NBA Power Rankings: Gaps Tightening At The Top Of Both Conferences
By Reid Mueller
(38-29). Previous: 11th. Oklahoma City Thunder. 10. team. 149. The Thunder came into the week on a four game winning streak, with games against the Spurs, Jazz, and Nets. OKC won all three with a very impressive week of basketball. They sit two games behind the Clippers for the fifth seed, with 15 games remaining. Next week brings a road trip to Brooklyn and Toronto, before heading home to take on the Kings and the Kevin Durant-less Golden State Warriors.
Previous: 9th. Toronto Raptors. 9. team. 81. Toronto opened the week with road losses against the Hawks and Heat. They returned home to beat the Mavericks by 20. The Raptors have fallen to two and a half games behind the Wizards for the third spot in the East. Next week they host the Thunder, Pacers, and Bulls, with a road game versus the Pistons.. (39-28)
The Clippers had four games this past week. The week began with two road games, a loss against the Timberwovles, and a win against the Grizzlies. Then they beat the Sixers at home, before hitting the trail again for a loss to the Jazz. The Clippers have their big three healthy, yet continue to play below their potential level. They have five games this week, home versus the Bucks, Cavaliers, and Knicks, with two road games against the Nuggets and Lakers.. (40-27). Previous: 8th. Los Angeles Clippers. 8. team. 77
(41-25). Previous: 7th. Washington Wizards. 7. team. 142. The Wizards are currently on course to be the third seed in the Eastern Conference, sitting a half game back of the Boston Celtics for the two spot. Washington had a successful week, going 3-1 against the Nuggets, Kings, Trail Blazers, with a loss to the Timberwolves. John Wall came up big with 39 points in their overtime win over Portland, and Bradley Beal came up with 38 points in their overtime win over the Kings.
118. The Jazz were in for a difficult week, two road games against the Rockets and Thunder, before hosting the Clippers. Utah beat the Rockets, struggled against the Thunder, and beat the Clippers by six. Beating the Clippers extended their lead to two games over LA. The game was huge for a team trying to clinch home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Jazz spend next week on the road against the Pistons, Cavaliers, Bulls, and Pacers.. (42-25). Previous: 5th. Utah Jazz. 6. team