Tommy Beer is back with his latest version of
BasketballNews.com's NBA Power Rankings. To read last week's
version, click here.
The Phoenix Suns continue to cruise, while the Utah Jazz and
Boston Celtics have been grinding their way into the NBA's
upper-echelon as of late.
1. Phoenix Suns (46-10) ↔️ Last Week:
1
The Suns have been, by far, the best and most consistent team in
the NBA this season. They proved it once again last week by beating
up on three of the Eastern Conference's best teams (the Chicago
Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks) in succession.
2. Memphis Grizzlies (40-18) ⬆️ Last Week:
3
The Grizz are currently riding another five-game winning streak
and have won 21 of their last 25 contests. Memphis will look to
make it seven in a row heading into the All-Star break by beating
the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers this
week.
3. Golden State Warriors (42-16) ⬇️ Last
Week: 2
The Warriors have dropped 3 of their last 4 games, including an
embarrassing home loss to the New York Knicks last Thursday and a
15-point shellacking by the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.
Golden State is now five games behind the Suns for the top spot in
the Western Conference. "Our defense has just been bad for six,
seven games now. It's hard to win in this league when you're
looking like we are defensively, with so many holes," Warriors head
coach Steve Kerr said after Monday's loss.
4. Miami Heat (37-20) ⬆️ Last Week:
5
The Heat welcomed Kyle Lowry back earlier this month, and have
won each of the five games they've played with their point guard in
the lineup.
5. Chicago Bulls (37-21) ⬆️ Last Week:
6
Shockingly, DeMar DeRozan has pushed his name into the fringes
of the MVP conversation of late due to his awe-inspiring play over
the past few weeks. He has scored at least 30 points in seven
consecutive contests, making him the first Bull with such a streak
since Michael Jordan during the 1996-97 season. During this
seven-game stretch, DeRozan is averaging 37.6 points, 5.6 rebounds
and 5.7 assists, while shooting 58% from the floor.
6. Utah Jazz (36-21) ⬆️ Last Week:
10
On Monday night, the Jazz wrapped up a perfect 6-0 homestand
with an easy victory over the Houston Rockets. They also welcomed
back Rudy Gobert in that contest, who had missed nine games due to
a left calf strain. It was the first time Utah had its entire
starting five on the floor together since Jan. 13.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (34-22) ⬆️ Last Week:
8
James Harden spoke with the media on Tuesday for the first time
since his arrival in Philadelphia and said the Sixers were a
"perfect fit" and his first choice. "Obviously, you got the best
big man in the league in Joel [Embiid] and then obviously the
coaching. Just from top to bottom, it made sense," Harden said. The
Beard also seemed to take a swipe at a former teammate, stating, "I
needed to be around guys that I know want to win and are willing to
do whatever it takes to win."
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (35-22) ⬇️ Last
Week: 7
The NBA announced Monday that Jarrett Allen would replace James
Harden (hamstring) in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. Allen is
averaging career highs in points (16.2), rebounds (11.1), assists
(1.8), steals (0.76) and minutes (32.6) this season.
9. Milwaukee Bucks (35-23) ⬇️ Last Week:
4
The Bucks' loss to the Suns in Phoenix last Thursday was
understandable, if not acceptable — but Monday's defeat to the
Blazers was demoralizing. Milwaukee's defense has been horrendous
as of late. The team ranks 27th in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency
dating back to late January.
10. Boston Celtics (33-25) ⬆️ Last Week:
13
The Celtics are riding the league's longest winning streak,
having notched eight straight victories. They have been the best
defensive team in the NBA in 2022, and added Derrick White prior to
the trade deadline, who should help them on both ends of the
floor.
11. Dallas Mavericks (33-24) ⬇️ Last Week:
9
On Monday, Luka Doncic was named the Western Conference Player
of the Week after averaging a whopping 43.0 points, 10.3 rebounds
and 8.3 assists over Dallas' past three games. In the two games he
played against the Los Angeles Clippers late last week, Doncic
tallied 96 points, 24 rebounds, 14 assists and 13 made
three-pointers. According to Basketball-Reference, he is the first
player in NBA history with at least 96/24/14 and 13 treys over a
two-game span.
12. Denver Nuggets (32-25) ⬇️ Last Week:
11
The Nuggets didn't make a major move at the deadline, but Denver
fans are hoping two key contributors return before the playoffs
arrive. Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly
said last week that he believes Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.
will be physically cleared to return "hopefully in the not too
distant future."
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (30-27) ⬆️ Last
Week: 14
Anthony Edwards tallied 37 points with 7 threes, 5 rebounds, 4
assists and 4 steals in Sunday's victory over the Indiana Pacers.
However, it was his very first bucket of the game that made
history, as it was the 2,500th point of his career. At 20 years,
192 days old, Ant-Man is the fourth-youngest player in NBA history
to reach that total. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker
are the only players to reach that milestone at a younger
age.
14. Toronto Raptors (31-25) ⬇️ Last Week:
12
The Raps had won eight straight games before losing to Denver
over the weekend, and then shockingly, Toronto was pummeled by the
Pelicans on Monday night, 120-90.
15. Brooklyn Nets (30-27) ↔️ Last Week:
15
Although Ben Simmons has yet to suit up, the other players the
Nets got in the Harden deal provided a much-needed spark Monday
night, and helped snap Brooklyn's 11-game losing streak. Seth Curry
racked up 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in 32 minutes in his
Nets debut, while Andre Drummond chipped in 11 points, 9 rebounds,
4 assists, 2 steals and a block in 24 minutes.
16. Los Angeles Clippers (29-30) ⬆️
Last Week: 20
The Clippers have registered two impressive victories in a row.
They held off the Mavericks in Dallas on Saturday, despite a
45-point explosion from Luka Doncic. Then, on Monday, L.A. beat the
Warriors, 119-104.
17. Charlotte Hornets (29-29) ⬇️ Last Week:
16
The Hornets have lost 7 of their last 8 games, and their only
victory during this stretch has been over the hapless Detroit
Pistons. Charlotte hasn't beaten a team with a winning record since
defeating the Celtics back on Jan. 19.
18. Los Angeles Lakers (26-31) ↔️ Last
Week: 18
As BasketballNews.com detailed earlier this week, the
Lakers have somehow managed to turn a championship-level roster
into a team that finds itself six games below .500 with an outside
chance of finishing the season on the outside of the playoff
picture looking in.
19. Atlanta Hawks (26-30) ⬇️ Last Week:
17
Not only have the Hawks lost 4 of their last 5 games, but the
team also learned over the weekend that forward John Collins — who
injured his foot in Friday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs — has
been diagnosed with a right foot strain and will be sidelined
through the All-Star break.
20. Washington Wizards (26-30) ⬆️ Last
Week: 21
Washington head coach Wes Unseld Jr. told reporters Monday that
there is a chance that the newly-acquired Kristaps Porzingis — who
has been dealing with a bone bruise in his right knee — may be
medically cleared to play this week. "He's doing a little bit more
every day on the floor," Unseld said. "That's a positive sign, but
we still have to be cautious with it. When the time's right, he's
ready."
21. Portland Trail Blazers (24-34) ⬆️ Last
Week: 25
Break up the Blazers! After Portland busted up its core at the
deadline, most pundits assumed the team would sink to the bottom of
the standings. However, the Blazers are 3-0 since trading away CJ
McCollum and Co., with shocking wins over the Lakers, Knicks and
Bucks. During this three-game stretch, Anfernee Simons is averaging
30.0 points, 6.3 assists and 6.0 made treys, while slashing
.486/.462/.800.
22. New Orleans Pelicans (23-34) ⬇️ Last
Week: 19
On Monday, the Pels ended a brief two-game losing streak with an
impressive blowout victory over the Raptors. CJ McCollum — who
tallied 36 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists on Saturday — scored
23 points on an efficient 9 of 13 shooting in Monday's 120-90 win
over Toronto.
23. New York Knicks (25-33) ⬇️ Last Week:
22
The Knicks have lost 9 of their last 12 games, and things don't
get any easier over the next few weeks. After hosting the Nets on
Wednesday, New York will play Miami and Philadelphia right after
the All-Star Break before embarking on a brutal seven-game road
trip (its longest of the season).
24. Sacramento Kings (22-37) ↔️ Last Week:
24
De'Aaron Fox has scored more than 25 points in each of the four
games he's played since returning from an ankle injury after the
trade deadline. Fox is averaging 27.0 points (on 49.4% shooting),
4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 made three-pointers during this
four-game stretch.
25. San Antonio Spurs (22-36) ⬇️ Last Week:
23
With their loss to the Bulls in Chicago on Monday, the Spurs are
just 1-12 this season in the 13 games they've played against teams
that are currently over .500.
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (18-39) ⬆️ Last
Week: 27
After tallying 11 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a loss
to the Bulls on Saturday, Josh Giddey exploded for a career-high 28
points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in OKC's victory over the Knicks
at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Giddey is the youngest
player in NBA history to record a triple-double in back-to-back
games.
27. Indiana Pacers (19-39) ⬇️ Last
Week: 26
The Pacers' moves before the deadline have given Oshae Brissett
a chance to step in, and the 23-year-old out of Syracuse has
stepped up. Over Indiana's past three games, Brissett is averaging
18.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and 2.3 made
triples (on 43.8% shooting from downtown) in 34.7 minutes per
contest.
28. Houston Rockets (15-41) ↔️ Last Week:
28
The Rockets have lost 9 of their last 10 games, and have to
travel to Phoenix to take on the league-leading Suns on Wednesday
night.
29. Orlando Magic (13-46) ↔️ Last Week:
29
In a season with few other bright spots for Orlando, Franz
Wagner continues to impress. The rookie sensation stuffed the stat
sheet with 26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in
Monday's loss to the Nuggets.
30. Detroit Pistons (12-45) ↔️ Last Week:
30
Marvin Bagley III, who the Pistons acquired from the Kings at
last week's deadline, finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds in 21
minutes in his Pistons debut on Monday. Bagley will compete for
minutes with Isaiah Stewart and Kelly Olynyk over the second half
of the season.
Looking to go to the hottest
concerts, sports, theater & family shows near you? Get 100%
guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from
TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of
BasketballNews.com. Order online
now!