016
NBA SCOREBOARD: Schedule, stats, info from an action-packed NBA Wednesday
Looking ahead
Grizzlies (10-7) at Raptors (11-6), 7:30 p.m. ET — Quiet as kept, the Grizzlies have been one of the surprises of the young season. The Raptors, meanwhile, have at times looked like the team expected to give the Cavs a run in the playoffs, at other times they've looked to be just another team.