NBA Team Recap – March 11, 2013

Miami Heat (47-14)The Heat easily dispatched the Pacers, who are considered the best threat to beat them in the East playoffs, and added to their winning streak (18). (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

San Antonio Spurs (48-15)Manu Ginobli is playing up to his old standards, averaging 17 points and 5 assists over the last three games. (Photos by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

Oklahoma City Thunder (47-16)Considered moving the Thunder up to #2 and next week is likely if, as expected, they get a win tonight against the Spurs. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies (42-19)Since trading Rudy Gay, the Grizzlies are 13-4 and playing like they did when opening the season at 14-3. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Clippers (45-20)The Clippers tend to get thumped every so often as they did this week against the Nuggets, but DeAndre Jordan’s dunk last night over Brandon Knight of the Pistons is why you like this team so much. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets (42-22)The Nuggets are on an eight-game winning streak fueled by point guard Ty Lawson. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Indiana Pacers (39-24)Danny Granger’s comeback was cut short, but a MRI revealed no new damage to his left knee and his return is day-to-day. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

New York Knicks (38-22)The Knicks have been dealt a tough deal, losing Amare Stoudemire for at least four weeks, but maybe for the season or longer as his brittle knees need more surgery. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers (33-31)The Lakers commandeer the final playoff spot and are looking to move even higher as teams directly ahead continue to slump. Plus, Pau Gasol may return sooner than later. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Boston Celtics (34-28)The Celtics fared well this week with close wins over the Pacers and Hawks, and battled the Thunder in a loss for most of the game. Avery Bradley is a defensive force pressuring the ball. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Brooklyn Nets (37-26)The Nets regrouped with wins over the Bobcats and Wizards and continued the momentum by beating the Hawks. In the Wizards win, Deron Williams went off making 11 three-pointers. A soft schedule continues with the Sixers, Hornets and Pistons. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Milwaukee Bucks (32-29)Getting away to California was good for the Bucks who won against Sacramento and Golden State. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Atlanta Hawks (34-28)The Hawks have not beat a quality opponent in quite a while and have the Heat, Lakers and Nets upcoming. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls (35-28)The Bulls are not playing well with a lack of perimeter shooting with Kirk Hinrich out and no Derrick Rose, although he has been given medical clearance to play. (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Houston Rockets (34-30)James Harden is a scoring machine as Omer Asik is a rebounding machine, but even their combined effort was not good enough to beat the lowly Suns. (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors (35-29)Apparently, at the beginning of the season, the Warriors had an opportunity to trade for James Harden, but were reluctant to give up Klay Thompson and other pieces. Not a no-brainer, but hindsight is always 20/20. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dallas Mavericks (29-33)The Mavs are on a three-game winning streak, but signs that things are not going well was releasing 2010 first-round selection 6-5 guard Dominique Jones who didn’t pan out. (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Utah Jazz (32-31)The Jazz can’t seem to stop the bleeding, slipping out of the playoff picture with four straight losses. They finally released Raja Bell who has not played all season. (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Portland Trail Blazers (29-33)Damon Lillard dropped 35 points in a 136-106 win over the Spurs, but reality set in during the next game after losing to the Hornets. That loss could ultimately kill a playoff spot. (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

Washington Wizards (20-41)The Wizards allowed Deron Williams to match the entire team with 33 points in the first half. But they bounced back over the Bobcats, led by Trevor Ariza’s 26 points off the bench. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Toronto Raptors (25-39)The Raptors let the Lakers steal one in a 118-116 OT loss. They won the next game against the Cavs without Rudy Gay (stiff back) and Andrea Bargnani (strained elbow). (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Cleveland Cavaliers (21-42)The Cavs considered shutting down Kyrie Irving for the season after suffering a hyper-extended knee. He continued to play and then injured his shoulder in a loss to the Raptors. The only thing that will hold him back is being injury prone. (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns (22-41)The Suns may have something in center Hamed Haddadi who was received in a trade from the Raptors. He played tough and grabbed 11 rebounds in a win over the Rockets in the absence of an injured Marcin Gortat. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons (23-42)The Pistons are on a five-game losing streak and center Greg Monroe wondered aloud if his teammates have given up. (Photo by Dan Lippitt/NBAE via Getty Images)

Philadelphia 76ers (23-39)The Sixers are also struggling in the midst of a five-game losing streak and the Andrew Bynum saga continues after suffering a setback in practice. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

New Orleans Hornets (22-42)No more back-to-back games for Eric Gordon to protect his knees and they managed to beat the Blazers without him. (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)

Minnesota Timberwolves (21-39)The Twolves have the ability to bounce back with a high lottery draft and by taking the right player, but this season seems interminable with injuries and blow-out losses. (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings (22-42)DeMarcus Cousins is playing well with 24 points and 12 rebounds, but he got tossed for an elbow to the head of Mike Dunleavy - that prompted Dunleavy to score 14 of his 16 points to lead the Bucks over the Kings. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Orlando Magic (18-46)The Magic had one win against the folding Sixers and Dwight Howard coming to town on Tuesday night will energize the fan base to come out to support their team and boo Howard. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)