NBA Power Rankings: Up is down, down is up after crazy start

Last week: Won vs. Memphis, 120-101, won at Milwaukee 131-126 (OT), lost at Minnesota 116-109

This week: Tuesday vs. Atlanta, Thursday at Atlanta, Sunday vs. Houston

Score one for the Miami Heat scouting operation. Undrafted rookie Kendrick Nunn could find himself on an All-Rookie team — or with a big trophy — based on his first week of NBA action.

The 24-year-old is averaging 22.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals in 31.7 minutes per game in place of new dad Jimmy Butler. Heady stuff for a guy who was a sixth man in the G League last season. Nunn is hitting 51.9 percent overall and is 8-for-19 from deep so far.

Justise Winslow is also producing, with 19.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in a whopping 40.0 minutes per game thus far, even as he’s shooting just 40.7 percent overall and has gone 3-for-7 from 3-point land. Goran Dragic, meanwhile, is adapting to his new sixth man role, averaging 19.0 points and 5.0 assists in 29.0 minutes a game so far.

Last week: Won vs. Oklahoma City 100-95, lost at Lakers 95-86, won vs. Sacramento 113-81

This week: Monday at Phoenix, Wednesday vs. Clippers, Friday at Sacramento, Sunday at Clippers

Donovan Mitchell‘s push for a first career All-Star selection is off to a rousing start, as the third-year guard is putting in 23.7 points per game while shooting 58.7 percent overall and 4-for-8 from 3-point range through three games. Add in the 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals with just 1.0 turnovers per game and he’s been one of the best in the NBA in the early going.

Newcomer Bojan Bogdanovic missed Friday’s loss to the Lakers with a sprained ankle, but has scored 42 points in the two games he’s played — both victories for the Utah Jazz. He lit up Sacramento for 26 points on Saturday, hitting 5-of-9 from deep and doing basically what the Jazz were hoping for when they signed him over the summer.

Mike Conley, Utah’s other much ballyhooed addition, has gotten off to a slightly slower start, shooting just 23.7 percent overall and making just three of his first 17 attempts from 3-point range. History says those numbers will improve. And any worries about Utah’s defense seem unfounded in the early going — their 91.9 defensive rating leads the NBA.

Last week: Won vs. Lakers 112-102, won at Golden State 141-122, lost at Phoenix 130-122

This week: Monday vs. Charlotte, Wednesday at Utah, Thursday vs. San Antonio, Sunday vs. Utah

If there is a most-surprising early statistic winner, it might be that the LA Clippers are near the bottom of the NBA with a 114.2 defensive rating through three games. Not what one expects from a team with Kawhi Leonard and Patrick Beverley in tow.

But the Clippers currently have three 20-point-per-game scorers — two off the bench — with Leonard (26.0), Lou Williams (22.0) and Montrezl Harrell (21.0). Leonard is also averaging 8.0 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in just 28.3 minutes per game. Harrell, meanwhile, has knocked down 80.0 percent of his shots so far (NOTE: This may not be sustainable.)

It is good the Clips are getting so much scoring off the bench. Ivica Zubac, a starter who doesn’t get starter’s minutes, is averaging 10.3 points in just 14.3 minutes per game so far, while Landry Shamet (8.3), Beverley (7.0) and Patrick Patterson (9.7) are averaging single digits.