NBA Power Rankings: Here comes the trade deadline

An encouraging stretch of the season has transitioned into a sad stretch for the Nets, owners of a six-losses-in-seven-games streak that has sent them back into the cellar of the league. They lost for the fourth time this season to the Knicks, in a game where they needed Jahlil Okafor to be better than he was with Enes Kanter and Kristaps Porzingis taking it to the Nets. Okafor got revenge against the 76ers in their next game, although most of the credit should go to Spencer Dinwiddie (27 points) and Jarrett Allen (16 points) for that victory.

Dinwiddie and Allen had good games against the Lakers, in Brook Lopez’s return to Brooklyn for the first time since he was traded for D’Angelo Russell. But Lopez’s team held on down the stretch for a 102-99 win. The Nets really struggled against the Bucks to close out the week, getting dominated in the first half on their way to a 109-94 loss that had their head coach searching for answers. “Somehow, some reason, not ready. We weren’t ready,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand how that happens. A little upset with our group that we weren’t ready mentally, physically.”