NBA power rankings: Suns, Warriors jockey for No. 1; Grizzlies, 76ers, Lakers make moves
* Through games played 12/8
1. Phoenix Suns (20-4)
Last week: 1
Phoenix’s 18-game winning streak ended with a loss to the Warriors, but the Suns bounced back with a win over the Spurs on Monday despite the absence of Devin Booker, who has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury. No word yet on whether Booker will be ready to return for Friday’s game against the Celtics.
2. Golden State Warriors (21-4)
Last week: 2
The Warriors split a back-to-back set against the Suns last week before taking another loss to the Spurs on Saturday. Stephen Curry needs 10 3-pointers to break Ray Allen’s all-time record going into Saturday’s marquee matchup against younger brother Seth Curry and the 76ers.
3. Utah Jazz (17-7)
Last week: 4
The Jazz has won five in a row and Donovan Mitchell is riding a streak of four consecutive 30-point games. He had 30 against the Blazers, 34 against the Celtics, 35 against the Cavaliers and 36 against the Timberwolves. Can he make it 37 against the 76ers on Thursday?
4. Brooklyn Nets (17-8)
Last week: 3
James Harden had 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, but the Nets took a 10-point loss to the Rockets on Wednesday with Kevin Durant out for rest. Brooklyn has lost two of three going into Friday’s game against the Hawks.
5. Chicago Bulls (17-9)
Last week: 5
Chicago’s four-game winning streak ended with a 23-point loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday. Alex Caruso was sidelined with a hamstring injury while DeMar DeRozan and Coby White were out under NBA health and safety protocols. WIth Derrick Jones Jr. now entering protocls as well, the Bulls will probably still be shorthanded when they face the Heat on Saturday.
6. Milwaukee Bucks (16-10)
Last week: 6
The Bucks took the loss in Wednesday’s game against the Heat, but they had won 10 of 11 after going 6-8 to start the season. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.0 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists, but he was held to 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting against Miami.
7. Miami Heat (15-11)
Last week: 8
Two-way player Caleb Martin scored 28 points in a surprising victory over the Bucks on Wednesday, but how long can the Heat hold up? Bam Adebayo will be sidelined for four to six weeks after having surgery on his thumb and Jimmy Butler is out again with a bruised tailbone.
8. Memphis Grizzlies (14-11)
Last week: 14
Ja Morant has missed six games with a left knee sprain and has now entered NBA health and safety protocols, but that hasn’t stopped the Grizzlies. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. helped them go 5-0 without Morant before the Mavericks beat them on Wednesday.
9. Atlanta Hawks (13-12)
Last week: 9
The Hawks have cooled off a little following a seven-game winning streak, but they’ve still won nine of their last 12. After suffering back-to-back losses to the 76ers and Hornets, Trae Young helped them bounce back with a win over the Timberwolves on Monday. The Nets await on Friday.
10. Washington Wizards (15-11)
Last week: 7
The Wizards lost three in a row to the Cavaliers, Raptors and Pacers before Kyle Kuzma scored 26 points to help them escape with an overtime win against the Pistons on Wednesday. Now it gets really difficult with upcoming games against the Jazz, Nuggets, Kings, Suns, Jazz, Nets, Knicks, 76ers, Heat, Cavaliers and Bulls.
11. Philadelphia 76ers (14-11)
Last week: 20
Joel Embiid has come back in a big way after a case of COVID-19 caused him to miss nine games in November. The 76ers are 4-1 since he returned with Embiid averaging 26.4 points and 13.2 rebounds. He had 43 points and 15 boards in Monday’s win over the Hornets.
12. Cleveland Cavaliers (14-12)
Last week: 19
A couple of weeks ago, the Cavaliers were reeling after losing five in a row to fall below .500, but now they’ve won five of seven with some quality wins over the Mavericks, Heat, Wizards and Bulls. Their only losses during that stretch came against the Jazz and Bucks.
13. Los Angeles Clippers (14-12)
Last week: 18
Paul George, Ivica Zubac, Marcus Morris Sr. and Brandon Boston Jr. have helped the Clippers win three of their last four games with victories over the Lakers, Blazers and Celtics. They’ll entertain the Magic on Saturday before facing the Suns and Jazz early next week.
14. Los Angeles Lakers (13-12)
Last week: 21
The Lakers seem to have steadied the ship with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the rest of their Hall-of-Fame supporting cast healthy and available. They’ve won three of their last four and five of eight, including a 15-point victory over the Celtics on Tuesday.
15. Boston Celtics (13-13)
Last week: 10
Jayson Tatum had 34 points against the Lakers and 29 against the Clippers, but it wasn’t enough in back-to-back losses to the Lakers and Clippers. Jaylen Brown has missed 11 of the last 16 games due to a lingering hamstring injury.
16. Charlotte Hornets (14-13)
Last week: 11
2021 NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Mason Plumlee, Jalen McDaniels and Ish Smith are all out due to NBA health and safety protocols. It’s not clear when they’ll return for the Hornets, who have lost five of six.
17. Denver Nuggets (12-12)
Last week: 16
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic had 39 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in an overtime win over the Pelicans on Wednesday, the 61st triple-double of his career. He is one shy of matching James Harden for the seventh-most triple-doubles in NBA history.
18. Dallas Mavericks (12-12)
Last week: 12
Luka Doncic had 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to help Dallas pick up a win over the Grizzlies on Wednesday, but the Mavericks have lost five of seven and eight of their last 11. They have a chance to get right with upcoming games against the Pacers, Thunder, Hornets, Lakers and Timberwolves (2).
19. New York Knicks (12-13)
Last week: 17
The Knicks were 10-8 two weeks ago, but they’ve lost five of their last seven. Julius Randle had 30 points on 14-of-21 shooting with 12 rebounds and six assists against the Bulls. He was held to 18 points on 6-of-18 shooting against the Pacers. The Knicks lost both of those games.
20. Sacramento Kings (11-14)
Last week: 22
The Kings have won three in a row to improve to 5-3 under interim coach Alvin Gentry, who took over when Luke Walton was fired Nov. 21. De’Aaron Fox scored 33 points in Wednesday’s win over the Magic. That came after a home-and-home sweep of the Clippers.
21. Portland Trail Blazers (11-15)
Last week: 13
The Blazers have lost four in a row and seven of their last eight. Damian Lillard is nearing a return from an abdominal injury, but general manager Neil Olshey won’t be there to see it after he was fired and now CJ McCollum is out with a collapsed right lung.
22. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-14)
Last week: 15
The Timberwolves were on a roll after winning seven of eight to move above .500, but now they’ve dropped four in a row and their next 12 opponents are the Cavaliers, Blazers, Nuggets, Lakers, Mavericks, Mavericks, Jazz, Celtics, Knicks, Jazz, Lakers and Clippers.
23. Toronto Raptors (11-14)
Last week: 23
The Raptors hold their position this week. They’ve won two of their last three with strong wins over the Bucks and Wizards, but they’re coming off a loss to the Thunder with the Knicks, Kings, Nets, Bulls and Warriors awaiting.
24. Indiana Pacers (11-16)
Last week: 25
The Pacers picked up a couple of wins over the Wizards and Knicks, but they had lost four in a row and are considering major changes with reports they are listening to offers for Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner and Caris LeVert. Adding to the uncertainty, coach Rick Carlisle entered NBA health and safety protocols Thursday.
25. Houston Rockets (8-16)
Last week: 26
After going 1-16 to start the season, the Rockets have won seven in a row with impressive victories over the Bulls, Hornets and now the Nets. Eric Gordon has come alive over the past three games, averaging 22.7 points on 62.5% shooting.
26. San Antonio Spurs (8-15)
Last week: 24
The Spurs had won four in a row with some quality wins over the Celtics, Wizards, Blazers and Warriors, but they were coming off back-to-back losses to the Suns and Knicks going into a two-game set against the Nuggets.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-16)
Last week: 27
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped the Thunder win two in a row over the Pistons and Raptors after setting a record for the biggest beatdown in NBA history with a 73-point loss to the Grizzlies last week.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (7-20)
Last week: 28
Brandon Ingram scored 40 against the Rockets on Sunday and the Pelicans still lost by 10. Zion Williamson’s return from foot surgery has been delayed due to soreness while questions swirl about his weight.
29. Orlando Magic (5-21)
Last week: 29
Cole Anthony helped the Magic knock off the Nuggets last week, but Orlando has now lost three in a row and 10 of its last 11 with a back-to-back set against the Clippers and Lakers coming this weekend.
30. Detroit Pistons (4-20)
Last week: 30
The Pistons have lost 10 in a row going into Friday’s game against the Pelicans despite some strong games from rookie Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
