Kenneth Faried's talk with Brian Shaw last week has helped him regain his form.

Faried has responded with a 24 and 10 performance against the Nets and then 26 points and 25 rebounds on Friday against the Wolves.

“It helped me. I can’t even lie, it helped 110 percent,” Faried said. “We went to the back and had a conversation. He had some stuff he wanted to say, I had some stuff I wanted to say, and we came to an agreement. Now it helps just ease my mind and I can just go play my game. It is now more just like ‘go play my game and everything else will follow.'”

“It’s one of the best games I’ve seen him play,” Ty Lawson said. “… I feel like he’s just playing his game. Instead of taking shots from the perimeter or midrange jumpers, he’s either get a rebound and putting it back in or he’s getting dump-offs. He’s playing like he was toward the end of last year.”

As Lance Stephenson partnered with his endorser, AND1, to distribute shoes and clothing to hundreds of kids in his hometown’s Coney Island YMCA on Tuesday, the Charlotte shooting guard has strengthened confidence in fulfilling his partnership with the Hornets this season, league sources told RealGM.

Stephenson and AND1 held a holiday gifting in his native Brooklyn, and Stephenson appeared in a live one-minute video uplifting kids as he nursed an injury in Charlotte.

As RealGM first reported on Dec. 11, Stephenson has received trade inquiries from multiple NBA teams, but the 24-year-old has hoped to remain part of the Hornets. Behind Brian Shaw’s bond with Stephenson, the Denver Nuggets emerged as an interested suitor for him this season, league sources told RealGM.

Stephenson has gotten a level of assurance from the Hornets about a continued partnership, and he’s reaffirmed teammates of his commitment, sources said.

Meanwhile, before the holiday season, Stephenson made a concerted effort to revive his projects where he was born in Coney Island.

As winners of three straight games and survivors of a tough early schedule, the Hornets are three games behind the eighth-seeded Nets. Stephenson has missed the past three games – against Philadelphia, Utah and Denver – and remains day-to-day with a pelvic injury. He's averaging 10.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the season.

Danilo Gallinari has been diagnosed with a meniscus tear in his right knee.

Gallinari is out indefinitely and will need surgery.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have inquired about the availability of Wilson Chandler, according to sources.

Chandler is averaging 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds this season.

Arron Afflalo has been fined $15,000 for a flagrant foul two on Alec Burks, the NBA announced on Tuesday.

The foul took place in the fourth quarter of the Denver Nuggets' win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.