Milwaukee Bucks remain atop NBA Power Rankings by taking care of business

Last week: Won at Toronto 98-97, beat Dallas 106-101, won at San Antonio 109-103, won at Cleveland 121-106

This week: Monday at Philadelphia, Tuesday at Brooklyn, Thursday vs. Houston, Saturday vs. Lakers

Remember when the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to five games below .500 with a three-point loss at home to the Lakers on Nov. 22? Wow, does that feel like a long time ago now. After hitting their low-water mark at 5-10, the Thunder have ripped off 15 wins in their last 20 games, including four in a row and eight of their last nine, and are a season-high five games above .500.

That’s not what many expected after Sam Presti traded away first Paul George and then Russell Westbrook last summer, with a return that included some actual players but focused more on future first-round picks. But Chris Paul and Danilo Gallinari brought veteran stability and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing like a star lately.

In four games last week, SGA averaged 24.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals in 36.1 minutes per game, shooting 54.4 percent overall and hitting 5-of-14 from long range. Gilgeous-Alexander matched a career-high with 32 points to go with seven rebounds and three steals in the win at Toronto on Sunday.

Last week: Beat Philadelphia 115-97, lost to Denver 124-116, lost at Atlanta 116-111

This week: Monday at Charlotte, Wednesday vs. Miami, Friday at Chicago

After not losing consecutive games for more than a month, the Indiana Pacers have done it twice in the span of eight days as they’ve lost four of their last five games. The Pacers were able to blast the 76ers on New Year’s Eve despite getting only eight minutes and no points from Malcolm Brogdon, who sat out the rest of the week with a sore back.

It’s been an uneven effort defensively over the last four games for Indiana, which has allowed 120 points or more twice and 115 or more three times, while holding Philadelphia to less than 100. The Pacers have also lost four straight on the road since a 110-100 win at Atlanta — coincidentally enough — on Dec. 13.

But through the struggles, Domantas Sabonis continues to play like a serious All-Star contender, averaging 22.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 34.2 minutes per game over the three games last week, shooting 67.4 percent overall and making 1-of-5 from 3-point range. Sabonis had 25 points and 11 boards on 11-of-15 shooting in the loss to the Hawks on Saturday.