NBA Power Rankings Week 19: LA Clippers get aggressive on buyout market

Last week: Won at Utah 113-104

This week: Sunday at Oklahoma City, Wednesday vs. Dallas, Saturday vs. Orlando

After a dismal 0-5 start to the annual Rodeo Trip, the San Antonio Spurs bookended road wins at Oklahoma City and Utah around the All-Star break, beating the Jazz Friday night, and can salvage a 3-5 journey with another win Sunday over the Thunder.

The Spurs did make one move after the trade deadline, buying out veteran forward DeMarre Carroll on Tuesday. Carroll signed with the Rockets after clearing waivers and at 6-foot-6 will somehow add size to that club.

Dejounte Murray played a season-high 34 minutes in the win at Salt Lake City, scoring 23 points with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals on 10-of-16 shooting, making his lone 3-point try. He’s averaging 19.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.3 dimes and 2.3 steals in his last four games on 60.0 percent shooting, hitting 5-of-7 from deep.

Last week: Lost to Dallas 122-106

This week: Monday at Brooklyn, Wednesday at Atlanta, Friday vs. Minnesota, Saturday at San Antonio

The Orlando Magic are leading a mob of four teams within five games of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference that no one seems interested in actually claiming. Along with the Magic, there is Washington, Charlotte and Chicago threatening to beat the Bulls’ 1985-86 record of 30-52 as the worst team in the 16-team playoffs era.

Orlando returned from the break with a 16-point loss at home to the Mavericks to close out a 2-2 homestand that began Feb. 10. The Magic will play three of their next four on the road, where they are 5-6 since the calendar flipped over to 2020.

Nikola Vucevic continued to put up numbers in a less-than-efficient manner, scoring 27 points on 27 shots against Dallas. He was 12-for-27 from the floor, 1-for-7 from deep and had 12 rebounds to go with four steals, two off his career-high of six set back on Dec. 20 at Portland.