NBA power rankings: Suns, Warriors, Nets, Jazz shoot for top spots; Nuggets make big jump
* Through games played 12/22
1. Phoenix Suns (25-5)
Last week: 1
Devin Booker returned from a hamstring injury to score 16 points in 26 minutes in a win over the Hornets on Sunday. He logged 32 minutes in Tuesday’s win over the Lakers, finishing with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. The Suns have won four in a row and six of seven going into Thursday’s game against the Thunder and Saturday’s Christmas Day showdown with the Warriors.
2. Golden State Warriors (25-6)
Last week: 2
Stephen Curry scored 30 points in Monday’s win over the Kings as the Warriors bounced back from a 19-point loss to the Raptors. Rookie Jonathan Kuminga made his first career start against the Raptors, posting 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting. He logged only six minutes against the Kings before leaving the game with a back injury, but he is expected to be available for Thursday’s game against the Grizzlies.
3. Brooklyn Nets (21-9)
Last week: 4
The Nets are scheduled to face the Lakers on Christmas Day after their last three games were postponed. Brooklyn has been hit hard by COVID-19 with 10 players in NBA health and safety protocols, including Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, who hasn’t even suited up since the team announced he was coming out of exile to play in road games.
4. Utah Jazz (21-9)
Last week: 3
Utah suffered back-to-back losses to the Spurs and Wizards last week before rebounding with a win over the Hornets on Monday. Rudy Gobert was a monster in that game, finishing with 23 points and 21 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell has been on a tear, averaging 29.2 points over the past 10 games. The Jazz will face the Mavericks on Christmas Day.
5. Chicago Bulls (19-10)
Last week: 6
DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls to back-to-back wins over the Lakers and Rockets on Sunday and Monday, but three of Chicago’s last five games have been postponed, including Wednesday’s game against the Raptors. Now the Bulls have a little time to get players out of health and safety protocols before Sunday’s game against the Pacers. Zach LaVine was cleared on Thursday.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (19-13)
Last week: 8
The Cavaliers lost to the Celtics on Wednesday, but they had won six in a row and 10 of 12 with contributions across the board from Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Jarrett Allen, Kevin Love and rookie Evan Mobley, who missed Saturday’s 119-90 victory over the Bucks due to health and safety protocols. Mobley was one of seven Cleveland players in protocols for Wednesday’s game against the Celtics.
7. Milwaukee Bucks (20-13)
Last week: 5
The Bucks picked up a win over the Rockets on Wednesday, but they have struggled with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in health and safety protocols, losing three of their previous four games. Jrue Holiday scored 40 against the Pelicans, but the Bucks still lost in overtime. Antetokounmpo, Donte DiVencenzo and Bobby Portis were all in protocols Wednesday vs. the Rockets.
8. Miami Heat (19-13)
Last week: 9
Guys like Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and Omer Yurtseven have helped the Heat win three of four despite the absences of Bam Adebayo (thumb), Jimmy Butler (tailbone), Caleb Martin (health and safety protocols), Markieff Morris (neck), Victor Oladipo (knee) and P.J. Tucker (leg). Strus, who went undrafted out of DePaul in 2019, had a career-high 32 points against the Magic on Friday.
9. Memphis Grizzlies (19-13)
Last week: 7
Ja Morant returned from health and safety protocols and a knee injury to post 16 points, six rebounds and eight assists against the Thunder on Monday, but the Grizzlies dropped their second game in a row after losing to the Blazers on Sunday. Dillon Brooks scored a career-high 37 points against Portland. The Grizzlies will face the Warriors on Thursday.
10. Los Angeles Clippers (17-15)
Last week: 12
The Clippers had lost three in a row before beating the Kings 105-89 on Wednesday. Isaiah Hartenstein (ankle), Reggie Jackson (health and safety protocols), Luke Kennard (hip), Marcus Morris Sr. (health and safety protocols) and Jason Preston (foot) were all out, not to mention Kawhi Leonard (knee). The Clippers will hope to get some healthy bodies back with tough games coming up against the Nuggets, Nets and Celtics.
11. Denver Nuggets (15-15)
Last week: 17
The Nuggets took a loss to the Thunder on Wednesday, but they still vault six spots in this week’s rankings after winning three of their previous four games while teams ahead of them have struggled. Nikola Jokic followed a 35-point, 17-rebound, eight-assist game against the Spurs with 28-19-9 vs. the Wizards and 27-10-11 vs. the Timberwolves. Rookie Bones Hyland had a career-high 24 points in Friday’s win over the Hawks.
12. Los Angeles Lakers (16-16)
Last week: 11
The Lakers have lost three in a row going into Thursday’s game against the Spurs and Saturday’s Christmas Day matchup with the Nets. The Lakers put up a fight in a 115-110 loss to the Bulls, but they were blown out in 18-point losses to the Timberwolves and Suns. LeBron James has been healthy since the start of December, but now Anthony Davis is out with a sprained MCL. He will be reevaluated in four weeks.
13. Washington Wizards (16-15)
Last week: 13
Tuesday’s game against the Nets was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Brooklyn. The Wizards had lost four in a row and seven of eight before beating the Jazz on Saturday. Bradley Beal scored 37 points in the win. The Wizards will need to maintain that level of play with upcoming games against the Knicks, 76ers, Heat, Cavaliers, Bull and Hornets over the next 12 days.
14. Philadelphia 76ers (16-15)
Last week: 14
The 76ers had lost three in a row and four of their last five, but Joel Embiid put a stop to that on Monday, pouring in 41 points in a 108-103 victory over the Celtics. Philadelphia is one of many teams currently dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks. Andre Drummond, Danny Green, Shake Milton and Georges Niang are all in health and safety protocols.
15. Boston Celtics (16-16)
Last week: 15
Jaylen Brown is coming off back-to-back 30-point games for the Celtics, who have won two of three going into Saturday’s Christmas Day showdown with the Bucks. Brown scored 30 in a loss to the 76ers on Monday. He had 34 in a win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday.
16. Atlanta Hawks (14-16)
Last week: 10
The Hawks rolled off a seven-game winning streak after going 4-9 to start the season, but now they’ve lost seven of their last 10. Trae Young scored 34 points against the Nuggets on Friday and Cam Reddish had 34 against the Magic on Wednesday, but Atlanta lost both of those games. The Hawks now have to face the 76ers, Knicks, Bulls (2) and Cavaliers in a span of nine days. That’s a tough task with Young in health and safety protocols now along with Clint Capela, Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter and Lou Williams.
17. Dallas Mavericks (15-15)
Last week: 18
The Mavericks have big problems going into Thursday’s game against the Bucks with Luka Doncic, Reggie Bullock, Trey Burke, Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber and JaQuori McLaughlin all out due to health and safety protocols. That does not bode well for the Mavericks with Saturday’s Christmas Day game against the Jazz fast approaching.
18. Charlotte Hornets (16-17)
Last week: 16
This has been a tough six-game road trip for the Hornets, who have lost three in a row to the Blazers, Suns and Jazz going into Thursday’s game against the Nuggets. LaMelo Ball, the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year, is having another stellar campaign, averaging 19.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists, but he went a combined 10 of 32 from the field against the Suns and Jazz.
19. Toronto Raptors (14-15)
Last week: 22
The Raptors have only played one game since Dec. 14, but Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. and rookie Scottie Barnes have helped them win three of their last four and five of seven since the start of December. Toronto picked up an impressive 19-point win over the Warriors on Saturday despite the absence of Pascal Siakam, who is in health and safety protocols.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-16)
Last week: 21
The Timberwolves won four in a row against the Blazers, Nuggets, Lakers and Mavericks before losing in a rematch with the Mavs on Tuesday. Minnesota is entering a difficult stretch with upcoming games against the Jazz, Celtics, Knicks, Jazz, Lakers and Clippers.
21. New York Knicks (14-17)
Last week: 19
The Knicks were 11-9 in late November, but they have really struggled in recent weeks, losing eight of their last 11 games. RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Kevin Knox II, Miles McBride, Nerlens Noel and Immanuel Quickley were all out due to health and safety protocols going into Thursday’s game against the Wizards.
22. Indiana Pacers (13-19)
Last week: 23
The Pacers have yet to make a trade involving Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner or Caris LeVert, but it could be coming. They have lost three of their last four to fall six games under .500. Here are their next 15 games: vs. Rockets, at Bulls, vs. Hornets, vs. Bulls, at Cavaliers, at Knicks, vs. Nets, vs. Jazz, at Celtics, vs. Celtics, vs. Suns, at Clippers, at Lakers, at Warriors, at Suns.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (13-19)
Last week: 24
The Blazers stopped a seven-game losing streak with a couple of good wins over the Hornets and Grizzlies. Damian Lillard had 43 points in the win over Charlotte, 32 points in the win over Memphis and 39 points in a loss to New Orleans. Thursday’s game against the Nets was postponed, giving the Blazers some time off before their next game against the Mavericks on Monday.
24. San Antonio Spurs (12-18)
Last week: 25
The Spurs suffered a disappointing loss to a shorthanded Kings team before bouncing back with a blowout win over the Clippers behind 24 points from Dejounte Murray. They have won four of seven going into Thursday’s game against the Lakers.
25. Sacramento Kings (13-20)
Last week: 20
The Kings managed to win two of their first three games under acting head coach Doug Christie, who took over after interim coach Alvin Gentry tested positive for COVID-19, but they’re coming off back-to-back losses to the Warriors and Clippers with De’Aaron Fox, Davion Mitchell, Terence Davis, Marvin Bagley III, Alex Len, Louis King and Neemias Queta in health and safety protocols.
26. New Orleans Pelicans (11-21)
Last week: 27
Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas and Devonte’ Graham have helped the Pelicans win three in a row with wins over the Thunder, Bucks and Blazers. Ingram scored 34 points in the win over Oklahoma City. He had 28 in the win over Portland. The Pelicans might be able to build on this winning streak with a game against the Magic on Thursday and another game against the Thunder on Sunday.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (11-19)
Last week: 28
The Thunder has won three in a row since losing to the Pelicans last week. Luguentz Dort had 29 in a win over the Clippers and rookie Josh Giddey nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with eight points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander show Giddey how it’s done in Wednesday’s win over the Nuggets, putting up 27 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.
28. Houston Rockets (10-21)
Last week: 26
The Rockets won seven in a row in late November and early December, but they’ve lost six of eight since then with upcoming games against the Pacers, Hornets, Lakers, Heat, Nuggets, 76ers, Wizards and Mavericks.
29. Orlando Magic (6-26)
Last week: 29
Orlando is riding its first two-game winning streak of the season after beating Brooklyn and Atlanta. Robin Lopez scored 20 points in a win over the Nets on Saturday. Rookie Franz Wagner had 25 points in Wednesday’s victory over the Hawks.
30. Detroit Pistons (5-25)
Last week: 30
The Pistons have lost 15 of their last 16 games, and now rookie Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, has entered health and safety protocols.
This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 12:38 PM.
