NBA Power Rankings: Milwaukee Bucks riding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s balky back
By Phil Watson
Phoenix Suns. 17. team. 66. . 15-23. Previous:
Last week: Lost to Memphis 121-114, lost to Sacramento 114-103, beat Orlando 98-94
This week: Sunday vs. Charlotte, Tuesday at Atlanta, Thursday at New York, Saturday at Boston
The Phoenix Suns let a couple get away at home they probably shouldn’t have and will close out a five-game homestand on Sunday having split the first four games after a 1-2 week last week. That came after a 2-2 road trip that included wins at Sacramento and Portland the week before. The Suns, like almost everyone but the Warriors out West, are still in the playoff mix.
Devin Booker had a big week, averaging 32.7 points, 6.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 37.8 minutes a game over the three contests, while shooting 57.1 percent overall and hitting 7-of-19 from deep. Booker also averaged 9.3 free-throw attempts a night, including going 13-of-14 (his only miss of the week) en route to 40 points in the loss to the Grizzlies last Sunday.
Previous: . Brooklyn Nets. 16. team. 147. . 17-20
Last week: Lost at Orlando 101-89, lost to Oklahoma City 111-103 (OT), beat Miami 117-113
This week: Sunday vs. Atlanta, Tuesday vs. Utah, Wednesday at Philadelphia, Saturday vs. Milwaukee
The Brooklyn Nets snapped their seven-game losing streak with a good win over the Heat on Friday night and they will open a five-game gauntlet on Tuesday when they open a stretch against the Jazz at home, a back-to-back at Philadelphia, then returning home for the Bucks, 76ers and Lakers. Good luck with that.
Spencer Dinwiddie had a big game in the win over Miami, breaking out of a two-game funk to score 26 points with a career-high 14 assists. For the week, he averaged 18.7 points, 7.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per game, shooting 37.3 percent overall (he was 10-of-19 against the Heat) and 18.2 percent on 7.3 3-point attempts per game.