NBA Power Rankings: Blake Griffin trade shakes things up

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MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 26: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play during the game against the Orlando Magic on December 26, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

110. . . Previous: 9th. Miami Heat. 11. team

The Heat fizzled in their final game of a five-game road trip, losing to the Houston Rockets, 99-90. They had a four-point lead going into the locker room at halftime, but James Harden took over down the stretch, and the Heat didn’t have an answer with Goran Dragic out with a bruised left knee. Hassan Whiteside had 22 points, and they were able to make it an ugly game, but they didn’t have the horses to win that race.

They fell victim to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, giving up a game-winning offensive putback to De’Aaron Fox for a 89-88 defeat. The Heat had beat the Kings in every game at home since 2001, and they wasted Dragic’s 23 points in his return to the lineup. The Heat had a 12-point lead halfway through the final quarter, but the Kings outworked the Heat down the stretch, with Fox playing the aggressor possession after possession. The Heat must have taken the loss to the Kings personally, because they rallied for a come from behind win against Charlotte in their final game of the week, defeating the Hornets 95-91. Miami was able to secure a season sweep of Charlotte, winning each game by a total of 16 points.

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