NBA Power Rankings: Milwaukee Bucks riding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s balky back

Last week: Lost at Lakers 106-99, won at Cleveland 115-113, lost to Cleveland 115-112 (OT), lost to Chicago 108-99

This week: Monday vs. New Orleans, Wednesday at Boston, Saturday at Atlanta

All-NBA forward Blake Griffin had surgery on a balky left knee and could be done for the season after appearing in just 18 games. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons put together a 1-3 week that included gifting a game to the Cavaliers on the back end of a home-and-home set. That was following a narrow win at Cleveland thanks to some generosity on the part of the Cavs.

Andre Drummond had his ups and downs, getting his sixth and seventh 20/20 games of the season in the two games with Cleveland, going 2-for-13 against the Lakers and getting tossed after 19 minutes of action in the loss to the Bulls. For the week, he averaged 18.0 points, 16.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.0 steals in 36.8 minutes per game and shot 48.1 percent.

Last week: Won at Cleveland 118-103, lost at Memphis 119-112, beat Portland 116-102, lost at Houston 139-109

This week: Monday vs. Oklahoma City, Wednesday vs. Indiana, Friday at Indiana, Saturday vs. Toronto

A tough week lies ahead for the Minnesota Timberwolves — four games against better-than-.500 opposition, though three of those are at home. Ordinarily, that might be good, but the Wolves are 6-11 in their own arena. By going 2-2 last week, Minnesota already has more wins in January than they did in December, when they were a disastrous 2-12 and lost 11 straight.

Gorgui Dieng continues to give the Timberwolves a big effort while filling in for the injured Karl-Anthony Towns in the middle, hanging up 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in the win at Cleveland. For the week, Dieng averaged 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals in just 22.1 minutes per game, shooting 59.5 percent overall and 11-for-20 from 3.