Joel Embiid leads 76ers vs Hornets as Philadelphia battles Charlotte and LaMelo Ball for playoff positioning in tight East race.

Elsewhere, injuries and the 65-game rule have reshaped the awards race. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, 41-year-old LeBron James and young star Anthony Edwards are all ineligible for postseason awards under the NBA’s 65-game requirement, while three-time MVP Nikola Jokić can miss just one more game before falling below the threshold.

Jalen Williams scored 18 points and Jared McCain added 13 as the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled to a 123-103 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

Get real-time NBA Basketball coverage and scores as Philadelphia 76ers takes on Miami Heat. We bring you the latest game previews, live stats, expert picks and recaps on CBSSports.com

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is close to making his return. Curry's goal is to reportedly play against the Houston Rockets on Sunday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 38-year-old point guard last played on Jan. 30 against the Detroit Pistons after suffering a knee injury.