Donovan Mitchell will make his 1st visit back to Utah on Tuesday night.

Every Monday we will tell you what you need to know heading into a new week of NBA action.

1. Mitchell returns to Utah

On Tuesday night (9 p.m. ET, League Pass), Donovan Mitchell will return to Utah for the first time since a blockbuster trade sent him to Cleveland in exchange for Collin Sexton (via a sign-and-trade deal), Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji and three future unprotected first-round Draft picks (2025, ’27 and ’29).

Mitchell has thrived with the Cavaliers, averaging career highs in scoring (28.8 ppg) and all three shooting percentages (48.8 FG%, 40.5% on 3-pointers, 87.4 FT%) through his first 36 games. Those numbers were boosted last week when Mitchell exploded for 71 points in an overtime win against the Chicago Bulls.

Mitchell and the Cavaliers (26-15) are fourth in the Eastern Conference, while the Jazz (20-23) got off to a hot start but have struggled as of late, dropping to 12th in the Western Conference.

While this will be the only time that the Cavaliers visit Utah this season, expect Mitchell to return to Salt Lake City next month for NBA All-Star as he is having yet another All-Star-caliber season. He ranked second among Eastern Conference guards in the first All-Star voting returns. Markkanen, who is having a career-best season of his own in Utah (24.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg), ranks seventh among Western Conference frontcourt players.

2. Lakers winning without Davis

Before Anthony Davis went out with a foot injury midway through the Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 16, he was arguably playing the best basketball of anyone in the league. In his previous 12 games (not counting the Cleveland game on Dec. 6 when he left after eight minutes due to illness), Davis had averaged 35 points on 64% shooting, 14.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 blocks per game. The Lakers went 8-4 in those 12 games.

After going 1-4 in the first five games following Davis’ injury, the Lakers have won six of their last seven games, including a five-game win streak they have entering Week 13. LeBron James has led the way during the win streak, averaging 38 ppg on 58% shooting to go with nine rebounds and eight assists per game.

LeBron's last 2 games: 47p, 43p

MJ is the only other player with back-to-back 40+ point games at age 35 or older.

LAKERS/HEAT, 10pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/cOKlHePCp6

— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) January 4, 2023

The Lakers have also seen strong play from Dennis Schroder (21.4 ppg on 51% shooting overall and 53.6% from 3-point range) and Thomas Bryant (21.2 ppg and 13.6 rpg on 72% shooting).

“Thomas Bryant, I mean he plays like an AD right now, close to it,” Schroder told ESPN.com following Saturday’s win over Sacramento to push the streak to five. “Doing a great job being ready, staying ready. We’re finding him, getting second possessions for us — offensive rebounds, clutch buckets. He’s playing great.”

Of course, the biggest question is whether or not this is sustainable while Davis remains sidelined. The Lakers have three games on the schedule this week, all against teams at least five games over .500 on the season. They begin the week visiting West-leading Denver on Monday (9 p.m. ET, League Pass), before returning home to host Dallas on Thursday (10 p.m. ET, TNT) and Philadelphia on Sunday (9:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV).

3. Hot & Cold report

Ja Morant and the Grizzlies are in the thick of the chase for No. 1 in the West.

Western Conference

Memphis (Hot): The Lakers aren’t the only team streaking in the West as the Grizzlies have won six consecutive games entering Week 13 — including a 123-118 win against Utah on Sunday without leading scorer Ja Morant (right thigh soreness). The Grizzlies are keeping stride with Denver as the two have matching 26-13 records as the season nears its midpoint this week (so far 604 of 1,230 games have been played).

Phoenix (Cold): On Dec. 17, Devin Booker posted a 58-point gem in a 118-114 overtime win against New Orleans. Since that game, Booker has suffered a groin strain that the team recently said will keep him out at least four weeks. Following the win vs. New Orleans, the Suns were 18-12. In the 11 games since (including the game in which Booker logged just four minutes before reaggravating the injury), they are 2-9 and averaging a league-low 105.5 ppg.

LA Clippers (Cold): Perhaps only one Los Angeles based team is allowed to have a winning streak? The Clippers have lost six straight games while the Lakers have won five in a row. On Sunday, the Clippers rallied from a 13-point first-half deficit to take an 11-point lead midway through the fourth quarter before Trae Young and the Hawks closed the game on a 21-6 run and win. That gives the Clippers their longest losing streak of the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era. The Clippers enter Week 13 at .500 (21-21) and are No. 7 in the Western Conference.

Eastern Conference

Brooklyn (Hot): After starting out 9-11, the Nets have been the best team in the league since late November. Brooklyn (27-13) is 18-2 in its last 20 games and is No. 2 in the Eastern Conference entering Week 13. However, during Sunday’s 102-101 win against Miami, star forward Kevin Durant suffered a knee injury that overshadowed the win and will be out at least two weeks because of a sprained right MCL.

New York (Hot): The Knicks roller coaster season continues as they enter Week 13 riding a four-game win streak. This streak immediately follows a five-game losing streak, which immediately followed an eight-game win streak. While the Knicks search for consistency, they are No. 7 in the East, a half-game back of Indiana (whom they play Wednesday).

Chicago (Hot): The Bulls enter the week riding a three-game win streak, which began on Wednesday as Chicago snapped Brooklyn’s 12-game win streak. The Bulls are 11-3 in their last 14 games and have climbed into the play-in field in the Eastern Conference, opening the week in ninth place.

4. National TV Spotlight: Five must-see games

By the end of Week 13, Stephen Curry might be back in the lineup for Golden State.

Tuesday: Phoenix at Golden State (10 p.m. ET, TNT)

The Suns not only enter the week riding a six-game losing streak, they are about to open a four-game road trip against one of the top home teams in the league as Golden State is 17-4 at Chase Center this season. Stephen Curry is still sidelined for the Warriors, but Jordan Poole has stepped up in his absence, averaging a team-high 27.9 ppg over the past 11 games.

Thursday: Boston at Brooklyn (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

Durant will miss this game, but this remains a matchup of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Boston (28-12) enters the week one-game edge over Brooklyn (27-13) in the standings and a 1-0 edge in the season series, taking the first meeting back on Dec. 4 behind a combined 63 points from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

Thursday: Dallas at Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET, TNT)

Two of the league’s biggest stars — LeBron James and Luka Doncic — meet in a city filled with stars in a rematch of a Christmas Day matchup won by the Mavericks. LeBron scored a game-high 38 points in the loss, while Luka dropped 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, while Christian Wood added 30.

Friday: Golden State at San Antonio (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

This is the targeted return date for Curry, barring any setbacks in his recovery from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him since mid-December. The Warriors have struggled on the road all season (3-16) and getting their leading scorer back to open a five-game road trip will certainly help things.

Saturday: Milwaukee at Miami (1 p.m. ET, ABC)

The NBA on ABC is back for the first time since Christmas Day. The Bucks and Heat eliminated one another in consecutive playoffs in 2020 (Miami defeated Milwaukee in five games) and 2021 (Milwaukee defeated Miami in four games) on their road to the NBA Finals. One of these teams has advanced to at least the Eastern Conference finals in each of the last four seasons — Bucks in 2019 (lost to Toronto in six games); Heat in 2020 (defeated Celtics in six games to advance to Finals); Bucks in 2021 (defeated Atlanta in six games to advance to Finals, where they won title); Heat in 2022 (lost to Boston in seven games).

5. League Pass Games to Watch: Three games to circle

Monday: Los Angeles Lakers at Denver (9 p.m. ET)

The Lakers seek their sixth straight win while facing the top team in the Western Conference. This is the final regular-season meeting between these teams, with the Lakers holding a 2-1 edge.

Tuesday: Cleveland at Utah (9 p.m. ET)

Here’s another reminder not to miss this game. Mitchell scored 23 points in 23 minutes as the Cavs cruised to a 122-99 win against the Jazz in Cleveland on Dec. 19. While another 70-point outburst may not happen, expect Mitchell to be aggressive and look to put on a show back in Salt Lake City.

Wednesday: Indiana at New York (7:30 p.m. ET)

The Pacers and Knicks enter Week 13 on opposite sides of the playoffs/play-in line. The Knicks won the first meeting on Dec. 18 behind Jalen Brunson’s 30 points to push their win streak to seven games. Can they repeat that and push this win streak to five in a row?