Big move up NBA Power Rankings in Week 4 for Houston Rockets
By Phil Watson
team. 73. . 9-3. Previous: . Denver Nuggets. 11
Last week: Lost to Atlanta 125-121, beat Brooklyn 101-93, won at Memphis 131-114
This week: Wednesday vs. Houston, Friday vs. Boston, Sunday vs. Phoenix
The Denver Nuggets bounced back from a bad loss at home to the Hawks to post solid wins over the Nets and Grizzlies after coming back from early deficits.
The Nuggets really turned on the afterburners in the second quarter in Memphis Sunday, outscoring the Grizzlies 44-17. It was the highest-scoring quarter for Denver since they scored 44 against the Clippers on March 16, 2017, while the 27-point margin in the period was the largest for the Nuggets since outscoring the Bulls 43-16 in the second quarter on Nov. 26, 1988.
The second-quarter outburst was just one points off the franchise record for the largest margin in a single period, set on Nov. 7, 1985, with a 42-14 third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks and matched on Nov. 29, 1985 — yes, 22 days later — when the Nuggets outscored the Utah Jazz in the second period, 41-13.
Sunday was a big night for Jamal Murray, who bounced back from a horrific game against the Nets (four points on 1-of-11 shooting) by pouring in a season-best 39 points in Memphis, hitting 14-of-24 overall and going 7-for-12 at the foul line. Murray also dished out eight assists without a turnover for the second time in three games (he also turned the trick against Atlanta).
Philadelphia 76ers. 10. team. 93. . 8-5. Previous:
Last week: Beat Cleveland 98-97, lost at Orlando 112-97, lost at Oklahoma City 127-119 (OT), won at Cleveland 114-95
This week: Wednesday vs. New York, Friday vs. San Antonio, Saturday vs. Miami
The Philadelphia 76ers got Ben Simmons back last week after he missed a couple of games with a shoulder injury, but on Wednesday — the back end of a back-to-back — the Sixers opted to rest Joel Embiid and the club took its worst loss of the season.
Simmons returned to average 14.8 points, 7.5 assists, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in four games last week, shooting 73.0 percent from the floor and only 55.6 percent (5-for-9) at the stripe — trends that have played out throughout Simmons’ career thus far.
In 11 games thus far, Simmons is making 56.5 percent of his shots, but only 55.9 percent of his free throws. He also has yet to attempt a 3-pointer this season after teasing video throughout the summer of him taking long jumpers.
That could still end up being the biggest problem with Philadelphia’s talented starting unit. If Embiid is going to be your leading 3-point shooter, defenses are going to pack the paint and dare the Sixers to shoot over the top. So far, they’ve done so at a 34.1 percent clip — just 18th in the NBA.