NBA Power Rankings Week 15: Concerns for Milwaukee Bucks, other contenders
By Phil Watson
team. 73. . 31-14. Previous: . Denver Nuggets. 11
Last week: Lost to Indiana 115-107, won at Minnesota 107-100, lost at Houston 121-105, won at New Orleans 113-106
This week: Sunday vs. Houston, Tuesday at Memphis, Thursday vs. Utah, Friday at Milwaukee
It was an up-and-down week — or more correctly, a down-and-up week — for the Denver Nuggets, who were 2-2 and face a daunting schedule this week. The Nuggets will host the Rockets Sunday, looking to avenge a rout in H-Town on Wednesday, while they will also get the Jazz at home before going to Milwaukee on a home-road back-to-back Thursday and Friday.
Nikola Jokic continued his revival last week, averaging 23.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.3 steals in 33.9 minutes a game. He shot 48.6 percent overall, but struggled from long range, making only 3-of-14. Jokic extended his run of consecutive double-doubles to five games and posted a triple-double in the loss at Houston with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
28-16. Previous: . Houston Rockets. 10. team. 169.
Last week: Lost to Oklahoma City 112-107, beat Denver 121-105, won at Minnesota 131-124
This week: Sunday at Denver, Monday at Utah, Wednesday at Portland, Friday vs. Dallas
The Houston Rockets snapped their season-long four-game losing streak by hammering the Nuggets on Wednesday and followed that up by outrunning Minnesota on Friday. Their 131 points against the Timberwolves was the second 130-point-plus outing for Houston this month; they hung 139 on the T-Wolves in a win at Houston on Jan. 11.
Russell Westbrook continued his recent hot stretch, dropping a season-high 45 points with 10 assists at Minnesota and averaging 35.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 2.3 steals in 36.6 minutes per game on the week. He shot 56.6 percent overall, missed his lone 3-pointer and made 19-of-21 at the line. He has at least 30 points in six of his last seven games.