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

Last week: Beat Dallas 108-95, beat Phoenix 117-107, beat New Orleans 123-113

This week: Sunday vs. Detroit, Tuesday vs. New York, Friday at Dallas, Saturday at Oklahoma City

Three games, three workmanlike double-digit wins for the Los Angeles Lakers last week as they remain atop the Western Conference. They avenged a home-court loss to the Mavericks last Sunday and followed that up with relatively breezy wins over the Suns and Pelicans.

Against the Pelicans, Anthony Davis once again rose up to bite his former club — hard. Davis had 41 points when the teams met in New Orleans on Nov. 27 and upped the ante Friday night to 46 points with 13 rebounds and three steals.

But Davis was strong throughout the week, averaging 31.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks in 37.3 minutes per game and shooting 65.3 percent overall while hitting 4-of-9 from 3-point range. The 27-for-30 free throw shooting was also very good, a total that included 13-for-13 against the Pelicans.

Last week: Won at Charlotte 109-92, beat Atlanta 109-106, won at Chicago 111-104

This week: Monday at Washington, Wednesday vs. San Antonio, Thursday at Philadelphia, Saturday vs. New Orleans

For a team many say is in desperate need of help at center, the Boston Celtics seem to be plugging along pretty well, going 3-0 last week and posting eight wins in their last nine games. The Celtics will get their third shot of the season at arch-rival Philadelphia after dropping the first two meetings, but it will come on the road as the back end of a back-to-back — not ideal.

Boston did sweep a home-road back-to-back last week, beating the Hawks on Friday before winning at Chicago on Saturday, but those are two teams with 21 wins … combined. The Spurs and 76ers, this week’s back-to-back opponents, have a combined 37 victories with 23 of those belonging to Philadelphia.

During a week when both Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown missed time due to illness, Gordon Hayward stepped up nicely, averaging 21.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 35.4 minutes per game while shooting 56.5 percent overall and dropping 7-of-16 from 3-point range. Hayward had a big night at Charlotte on New Year’s Eve with 21 points, 10 boards and six dimes.