Eastern Conference

AFTER an impressive showing in recent weeks the Detroit Pistons have regained their losing form with four consecutive losses — the fourth coming against the streaking Los Angeles Lakers.

The Boston Celtics managed to hold on the first place, though their winning record was broken at 11. That means they are tied with the Lakers for the best winning streaks of the season thus far.

Not paying attention to the loss, however, they bounced back in fine style with a 122-104 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Toronto Raptors are making steady progress up the standings as a result of a two-game winning streak including a prime time victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday.

Last week in “the clash of the rookies” Brandon Jennings faced the new top-ranked rookie Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings. In the match-up, Evans showed that his prominence was deserved when he hit the buzzer-beating shot to give the Kings a 96-95 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. With that loss Jennings and company, after being 11-11 last week, are now 11-14.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were in fine form and cruising over obstacles in their path before the Dallas Mavericks — without their MVP Dirk Nowitzki — humbled them 102-95 on their visit to the West. The winning streak was cut at five.

The Atlanta Hawks suffered a surprise 101-98 overtime loss against the Chicago Bulls, despite controlling the game for most of its duration, leaving them with a league record of 19-7.

The Orlando Magic recover from a midweek loss to power past the Portland Trailblazers 92-83 backed by Dwight Howard’s 20 rebounds.

The New Jersey Nets despite finally getting off the mark are still finding life hard to come by as their current seven-game losing streak has left them with a 2-26 record.

Blazing Rockets

Western Conference

EVEN though only on a two-game winning streak, the injury-riddled Houston Rockets are showing their credentials to the rest of the conference and the analysts.

Assisted heavily by the flexibility of Trevor Ariza, the Rockets are challenging in every match, winning 16 games for the season thus far.

The leading Lakers have thus far acquired 22 wins inclusive of walking over the Pistons and claim four wins on the trot.

The Mavericks are too showing fighting spirit taking to the court without Dirk Nowinski, but are winning big points from their fans as they have returned to second place on the conference.

The Phoenix Suns are desperate to find some away form as they have lost six consecutively including a 105-103 loss to the Trailblazers last week. However, they are still the only unbeaten team in the league and proved why against the Washington Wizards handing them a 121-95 defeat.

Tim Duncan had a game-winning shot to help the San Antonio Spurs to move to eight place in the conference for the time being with a record of 14-10. The Denver Nuggets are in a two-game skid despite Carmelo Anthony racking up the points just the same. They surprisingly lost the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday handing the Grizzlies their second consecutive win.

The Golden State Warriors have the worst form in the conference as rookie Stephen Curry has failed to prevent the losing streak from climbing to five. The Utah Jazz and the Trailblazers with a win a piece are tied for sixth in the conference.