With the NBA All-Star break over and two-thirds of the common season full, the push to the postseason begins now.
The defending champion Denver Nuggets — together with many different contenders — are preventing for playoff positioning whereas others are urgent for postseason berths.
The Boston Celtics are the highest canines within the Jap Convention and have the NBA’s finest file. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have been at or close to the highest of the Western Convention all season. The Golden State Warriors are 8-2 and the up-and-down Los Angeles Lakers are 7-3 of their final 10 video games. And control the LA Clippers. Will Paul George and Kawhi Leonard lastly make a deep run collectively within the playoffs?
There are about 24 groups left within the race for 20 spots if the Play-In Match is taken into account. This ought to be enjoyable, so catch a glimpse of among the motion on this month’s picture gallery. What are your favorites?
(Jason Miller / Getty Pictures)
Max Strus of the Cavaliers launches his game-winning 59-footer over Luka Dončić of the Mavericks in Cleveland. The Cavaliers defeated the Mavericks 121-119 on the superb shot.
(Matt Rourke / Related Press)
Dwight Powell of the Mavericks makes an attempt to cease Tyrese Maxey of the 76ers on this drive to the basket in Philadelphia.
(Eric Thayer / Related Press)
Michael Porter Jr. of the Nuggets makes use of a superb pump pretend to get Taurean Prince of the Lakers within the air on a shot try in Los Angeles.
(Brandon Dill / Related Press)
Jalen Inexperienced of the Rockets swats a shot try by GG Jackson of the Grizzlies in Memphis, Tenn.
(Julio Aguilar / Getty Pictures)
Opponents have had bother stopping MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder this season. Wendell Carter Jr. of the Magic makes an attempt however fails as he’s whistled for a foul in Orlando.
(Ed Szczepanski / USA In the present day)
Rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs is averaging 3.3 blocks per sport this season, however he received all of Domantas Sabonis’ face on this try in Sacramento, Calif.
(Matt Krohn / Related Press)
Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves celebrates after a slam in opposition to the Rockets in Minneapolis.
(Dale Zanine / USA In the present day)
James Harden of the Clippers is thrilled (and scary) after making a 3-pointer in opposition to the Hawks in Atlanta.
Simone Fontecchio, previously of the Jazz, pokes Tobias Harris of the 76ers within the face in Salt Lake Metropolis. Fontecchio was traded to the Pistons on Feb. 8.
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Pictures)
Incoming! The followers’ facial expressions are priceless as Brandin Podziemski of the Warriors dives into the State Farm Area stands in Atlanta.
(Invoice Streicher / USA In the present day)
A blow to the face by no means feels good, simply ask Cam Thomas of the Nets as he’s fouled by Mo Bamba of the 76ers in Philadelphia.
(Alonzo Adams / USA In the present day)
RJ Barrett of the Raptors isn’t amused as Aaron Wiggins and the Thunder followers have a good time a 3-point shot in Oklahoma Metropolis.
(Bob DeChiara / USA In the present day)
Jaylen Brown of the Celtics dives and saves a ball from going out of bounds in opposition to the Wizards in Boston.
(Rick Scuteri / USA In the present day)
Domantas Sabonis of the Kings meets Jusuf Nurkić of the Suns on the prime of his shot in Phoenix.
Referee Michael Smith separates Coby White of the Bulls and Georges Niang of the Cavaliers with a foul to White’s throat in Cleveland.
(Eric Hartline / USA In the present day)
Cameron Payne and Buddy Hield of the 76ers encompass (and doubtless foul) Trae Younger of the Hawks in Philadelphia.
(Stephen Lew / USA In the present day)
Talking of fouls, Kevin Love of the Warmth offers Zion Williamson of the Pelicans a bear hug, which began a melee after Williamson crashed to the ground. The altercation resulted in 4 gamers being ejected, together with Warmth star Jimmy Butler in New Orleans.
(Petre Thomas / USA In the present day)
Hack-A-Zubac? Properly, that’s precisely what Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Grizzlies did to Ivica Zubac of the Clippers in Memphis, Tenn.
(Mark J. Rebilas / USA In the present day)
Who got here out higher on this play in Phoenix: John Collins of the Jazz or Nassir Little of the Suns? Collins is the proper reply.
(Invoice Streicher / USA In the present day)
Donte DiVincenzo of the Knicks seems to be congratulating himself on this slam in opposition to the 76ers in Philadelphia.
(David Richard / USA In the present day)
Referee Ashley Moyer-Gleich doesn’t appear to be enthusiastic about what Moritz Wagner of the Magic is conveying to her throughout a break in Cleveland.
(Scott Wachter / USA In the present day)
Evan Mobley of the Cavaliers takes the quickest path to a unfastened ball by going via Victor Wembanyama’s legs in San Antonio.
(Kyle Terada / USA In the present day)
As a part of the NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, Oscar Tshiebwe of the G League’s Indiana Mad Ants dunks over Walker Kessler of the Jazz throughout a Rising Stars semifinal sport.
(Kyle Terada / USA In the present day)
The NBA has some All-Star Weekend points to deal with, however Mac McClung of the Osceola Magic skies over former NBA nice Shaquille O’Neal throughout the slam dunk competitors in Indianapolis.
Parting shot
(Eric Thayer / Related Press)
A statue honoring former Lakers star Kobe Bryant is unveiled throughout a Feb. 8 ceremony exterior Crypto.com Area in Los Angeles.
Associated studying
How an NBA Getty Pictures photographer captures the proper shot
Associated viewing
January: Victor Wembanyama, Steph Curry, The Coyote and extra
December: LeBron James, Giannis, Luka Dončić and extra
November: Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Draymond Inexperienced and extra
June: Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Jimmy Butler, Victor Wembanyama and extra
Could: Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, Joel Embiid and extra
(High picture of Karl-Anthony Cities of the Timberwolves / Stacy Revere/Getty Pictures)
