NBA Power Rankings Week 15: Concerns for Milwaukee Bucks, other contenders
By Phil Watson
32-14. Previous: . Los Angeles Clippers. 5. team. 77.
Last week: Won at Dallas 110-107, lost at Atlanta 102-95, won at Miami 122-117
This week: Sunday at Orlando, Tuesday at Lakers, Thursday vs. Sacramento, Saturday vs. Minnesota
While the LA Clippers are still waiting on Paul George and Patrick Beverley to get healthy, they were bitten by one of Kawhi Leonard’s nights off on the back end of a back-to-back on Wednesday, canceling out a solid win at Dallas with a stunning loss at lowly Atlanta. Leonard posted his first career triple-double on Friday as the Clippers won in Miami.
Montrezl Harrell played big … and small … in the loss to the Hawks, scoring 30 points with three blocks, but also blowing a bunch of free throws — he was just 6-for-13. For the week, Harrell averaged 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks in 30.0 minutes per game off the bench, shooting 48.0 percent overall, missing his lone 3-pointer and going 9-for-18 at the line.
Previous: . Dallas Mavericks. 4. team. 79. . 28-17
Last week: Lost to Clippers 110-107, won at Portland 133-125, lost at Utah 112-107
This week: Monday at Oklahoma City, Tuesday vs. Phoenix, Friday at Houston, Saturday vs. Atlanta
As the Dallas Mavericks gear up for two back-to-backs this week, they have to be kicking themselves for the one that got away. Dallas led at Utah by 13 points Saturday afternoon before Utah battled back, taking the lead for good on Royce O’Neal’s 3-pointer with 38.5 seconds remaining.
The Mavericks also lost Dwight Powell for the season, as their center ruptured his right Achilles’ tendon in Tuesday’s loss to the Clippers. Dallas acquired Willie Cauley-Stein in a trade from the Warriors to help offset the loss of Powell.
Luka Doncic had 36 points, 10 boards and nine assists in the loss to LA and averaged 29.3 points, 8,3 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 35.4 minutes per game for the week. But he hit only 44.7 percent of his shots and was a ghastly 21.2 percent on 11.0 3-point attempts per game. Perhaps more concerning? The 13-for-25 performance at the line.