Milwaukee Bucks remain atop NBA Power Rankings by taking care of business
By Phil Watson
Los Angeles Clippers. 5. team. 77. . 25-12. Previous:
Last week: Won at Sacramento 105-87, beat Detroit 126-112, lost to Memphis 140-114
This week: Sunday vs. New York, Friday vs. Golden State
The LA Clippers ended 2019 with a blowout road win and began 2020 with a solid win at home, but the wheels came off Saturday. Without injured Paul George and Patrick Beverley, the Clippers were demolished by the visiting Grizzlies, with the 26-point margin of defeat their worst at home this season and their worst since a 32-point pounding from the Rockets on April 3.
The Clippers will have some time this week to get well. After a SEGABABA with the Knicks on Sunday, LA won’t play again until Friday, potentially giving some of their bumps and bruises time to clear up. The matchup with the Knicks could get dicey if George doesn’t go, because Leonard will likely be out on the back end of the back-to-back after logging 35 minutes on Saturday.
For the week, Leonard averaged 22.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals in 32.5 minutes per game, shooting 39.3 percent overall and hitting just 4-of-17 from 3-point range. Leonard scored 24 points, but needed 21 shots to do it, in the win at Sacramento on New Year’s Eve, also dishing out seven assists and getting two steals.
79. . 22-13. Previous: . Dallas Mavericks. 4. team
Last week: Lost at Lakers 108-95, lost at Oklahoma City 106-101, beat Brooklyn 123-111, lost to Charlotte 123-120 (OT)
This week: Monday vs. Chicago, Wednesday vs. Denver, Friday vs. Lakers, Saturday vs. Philadelphia
The Dallas Mavericks took on a bit of water at a bad time, going 1-3 last week while getting ready to head into a three-game stretch later this week against the Nuggets, Lakers and 76ers. The Mavericks are 1-1 to open their current six-game homestand after losing Saturday night in overtime to the Hornets.
Dallas is just 6-7 over its last 13 games since a five-game winning streak from Nov. 29-Dec. 7. Luka Doncic missed four games with a sprained ankle since then and Kristaps Porzingis has missed the last three games with soreness in his right knee.
Doncic continues his remarkable second NBA season, averaging 31.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 36.9 minutes per game last week, but he shot only 43.0 percent overall and was a dismal 28.9 percent on 11.3 3-point attempts a game. He had a 39-point, 12-rebounds, 10-assist triple-double in the loss to Charlotte on Saturday, but was just 5-for-15 from deep.