In Week 20 of NBA Power Rankings, the Pelicans, Wizards and Blazers turn the jets on, the Rockets continue their reign at No. 1 and the bottom of the league tanks its heart out.
Now that the All-Star break has come and gone, the lay of the NBA landscape should be crystalizing. Instead, the playoff picture for each conference is as muddied as ever, and to complicate matters, even the bottom-feeders find themselves in one of the most epic tank races the league has seen in years.
The Houston Rockets continue their reign at No. 1 thanks to a 13-game win streak, but the rest of this week’s NBA Power Rankings continue to shift.
Anthony Davis is carrying the New Orleans Pelicans without DeMarcus Cousins, the Portland Trail Blazers are turning the engines on as they always do after All-Star Weekend, and the Washington Wizards are playing terrific basketball despite the absence of John Wall.
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets have won five straight games to keep dwindling playoff hopes alive, the Detroit Pistons are imploding, the Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t quite out of the woods yet and the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls are on a combined 40-game losing streak in the Great Tank Race of 2018.
The question is, where does everyone end up in Week 20 of NBA Power Rankings for the 2017-18 campaign? Let’s dive in.
Devin Booker goes off for 40 points, 10 boards and 7 assists! #SunsAt50 pic.twitter.com/riesPlk8Ts
— NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2018
Bobby Portis puts up a career-high 38 off the @ChicagoBulls bench. #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/a9SNqsUdhK
— NBA (@NBA) February 23, 2018
Former Michigan backcourt mates Trey Burke (26 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST) & Tim Hardaway Jr. (23 PTS, 6 AST) lead the Knicks to victory in Orlando!#Knicks pic.twitter.com/Fge6PZJSLD
— NBA (@NBA) February 23, 2018
Julius Randle (18 PTS, 12 REB, 10 AST) fueled the @Lakers W with his 1st triple-double of the season! #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/2h0pxEaF79
— NBA (@NBA) February 24, 2018
Dwyane Wade's clutch step-back go-ahead jumper! #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/SeOzfPMvUU
— NBA (@NBA) February 28, 2018
"Westbrook for the win...GOT IT!"
— NBA (@NBA) February 23, 2018
Russell Westbook nails the @TISSOT Buzzer-Beater to lift the @okcthunder to victory! #ThisIsYourTime pic.twitter.com/Ui6nO8iBPS
Nikola Jokic notches his third straight triple-double for the @Nuggets with 28 points, 11 rebounds & 11 assists! #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/O7hf8oAjiN
— NBA (@NBA) February 24, 2018
Ben Simmons puts up a career-high 32 (11a/7r) and Joel Embiid adds 30p/13r to lead the @Sixers in Chicago! #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/J7EPOeHEBr
— NBA (@NBA) February 23, 2018
Karl-Anthony Towns scores 26 PTS, grabs 17 REB, and dishes 4 AST to power the @Timberwolves to the win on the road!#AllEyesNorth pic.twitter.com/obKVVboLgd
— NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2018
53 points, 18 rebounds & 5 blocks by Anthony Davis leads the @PelicansNBA to sixth straight W! #DoItBig pic.twitter.com/qjvgsvWvKg
— NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2018
LeBron James puts up 18p/14r/11a for his 11th triple-double of the season... to lead the @Cavs in Memphis! #AllForOne pic.twitter.com/K1z0iwNa3d
— NBA (@NBA) February 24, 2018
Dame ⌚️!
— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2018
Lillard scores 40 (19 in 4th) including the game-winner to lead the @TrailBlazers in Phoenix! #RipCity pic.twitter.com/ICv3IN4qis
Kyrie Irving puts on a show at MSG with 31 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in the @Celtics W! #Celtics pic.twitter.com/oWLJYZgTn9
— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2018
The BEST of the @Warriors' ball movement in their home W! #DubNation pic.twitter.com/JfL8PLCidR
— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2018
James Harden puts up 41 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the @HoustonRockets to 12th straight win! #Rockets pic.twitter.com/Kz8gmrWjFh
— NBA (@NBA) February 26, 2018
Next: The 50 greatest NBA players of all time (updated, 2016-17)
Where does your favorite NBA team land in Week 20 and where SHOULD they be? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!