NBA Power Rankings: Giannis Antetokoumpo’s Milwaukee Bucks pass Los Angeles Lakers
1. Milwaukee Bucks (39-6)
Last week’s ranking: 2
The Bucks have won seven in a row to overtake the Lakers for the top spot behind reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 30.0 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (34-9)
Last week’s ranking: 1
The Lakers have lost two of their last three, falling 119-118 to the Orlando Magic and 139-107 to the Boston Celtics.
3. Utah Jazz (30-13)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Utah has won 12 of 13, the only blemish being a 138-132 double-overtime loss to New Orleans in which Donovan Mitchell poured in 46 points.
4. Denver Nuggets (30-13)
Last week’s ranking: 7
The Nuggets climb three spots after winning seven of their last 10, including a 114-104 win over the Clippers and a 107-106 win over the Mavericks.
5. Los Angeles Clippers (30-13)
Last week’s ranking: 4
The Clippers lost ground with losses to the Grizzlies and Nuggets over the past two weeks, but they still look like one of the top seeds in the Western Conference.
6. Toronto Raptors (29-14)
Last week’s ranking: 10
The Raptors vault four spots after winning seven of 10, including four of five since Pascal Siakam returned from a groin injury.
7. Miami Heat (30-13)
Last week’s ranking: 9
Miami let a couple of games get away in losses to the Nets and Knicks, but the Heat has wins over the Pacers, Spurs and Thunder in its past 10 games.
8. Dallas Mavericks (27-15)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Can confirm Luka Doncic is extremely good and Kristaps Porzingis was expected to return from a knee injury Tuesday against the Clippers.
9. Indiana Pacers (28-16)
Last week’s ranking: 11
The Pacers are coming off a 30-point loss to the Jazz, but they won their previous five games and Victor Oladipo is expected to return from a knee injury next week to make his season debut.
10. Boston Celtics (28-14)
Last week’s ranking: 6
The Celtics have struggled in recent weeks, going 3-6 with two three-game losing streaks since Jan. 6, but they are coming off a 22-point win over the Lakers.
11. Philadelphia 76ers (29-16)
Last week’s ranking: 12
Ben Simmons posted a triple-double in a 117-111 victory over the Nets on Monday, the fourth win in a row for the 76ers.
12. Houston Rockets (27-12)
Last week’s ranking: 5
The Rockets plummet seven spots after losing four in a row and five of their last six. Over the past four games, James Harden made just 9 of 51 (.176) from 3-point range.
13. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-17)
Last week’s ranking: 13
The Thunder has lost three of six and four of nine, but those losses came to the 76ers, Lakers, Raptors and Heat. Shai Gilgeious-Alexander had 20 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over the Timberwolves.
14. Memphis Grizzlies (20-23)
Last week’s ranking: 14
The Grizzlies had won seven in a row before falling to the Pelicans on Monday. Dillon Brooks has been hot, averaging 21.6 points while shooting 45.3 percent from 3-point range in January.
15. Orlando Magic (21-23)
Last week’s ranking: 15
Markelle Fultz posted his second career triple-double and his first with the Magic in a 119-118 victory over the Lakers, posting 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
16. San Antonio Spurs (19-23)
Last week’s ranking: 17
The Spurs rebounded from back-to-back losses to the Heat and Hawks with wins over the Heat and Suns. They also have recent wins over the Bucks, Celtics and Raptors.
17. Portland Trail Blazers (19-26)
Last week’s ranking: 18
Damian Lillard put up 61 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists with only two turnovers in a 129-124 overtime win over the Warriors on Monday.
18. Phoenix Suns (18-25)
Last week’s ranking: 19
Devin Booker had 39 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a win over the Celtics and then dropped 37 points in a two-point loss to the Spurs. He averaged 32.4 points over the first 10 games in January.
19. New Orleans Pelicans (17-27)
Last week’s ranking: 21
No. 1 pick Zion Williamson will make his NBA debut Wednesday for a team that has won six of its last nine with wins over the Jazz and Grizzlies.
20. Brooklyn Nets (18-24)
Last week’s ranking: 16
The Nets are still holding onto the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, but they have lost 11 of their last 13 during a brutal stretch in their schedule.
21. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-28)
Last week’s ranking: 20
The Timberwolves have lost six in a row during a difficult stretch that included games against the Rockets, Thunder, Pacers (2), Raptors and Nuggets.
22. Detroit Pistons (16-28)
Last week’s ranking: 24
First-round pick Sekou Doumbouya had a career-high 24 points in a win over the Celtics. Doumbouya has broken out in January, averaging 12.2 points and 4.9 rebounds over the past 10 games while shooting a respectable 35.1 percent from 3-point range.
23. Chicago Bulls (14-27)
Last week’s ranking: 25
Quality wins are hard to come by in Chicago, but the Bulls do have recent victories over the Cavaliers, Wizards and Pistons.
24. Sacramento Kings (15-28)
Last week’s ranking: 22
The Kings have lost five in a row and 14 of 17 since point guard De’Aaron Fox returned from injury.
25. Washington Wizards (14-28)
Last week’s ranking: 23
Bradley Beal is shooting a career-low 31.3 percent from 3-point range, down from 40.4 percent in 2016-17, 37.5 percent in 2017-18 and 35.1 percent in 2018-19.
26. Charlotte Hornets (15-30)
Last week’s ranking: 26
Charlotte’s struggles continue. The Hornets have lost seven in a row and 13 of 15.
27. New York Knicks (12-32)
Last week’s ranking: 28
The Knicks move up one spot because the Cavaliers, Hawks and Warriors are worse.
28. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-32)
Last week’s ranking: 27
The Cavaliers are coming off a 20-point loss to the Knicks. Ugh.
29. Atlanta Hawks (10-34)
Last week’s ranking: 29
Trae Young, coming off a 42-point game against the Raptors, got my vote as a starter for the All-Star Game. He’s averaging 29.2 points, 8.6 assists and 4.7 assists
30. Golden State Warriors (10-35)
Last week’s ranking: 30
The Warriors won a game. The beat the Magic, improving to 1-11 in their last 12 games.
