While injuries impacting a team's season are not a new story, the data this year is alarming. Missed games in the NBA are up seven percent from last season's pace and 28 percent from two years ago.

The NBA MVP race is starting to take real shape as the season rolls into January, and the competition at the top couldn’t be tighter. From historic all-around dominance to explosive scoring runs, several stars are clearly separating themselves from the pack.

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says the San Antonio Spurs are the better team following a third loss in 12 days, which crystallized the young up-and-comers as the defending champions’ biggest threat in the Western Conference.

It comes with the trade deadline nearing in the last opportunity to rejig their rosters for the second half of the campaign to help sides move further into the directions they wish. Watch NBA with ESPN on Kayo Sports | Stream an average 9 LIVE Regular Season games per week plus the best of the NBA Playoffs.

Most recently, Kevin Durant reached another milestone on Jan. 9, eclipsing Wilt Chamberlain as he now sits at No. 7 on the all-time scoring list. At his current pace, Durant would need five games to pass Dirk Nowitzki (No. 6) and 33 games to pass Michael Jordan (No. 5) and enter the top five.

James Harden passed an NBA legend on the league's all-time scoring list on Monday. The Los Angeles Clippers star is now ninth on the scoring list after passing Shaquille O'Neal, who had 28,596 career points. Harden reached the historic mark in the first half of the Clippers' contest against the Charlotte Hornets.

The Lakers are reportedly a team that has been keeping tabs on Jonathan Kuminga as the NBA trade deadline approaches.

Longtime NBA referee Bill Kennedy will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a hamstring strain at last night’s game in Orlando, but the hope is he can return before the regular season ends, league sources tell @NBAonPrime, @NBATV. pic.twitter.com/1gEP64vHMx