Oklahoma City Thunder make a move in NBA Power Rankings; Bucks still No. 1
By Phil Watson
Portland Trail Blazers. 17. team. 34. . 14-16. Previous:
Last week: Won at Phoenix 111-110, beat Golden State 122-112, beat Orlando 118-103, beat Minnesota 113-106
This week: Monday vs. New Orleans, Thursday at Utah, Saturday vs. Lakers
The Portland Trail Blazers have run off four straight wins, going 4-0 last week, and since hitting their lowest point this season at 5-12 after losing at Cleveland on Nov. 23, the Blazers have gone 9-4 and have jumped into eighth place in the Western Conference. Next week gets tougher, though, with a visit to Utah and the Lakers coming to town.
Damian Lillard continues to fuel the run by Portland, averaging 30.8 points, 7.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 37.1 minutes in the four games last week, shooting 47.1 percent overall and 36.6 percent on 10.3 3-point attempts per game. Lillard had 31 points and 13 assists in Wednesday’s win over the Warriors.
64. . 11-19. Previous: . Detroit Pistons. 16. team
Last week: Lost to Washington 133-119, lost to Toronto 112-99, lost at Boston 114-93, lost to Chicago 119-107
This week: Monday vs. Philadelphia, Thursday vs. Washington, Saturday at San Antonio
Four games, four double-digit losses — three of them at home. No, last week will not be one for the scrapbook for the Detroit Pistons. Instead, the scrap heap would be a more appropriate place to dump it and move on. The Pistons have now lost five of their last six, with the lone win coming at Houston on Dec. 14.
In a week when Blake Griffin played just once and Andre Drummond, Derrick Rose and Luke Kennard all missed time, Markieff Morris tried carry some of the load. He averaged 14.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 29.0 minutes per game and shot 42.6 percent overall and 40.0 percent on 6.3 3-point attempts nightly. Morris had a season-high 23 points against the Bulls.