The Lakers trailed the Toronto Raptors by eight points at halftime March 9 at Staples Center. They played as if they were going through the motions and it appeared as if their losing streak might stretch to four consecutive games. "The guys were just playing lackluster out there, acting like we didn't care, acting like we had something else to do," Lakers center Andrew Bynum recalled. Read Full Article

It could be another week before Nuggets guard Ty Lawson gets back into games for Denver. The stellar rookie guard sat glumly on the bench Thursday, missing his 10th straight game due to his bruised shoulder. The Nuggets have remained optimistic that Lawson's injury won't be long term, but Lawson's progress has been slower than expected. Read Full Article

Some people can't get past his 8.9-point scoring average. For those who are hung up on forward/center Anderson Varejao's meager average, wake up. One could make a case the 6-foot-11, 260-pounder is the Cavaliers' second-best player this season. He's not well-loved around the league by the players. He's respected, but they can't stand playing against him. Read Full Article

As the losses kept piling up during the just-completed road swing, the Bulls' mantra has been to just hang in there -- reinforcements are coming. But by the time Derrick Rose (sprained left wrist), Luol Deng (strained right calf) and Joakim Noah (plantar fasciitis) get back on the court, the Bulls' chances of rallying for a playoff spot may be slimmer than a lingerie model. Read Full Article

In pro sports, the trick isn't getting to the top. The bigger achievement is remaining at the top. Players leave via free agency. Coaches come and go. Successful seasons result in worse draft position. No NBA team has navigated those hurdles more skillfully over the last decade than the San Antonio Spurs. Read Full Article

Lost in the non-stop national nitpicking of Kevin Durant's defense is another player whose performance on the defensive end could be even more problematic for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Read Full Article

Heat guard James Jones' homecoming hasn't gone according to plan. A major wrist injury cut short his first season with the team. Jones' second season has been a microcosm of the Heat's inconsistent performances, who starred at the University of Miami and American High School, earning limited playing time. Read Full Article

Fabricio Oberto said he felt a little freer, a little lighter during Thursday's practice, the first time in nearly a week that the Washington Wizards reserve forward was allowed do his regular routine without being linked to a heart monitor. Read Full Article

The 1963 draft had a big impact on how the Nets approach matters. "The San Francisco Warriors, picking third, had the greatest offensive center of all time, Wilt Chamberlain, and they drafted Nate Thurmond," said Nets team president Rod Thorn. So Thorn saw a principle he has adopted throughout his career as an NBA exec. Talent trumps need. Always take the best player available. Thorn had another reason to remember that draft. The No. 2 pick was from West Virginia, Rod Thorn. Read Full Article

More than anything, he was curious. Ray Allen hadn't checked the standings all year. Not when the Celtics started 23-5. Not when they went 6-7 in January. Read Full Article