NBA Power Rankings: Here comes the trade deadline

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BROOKLYN, NY – FEBRUARY 2: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets on February 2, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

team. 20. . . Previous: 23rd. Los Angeles Lakers. 22

The Lakers weren’t able to muster up enough energy against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, allowing the Magic to shoot 52 percent on 32 3-point attempts for a 127-105 loss. Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson each finished with 20 points, but they never had a lead after the first quarter, and looked like they deflated in the third quarter, when Orlando outscored them 43-30. This was disappointing, since they had two days rest before this game. They were able to bounce back against the Nets on Friday, with Brook Lopez helping deliver a 102-99 win over his former team. The Nets had a chance to claim the lead late, but Lopez blocked a shot and Joe Harris couldn’t send the game to overtime.

Lopez stepped up in the Lakers final game of their five-game road trip, and the Lakers beat the Thunder 108-104. “I was most proud of the way that we engaged ourselves in the fight this time,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said. “Again, we went off to a good start where we were competing back and forth and this time, we sustained it for much longer.”

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