Big move up NBA Power Rankings in Week 4 for Houston Rockets

Last week: Lost to Houston 122-116, beat Clippers 132-127, lost at Miami 109-94, beat Golden State 108-100

This week: Tuesday vs. Portland, Thursday at Phoenix, Saturday at Utah, Sunday at Clippers

The New Orleans Pelicans split four games last week — including a surprising win over the LA Clippers on Thursday — but will have to gear up for a three-game trip this week that looks much tougher with the emergence of the Phoenix Suns.

Jrue Holiday led the Pelicans with 22.5 points per game last week, also putting up 7.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in 37.2 minutes per game (along with 5.5 turnovers a night), but shot just 41.3 percent overall. He did hit a solid 39.1 percent (9-for-23) from deep.

The Pelicans are so banged up right now that undrafted second-year forward Kenrich Williams averaged 36.1 minutes per game last week. New Orleans had nine players on their injury report for Saturday’s loss at Miami, playing with just eight players dressed (the NBA minimum).

It got a bit better Sunday against Golden State with J.J. Redick coming back, but they were still down Brandon Ingram, Jahlil Okafor, Josh Hart, Frank Jackson, Lonzo Ball, Darius Miller, Derrick Favors and, of course, No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson.

Last week: Lost at Sacramento 107-99, lost to Toronto 114-106, won at San Antonio 121-116

This week: Monday at Houston, Tuesday at New Orleans, Thursday at Milwaukee, Saturday at Cleveland

The Portland Trail Blazers salvaged a 1-2 week last week, opening their six-game road trip on Saturday night with a much-needed win at San Antonio — just Portland’s second win in its last eight games.

Of course, the Trail Blazers made huge waves off the court, agreeing to sign Carmelo Anthony to a non-guaranteed veteran’s minimum deal. Anthony should sign some time in the next couple of days. He will give Portland some needed depth at the 4, a position that was decimated when Zach Collins dislocated his left shoulder.

Hassan Whiteside turned in a solid performance against the Spurs, picking up his seventh double-double in 12 games this season with 21 points and 12 rebounds to go with three blocks. In three games for the week, Whiteside put up 16.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 28.5 minutes per game, shooting 63.6 percent.

The real stunner for Whiteside this season? He’s actually making free throws. He’s hitting at a 76.6 percent clip so far this year — which would be a career-high — after shooting only 44.9 percent last season and 59.3 percent for his career entering this campaign.