NBA Team Recap – February 4, 2013

Spurs%20are%20on%20a%2010-game%20winning%20streak%20and%20let%20out%20a%20sigh%20of%20relief%20that%20Tim%20Duncan%26%238217%3Bs%20knee%20injury%20has%20no%20structural%20damage%20and%20is%20just%20a%20sprain%20after%20being%20rolled%20up%20on.%20%28Photos%20by%20D.%20Clarke%20Evans%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Mentioned%20last%20week%20about%20Russell%20Westbrook%E2%80%99s%20inability%20to%20remain%20cool%20and%20this%20week%20he%20blows%20up%20at%20a%20teammate%20in%20a%20blowout%20game%20the%20Thunder%20were%20winning.%20James%20Harden%20will%20be%20missed%20in%20those%20moments.%20%28Photo%20by%20David%20Liam%20Kyle%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Coach%20Erik%20Spoelstra%20will%20handle%20the%20East%20Conference%20All-Stars%20as%20the%20Heat%20hold%20the%20conference%20best%20record%20two%20weeks%20prior%20to%20a%20game%20where%20he%20will%20rest%20Dwyane%20Wade%20for%20the%20stretch%20run.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Hoskins%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Carmelo%20Anthony%26%238217%3Bs%2031-game%20streak%20of%20scoring%2020%20points%20was%20snapped%20in%20a%20120-81%20win%20over%20the%20Kings%2C%20but%20Amare%20Stoudemire%20busts%20out.%20Iman%20Shumpert%20is%20still%20getting%20his%20offensive%20game%20in%20order%2C%20but%20brings%20his%20much%20needed%20perimeter%20defense.%20%28Photo%20by%20Nathaniel%20S.%20Butler%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

It%26%238217%3Bs%20hard%20to%20judge%20the%20Clippers%20without%20Chris%20Paul%2C%20who%20has%20missed%20seven%20games%20with%20a%20bruised%20knee%2C%20but%20changes%20may%20happen%20after%20going%204-6%20with%20rumors%20of%20trading%20Eric%20Bledsoe%20as%20part%20of%20acquiring%20Kevin%20Garnett.%20%28Photo%20by%20Brian%20Babineau%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Nuggets%20are%20playing%20as%20good%20as%20any%20team%20right%20now%20during%20a%20six-game%20winning%20streak.%20They%26%238217%3Bre%20also%204th%20in%20points%20scored%2C%20and%202nd%20in%20rebounds%20%26amp%3B%20assists.%20%28Photo%20by%20Garrett%20W.%20Ellwood%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

The%20shoe%20finally%20dropped%20with%20the%20long%2C%20long%20rumored%20trade%20of%20Rudy%20Gay%20that%20has%20been%20considered%20off%20and%20on%20for%20over%20two%20seasons.%20We%20shall%20see%20if%20this%20focuses%20the%20team%20for%20another%20great%20playoff%20run.%20%28Photo%20by%20Layne%20Murdoch%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

No%20one%20expected%20the%20Bulls%20to%20be%20challenging%20for%20the%20best%20record%20in%20the%20East%20%282%201%2F2%20games%20behind%29%20without%20Derrick%20Rose%2C%20and%20most%20of%20the%20credit%20goes%20to%20head%20coach%20Tom%20Thibodeau.%20Joakim%20Noah%20is%20out%20indefinitely%20with%20a%20foot%20injury.%20%28Photo%20by%20Scott%20Cunningham%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Warriors%20are%20back%20on%20track%20with%20a%20four-game%20winning%20streak%20and%20the%20return%20of%20center%20Andrew%20Bogut%20after%20a%20long%20injury%20absence.%20%28Photo%20by%20Rocky%20Widner%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Nets%20suffered%20their%20third%20blowout%20loss%20of%20the%20season%20to%20the%20Heat%2C%20but%20beat%20the%20Bulls%20who%20were%20missing%20Noah%20and%20several%20other%20players.%20Two%20big%20match-ups%20coming%20up%20this%20week%20in%20hosting%20the%20Lakers%20and%20Spurs.%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20STAN%20HONDA%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

Pacers%20slammed%20the%20Heat%20102-89%2C%20and%20considering%20last%20year%E2%80%99s%20playoff%20challenge%20of%20the%20Heat%2C%20the%20Pacers%20surely%20give%20the%20defending%20champs%20pause%20about%20facing%20the%20Pacers%20in%20playoffs%20again.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Hoskins%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

I%26%238217%3Bm%20taking%20back%20an%20earlier%20season%20evaluation%20that%20the%20Bucks%20were%20just%20an%20average%20team.%20But%20perhaps%20a%20coaching%20change%20was%20in%20order%20with%20long-time%20NBA%20assistant%20Jim%20Boylan%20taking%20over%20for%20re-tread%20veteran%20Scott%20Skiles.%20%28Photo%20by%20Gary%20Dineen%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Jazz%20couldn%E2%80%99t%20take%20the%20second%20game%20of%20a%20home%20and%20home%20series%20with%20the%20Blazers%20despite%2023%20points%20from%20Randy%20Foye.%20The%20Jazz%20remain%20in%20the%20seventh%20spot%20for%20the%20playoffs%20and%20the%20prediction%20here%20is%20that%20they%20will%20hold%20on%20to%20that.%20%28Photo%20by%20Sam%20Forencich%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Hawks%20have%20not%20beaten%20an%20above%20.500%20team%20since%20defeating%20the%20Nets%20back%20on%20January%2016.%20Hawks%20have%20just%20been%20so-so%20after%20a%20fast%20start%20to%20the%20season.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Kevin%20C.%20Cox%2FGetty%20Images%29

Rockets%20are%20clinging%20to%20the%20eighth%20and%20final%20playoff%20spot%20with%20a%20game%20lead%20over%20the%20Blazers%2C%20but%20the%20Lakers%20are%20lurking%20at%203%201%2F2%20games%20back.%20The%20Rockets%20face%20the%20Blazers%20%28closest%20playoff%20challenger%29%20this%20week%20as%20well%20as%20the%20Heat%20and%20Warriors.%20%28Photo%20by%20Garrett%20W.%20Ellwood%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Lakers%20let%20a%20big%20lead%20over%20the%20Suns%20slip%20away%20and%20almost%20did%20the%20same%20in%20recent%20wins%20over%20the%20Hornets%20and%20Pistons%2C%20but%20overall%20they%20have%20shown%20they%20can%20make%20a%20run%20to%20get%20into%20the%20playoffs.%20%28Photo%20by%20Allen%20Einstein%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Trail%20Blazers%20may%20be%20looking%20to%20make%20a%20change%20to%20stir%20up%20this%20talented%2C%20but%20somewhat%20underachieving%20line-up%20with%20a%20trade%20for%20Timberwolves%20center%20Nikola%20Pekovic.%20%28Photo%20by%20Sam%20Forencich%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Dirk%20Nowitzki%20missed%20a%20game%20with%20a%20leg%20injury%20in%20a%20win%20over%20the%20Suns%2C%20but%20head%20coach%20Rick%20Carlisle%20and%20owner%20Mark%20Cuban%20strongly%20criticize%20poor%20refereeing%20as%20playing%20a%20role%20in%20their%20two%20losses%20this%20week.%20%28Photo%20by%20Cameron%20Browne%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Sixers%20are%20playing%205-5%20over%20the%20last%20ten%20games%20and%20that%20has%20been%20an%20improvement%20for%20the%20woe-be-gone%20Sixers%20since%20a%20fast%20start%20over%20weak%20competition.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jesse%20D.%20Garrabrant%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Pistons%20finally%20lost%20the%20final%20remnant%20of%20their%202004%20championship%20team%2C%20Tayshaun%20Prince%20in%20a%20Rudy%20Gay%20three-team%20deal%20with%20the%20Pistons%2C%20acquiring%20point%20guard%20Jose%20Calderon.%20However%2C%20Calderon%20has%20yet%20to%20report%20due%20to%20Visa%20issues.%20%28Photo%20by%20Allen%20Einstein%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Kyrie%20Irving%20is%20the%20truth%20and%20it%20showed%20by%20dominating%20the%20end%20of%20the%20game%20in%20a%20115-110%20win%20over%20the%20Thunder.%20The%20future%20is%20bright%20for%20this%20team%2C%20reminiscent%20of%20the%2080s%20Pistons%20with%20a%20young%20and%20promising%20Isaiah%20Thomas.%20%28Photo%20by%20David%20Liam%20Kyle%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Big%20move%20in%20acquiring%20small%20forward%20Rudy%20Gay%20and%20having%20him%20in%20tandem%20with%20DeMar%20DeRozan%20gives%20the%20Raptors%20a%20good%20one-two%20perimeter%20punch.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ron%20Turenne%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Twolves%20finally%20got%20a%20win%20over%20a%20similarly%20struggling%20team%20in%20the%20Hornets%20led%20by%20an%20unusual%20source%20in%20Dante%20Cunningham%26%238217%3Bs%20season-high%2018%20points.%20Head%20coach%20Rick%20Adelman%20has%20returned%20after%20missing%20time%20dealing%20with%20his%20ailing%20wife%2C%20but%20the%20team%20continues%20to%20flounder%20without%20an%20injured%20Kevin%20Love.%20%28Photo%20by%20David%20Sherman%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Hornets%20have%20come%20back%20to%20earth%20after%20a%20surge%20a%20few%20weeks%20ago%20when%20Eric%20Gordon%20first%20returned%20from%20a%20long%20injury%20layoff.%20A%20bright%20spot%20has%20been%20the%20release%20of%20the%20new%20Pelican%20logo%20team%2C%20which%20is%20a%20winner.%20%28Photo%20by%20Noah%20Graham%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

A%20four-game%20losing%20streak%20including%20a%20loss%20at%20home%20to%20the%20Kings%20stings.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ned%20Dishman%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Kings%20are%20at%20the%20bottom%20of%20the%20rung%20in%20the%20league%20in%20three%20important%20team%20categories%3A%20rebounds%2C%20assists%20and%20points%20allowed.%20%28Photo%20by%20Steve%20Babineau%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Thanks%20to%20Michael%20Beasley%26%238217%3Bs%2027%20points%20%28with%20many%20in%20the%20fourth%29%2C%20the%20Suns%20came%20back%20to%20beat%20the%20Lakers%20for%20the%20week%E2%80%99s%20only%20bright%20spot.%20%28Photo%20by%20Andrew%20D.%20Bernstein%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Rookie%20Michael%20Kidd-Gilchrist%20had%20to%20be%20carted%20off%20the%20floor%20after%20a%20nasty%20collision%20as%20things%20go%20from%20bad%20to%20worse%20in%20Charlotte.%20%28Photos%20by%20D.%20Clarke%20Evans%2FNBAE%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

Magic%3A%20currently%20on%20a%20nine-game%20losing%20streak.%20%28Photo%20by%20Al%20Bello%2FGetty%20Images%29