The Los Angeles Lakers have righted their ship a bit since their holiday malaise, and they continue to hold steady near the top of the latest NBA Power Rankings by SB Nation. The Lakers, who have won four in a row and six of their last seven games, are ranked fifth this week. The top four spots are occupied by the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, and Dallas Mavericks.
↵Kobe Bryant had a good week last week, passing two all-time greats (Dominique Wilkins, Oscar Robertson) on the all-time scoring list. The Lakers have four games this week, all in the state of California. They host the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, followed by a trip north to face the Golden State Warriors Wednesday. They return home to face the New Jersey Nets Friday night, and conclude their week with a Staples Center showdown with the Clippers on Sunday night.
↵The Clippers, meanwhile, have played well of late, winning seven of their last 10 games. They are 11-11 after their miserable 1-13 start, and are now ranked 21st in the NBA by SB Nation. Blake Griffin has emerged as a force, with 23 straight double-doubles and 12 straight games with 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Clippers host the Heat on Wednesday, followed by a trip to Golden State Friday night before Sunday's game with the Lakers.
↵For more local NBA news, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll and Clips Nation.