|
The two best teams in the NBA met twice last week, splitting the series. Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns shut down Stephen Curry on Tuesday in Phoenix, but the Golden State Warriors bounced back on their home floor Friday. They both start the week at a league-best 19-4, but which of them takes the top spot in our NBA Power Rankings? The Christmas Day rubber match is shaping up to be one of the best games of the season, but can the Suns and Warriors hold off Donovan Mitchell and the surging Utah Jazz? And speaking of surging Western Conference teams, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Memphis Grizzlies to a 73-point win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, setting the record for the largest margin of victory in NBA history. The Grizzlies are on a four-game win streak and have climbed to No. 4 in the West. In the Eastern Conference, Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls have won three straight games to climb back near the top of the standings, just half a game behind the Brooklyn Nets for the top seed. Our experts break down where these surging teams rank among each other. Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.   1. Golden State Warriors
2021-22 record: 19-4
Previous ranking: 1 Stephen Curry and the Warriors caught a glimpse of the first team all season that appears to be playing on their level: Phoenix. The Suns have the same kind of deep and talented roster that has made these two teams the early favorites in the Western Conference. After dropping Tuesday's game to Chris Paul & Co., the Warriors responded by snapping the Suns' 18-game winning streak on Friday. They ran out of gas in a surprising loss to the Spurs on Saturday -- capping a 19-for-69 week from the field for Curry. -- Friedell This week: ORL, POR, @PHI
 2. Phoenix Suns
2021-22 record: 19-4
Previous ranking: 2 Without Devin Booker (left hamstring injury), the Suns' franchise-record 18-game winning streak came to an end Friday night against the Warriors. The Suns had beaten Golden State last Tuesday to finish November with a 16-0 mark, becoming the seventh team in NBA history to go 16-0 or better in a calendar month. The 18-game streak was also a career best for coach Monty Williams as a coach or a player. His previous best was a 17-game winning streak as a player with San Antonio (1996). Williams and the Suns get a chance to start another winning streak Monday against the Spurs. -- Lopez This week: SA, BOS
 3. Brooklyn Nets
2021-22 record: 16-7 Previous ranking: 3 It continues to be a weird season in Brooklyn. The Nets remain atop the Eastern Conference but have now gone a combined 1-6 against teams currently in the top eight in the NBA standings, including losses to Chicago, Miami, Phoenix and Golden State at Barclays. Against the rest of the league, the Nets are 15-1. -- Bontemps This week: @DAL, @HOU, @ATL, @DET
 4. Chicago Bulls
2021-22 record: 16-8
Previous ranking: 7 The Bulls made an early-season statement with a sweep at Staples Center on back-to-back nights, and their performance in New York to sweep the Knicks and Nets last week was a worthy follow-up. Chicago has continued rolling, despite playing a bit short-handed recently. Coby White and Javonte Green have entered the NBA's health and safety protocols, and Alex Caruso was limited to just eight minutes Saturday because of a hamstring injury. -- Collier This week: DEN, @CLE, @MIA
 5. Milwaukee Bucks
2021-22 record: 15-9
Previous ranking: 4 Just when the Bucks started rolling, their roster took another hit with Giannis Antetokounmpo sitting out back-to-back games with a right calf injury. Milwaukee is hopeful this will be a short-term ailment for Antetokounmpo, who is registering another season at an MVP level. He's averaging 27.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per game to go along with a career-high 6.0 assists and 1.7 blocks. -- Collier This week: CLE, @MIA, @HOU, @NY
 6. Utah Jazz
2021-22 record: 16-7
Previous ranking: 6 Utah has by far the NBA's best offense -- 116.2 points per 100 possessions, 3.7 more than the second-ranked Warriors -- and Donovan Mitchell is in the midst of his best groove of the season. He has averaged 30 points on 56.3% shooting during the Jazz's four-game winning streak, the first time this season he has hit more than half of his shots from the floor in four consecutive games. Mitchell has scored 30-plus in the past three games, matching his total of 30-point performances in the first 20 games. -- MacMahon This week: @MIN, @PHI, @WAS
 7. Miami Heat
2021-22 record: 14-10
Previous ranking: 5 Miami was dealt a tough blow with the news that Bam Adebayo will miss time after having right thumb surgery. Jimmy Butler is still dealing with a tailbone contusion, as well. The Heat need to get healthy for an intriguing three-game home stretch this week, which includes matchups against the Grizzlies, Bucks and Bulls. -- Friedell This week: MEM, MIL, CHI
 8. Washington Wizards
2021-22 record: 14-10
Previous ranking: 8 The Wizards' defense has shown slippage in recent losses. Last week, Washington surrendered 116 points in both the 17-point loss to San Antonio and the 15-point loss to the Cavs. Worse, Washington trailed by as many as 36 to Cleveland. The Wizards started a brutal 10-game stretch on Sunday in Toronto in which they will play nine games on the road. We'll find out more about what the Wizards are made of during this road trip. -- Youngmisuk This week: @IND, @DET, UTAH
 9. Philadelphia 76ers
2021-22 record: 12-11
Previous ranking: 12 Philadelphia has dealt with more COVID-19 absences than any team so far this season, including losing superstar center Joel Embiid for nine games. But now Embiid is back, and the 76ers have a chance to build some consistency and momentum as the world continues to wait for a potential Ben Simmons trade to materialize. -- Bontemps This week: @CHA, @CHA, UTAH, GS
 10. Memphis Grizzlies
2021-22 record: 13-10
Previous ranking: 21 The Grizzlies have led their past four games wire-to-wire, the first team to have such a streak in the 25 seasons since play-by-play data has been tracked, according to Elias Sports Bureau data. That's a rather impressive response to losing star guard Ja Morant to a knee injury -- fortunately for weeks, not months. "Everyone's done a great job of standing up to the challenge and believing in each other," said backup point guard Tyus Jones, who has 30 assists and only four turnovers during the winning streak. -- MacMahon This week: @MIA, DAL, LAL, HOU
 11. Boston Celtics
2021-22 record: 13-11
Previous ranking: 17 Boston emerged from the first few days of its brutal December with a pair of victories over Philadelphia and Portland and a strong performance in a close loss at Utah. Now comes a back-to-back in Los Angeles, followed by a game in Phoenix to round out this five-game West swing. -- Bontemps This week: @LAL, @LAC, @PHX
 12. Atlanta Hawks
2021-22 record: 12-12
Previous ranking: 13 The Hawks won eight of their first nine games inside State Farm Arena. Their past three home games, however, have not gone their way, with losses to the Knicks, Sixers and then a 130-127 loss to the COVID-19-depleted Hornets on Sunday. Against Charlotte, Trae Young did have 25 points and 15 assists -- his 11th 25-point, 15-assist game since he debuted in 2018, the most of any player in the league since then. -- Lopez This week: @MIN, BKN
 13. Charlotte Hornets
2021-22 record: 14-11
Previous ranking: 10 Charlotte has been hit hard by health and safety protocols, as LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Mason Plumlee and Jalen McDaniels all missed Sunday's game and will be out in the short term. The good news for the Hornets is that Miles Bridges is still active and offered another reminder on Sunday of just how much he continues to improve. Bridges racked up 32 points while helping the Hornets snap a three-game losing skid with a win over the Hawks. Charlotte has three more games this week and has to hope Bridges can help carry the offense for now. -- Friedell This week: PHI, PHI, SAC
 14. Dallas Mavericks
2021-22 record: 11-11
Previous ranking: 9 Dallas has dropped seven of nine games since Luka Doncic sprained his left knee and ankle. The Mavs are 2-3 in the games that Doncic has played in that span, including blowout home losses to the Cavaliers and Pelicans. His frustration has been problematic, as coach Jason Kidd noted that Doncic's constant complaining to the referees often results in poor transition defense. Soreness in that ankle sidelined Doncic again Saturday night, and Kristaps Porzingis has missed the past two games because of a knee contusion. -- MacMahon This week: BKN, @MEM, @IND, @OKC
 15. Cleveland Cavaliers
2021-22 record: 13-11
Previous ranking: 20 There are no moral victories in the NBA, but it certainly says a lot about the Cavs' growth this season that they can look at Sunday's 109-108 loss to the Utah Jazz as a game they would have won had they not gone 0-for-4 in the final 90 seconds. It was a wildly successful week for the Cavs regardless, as Cleveland went 3-0 on a road trip through Dallas, Washington and Miami before the close loss to Utah. -- McMenamin This week: @MIL, CHI, @MIN, SAC
 16. LA Clippers
2021-22 record: 12-12
Previous ranking: 11 If it weren't for a feel-good and clutch win over the Lakers, the Clippers' past week would've been a low point. They lost twice to the Kings, including in Sacramento for the first time in 16 games. And they were blown out at home by the Pelicans and flame-throwing Jonas Valanciunas, who hit seven 3s and had 39 points and 15 rebounds. The Clippers have lost seven of their past 10 games, with their wins coming against the Pistons, Lakers and the Luka Doncic-less Mavericks at home. Ty Lue's team is getting healthier with Marcus Morris Sr. back, and perhaps Nic Batum could be nearing a return from health and safety protocols. -- Youngmisuk This week: @POR, BOS, ORL
 17. Denver Nuggets
2021-22 record: 11-11
Previous ranking: 16 The Nuggets' fears were confirmed when Michael Porter Jr. underwent lumbar spine surgery last week and will be out indefinitely. The Nuggets, however, still have the reigning MVP. Denver lost six straight, but Nikola Jokic returned from injury and helped Denver beat the Heat again in Miami. And while the banged-up Nuggets lost in Orlando, Florida, Jokic delivered an MVP-like performance in his lone trip to Madison Square Garden, dropping 32 points and 11 rebounds in a win over the Knicks. Jokic will have to keep this up to keep Denver afloat in the West standings and hope that Jamal Murray can return this season. -- Youngmisuk This week: @CHI, @NO, @SA, @SA
 18. Los Angeles Lakers
2021-22 record: 12-12
Previous ranking: 18 There's no getting around the fact that it has been a frustrating season for the Lakers thus far, but here's a reason for optimism: Anthony Davis has scored 25 points or more in four of L.A.'s past seven games, as he's showing signs of being ready to shoulder the offensive responsibility night in, night out as a recipient of LeBron James' and Russell Westbrook's feeds. -- McMenamin This week: BOS, @MEM, @OKC, ORL
 19. Minnesota Timberwolves
2021-22 record: 11-12
Previous ranking: 19 The Timberwolves have a grueling schedule in December -- they will face just one opponent (Denver Nuggets) with a record not currently above .500. Minnesota has boasted a top-five defense in the NBA so far this season, which it will be counting on to keep it afloat through this stretch. -- Collier This week: ATL, UTAH, CLE, @POR
 20. New York Knicks
2021-22 record: 11-12
Previous ranking: 14 After a blowout loss to the Nuggets -- New York's third loss in a row and fourth in its past five games -- the Knicks talked about trying to find themselves moving forward. One way to do that? Start guarding people again. Dropping from fourth last season in defense to 19th this season is the reason New York has gone from a playoff team to one currently sitting outside of the play-in mix. -- Bontemps This week: @SA, @IND, @TOR, MIL
 21. Portland Trail Blazers
2021-22 record: 11-13
Previous ranking: 15 It wasn't the best week for rookie coach Chauncey Billups. Besides seeing general manager Neil Olshey -- the man who hired him -- fired, the Blazers were blown out in three of four games. Damian Lillard has missed three straight games and CJ McCollum bruised some ribs, though he is probable to play on Monday. Portland has lost five of the past six, but even more alarming is that it suffered its past four defeats by 15, 22, 31 and 28 points, respectively. -- Youngmisuk This week: LAC, @GS, MIN
 22. Toronto Raptors
2021-22 record: 11-13
Previous ranking: 23 Toronto has the league's best offensive rebound percentage, per NBA.com advanced stats, and the league's third-worst defensive rebound percentage. Any Raptors fan who has watched Toronto struggle to close out defensive possessions with a board will have predicted the latter number, one that is a reflection of the lack of interior size Toronto is playing with on a nightly basis. -- Bontemps This week: OKC, NY
 23. San Antonio Spurs
2021-22 record: 8-13
Previous ranking: 26 San Antonio pushed its win streak to four on Saturday night in a win over Golden State, where they became the first team all season to hold at least a 20-point lead over the Warriors. Dejounte Murray averaged 22.3 points, 10 rebounds and 8.5 assists on the win streak and ran his streak of double-doubles to six games and has done so in a variety of ways -- one triple-double, two points-rebounds double-doubles and three points-assists double-doubles. -- Lopez This week: @PHX, NY, DEN, DEN, NO
 24. Indiana Pacers
2021-22 record: 9-16
Previous ranking: 22 Indiana has lost four consecutive games, capped off by a home loss to a Miami Heat team missing two of its All-Stars. Some frustration appeared to boil over during that game when Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert got into a heated discussion on the bench during a timeout. -- Collier This week: WAS, NY, DAL
 25. Sacramento Kings
2021-22 record: 10-14
Previous ranking: 24 Sacramento is 2-0 against the LA Clippers this season and 8-14 against everybody else. The Kings swept a two-game series against the Clips this week, with Sacramento's defense holding Reggie Jackson to 5-for-15 shooting in the first win and Paul George to 5-for-21 in the second. Too bad the Kings don't get the Clippers on the schedule again until the second-to-last game of the season on April 9. -- McMenamin This week: ORL, @CHA, @CLE
 26. Houston Rockets
2021-22 record: 7-16
Previous ranking: 30 Raise your hand if you expected the Rockets to have the NBA's longest active winning streak right now. Houston has reeled off six wins in a row, a run that came on the heels of a 15-game losing streak, the league's longest this season. Eric Gordon, one of the last links to the Rockets' recently deconstructed playoff team, has been outstanding during the streak, averaging 16.3 points, .493/.457/.833 shooting splits and 4.2 assists per game. -- MacMahon This week: BKN, MIL, @MEM
 27. New Orleans Pelicans
2021-22 record: 7-19
Previous ranking: 28 The Pelicans' bench was one of the worst in the league to start the season, but coach Willie Green inserting Willy Hernangomez into the rotation has stabilized that unit. In the past eight games, Hernangomez is averaging 11.3 points and 9.1 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game. In that same time frame, the Pelicans are averaging 44.3 points off the bench -- the third-best mark in the league in that stretch. -- Lopez This week: DEN, DET, @SA
 28. Orlando Magic
2021-22 record: 5-19
Previous ranking: 29 Orlando snapped a seven-game losing skid with a Wednesday win over the Nuggets. Second-year guard Cole Anthony continues his solid play, combining for 50 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds over the past two contests. The Magic have four straight on the road to complete a tough West Coast swing -- including a matchup with Stephen Curry and the Warriors on Monday night. -- Friedell This week: @GS, @SAC, @LAC, @LAL
 29. Oklahoma City Thunder
2021-22 record: 6-16
Previous ranking: 25 The Thunder have lost eight in a row. Last week consisted of a couple of losses to the Rockets -- outcomes that could be critical in lottery odds -- and a record-breaking 73-point rout at the hands of the Grizzlies. OKC opens this week with a big one on the road, playing the Pistons, one of only two teams in the league with fewer wins. -- MacMahon This week: @DET, @TOR, LAL, DAL
 30. Detroit Pistons
2021-22 record: 4-18
Previous ranking: 27 The Pistons, who have lost eight games in a row, are second in the NBA in scoring off the bench, a stat that won't inspire much confidence in Detroit considering its starting lineup is full of young players -- Cade Cunningham, Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey and Killian Hayes -- the team hopes will play a big role in the future. -- Collier This week: OKC, WAS, @NO, BKN
|
