NBA power rankings: Giannis, Donovan, Klay join 50-point club; East and West races tighten
Over the first three days of the new year, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell and Klay Thompson joined a growing list of NBA players who have posted 50-point games this season.
Thompson scored 54 points in the Golden State Warriors’ win over the Atlanta Hawks. Mitchell scored a career-high 71 in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ overtime win over the Chicago Bulls. Antetokounmpo had 55 in the Milwaukee Bucks’ win over the Washington Wizards.
Ten players have combined for a total of 14 50-point games this season. There have already been a record-tying six 55-point performances over the first half of the season.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has three 50-point games this season. Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid have two. Antetokounmpo, Mitchell, Thompson, Pascal Siakam, Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry and Darius Garland have accounted for the other 50-point games.
Mitchell’s 71-point showing against the Bulls was the biggest individual performance of the season. Doncic had 60 against the New York Knicks on Dec. 27. Embiid had 59 against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 13. Booker had 58 against the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 17.
Meanwhile, close battles are taking shape in the Eastern and Western conferences. The Boston Celtics lead the Bucks and Brooklyn Nets by 1½ games in the East. The Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies are tied for first place in the West with the top 10 teams separated by only 6½ games.
Here’s a look at this week’s NBA power rankings.
* Through games played 1/5
1. Boston Celtics (27-12)
Last week: 1
Jayson Tatum recorded his second career triple-double in an impressive 124-95 road win over the Mavericks on Thursday, helping the Celtics rebound after suffering back-to-back losses to the Nuggets and Thunder. Boston will face the Spurs, Bulls and Pelicans before going back on the road for Thursday’s showdown with the Nets.
2. Brooklyn Nets (25-13)
Last week: 2
Brooklyn’s 12-game winning streak ended with a 121-112 loss to the Bulls on Wednesday despite a 44-point game from Kevin Durant. The Nets will be tested in the days ahead with games against the Pelicans and Heat leading up to next week’s clash with the Celtics.
3. Milwaukee Bucks (25-13)
Last week: 5
The Bucks posted back-to-back wins over the Wizards and Raptors after losing five of their previous six games. Antetokounmpo had 55 points in the win over Washington. He had 30 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists in the victory over Toronto.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (25-14)
Last week: 7
The NBA is still buzzing about Mitchell’s 71-point game in Monday’s win over the Bulls. The Cavaliers have won three in a row, including a 90-88 win over the Suns on Wednesday. They will play the Nuggets, Suns, Jazz, Blazers and Timberwolves during a five-game road trip.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (25-13)
Last week: 6
The Grizzlies lost four of five in late December, but now they’ve won five in a row with upcoming games against the Jazz, Spurs (2), Pacers and Suns. Ja Morant scored 32 and 35 in wins over the Pelicans and Kings. Steven Adams grabbed 76 rebounds over a span of four games.
6. Denver Nuggets (25-13)
Last week: 3
Nikola Jokic posted back-to-back triple-doubles in wins over the Heat and Celtics. The Nuggets have won three of four and 11 of their last 14 dating back to Dec. 8. They shot 50.6% from the field with seven players scoring in double figures in Thursday’s 122-91 rout of the Clippers.
7. New Orleans Pelicans (24-14)
Last week: 4
The Pelicans suffered back-to-back losses to the Grizzlies and 76ers before beating the Rockets on Wednesday. Unfortunately, they won’t be at full strength Friday vs. the Nets. Brandon Ingram (toe) hasn’t played since Nov. 25 and Zion Williamson (hamstring) is expected to miss at least three weeks.
8. Philadelphia 76ers (23-14)
Last week: 8
Embiid missed Wednesday’s game due to left foot soreness, but the 76ers won their third in a row, beating the Pacers 129-126 in overtime. Embiid sat out after posting 42 points and 11 rebounds in Monday’s win over the Pelicans.
9. Dallas Mavericks (22-17)
Last week: 9
The Mavericks’ seven-game winning streak ended with a 124-95 loss to the Celtics on Thursday. Doncic was held to 23 points on 7-of-23 shooting. Doncic appeared to suffering from an illness, but Mavs coach Jason Kidd said “he’s fine.”
10. Sacramento Kings (20-17)
Last week: 10
The Kings won their 20th game on or before Jan. 3 for the first time since 2003-04. De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis have emerged as legitimate All-Star candidates. Fox is one of the NBA’s most lethal fourth-quarter scorers and Sabonis is a double-double machine.
11. New York Knicks (21-18)
Last week: 15
The Knicks have won three in a row over the Rockets, Suns and Spurs. Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 38 points in a 117-114 victory over San Antonio on Wednesday. Up next: the Raptors, Bucs and Pacers.
12. Indiana Pacers (21-18)
Last week: 13
Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Myles Turner helped the Pacers win four in a row before Wednesday’s overtime loss to the 76ers. That stretch included quality wins over the Hawks, Cavaliers, Clippers and Raptors.
13. Los Angeles Clippers (21-19)
Last week: 11
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are healthy, but the Clippers have lost four in a row to the Celtics, Pacers, Heat and Nuggets. They were held to 100 points in Monday’s loss to Miami and scored only 91 points in Thursday’s loss to the Nuggets.
14. Miami Heat (20-19)
Last week: 14
Miami won four of five before suffering a 112-109 loss to the Lakers on Wednesday. Bam Adebayo posted back-to-back 30-point double-doubles against the Clippers and Lakers. The Heat will face the Nets at home on Sunday following a five-game road trip.
15. Golden State Warriors (20-19)
Last week: 16
The Warriors had won five in a row despite the absence of Stephen Curry before suffering a 122-119 loss to the Pistons on Wednesday. Thompson scored 54 points in Monday’s win over Atlanta. He had 30 against Detroit.
16. Phoenix Suns (20-19)
Last week: 12
Phoenix continues to struggle without Booker, who is expected to miss at least three more weeks with a groin injury. The Suns have lost four in a row and seven of their last eight, including blowout losses to the Wizards and Knicks.
17. Portland Trail Blazers (19-18)
Last week: 17
Damian Lillard has been back in the lineup for four weeks, but the Blazers have fallen to one game over .500 after losing five of their last seven. They could fall further with upcoming games against the Pacers, Raptors, Cavaliers, Mavericks (2), Nuggets and 76ers.
18. Atlanta Hawks (18-20)
Last week: 19
The Hawks dropped their fourth in a row with a tough double-overtime loss to the Warriors on Monday, but they stopped the skid with a 120-117 road win over the Kings on Wednesday.
19. Utah Jazz (20-21)
Last week: 18
Lauri Markkanen’s apparent game-winning 3-pointer against the Kings was waived off after review. What did he do? He scored a career-high 49 points against the Rockets to end Utah’s five-game losing streak.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (18-21)
Last week: 23
Minnesota lost six in a row before posting back-to-back wins over the Nuggets and Blazers. Anthony Edwards had 29 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Denver. He scored 32 against Portland.
21. Chicago Bulls (17-21)
Last week: 20
The Bulls took two losses to the Cavaliers before beating the Nets on Wednesday to end their 12-game winning streak. DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 44 points in Monday’s loss to the Cavs.
22. Los Angeles Lakers (17-21)
Last week: 25
LeBron James scored 47 and 43 in wins over the Hawks and Hornets. The Lakers have won four of five despite the absence of Davis, who could be nearing a return after missing time with a foot injury.
23. Washington Wizards (17-22)
Last week: 21
The Wizards won five in a row over the Kings, 76ers, Suns, Magic and Bucks before losing their rematch against Milwaukee on Tuesday. Rui Hachimura scored 30 in the win over Phoenix.
24. Toronto Raptors (16-22)
Last week: 22
The Raptors have lost four of their last five despite some big games from Siakam, Gary Trent Jr. and Fred VanVleet. Trent had 35 points in a win over the Suns and 32 in a loss to the Pacers.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (16-22)
Last week: 24
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from a brief illness to score 33 points against the Magic on Wednesday, but Oklahoma City came up short in a 126-115 loss. The Thunder has lost three of four.
26. Orlando Magic (14-25)
Last week: 26
Paolo Banchero scored 25 points in Wednesday’s win over the Thunder. He had 30 points and nine rebounds in Thursday’s loss to the Grizzlies.
27. San Antonio Spurs (12-26)
Last week: 27
Devin Vassell is undergoing arthroscopic surgery and will be out indefinitely, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Vassell is averaging 19.4 points per game.
28. Detroit Pistons (11-30)
Last week: 30
The Pistons pulled off a surprising win over the Warriors on Wednesday with Cade Cunningham out for the season and Marvin Bagley III out at least six weeks.
29. Houston Rockets (10-29)
Last week: 28
The Rockets have lost six in a row and 11 of 12. They appear to be in a race to the bottom with Victor Wembanyama projected as the No. 1 draft pick.
30. Charlotte Hornets (10-29)
Last week: 29
The Hornets have lost three in a row and five of six. Things will probably get worse with upcoming games against the Bucks, Pacers, Raptors (2) and Celtics (2).
