The Celtics are now headed back home, and have a few days off before starting a tough two-game homestand Friday against the Mavericks followed by a Sunday afternoon affair against the Magic.

With Utah struggling, Denver has pulled within a half-game of second place in the Northwest division (and sixth in the West), and the division-leading Thunder has been spinning its wheels lately, opening the door for the Nuggets to make a run. And even though they’re just 6-13 on the road, as far as road trips go, this is about as easy as it gets as after the stop in the U.S. capital, the Nuggets travel to Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia and New Jersey to wrap up the month.

The road woes stretch even further as Cleveland has now dropped 21 straight in hostile territory, matching a team record set in 2003. Ironically, the Cavs’ last road win was in New Jersey on November 9. But lightning wasn’t going to strike twice in the swamp.