The NBA’s Eastern Conference standings are starting to take an interesting turn. Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Milwaukee are at the top, with just 1 ½ games separating them. Then if you drop down to seeds 4 through 11, only 6 ½ games separate them as well. The top ten teams can all make the playoffs, with seeds 7-10 joining in a play-in round. One Western Conference team that could find itself in the play-in after months of supremacy is the Los Angeles Lakers, who are now just three games clear of seventh place and still have LeBron and AD on the shelf with injuries.
Let’s look at the latest power rankings and how they might influence your online NBA betting on Association action this week.
NBA News: Updated Power Rankings
#1 Utah Jazz (38-11)
The Jazz have taken back off again, winners of nine in a row. They start Week 16 with an intriguing matchup in Dallas, who will have their hands full stopping Donovan Mitchell (28.1 points and 5.6 assists per game in this winning streak) and Rudy Gobert (15.7 points, 12.0 boards and 3.3 blocks).
#2 Brooklyn Nets (34-16)
KD’s long hamstring journey appears to be coming to an end, and now the Nets will have everyone — their Big Three (KD, James Harden and Kyrie Irving) along with their two buyout All-Stars (Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge). Can they turn this into a juggernaut?
#3 Philadelphia 76ers (34-16)
The Sixers really lost to Memphis? Really? At least Joel Embiid is healthy and playing once again, and Philadelphia is still in a tie for first atop the East.
#4 Phoenix Suns (34-14)
Phoenix has won five in a row, and the Suns are building separation as the second seed in the West. Devin Booker put up 45 in a win over Chicago on Wednesday and then followed that up with 32 against Atlanta on Friday.
#5 Milwaukee Bucks (32-17)
Jeff Teague came to Milwaukee off the buyout heap, and if he can spell Jrue Holiday down the stretch, that could help give Holiday gas in the tank in the postseason.
#6 L.A. Clippers (33-18)
The Clippers walloped Milwaukee…and then lost to Orlando and Denver. That made six games in nine days, and the fatigue was clear, especially with Paul George, Patrick Beverley, Serge Ibaka and Marcus Morris all missing time with injuries. Rajon Rondo made his debut in an 18-point win over the Lakers, as the Clippers bounced back after two days of rest. Finding ways to balance rest and play will be crucial.
#7 Denver Nuggets (31-18)
Since trading for Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets are 5-0, including wins over Atlanta, Philadelphia and the Clippers — and the win over the Clippers came on a night when Nikola Jokic was off, and the team got contributions from Gordon as well as Will Barton, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.
#8 Los Angeles Lakers (31-19)
This ranking could keep slipping as the Lakers head east for a five-game trip, starting against the Raptors on Tuesday night. The Lakers were 21-6….and since then they are 10-13.
#9 Portland Trail Blazers (30-19)
The return of Jusuf Nurkic and C.J. McCollum has the Trail Blazers rolling, as they demolished Oklahoma City by 48 on Saturday. In their last three games against teams in playoff position right now, though, they have lost by a combined 62 points.
#10 Dallas Mavericks (27-21)
The Mavs finished up a 4-1 road trip by routing Washington on Saturday. Overall, they are 18-7 in their last 25, and one of the biggest stories has been Jalen Brunson, a terrific backup point guard making a claim for Sixth Man status this year. Over those 25 games, he has averaged 13.7 points and 4.1 assists per game.
#11 Miami Heat (26-24)
The Heat have won four in a row — after losing six in a row — after winning 11 of 12. Victor Oladipo came at the trade deadline but isn’t shooting any better than he was in Houston, going just 5 of 21 in his first two contests with the Heat.
#12 San Antonio Spurs (24-23)
The Spurs had two overtime losses to East teams this week, losing to Atlanta in two extra frames on Thursday and then falling to Indiana on Saturday.
#13 Atlanta Hawks (26-24)
The Hawks’ most impressive win last week may have been their victory over the Pelicans, winning on the back end of a back-to-back without Danilo Gallinari, John Collins or Trae Young.
#14 New York Knicks (25-25)
The Knicks are just one game out of fourth — and two games clear of ninth. They need to keep grinding on defense.
#15 Boston Celtics (25-25)
Since trading for Evan Fournier, the Celtics are 2-2. Fournier scored six points in combined in the two losses and 40 points combined in the two wins. They need his scoring off the bench to add a dimension to their offense for the playoffs.
#16 Charlotte Hornets (25-24)
Gordon Hayward (sprained foot) is out for at least a month, and LaMelo Ball (wrist) is done for the season. Thankfully, the team has Terry Rozier, who has 20.0 points, 5.2 boards and 4.4 assists per game over his last ten.
#17 Memphis Grizzlies (24-23)
Jonas Valanciunas has 16.9 points and 14.6 boards per game over his last ten, averaging only 27.4 minutes per contest. In that stretch, the team has outscored the opposition by combined 75 points with him on the floor — and been outscored by 50 points when he’s on the bench, thanks to ESPN Stats & Information.
#18 Indiana Pacers (22-26)
Caris LeVert continues his terrific comeback from surgery for cancer on his kidney, as he had 26 points and nine assists in a win over San Antonio without Malcolm Brogdon or Domantas Sabonis.
#19 Golden State Warriors (23-27)
The Warriors have lost seven of their last eight. Rookie big man James Wiseman has not played well as of late. In Sunday’s loss to Atlanta, the Warrior reserves were outscored by 36 points.
#20 New Orleans Pelicans (22-27)
Lonzo Ball returned from a seven-game absence, but Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson went on the shelf. Josh Hart tore the UCL in his right thumb and Nickeil Alexander-Walker rolled an ankle — and Steven Adams left as a precaution on Sunday after getting hit in the back of his head. Isaiah Thomas comes to town on a ten-day contract — could this be the beginning of a terrific comeback tale?
#21 Chicago Bulls (20-28)
The Bulls ended a six-game skid by beating Brooklyn (without James Harden or KD). However, the team’s defense is still porous, as they have permitted 114 points per game over their last seven.
#22 Sacramento Kings (22-28)
Terence Davis went 7 of 10 from behind the arc as the Kings almost knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks. This will give the team an elite reserve to spell Buddy Hield.
#23 Toronto Raptors (19-30)
The Raptors started 2-8, and then went 15-9. Since then, they have gone just 2-13 as COVID-19 has ravaged the roster. Luckily, they are in the East, so they are only 1 ½ games out of tenth place — and a chance in the play-in for the playoffs.
#24 Oklahoma City Thunder (20-29)
The Thunder have lost their last two games by a combined 85 points, to Phoenix and Portland. However, thanks to injuries, they are basically playing a G League level roster right now.
#25 Washington Wizards (17-31)
Russell Westbrook is picking up more triple-doubles, but without Bradley Beal (hip contusion), Rui Hachimura (shoulder) and Daniel Gafford (ankle), he can’t beat opponents by himself. Next up is a six-game road trip.
#26 Cleveland Cavaliers (17-32)
The Cavs have dropped five straight, but Kevin Love is back, putting up 11.5 points, 7.0 boards and 3.0 assists in two games against the 76ers and the Heat.
#27 Orlando Magic (17-33)
Orlando won big in Los Angeles, over the Clippers, and New Orleans, as Wendell Carter Jr is making a splash with the Magic, putting up 20 points and 12 boards per game in his first three games in Florida.
#28 Detroit Pistons (14-35)
Detroit beat Toronto and Washington and then got dragged by the Knicks on Saturday, losing by 44, as the Knicks made 19 three-balls. That defense still needs some work.
#29 Houston Rockets (13-36)
Kelly Olynyk has been a pleasant surprise for the Rockets, as he came to town as part of the Oladipo played. In five games in Houston, he has led the team with 18.5 points per game.
#30 Minnesota Timberwolves (12-38)
Jaden McDaniels had to guard Ja Morant and James Harden this week, and he impressed teammates with his ability to get some stops.
NBA Betting Odds
Love betting NBA basketball? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date NBA lines
