NBA Team Recap – January 28, 2013

Filed Under: Sixers, Sports

San Antonio Spurs (36-11)Led by Tony Parker, with their eight-game winning streak, the Spurs are making their annual claim to be the regular season champions as the question remains - how will the playoffs work out? (Photos by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

Oklahoma City Thunder (34-11)Russell Westbrook is an all-star player and his energy is often effective, but his ability to lose his cool is remarkable and still haunts this team. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Clippers (33-13)Chris Paul’s bruised knee put the Clippers in a four-game tailspin, but Grant Hill has returned and if Chauncey Billups returns, the Clippers will be in a good spot to make a title run. (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

Miami Heat (28-13)LeBron James and Ray Allen, in his return to Boston, hit big three pointers to force OT but the Garden magic pulled the win out for the Celtics. The Heat seem assured of the number one seed in the East despite holding just a 1 ½ game lead. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

New York Knicks (27-15)The Knicks best rebounding tactic is Tyson Chandler back tapping balls and their basketball IQ without Jason Kidd is questionable yet bringing the energy on defense and scoring ability serves them well. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets (27-18)Nuggets are the most well-balanced team as they're on an 8-2 run and they want to catch teams ahead of them in the standings (Grizzlies, Warriors) to nab the number four seed. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies (28-15)Zach Randolph recorded his league-leading 28th double-double beating the Hornets after just missing another by one rebound in a thrashing of the Nets. The Grizzlies traded back-up big man Marreesse Speights to clear salary cap space to perhaps keep their core together. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls (26-17)True to form, the Bulls crush the Warriors and the next night lose to a lesser, albeit improving, Wizards team. But the Bulls are playing well and head coach Tom Thibodeau as a good coach is giving some freedom to Nate Robinson as the team needs his scoring. (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Brooklyn Nets (26-18)Brook Lopez gets snubbed for the all-star game and a two-game losing streak has the Nets down. But this week they face conference foes Miami and Chicago which provides the team an opportunity to re-focus. (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors (26-17)All-star snub of Steph Curry is perhaps even more egregious although David Lee was selected. However, the return of Andrew Bogut is the one thing that could actually make this team a championship contender. (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Milwaukee Bucks (23-19)Under-appreciated players like Ersan Ilyasova and Larry Sanders continue to raise the play of the Bucks. But Monta Ellis got revenge with 20 points in a win over his former team, the Warriors. (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

Utah Jazz (24-20)Two of the players dangled in trade rumors, Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, dominated with 25 and 21 points respectively in an OT win over the Pacers. Makes sense as the Jazz are the OT mavens going 14-5 in extra period games the last four seasons. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Indiana Pacers (26-18)Paul George has taken over as the leader of this team in the absence of the injured Danny Granger and he may not relinquish the role anytime soon. George earned his first selection to the all-star game while pushing the team on a nightly basis. (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

Atlanta Hawks (25-19)Hakws had a chance to steal a game against the Knicks in the Garden with a Josh Smith dunk in the waning moments, but subsequent Smith plays (offensive foul, turnover and missed open three) spoiled that. Smith, by the way, wants clarity about his situation in Atlanta – trade or re-sign. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Houston Rockets (24-22)Rockets are in a slump, but responded with a big win over the Nets by doing what they do best – running. (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers (19-25)Kobe Bryant messed around and almost had a triple double (21 points, 9 rebounds, 14 assists) in a thrilling win over the Thunder. That win and the previous win over the Jazz has lifted spirits in Los Angeles. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Portland Trail Blazers (22-22)Trail Blazers snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over the Chris Paul-less Clippers, but lost the next time out to the same Paul-less Clippers. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Boston Celtics (21-23)Rajon Rondo’s torn ACL putting him out for the rest of the season is franchise altering, but the Celtic pride will likely rise and the team won’t back down from the challenge. (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dallas Mavericks (19-25)Just as the Mavs seem to be regaining some semblance of a team, sources say Allen Iverson is being asked to make a bid to return to the NBA through the Mavs D-League affiliate. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Philadelphia 76ers (18-25)Rondo’s injury and the possible return of Andrew Bynum provides some glimpse of hope that the playoffs are a real possibility. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons (17-27)Detroit continues to build with its roster of core young players in Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond and Brandon Knight. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

Minnesota Timberwolves (17-24)The season apparently has slipped away after going 1-9 in their last ten. (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

New Orleans Hornets (15-29)Hornets are building for the future, like the Pistons, going 6-4 in their last ten games. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Washington Wizards (11-31)The return of John Wall has actually worked out better than the most optimistic expectations. Washington's 7-3 record over the last ten games has been highlighted with victories over the Nuggets and Bulls. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Cleveland Cavaliers (13-32)Kyrie Irving making his first all-star game was enough motivation for him to even play better. In his last three games, all wins, he has scored 40, 35 and 32. (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

Toronto Raptors (16-28)Raptors' drop in the rankings is not so much that Toronto is playing poorly, but a few other teams have elevated their play. One day soon, DeMar DeRozan can make an all-star team. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings (16-29)Kings have not really been competitive during their current four-game losing streak. Perhaps, the pending move to Seattle next season has sapped the team. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns (15-30)A jolt of energy with new coach Lindsey Hunter in grabbing two quick wins over the Kings and the Clippers. Reality may have set in while facing the Spurs and Mavs as bad losses were the result. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Charlotte Bobcats (11-32)Amazingly, the Bobcats had lost 16 consecutive home games until the faltering Twolves came to town. (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Orlando Magic (14-29)J.J. Redick, with multiple 25 point scoring games this month, may be the sole bright spot as the Magic suffer through a five-game losing streak. (Photo by J. Dennis/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

CFEVA Art PartyCredit: HughE Dillon.