Utah returns to top; Sixers drop to No. 3 | NBA power rankings

The Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers, both riding six-game sin streaks, have moved to No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in The Inquirer’s NBA power rankings.

The 76ers, who were No. 1 last week, dropped to No. 3 after Saturday’s 122-112 loss to the host Clippers.

Records are through Monday. Last week’s rankings are in parentheses.

1. Utah (35-11) (4)

The Jazz, who last topped the power rankings in mid-February, won their sixth in a row with Monday’s 114-75 home victory over Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell has led the Jazz in scoring eight consecutive games. Mitchell is averaging 25.7 points and 5.5 assists this season.

2. L.A. Clippers (32-16) (5)

The Clippers have won six in a row with Monday’s 129-105 home victory over Milwaukee. It was the second of nine consecutive home games for L.A., a string that began with Saturday’s 122-112 win over the Sixers. All six wins have been over teams .500 or better.

3. Sixers (32-14) (1)

The Sixers won their first two out west, beating Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers, before losing Saturday to the Clippers. It was the eighth straight game played without Joel Embiid, who has a bone bruise in his left knee. The Sixers are 6-2 in those games.

4. Brooklyn (32-15) (2)

After a 118-88 loss at Utah in which Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden didn’t play, the Nets won by 113-111 at Detroit and 112-107 at home against Minnesota. Harden scored 80 points in the two wins, and Irving returned after missing three games to score 27 points against the Timberwolves.

5. Phoenix (31-14) (6)

The Suns went 3-1 on their road trip, beating Miami, losing to Orlando, and finishing with wins over Toronto and Charlotte. Devin Booker had 35 points in the 101-97 OT victory over Charlotte. That was the Suns’ first OT win of the season after three losses.

6. Denver (28-18) (7)

The Nuggets, who will host the Sixers on Tuesday, went 3-1 during the week, winning at Orlando, losing to Toronto in Tampa, and winning at New Orleans and at home against Atlanta. Newly acquired Aaron Gordon scored 13 points in the 126-102 win over Atlanta. With the addition of Gordon, the Nuggets can compete with any team in the Western Conference.

7. Milwaukee (29-17) (3)

The Bucks have lost three in a row, suffering home defeats to Boston and New York and Monday’s 129-105 road setback against the Los Angeles Clippers. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed the New York game with a knee injury, returned to score 32 against the Clippers, but he had a minus-30 rating.

8. L.A. Lakers (30-17) (8)

After losing to the Sixers, 109-101 on Thursday, the Lakers earned home wins over Cleveland and Orlando as LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain out because of injury. The Lakers signed Andre Drummond after he was bought out by Cleveland, and he should be a major factor, especially in the absence of James and Davis.

9. Portland (28-18) (9)

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum shot a combined 10-for-36 in a 116-112 home loss to Brooklyn. Portland then won three straight road games: at Miami, Orlando and against Toronto in Tampa. Since he has returned from his broken foot, McCollum has averaged 20.3 points and the Trail Blazers are 6-2 in those games.

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10. Dallas (24-21) (10)

After a home loss to Indiana and a road defeat at New Orleans, Dallas defeated host Oklahoma City, 127-106 on Monday. Luka Doncic missed the game against Indiana with back soreness and the defeat to the Pelicans with a non-COVID illness. He returned to score 25 points against OKC. He is averaging 28.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 9.0 assists.

11. Charlotte (23-22) (15)

After wins against San Antonio, Houston and Miami, the Hornets ended the week with a 101-97 OT home loss to Phoenix. In their last six games, the Hornets had six leading scorers, including Devonte Graham, who had 30 points in the loss to Phoenix.

12. San Antonio (23-21) (11)

The Spurs have lost five of six with Monday’s 132-115 home defeat to Sacramento. In Saturday’s 120-104 win over Chicago, Gregg Popovich earned his 1,300th career victory. He joins Don Nelson (1,335) and Lenny Wilkens (1,332) as the only coaches in NBA history with 1,300 wins.

13. Atlanta (23-23) (13)

After winning their first eight games under interim coach Nate McMillan, the Hawks went 1-3, all on the road, losing against the Clippers and Sacramento, beating Golden State and ending with a loss at Denver. Trae Young is averaging 25.6 points, but he is shooting 36% from three-point range, just below the league average of 36.7%.

14. New York (24-23) (18)

The Knicks saw their three-game winning streak end with Monday’s 98-88 home loss to Miami. The win streak began with a 131-113 home victory over Washington as Julius Randle had 37 points and shot 7-for-10 from three. Mitchell Robinson broke a bone in his right foot, his second major injury this season.

15. Memphis (22-22) (17)

After consecutive road losses at Utah, Memphis won, 120-110, at Houston on Monday as Jonas Valanciunas totaled 30 points and 15 rebounds. Valanciunas is quietly having a strong season, averaging 16.1 points and 12.5 rebounds.

16. Boston (23-24) (14)

Evan Fournier made his Celtics debut in Monday’s 115-109 home loss to New Orleans. Acquired from Orlando, Fournier shot 0-for-10 in his Celtics debut against New Orleans. Boston has lost three of its last five games.

17. Golden State (23-24) (16)

The Warriors snapped a four-game losing streak with Monday’s 116-102 home win over the Chicago Bulls. Stephen Curry, who missed the previous five games with a bruised tailbone, scored 32 points. The Warriors are 1-6 with Curry out of the lineup.

18. Miami (23-24) (12)

The Heat snapped a six-game losing streak with Monday’s 98-88 win over New York as Jimmy Butler scored 27 points. Miami has lost three or more games in a row four times this season.

19. New Orleans (21-25) (20)

The Pelicans have won four of five after Monday’s 115-109 win at Boston. Brandon Ingram had 36 points (4-for-6 from three) in a 128-111 home win over his former Lakers team last Tuesday.

20. Sacramento (22-25) (26)

The Kings won their fifth consecutive game with Monday’s 132-115 victory at San Antonio. De’Aaron Fox has averaged 34.2 points during the streak.

21. Indiana (21-24) (19)

After a home win against Detroit and a road victory at Dallas, the Pacers suffered a 132-124 loss Monday at Washington despite 35 points from Domantas Sabonis.

22. Chicago (19-26) (21)

The Bulls have lost four in a row and six of seven. Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and nine rebounds in each of his first two games with Chicago after being traded last week by Orlando.

23. Oklahoma City (19-27) (22)

The Thunder have lost three in a row, all at home against Memphis, Boston and Dallas. OKC has decided to sit former Sixer Al Horford (14.2 ppg., 6.7 rpg.) for the rest of the season to allow younger players to get more time.

24. Toronto (18-29) (23)

The Raptors continue to be in a free fall, with three consecutive losses and 12 of the last 13. After missing Toronto’s 122-117 home loss to Portland with a sore right foot, Kyle Lowry returned and scored 10 points in Monday’s 118-104 loss at Detroit.

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25. Washington (17-28) (25)

After a three-game losing streak, the Wizards earned consecutive home wins over Detroit and Indiana. In Monday’s 132-124 win over Indiana, Russell Westbrook had 35 points, 14 rebounds and 21 assists, setting the franchise record for career triple doubles, his 16th in 38 games with the Wizards.

26. Cleveland (17-30) (24)

After starting a four-game road trip with a win at Chicago, the Cavs lost their next three at the Lakers, Sacramento and Utah. Cleveland will host the Sixers on Thursday. This year, the Cavs are 2-0 against the Sixers.

27. Orlando (15-31) (27)

The Magic have lost four of five with Sunday’s 96-93 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers. Newcomers Otto Porter Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr. scored five and eight points, respectively, off the bench in their first game with the Magic after being traded by Chicago.

28. Detroit (13-33) (28)

The Pistons snapped a four-game losing streak with Monday’s 118-104 home win over Toronto as rookie Saddiq Bey of Villanova had 19 points. Bey is averaging 10.9 points.

29. Minnesota (11-36) (29)

The Wolves have lost five of six, including two in a row, home against Houston and at Brooklyn. Karl-Anthony Towns has averaged 29.5 points in his last eight games.

30. Houston (13-33) (30)

After a 20-game losing streak, the Rockets have won two of their last four, including Saturday’s 129-107 win at Minnesota behind 25 points from Kevin Porter.