Zach LaVine was asked if his strong performance in the Chicago Bulls victory over the Detroit Pistons meant he was feeling like himself again. LaVine confirmed that he was, but that feeling good didn't start with Friday night's win.

“I’ve been for a while,” LaVine said. “Go look at my last 10, 15 games. I’ve been saying that. I’ve been feeling good.”

In 14 December games, LaVine has produced at an All-Star level. He's averaged 25.2 points on 53% shooting, including 43.2% from behind the arc, while also adding 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan agreed with LaVine's assessment that he's played well for a while now.

“If you look at his numbers from the middle of October and then you start to look at the middle of November and then the middle of (December), I think you start to see a trend upward as he’s gotten his legs under him,” Donovan said.

“I give him a lot of credit of just sticking with the process of just continuing to work. Because I think when you’re as elite as him offensively and you start the year off the way he did offensively and just trying to find himself, he’s put a lot of work into it just to stay the course.”

Anthony Davis spoke to reporters on Friday for the first time since suffering a stress injury in his right foot two weeks ago.

"Feeling a lot better, pain has subsided tremendously," Davis said. "I think the next step is [the foot] healing right now. I don't want to use timetables because that's a whole different thing, but it's healing pretty quickly.

"So when we get back to L.A., we'll do another image of the foot, and see how far it's healed."

The injury was identified before it could get worse. "The stress reaction (can lead to) a stress fracture, and that's a whole different ballgame," Davis said.

One option available to Davis would be to undergo a procedure to remove the bone spur. One doctor surmised that the bone spur was present in his foot since his college days at Kentucky more than a decade ago, it just hadn't caused him any problems.

"I don't like surgery," Davis said. "I feel like, if it can be avoided, then let's avoid it."

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost a third consecutive game when they lost at the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. But the Cavs have bigger concerns than just losing games when it comes to point guard Darius Garland.

The All-Star guard was injured early in the fourth quarter on a drive to the rim. Oshea Brissett of the Pacers hit Garland in the right hand while trying for a steal. Garland was spotting flexing his hand and right thumb, while avoiding the action on the floor.

After leaving the game for a few minutes, Garland returned with a heavy wrap on the thumb. He was in obvious discomfort and didn't attempt a shot from the field while wearing the wrap. Garland also uncharacteristically missed two free throws late in the game.

Cleveland didn't provide an official update on Garland's status, but the Cavs are reportedly worried their star guard could miss time. For his part, Garland said he would "try to fight through it" and hoped to be ready to play in Chicago on Saturday.

Gary Payton II will miss the Portland Trail Blazers matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Friday.

Payton, who had offseason surgery, was looking to make his Blazers' debut this week.

Bradley Beal has been ruled day-to-day following an MRI due to left hamstring soreness.

Beal could return as early as Friday against the Magic.

Beal missed six games earlier in December with a right hamstring injury. 

RJ Barrett will likely miss at least one week with a lacerated right index finger.

Barrett suffered the injury early in the New York Knicks' overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks. 

Barrett had played in every game this season for the Knicks.

Aleksej Pokusevski will be out at least six to eight weeks with a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture in his left leg.

Pokusevski is averaging a career-high 8.8 points with 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this season in 31 games, with 25 starts.

Devin Booker will miss at least the next four weeks with a left groin strain.

Booker has missed six of the Phoenix Suns' past nine games due to hamstring and groin ailments.

Booker tried to return for the team's Christmas Day matchup against the Denver Nuggets but played just four minutes before having to leave the game.

The Suns currently have a 20-15 record and are in fifth place in the Western Conference. 

Andrew Wiggins has been cleared to return from an adductor strain after missing the previous 10 games with the injury.

Wiggins, who missed the Warriors' Tuesday night win over the Hornets, will miss Wednesday's game against the Jazz with an illness.

The Warriors then play the Blazers on Friday. 

Bradley Beal left the Washington Wizards' 116-111 win over the Philadelphia 76ers with 4:17 remaining in the fourth quarter due to hamstring soreness.

Wes Unseld Jr. said after the game that the severity of the injury was unclear, and that Beal will be further evaluated.

Beal missed six games earlier this month due to a right hamstring injury.