No stars, no problem: The Nets and Sixers are rolling | NBA power rankings
The Nets have won 13 of 14, mostly without Kevin Durant. And the Sixers have won five straight by an average of 21.4 points, a lot of it without Joel Embiid.
For the fourth straight week, the Brooklyn Nets remained No. 1 in The Inquirer’s NBA power rankings. The 76ers are second for the second straight week.
Records are through Monday. Last week’s rankings are in parentheses.
1. Brooklyn, 27-13 (1)
The Nets have won five in a row and 13 of 14, including Monday’s 117-112 home win over the New York Knicks behind 34 points from Kyrie Irving. Kevin Durant (hamstring) has missed the last 12 games, and the Nets are 11-1 over that stretch. Irving had 40 points and shot 5-for-8 from three-point range in Thursday’s 121-109 win over his former Boston Celtics team.
» READ MORE: Sixers look to keep rolling with Joel Embiid sidelined
2. Sixers, 27-12 (2)
The Sixers have won five in a row, beating Indiana, Utah, Chicago, Washington and San Antonio, winning by an average of 21.4 points. During the last five games, Matisse Thybulle has an average plus-12.8 rating and is averaging 2.6 steals. On Saturday, the Sixers announced that Joel Embiid has a bone bruise in his left knee and will be reevaluated in two weeks.
» READ MORE: Sixers have found their shooting touch during five-game win streak
3. Phoenix, 26-12 (4)
The Suns have won 6 of 7 after Monday’s 122-99 home win over Memphis behind 27 points from Devin Booker, who is averaging 25.1 points. Booker is shooting .363 from three-point range, just below the NBA average of .368.
4. Utah, 28-10 (3)
The Jazz are in their worst stretch, having lost three of their last four games after Sunday’s 131-119 loss at Golden State despite 24 points and 28 rebounds from Rudy Gobert. During this stretch, the Jazz also have lost at New Orleans, 129-124, and at the Sixers, 131-123 in OT.
5. Milwaukee, 25-14 (7)
The Bucks have won four in a row and 9 of 10. Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player in franchise history to record three consecutive triple-doubles when he produced 31 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in Monday’s 133-122 win at Washington. Milwaukee will face the Sixers for the first time this season Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center.
6. Denver, 23-16 (6)
Denver is a season-best seven games over .500 after Monday’s 121-106 home win over Indiana. The Nuggets have won 6 of 7. Nikola Jokic has played in all 39 games and is averaging 27.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 8.5 assists.
7. L.A. Lakers, 26-13 (8)
The Lakers have won both their games since the break, beating Indiana and then winning Monday at Golden State, 128-97, as LeBron James had a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. On Friday, the Lakers announced that Anthony Davis would miss at least another two weeks because of tendinosis and a calf strain in his right leg.
8. L.A. Clippers, 26-15 (5)
The Clippers are 2-2 since the All-Star break, losing at Washington, beating Golden State, losing at New Orleans, and on Monday winning by 109-99 at Dallas as seven players scored in double figures, led by Kawhi Leonard’s 22 points. Lou Williams is averaging just 12.4 points, almost six fewer per game than last year.
9. Miami, 21-18 (12)
The Heat are playing their best basketball, having won four in a row and 10 of 11. Jimmy Butler has averaged 28.3 points during the four-game win streak. Since the All-Star break, they have beaten Orlando twice and Chicago.
10. Portland, 22-16 (9)
The Trail Blazers are 1-2 since the All-Star break, losing to Phoenix and splitting with Minnesota. Carmelo Anthony (14.2 ppg.) has been on a hot streak. In his last six games, he is averaging 20.3 points, shooting 92% from the foul line.
11. Boston, 20-18 (11)
The Celtics have won 5 of 6 after Sunday’s 134-107 win at Houston. Included in this streak were wins over Indiana, Washington and the Clippers by a total of 12 points. The lone loss was to Brooklyn. Boston is 0-2 against both Brooklyn and the Sixers.
12. Dallas, 20-18 (10)
The Mavericks are 2-2 since the All-Star break, beating San Antonio at home, losing at Oklahoma City, winning at Denver and losing Monday, 109-99, at the Clippers. Dallas is just 24th in defensive rating, allowing 113 points per 100 possessions.
13. San Antonio, 20-16 (13)
The Spurs bounced back from Sunday’s 134-99 loss to the host Sixers to win in Detroit on Monday, 109-99, behind 19 points and 10 rebounds by Dejounte Murray. San Antonio will end its five-game road trip this week with games in Chicago, Cleveland and Milwaukee.
14. Charlotte, 20-18 (18)
The Hornets have won four in a row and are two games over .500 for the first time this season after Monday’s 122-116 home win over Sacramento. Charlotte now has a challenging five-game road trip at Denver, the L.A. Clippers and Lakers, San Antonio and Houston.
15. Golden State, 20-20 (14)
After ending a four-game losing streak with Sunday’s 131-119 home win over Utah, the Warriors lost the next night, 128-97, to the visiting Lakers. In the loss, Stephen Curry became the Warriors’ all-time assists leader. Guy Rodgers held the mark with 4,855, and Curry now has 4,856. Golden State is just 22nd in offensive rating, averaging 109 points per 100 possessions.
16. New York, 20-20 (15)
The Knicks are 1-2 since the All-Star break, losing by 134-101 at Milwaukee, winning by 119-97 at Oklahoma City and losing on Monday, 117-112, at Brooklyn. The Knicks will play the Sixers twice within the next week, Tuesday in Philadelphia and Sunday in New York.
17. Atlanta, 19-20 (22)
The Hawks are 5-0 under interim coach Nate McMillan. This shot by Tony Snell against Toronto was the Hawks’ fourth game-winning three-point shot at the buzzer in franchise history.
18. Memphis, 17-19 (17)
Since the All-Star break, the Grizzlies are 1-3 and have three consecutive losses. Center Jonas Valančiūnas has averaged 20.8 points and 15.5 rebounds in the four games since the break.
» READ MORE: The Sixers’ Ben Simmons returns fire on critic | Off the Dribble
19. Toronto, 17-22 (16)
The Raptors have lost five in a row. Despite daily trade rumors, Kyle Lowry continues to play at a high rate. In his last seven games since returning from injury, Lowry has averaged 19.3 points and 10.1 assists and shot 43.1% from three-point range.
20. Indiana, 17-21 (19)
The Pacers have lost 7 of 9, including Monday’s 121-106 defeat at Denver, but the big news was the return of Caris LeVert 46 days after the removal of a cancerous mass on his kidney. He scored 13 points in his Pacers debut, Saturday’s 122-111 win at Phoenix. The mass was discovered when LeVert had a physical after his trade from the Nets. He added 17 points in Monday’s loss at Denver.
21. Chicago, 17-20 (20)
The Bulls lost their first two at home after the All-Star break to the Sixers and Miami before beating visiting Toronto, 118-95, on Sunday behind rookie Patrick Williams, who scored a season-high 23 points. Coach Billy Donovan shook up the lineup, giving Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky their first starts of the season, replacing Wendell Carter Jr. and Coby White. Carter had 12 points and 11 rebounds and White added 13 points off the bench in the win.
22. Oklahoma City, 17-22 (25)
Rookie first-round pick Aleksej Pokusevski of Serbia had his best game with 23 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in Sunday’s 128-122 win over Memphis. The 19-year-old became the youngest player in NBA history to have more than 20 points, 10 rebounds and five threes in a game. The Thunder have won three of their last four.
23. New Orleans, 17-22 (21)
After losing by 135-105 at home to Minnesota during the first game after the All-Star break, the Pelicans had home wins over Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers. Against the Clippers, Zion Williamson shot 13-for-16 in scoring 27 points. Williamson is shooting 61.9% from the field.
24. Cleveland, 14-24 (24)
The Cavaliers have lost three in a row — home against Indiana and on the road against New Orleans and Atlanta. Collin Sexton leads the Cavs in scoring, averaging 23.7 points, and he is averaging 26.6 in his last five games.
» READ MORE: Sixers fans are back, a necessary step toward normal | David Murphy
25. Washington, 14-24 (23)
The Wizards are 0-4 since the All-Star break, losing at Memphis and suffering home losses to the Sixers and to Milwaukee twice. Bradley Beal (31.2 ppg.) had 37 points in Monday’s 133-122 loss to Milwaukee after sitting out the previous game with a knee injury.
26. Sacramento, 15-24 (26)
The Kings have gone 3-13 in their last 16 games. Point guard De’Aaron Fox has averaged 30.7 in his last four games.
27. Orlando, 13-26 (27)
The Magic have lost eight in a row. All-Star and former Sixer Nikola Vucevic continues to be one of the few bright spots. He leads the Magic in scoring (25 ppg.), rebounding (11.6) and assists (3.7).
28. Detroit, 10-29 (28)
The Pistons are 0-4 since the All-Star break, losing road games at New York, Charlotte and Brooklyn before Monday’s 109-99 home loss to San Antonio. Point guard Delon Wright is averaging 10.5 points and 4.9 assists as one of the few bright spots.
29. Minnesota, 9-30 (30)
The Timberwolves snapped a nine-game losing streak with Thursday’s 135-105 win at New Orleans. Minnesota then finished the week by splitting home games with Portland, ending with Sunday’s 114-112 win over the Trail Blazers as No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards scored a season-high 34 points. Edwards has averaged 23.9 points in his last seven games.
30. Houston, 11-26 (29)
The losing streak is now 16, all without Christian Wood (ankle injury). Houston announced last week that Eric Gordon would be sidelined four to six weeks because of a groin strain. He was considered a potential trade target for contenders looking for a perimeter threat.