NBA power rankings: Christmas Day games feature marquee matchups and top MVP candidates
The NBA has five games scheduled for Christmas Day with six of The Sacramento Bee’s top 10 teams and several MVP candidates set to compete.
Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers will play host to the New York Knicks in the 9 a.m. game. LeBron James will lead the Los Angeles Lakers against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks at 11:30 a.m.
The afternoon will feature three more games. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will face Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics in the marquee matchup at 2 p.m. At 5 p.m., Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies will take on the Golden State Warriors, who are missing Stephen Curry. In the final game of the day, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns will visit Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 p.m.
Before we unwrap gifts and a full day of NBA action, let’s take a look at this week’s NBA power rankings.
* Through games played 12/22
1. Milwaukee Bucks (22-9)
Last week: 2
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming off back-to-back 40-point games, who move to No. 1 this week despite suffering some recent losses. Antetokounmpo had 42 points and 10 rebounds in a win over the Pelicans. He followed that performance with 45 points and 14 rebounds in a loss to the Cavaliers.
2. Boston Celtics (22-10)
Last week: 1
The Celtics fall from the top spot this week after losing five of their last six games. They needed 44 points from Jayson Tatum to beat the Lakers in overtime for their only win during that stretch. Tatum had 41 in Wednesday’s loss to the Pacers.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (22-11)
Last week: 6
The Cavaliers jump three spots this week after winning five in a row with victories over the Mavericks (2), Pacers, Jazz and Bucks. Donovan Mitchell scored 41 points in the win over Indiana. He had 36 against Milwaukee.
4. Brooklyn Nets (20-12)
Last week: 8
The Nets are suddenly the hottest team in the league. They went 9-11 to start the season, but now they’ve won seven in a row and 11 of 12 behind Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons. Durant scored 43 points in Sunday’s win over the Pistons.
5. Denver Nuggets (19-11)
Last week: 5
Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic had 40 points and 27 rebounds in Sunday’s win over the Hornets. He’s averaging 24.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 9.2 assists for a team that has won five of its last six, including wins over the Jazz and Grizzlies.
6. Memphis Grizzlies (19-11)
Last week: 4
The Grizzlies won seven in a row before suffering back-to-back losses to the Thunder and Nuggets. Memphis got some good news Thursday as Desmond Bane appeared to be on the verge of a return after missing 17 games with toe and foot injuries.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (18-12)
Last week: 10
Joel Embiid has put up impressive numbers while leading the 76ers on a six-game winning streak. Embiid 53 points and 12 rebounds in a win over the Hornets. He averaged 34.1 points in November and is averaging 35.0 points in December.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (19-12)
Last week: 3
CJ McCollum put up 40 points in a 126-117 victory over the Spurs on Thursday to help the Pelicans snap a four-game losing streak following losses to the Jazz (2), Suns and Bucks. Jonas Valanciunas had 37 points and 18 rebounds in the loss to Milwaukee.
9. Phoenix Suns (19-13)
Last week: 7
Devin Booker scored 58 points against the Pelicans during a three-game winning streak, but the Suns haven’t looked right recently. Deandre Ayton had heated exchanges with coach Monty Williams and teammate Mikal Bridges in Tuesday’s loss to the Wizards.
10. Sacramento Kings (17-13)
Last week: 11
The Kings squandered a game against the Hornets despite 37 points from De’Aaron Fox, but they’ve won three of four and seven of 11. Domantas Sabonis has been a beast, averaging 20.3 points, 15.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists while shooting 70% from 3-point range in December.
11. Los Angeles Clippers (19-14)
Last week: 9
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are healthy and the Clippers are surging, winning five of their last six, including a 20-point victory over the Celtics.
12. New York Knicks (18-14)
Last week: 12
Julius Randle had 30 points and 13 rebounds, but New York’s eight-game winning streak ended with a 113-106 loss to the Raptors on Wednesday.
13. Utah Jazz (19-16)
Last week: 14
Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 38 points in Tuesday’s win over the Pistons. He has appeared in 31 games, averaging a career-high 22.8 points and 8.2 rebounds.
14. Portland Trail Blazers (17-15)
Last week: 13
The Blazers have lost three of four, including back-to-back losses to OKC. Damian Lillard has averaged 29.4 ppg in December after returning from injury, but now he’s dealing with a left wrist sprain.
15. Dallas Mavericks (16-16)
Last week: 15
Luka Doncic nearly posted a triple-double in a 104-99 win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Mavericks needed that after losing five of eight.
16. Indiana Pacers (16-16)
Last week: 16
The Pacers lost four of five and eight of 11 before Tyrese Haliburton scored 33 points in a big win over the Celtics on Wednesday. Haliburton is averaging 20.0 points and 10.6 assists.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-16)
Last week: 21
Anthony Edwards scored 37 points against the Bulls as part of a three-game winning streak before the Timberwolves suffered a 104-99 loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday.
18. Miami Heat (16-16)
Last week: 17
Miami’s four-game winning streak ended with a 113-103 loss to the Bulls on Tuesday. Jimmy Butler was out with a knee injury, but he was expected to return Friday vs. the Pacers.
19. Atlanta Hawks (16-16)
Last week: 18
Trae Young has put up three consecutive 30-point games, including a 37-point performance in a win over the Magic. He is averaging 27.6 points and 9.8 assists.
20. Golden State Warriors (15-18)
Last week: 19
Golden State is in trouble without Stephen Curry, who is expected to miss about a month with a shoulder injury. The Warriors have lost five of six, including back-to-back 30-point losses to the Knicks and Nets.
21. Toronto Raptors (14-18)
Last week: 20
Pascal Siakam erupted for a career-high 52 points to help the Raptors snap a six-game losing streak with a 113-106 victory over the Knicks on Wednesday.
22. Oklahoma City Thunder (14-18)
Last week: 24
The Thunder has won three in a row with one win over the Grizzlies and two over the Blazers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points in Monday’s 123-121 win over Portland.
23. Chicago Bulls (13-18)
Last week: 22
The Bulls lost four in a row before posting back-to-back wins over Miami and Atlanta. They beat the Hawks on Ayo Dosunmu’s putback at the buzzer.
24. Los Angeles Lakers (13-18)
Last week: 23
Anthony Davis is expected to miss at least a month with a foot injury. That could spell doom for the Lakers, who are coming off of blowout losses to the Suns and Kings.
25. Orlando Magic (12-21)
Last week: 26
Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Markelle Fultz have helped Orlando win seven of its last eight, including quality wins over the Clippers, Raptors (2), Hawks and Celtics (2).
26. Washington Wizards (12-21)
Last week: 28
Kyle Kuzma scored 29 points in a win over the Suns on Tuesday, but the Wizards have really struggled, losing 11 of their last 12 and 14 of 16 dating back to Nov. 23.
27. San Antonio Spurs (10-21)
Last week: 27
Rookie Jeremy Sochan had his best game of the season in Thursday’s loss to the Pelicans, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
28. Houston Rockets (9-22)
Last week: 25
Kevin Porter Jr. scored 31 points against Orlando on Wednesday, but the Rockets lost their fourth in a row.
29. Charlotte Hornets (8-24)
Last week: 30
The Hornets have lost nine of 10. LaMelo Ball recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in a 126-105 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday.
30. Detroit Pistons (8-26)
Last week: 29
Rookie Jaden Ivey scored a career-high 30 points in Tuesday’s loss to Utah. The Pistons have lost four in a row and 11 of their last 14.
