Nets remain No. 1; Sixers move up to No. 5 | NBA Power Rankings

For the second week in a row, the Brooklyn Nets are No. 1 in The Inquirer’s NBA Power Rankings. The 76ers, after a 3-1 week, have moved up two spots to No. 5. This is the ninth week of rankings. The Sixers have been No. 7 or above each week.

Records are through Monday. Last week’s ranking is listed in parentheses.

1. Brooklyn (23-13) (1)

During the 3-1 week, the Nets lost Saturday at home against Dallas (without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving) and also had home wins over Sacramento and Orlando, and Monday’s 124-113 overtime victory at San Antonio. Durant, currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, has missed 17 games. The Nets are 11-6 in those contests.

2. Utah (27-8) (2)

Donovan Mitchell shot 7-for-21 from the field, including 1-for-8 from three-point range in Monday’s 129-124 loss at New Orleans. The Jazz began their 2-2 week by winning 114-89 at home against the Lakers, then lost 124-116 at Miami and won at Orlando, 124-109.

3. L.A. Clippers (24-12) (3)

A 2-2 week included a split of games at Memphis, sandwiched around a win against Washington and Sunday’s 105-100 loss to Milwaukee when the Clippers were outscored 28-19 in the fourth quarter. Kawhi Leonard (26.8 ppg.) remains in the MVP conversation.

4. Phoenix (22-11) (4)

After a 124-121 home loss to Charlotte, the Suns finished the week with wins at Chicago and Minnesota. All-Star Devin Booker had a season-high 43 points in Sunday’s 118-99 win at Minnesota. He has averaged 33 points in his last four games.

5. Sixers (23-12) (7)

The low-light of a 3-1 week was Saturday’s 112-109 OT loss to visiting Cleveland. The Sixers also earned wins over Toronto, Dallas and Indiana. After going through a three-game stretch where he shot 14-for-53, Joel Embiid has shot 23-for-39 in his last two games, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, while averaging 33 points and 13 rebounds.

6. Milwaukee (21-13) (8)

After losing five in a row, the Bucks have now won five consecutive games following Sunday’s 105-100 home win over the Clippers. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots in the win. He has averaged 35.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and 2 blocks during the five-game win streak.

7. L.A. Lakers (24-11) (5)

The Lakers broke a season-high four-game losing streak with home wins against Portland and Golden State. Since Anthony Davis went out with a calf injury, the Lakers are 3-4.

8. Denver (19-15) (11)

The Nuggets have yet to be more than four games over .500 this year. They ended their week with road wins over Oklahoma City and Chicago after a 112-110 home loss to Washington. In last week’s 111-106 win over visiting Portland, the Nuggets committed just one turnover.

9. Golden State (19-16) (12)

After wins at New York and Indiana, and a home victory at Charlotte, the three-game win streak was snapped with Sunday’s 117-91 loss to the host Lakers. Against the Lakers, Stephen Curry was held to 16 points and snapped a 15-game streak of scoring 24 or more points. In those 15 games, he averaged 32.6 points.

10. Portland (19-14) (6)

The Blazers ended a four-game losing streak with Monday’s 123-111 home win over Charlotte as Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 29 points. Anthony is averaging 13.6 points and shooting 39.3% from three-point range.

» READ MORE: Joel Embiid on the Sixers’ transition defense: ‘We’ve been terrible all season’

11. San Antonio (17-13) (9)

The Spurs had a 1-2 week, with three close games. They lost 102-99 at Oklahoma City, won at home against New Orleans, 117-114, and lost 124-113 in overtime to the visiting Nets on Monday. DeMar DeRozan (20.3 ppg.) has been highly efficient with a 4.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.

12. Dallas (17-16) (15)

Dallas bounced back from Thursday’s 111-97 loss in Philadelphia to win 115-98 in Brooklyn on Saturday and 130-124 in Orlando on Monday. Dallas has won four of its last five. It’s the Mavericks’ first time above .500 since they were 8-7. Luka Doncic missed a triple-double against Orlando with 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. You won’t find a more creative pass than this one from Doncic last week in a 110-107 home win over Boston.

13. Miami (17-17) (17)

The Heat are on a season-best six-game win streak. Among the victories in this streak is a win at the Los Angeles Lakers and Friday’s 124-116 home victory over Utah as former Sixer Jimmy Butler had 33 points. Second-year point guard Kendrick Nunn is averaging 17.7 points and 4.8 assists during the six-game win streak.

14. Toronto (17-17) (10)

With Nick Nurse, five assistants and Pascal Siakam out for health and safety protocols, the Raptors beat Houston, 122-111 on Friday. Kyle Lowry had a triple-double, 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Assistant Sergio Scariolo coached the team. The Raptors game Sunday against Chicago was postponed due to health and safety protocols. Tuesday’s game in Tampa against Detroit has been postponed and tentatively rescheduled for Wednesday.

15. Boston (17-17) (13)

The Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak by posting consecutive home wins over Indiana and Washington by a combined seven points. In the 118-112 win over Indiana, Kemba Walker had a season-high 32 points. Walker has been inconsistent coming off a knee injury and he will need to step up in the second half.

16. New York (18-17) (16)

Tom Thibodeau has to be the first-half coach of the year. After 35 games last season, the Knicks were 10-25. The Knicks ended their week with home wins over Sacramento and Indiana, and Sunday’s 109-90 victory at Detroit.

17. Memphis (15-15) (18)

The Grizzlies had a 2-1 week that included a split of home games with the Clippers and Sunday’s 133-84 rout at Houston. Justice Winslow, in only his fourth game of the season since returning from a hip injury, had a season-high 20 points against Houston

18. Charlotte (16-18) (19)

The Hornets are 2-3 on their current six-game road trip, losing to Utah, Golden State and Portland and beating Phoenix and Sacramento. During Sunday’s 127-126 win at Sacramento, forward P.J. Washington scored a career-high 42 points, while grabbing nine rebounds. He shot 5 of 8 from beyond the arc. Rookie LaMelo Ball has averaged 23.4 points in his last five games after scoring 30 in Monday’s 123-111 loss at Portland.

19. Indiana (15-18) (14)

The Pacers continued their skid with Monday’s 130-114 loss to the Sixers, their fourth straight defeat. They are 3-9 in their last 12 games. The other three games during the current losing streak - home against Golden State and on the road against Boston and New York - were by a combined 13 points.

20. New Orleans (15-19) (23)

After losing at Milwaukee and San Antonio, the Pelicans had their best win of the season with Monday’s 129-124 home victory over Utah. All-Star Zion Williamson had 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. The Pelicans are 29th in defensive rating, allowing 116.1 points per 100 possessions.

21. Chicago (15-18) (20)

The Bulls finished the week with home losses to Phoenix and Denver. All-Star Zach LaVine has led the Bulls in scoring in 13 of the last 14 games. During that span, he is averaging 31 points and shooting 45.4% from three-point range.

» READ MORE: Sixers guard Seth Curry’s stats are dramatically different since he tested positive for COVID-19 | Off the Dribble

22. Cleveland (14-21) (28)

The Cavs have won four in a row for the second time this season after Monday’s 101-90 victory at Houston. Cleveland also had home wins over Atlanta and Houston and Saturday’s 112-109 OT road victory against the Sixers. Collin Sexton, who scored 28 points against the Sixers, has averaged 29.8 points during the current win streak

23. Washington (13-19) (24)

The Wizards have been playing much better, but let one game slip away in Sunday’s 111-110 loss to Boston. Washington led 110-105 on Bradley Beal’s basket with 47 seconds left, but the Wizards couldn’t stop the Celtics down the stretch. Still, the Wizards have won seven of nine and are in the playoff hunt.

24. Atlanta (14-20) (21)

The Hawks’ inconsistent play cost Lloyd Pierce his job. A former Sixers assistant, Pierce was 63-120 in two-and-half seasons. Assistant Nate McMillan has taken over on an interim basis. McMillan has had previous head-coaching stints at Seattle, Portland and Indiana. The Hawks went 1-3 with road losses at Cleveland, Oklahoma City and Miami in addition to a home win over Boston.

25. Oklahoma City (14-20) (25)

The Thunder went 2-1 in three home games, beating San Antonio and Atlanta and losing to Denver.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in last week’s win over San Antonio: 42 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 6-for-11 on threes.

26. Orlando (13-22) (22)

Orlando’s losing streak was extended to four with Monday’s 130-124 home loss to Dallas. Former Sixer Nikola Vucevic, who earned his second straight all-star appearance, is averaging a career-high 24.5 ppg., along with 11.7 rebounds.

27. Sacramento (13-21) (26)

The Kings snapped a nine-game losing streak with Saturday’s 110-107 win at Detroit, but then lost at home to Charlotte the next night, 127-126. The Kings remain last in NBA in defensive rating, allowing 118.7 points per 100 possessions.

» READ MORE: Key for Sixers: Avoid defeats in the second half of the season like Saturday’s loss to Cleveland

28. Houston (11-22) (27)

The Rockets have lost 12 in a row following Monday’s 101-90 home loss to Cleveland. Included in this streak was Saturday’s 133-84 home loss to Memphis. Houston has dropped all 12 games since Christian Wood was sidelined with a sprained right ankle.

29. Detroit (9-25) (29)

The Pistons went 1-3, beating Orlando and losing their last three at New Orleans and home against Sacramento and New York. Former Sixer Jerami Grant remains one of the bright spots, averaging 23.4 ppg.

30. Minnesota (7-28) (30)

The Timberwolves have lost eight consecutive games, including four under new coach Chris Finch.