NBA Team Recap – March 18, 2013

The%20Heat%20survived%20a%20scare%20to%20their%20winning%20streak%20at%20the%20Sixers%20and%20now%20it%E2%80%99s%20up%20to%2022%20games.%20Matching%20or%20breaking%20the%20record%20of%2033%20seems%20feasible.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jesse%20D.%20Garrabrant%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Spurs%20handled%20the%20Thunder%20to%20retain%20the%20No.%202%20ranking%2C%20but%20more%20importantly%20its%20hold%20on%20best%20record%20in%20the%20West%20Conference%20as%20the%20team%20has%20regained%20it%26%238217%3Bs%20bearings%20since%20losing%20Tony%20Parker%20a%20couple%20of%20weeks%20ago.%20%28Photos%20by%20D.%20Clarke%20Evans%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Thunder%20just%20managed%20to%20beat%20the%20Mavs%20in%20Dallas%20and%20now%20face%20a%20rising%20Nuggets%20team%20this%20week.%20Kevin%20Martin%2C%20the%20replacement%20for%20James%20Harden%2C%20may%20be%20the%20key%20to%20how%20it%E2%80%99s%20playoff%20run%20goes.%20%28Photo%20by%20Danny%20Bollinger%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Nuggets%20have%20an%2011-game%20winning%20streak%20and%20are%20surely%20eyeing%20the%20No.%203%20seed%20%26%238211%3B%20needing%20to%20leap%20frog%20the%20Grizzlies%20and%20Clippers.%20%28Photo%20by%20Garrett%20W.%20Ellwood%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Maybe%20not%20unsettling%20to%20lose%20to%20a%20hot%20Nuggets%20team%20in%20Denver%2C%20but%20the%20Grizzlies%20followed%20that%20up%20with%20another%20loss%20to%20the%20Jazz.%20The%20Grizzlies%20look%20to%20regroup%20with%20games%20this%20week%20against%20the%20Thunder%20and%20Celtics.%20%28Photo%20by%20Garrett%20W.%20Ellwood%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Probably%20can%E2%80%99t%20tell%20too%20much%20with%20handling%20a%20depleted%20Knicks%20team%20in%20LA%2C%20but%20Chris%20Paul%26%238217%3Bs%20scoring%20ability%20the%20last%20few%20games%20shows%20he%20is%20healthy%20and%20ready%20to%20lead%20the%20Clippers.%20%28Photo%20by%20Noah%20Graham%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Beating%20teams%20without%20Kobe%20Bryant%20has%20never%20been%20a%20recipe%20for%20the%20Lakers%2C%20but%20they%20pulled%20it%20off%20twice%20this%20week%20%26%238211%3B%20including%20a%20huge%20win%20on%20the%20road%20over%20the%20Pacers.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Hoskins%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Celtics%20should%20be%20energized%20and%20focused%20looking%20to%20thwart%20the%20Heat%20tonight%20after%20playing%20the%20dregs%20of%20the%20league%20last%20week%20with%20two%20games%20against%20the%20Bobcats%20and%20Raptors.%20%28Photo%20by%20Brian%20Babineau%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Perhaps%20the%20Pacers%20are%20still%20reeling%20from%20losing%20to%20the%20Lakers%20without%20Kobe%20at%20home%2C%20because%20the%20team%20looked%20lethargic%20while%20losing%20to%20the%20Sixers%20in%20Philly%20as%20no%20one%20could%20stop%20Jrue%20Holiday.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jesse%20D.%20Garrabrant%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

After%20three%20losses%20to%20top%20teams%20last%20week%2C%20the%20Hawks%20rebounded%20with%20impressive%20wins%20over%20the%20Lakers%20and%20Nets.%20Dahntay%20Jones%20played%20a%20big%20part%20in%20both%20wins%20defending%20Kobe%20on%20a%20potential%20game%20tying%20shot%20and%20scoring%2013%20in%20the%20Nets%20win.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Bruce%20Bennett%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Nets%20have%20a%20chance%20to%20grab%20the%20top%20spot%20in%20the%20Atlantic%20with%20a%20slumping%20Knicks%2C%20but%20their%20personality%20seems%20to%20be%20Jekyll%20and%20Hyde%20%26%238211%3B%20unable%20to%20sustain%20success.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Nathaniel%20S.%20Butler%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Strange%20week%20with%20a%20blowout%20loss%20to%20the%20Kings%20and%20a%20blowout%20win%20over%20the%20Warriors.%20Have%20a%20feeling%20though%20Derrick%20Rose%20will%20return%20soon.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rocky%20Widner%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Rockets%20may%20not%20win%20a%20playoff%20round%2C%20but%20everyone%20knows%20it%20will%20be%20exciting%20to%20watch.%20%28Photo%20by%20Bill%20Baptist%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Despite%20going%205-5%20over%20the%20last%20ten%20games%2C%20that%20has%20%5Bafter%20a%20slump%5D%20re-established%20the%20Warriors%20as%20a%20likely%20playoff%20team.%20%28Photo%20by%20Noah%20Graham%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20injury%20bug%20is%20devouring%20the%20Knicks%2C%20having%20already%20bitten%20Amare%20Stoudmire%20and%20Carmelo%20Anthony%20and%20just%20got%20Tyson%20Chandler.%20A%20collapse%20seems%20imminent%20%26%238211%3B%20currently%20on%20a%20four-game%20losing%20streak.%20%28Photo%20by%20Garrett%20W.%20Ellwood%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Even%20an%20aged%20Jason%20Kidd%20would%20be%20welcomed%20back%20as%20the%20point%20guard%20play%20has%20wrecked%20the%20Mavs%20all%20season%20as%20Derek%20Fisher%2C%20who%20left%20the%20team%20only%20to%20sign%20with%20the%20Thunder%2C%20returned%20this%20week%20to%20boos%20from%20the%20crowd.%20%28Photo%20by%20Glenn%20James%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Jazz%20got%20a%20well%20needed%20win%20over%20the%20Grizzlies%2C%20led%20by%20newly%20inserted%20starter%20Gordon%20Hayward%20and%20his%2017%20points%20to%20keep%20the%20playoffs%20in%20sight.%20The%20Jazz%20are%20just%20one%20game%20behind%20the%20Lakers%20for%20the%20eighth%20spot.%20%28Photo%20by%20Melissa%20Majchrzak%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

J.J.%20Hickson%20has%20been%20a%20nice%20pick-up%20for%20the%20Blazers%20who%20averaged%2015%20points%20and%2015%20rebounds%20in%20wins%20over%20the%20Knicks%20and%20Pistons.%20%28Photo%20by%20Sam%20Forencich%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

John%20Wall%20is%20showing%20that%20he%20is%20not%20an%20under-performing%20No.%201%20pick%20by%20playing%20the%20best%20ball%20of%20his%20career%20and%20the%20Wiz%20are%20on%20a%20three-game%20winning%20streak.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ned%20Dishman%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Raptors%20battled%20the%20Heat%20until%20reality%20set%20in%20with%20the%20champs%20going%20on%20a%2017-2%20run%20in%20the%20fourth%20quarter.%20Amir%20Johnson%20grabbed%20a%20career-high%2021%20rebounds%20in%20a%20win%20over%20the%20Bobcats.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Turenne%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Kyrie%20Irving%20is%20out%20for%20a%20few%20weeks%20and%20maybe%20the%20season%20after%20suffering%20a%20shoulder%20injury%20%26%238211%3B%20giving%20Shaun%20Livingston%20more%20quality%20playing%20time%20who%2C%20after%20overcoming%20a%20devastating%20knee%20injury%20years%20ago%2C%20has%20continued%20to%20plug%20away.%20%28Photo%20by%20Glenn%20James%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Sixers%20seemed%20revitalized%20after%20battling%20the%20Heat%20at%20home%20provided%20the%20impetus%20to%20hang%20a%20%E2%80%9CL%E2%80%9D%20on%20the%20visiting%20Pacers%20%26%238211%3B%20led%20by%20the%20backcourt%20of%20Jrue%20Holiday%20and%20Evan%20Turner.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jesse%20D.%20Garrabrant%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Second-year%20and%20high%20draft%20pick%20Derrick%20Williams%20has%20responded%20with%20being%20inserted%20into%20the%20starting%20lineup%20back%20in%20January%20with%2028%20points%20and%207%20rebounds%20in%20a%20win%20over%20the%20Hornets.%20%28Photo%20by%20David%20Sherman%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Kings%20tied%20with%20the%20Magic%20for%2029th%20in%20scoring%20margin%EF%BF%BC%20%28Bobcats%20are%2030th%29%20with%20-6.4%20point%20game%20differential%20per%20game.%20%28Photo%20by%20Noah%20Graham%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Eight-game%20losing%20streak%20with%20a%20blast%20from%20the%20recent%20past%20in%20Rodney%20Stuckey%20going%20for%2022%20and%2032%20in%20respective%20losses%20to%20the%20Warriors%20and%20Blazers.%20%28Photo%20by%20Cameron%20BrowneNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Usually%2C%20even%20bad%20teams%20can%20point%20to%20injuries%20that%20derailed%20their%20season%2C%20but%20that%20wasn%26%238217%3Bt%20the%20case%20for%20the%20Suns%20until%20Marci%20Gorat%20went%20down%20in%20early%20March.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rob%20Carr%2FGetty%20Images%29

From%20Elias%3A%20Seven%20players%2C%20excluding%20rookies%2C%20have%20established%20a%20new%20career%20high%20in%20points%20this%20season%20against%20the%20Hornets.%20%28Photo%20by%20David%20Sherman%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Highlight%20of%20the%20season%20for%20the%20home%20crowd%20was%20booing%20visiting%20Dwight%20Howard%20and%20the%20strategy%20to%20Hack-a-Howard%20gave%20the%20fans%20plenty%20of%20opportunities%20in%20another%20losing%20effort.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Fernando%20Medina%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Assuredly%2C%20they%20are%20thinking%20about%20the%20draft.%20%28Photo%20by%20Kent%20Smith%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29