NBA Recap – Week Ending January 13, 2013

With%20no%20Serge%20Ibaka%20or%20Thabo%20Sefalosha%2C%20the%20Thunder%20still%20handled%20the%20Blazers%20in%20Portland%20to%20close%20out%20the%20week%20that%20began%20with%20an%20inexplicable%20loss%20to%20Wizards.%20%28Photo%20by%20Sam%20Forencich%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Inexcusable%20loss%20to%20Magic%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20week%20heavily%20impacts%20the%20rankings%20so%20much%20so%20that%20the%20Clippers%20slip%20up%20drops%20them%20to%20number%202.%20%28Photo%20by%20Noah%20Graham%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20hamstring%20injury%20to%20Manu%20Ginobli%20seemed%20bound%20to%20happen%20to%20the%20injury%20plagued%20vet%20but%20Tim%20Duncan%20continues%20to%20pile%20up%20records%20after%20blocking%207%20shots%20and%20recording%203%20steals%20for%20the%20first%20time%20in%20his%20career.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Joe%20Murphy%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Nothing%20here%20to%20see.%20Heat%20in%20midseason%20malaise.%20However%2C%20the%20lack%20of%20beef%20and%20size%20is%20its%20Achilles%20heel.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Rocky%20Widner%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

A%20lot%20of%20stuff%20is%20going%20on%20with%20the%20Knicks.%20Carmelo%20Anthony%20was%20caught%20on%20video%20seeking%20out%20Kevin%20Garnett%20after%20a%20loss%20to%20%E2%80%9Ctalk%E2%80%9D%20about%20the%20on%20court%20trash%20talk%20and%20the%20Bulls%20beat%20them%20for%20the%20third%20time%20this%20season.%20On%20the%20positive%20side%2C%20Iman%20Shumpert%20will%20travel%20with%20team%20to%20London.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Bruce%20Bennett%2FGetty%20Images%29

Ready%20to%20almost%20anoint%20the%20Pacers%20after%20beating%20the%20Heat%20and%20Knicks%20but%20the%20Brooklyn%20Nets%20brought%20them%20back%20down%20after%20handing%20them%20a%2097-86%20loss.%20%28Photo%20by%20Bruce%20Bennett%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Denver%20Nuggets%20are%20streaking.%20After%20racking%20up%20win%20after%20win%20%28five%20game%20streak%29%20the%20Nuggets%20can%20look%20forward%20to%20a%20heavy%20home%20court%20schedule%20for%20a%20little%20bit.%20Wilson%20Chandler%20also%20returns%20after%20a%20long%20injury%20absence%20and%20Danilo%20Gallinari%E2%80%99s%20shooting%20touch%20has%20seemed%20to%20return.%20%28Photo%20by%20Garrett%20W.%20Ellwood%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Nets%20are%20enjoying%20a%20six%20game%20winning%20streak%20and%20are%208-1%20under%20P.J.%20Carlesimo.%20Although%20many%20of%20the%20wins%20are%20over%20subpar%20teams%2C%20the%20Sunday%20nights%20win%20over%20the%20Pacers%20proved%20a%20lot.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jesse%20D.%20Garrabrant%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Grumblings%20about%20a%20trade%20for%20Rudy%20Gay%20hover%20over%20team%20as%20its%20play%20has%20been%20up%20and%20down%20with%20a%20record%20of%2010-8%20since%20starting%20off%20strong%20and%20going%2014-3.%20%28Photo%20by%20Glenn%20James%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

A%20few%20set%20back%20losses%20after%20rising%20to%20the%20upper%20echelon%20has%20not%20spoiled%20the%20feel-good%20feeling%20by%20the%20bay%20especially%20with%20rookie%20Harrison%20Barnes%20quietly%20showing%20why%20he%20was%20once%20a%20can%E2%80%99t%20miss%20prospect.%20%28Photo%20by%20Garrett%20W.%20Ellwood%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Devin%20Harris%20scored%2024%20points%20in%20his%20second%20game%20following%20his%20return%20resulting%20in%20a%20win%20over%20Jazz.%20%28Photo%20by%20Scott%20Cunningham%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Bulls%20get%20pumped%20up%20for%20the%20good%20teams%20but%20have%20a%20habit%20of%20falling%20to%20bad%20teams%20which%20continued%20with%20a%2097-81%20loss%20at%20home%20to%20the%20Suns.%20But%20the%20Bulls%20expect%20Derrick%20Rose%20to%20return%20sometime%20shortly%20after%20the%20all-star%20break.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jonathan%20Daniel%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Rockets%20are%20a%20very%20streaky%20team.%20Currently%20they%20are%20on%20a%20three%20game%20skid%20following%20a%20five%20game%20winning%20streak.%20The%20same%20can%20be%20said%20for%20its%20point%20guard%20Jeremy%20Lin.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jesse%20D.%20Garrabrant%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Damian%20Lillard%20has%20likely%20sewn%20up%20the%20Rookie%20of%20the%20Year%20award%20as%20he%20continues%20to%20impress%20in%20new%20ways%20on%20a%20weekly%20basis%20including%20dropping%2037%20points%20in%20a%20loss%20to%20Warriors.%20%28Photo%20by%20Cameron%20Browne%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Head%20Coach%20Scott%20Skiles%20was%20either%20fired%20or%20a%20mutual%20decision%20was%20reached%20to%20replace%20him.%20Nonetheless%2C%20the%20move%20has%20sparked%20the%20Bucks%20as%20new%20coach%20Jim%20Boylan%20is%203-1%20with%20Brandon%20Jennings%20scoring%2029%20and%2035%20in%20Boylan%E2%80%99s%20first%20two%20games.%20%28Photo%20by%20Gary%20Dineen%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Rookie%20Jared%20Sullinger%20is%20playing%20well%20despite%20being%20labeled%20a%20bust%20after%20physical%20setbacks%20in%20college.%20Jeff%20Green%20celebrated%20his%20one-year%20anniversary%20of%20heart%20surgery%20and%20will%20be%20looked%20for%20to%20defend%20big%20wings%20like%20LeBron%20and%20Carmelo.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jared%20Wickerham%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Jazz%20are%20anxiously%20awaiting%20the%20return%20of%20Mo%20Williams%20while%20playing%20a%20better%20brand%20of%20ball.%20However%2C%20they%20are%20sill%20in%20a%20holding%20pattern%20as%20the%20trade%20of%20Al%20Jefferson%20is%20lingering.%20%28Photo%20by%20Streeter%20Lecka%2FGetty%20Images%29

LA%20snapped%20a%20six-game%20losing%20streak%20with%20much%20needed%20win%20over%20Cavs%20at%20home.%20The%20Lakers%20are%20just%20hope%20to%20make%20the%20playoffs%20at%20this%20point.%20%28Photo%20by%20Noah%20Graham%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

After%20suffering%20three%20straight%20blow-out%20losses%2C%20the%20Twolves%20are%20clinging%20to%20remain%20relevant%20in%20the%20playoff%20picture%20without%20Kevin%20Love.%20%28Photo%20by%20Layne%20Murdoch%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%2076ers%20are%20sitting%20in%209th%20place%20in%20the%20East%20but%20are%20only%20being%204%20games%20behind%20the%20Celtics%20for%20the%20last%20playoff%20spot%20which%20seems%20insurmountable.%20However%2C%20they%20got%20some%20life%20back%20with%20a%20107-100%20win%20over%20the%20Rockets%20led%20by%20Jrue%20Hoilday%E2%80%99s%2030%20points.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jesse%20D.%20Garrabrant%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

After%20a%20close%20loss%20to%20the%20Clippers%2C%20the%20OT%20win%20over%20Kings%20and%20trouncing%20of%20the%20Grizzlies%20may%20put%20some%20pep%20back%20in%20the%20Mavs%20step.%20Owner%20Mark%20Cuban%20also%20kiboshed%20any%20rumors%20of%20a%20Dirk%20Nowitzki%20trade.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rocky%20Widner%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Pistons%20are%207-3%20in%20their%20last%20ten%20games.%20Tayshaun%20Prince%2C%20the%20only%20holdover%20from%20the%20championship%20days%2C%20is%20still%20contributing%20and%20recorded%2021%20points%20in%20a%20losing%20effort%20to%20Bobcats.%20%28Photo%20by%20Gary%20Dineen%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Raptors%20blew%20a%2019%20point%20lead%20to%20the%20Bucks%20and%20they%20would%20have%20had%20another%20good%20week%20after%20beating%20both%20the%20Sixers%20and%20Bobcats.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Turenne%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Eric%20Gordon%E2%80%99s%20return%20has%20sparked%20the%20Hornets%20and%20the%20play%20of%20point%20guard%20Gervais%20Vasquez%20along%20with%20rookie%20Anthony%20Davis%20is%20building%20a%20strong%20foundation.%20%28Photo%20by%20Chris%20Graythen%2FGetty%20Images%29

Tyreke%20Evans%20returned%20this%20week%20after%20being%20out%20since%20mid-December%20but%20the%20Kings%20are%20still%20in%20the%20midst%20of%20four-game%20losing%20streak.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rocky%20Widner%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Every%20now%20and%20then%20the%20Magic%20shows%20they%20can%20beat%20any%20team%20at%20anytime%20and%20this%20week%E2%80%99s%20version%20was%20a%20104-101%20win%20over%20Clippers.%20J.J.%20Reddick%20remains%20on%20the%20trading%20block.%20%28Photo%20by%20Noah%20Graham%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

He%20may%20not%20be%20setting%20the%20league%20on%20fire%20or%20even%20changing%20the%20course%20of%20this%20team%20but%20kudos%20to%20Sebastian%20Telfair%20for%20sticking%20in%20the%20league%20and%20prospering%20as%20a%20back-up.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jonathan%20Daniel%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Wizards%20get%20out%20the%20rankings%20basement%20with%20two%20wins%20this%20week%20against%20the%20Thunder%20and%20Hawks%20and%20John%20Wall%20makes%20his%20return.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ned%20Dishman%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20Bobcats%20need%20to%20start%20all%20over%20and%20look%20for%20trades%20to%20rebuild%20through%20the%20draft%20with%20multiple%20picks.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Hoskins%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29