The NBA trade deadline is, for most teams, an exercise in resource-management. Take the Phoenix Suns. They are so desperate for the flexibility to make moves that they just traded one great first-round pick for three bad ones.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are taking on the Brooklyn Nets inside the Paycom Center in what will be a sloppy game between two injury riddled rosters. The Thunder hav added Jalen Williams to the injury report.

Tonight, Nic Claxton and D'Angelo Russell carry no injury designations. The former led the Nets against his former team in their recent 102-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, tallying 19 points and eight assists.

The Brooklyn Nets (14-28) close out their 6-game road trip Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder (34-8). Tip-off from Paycom Center is at 7 p.m. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NBA odds

The Nets got a look at the team they hope to be one day during Sunday's blowout loss to the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder might be tempted to add another star to their core before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, but they'd be better off building around their current Big Three.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 27 points and 10 assists in three quarters, and the Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the Brooklyn Nets 127-101.

The 127-101 beating the Nets took from the Thunder at Paycom Center — and the way OKC has run through the entire league — is a scary reminder of just how well-poised Sunday’s foe is to dominate the NBA both today and tomorrow.

A week before the NBA's trade deadline, USA TODAY Sports looks at where teams stand and their chances of winning the title:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the way for the Thunder this season as he has put himself in the MVP race once again. While Shai has been dominant, so has the rest of Oklahoma City’s roster as the Thunder are currently one of the NBA’s best offensive and defensive teams.

The former led the Nets against his former team in their ... Both players will be vital in tonight's matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder of Brooklyn hopes to pull off the upset.

The Nets (14-33) sit just two games back of the Hornets (12-31) in the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes, and if Ball doesn’t play Wednesday, it makes it more likely that the Nets will beat them. Charlotte could also lose more games going forward if Ball, their leading scorer, misses extended time.