NBA Power Rankings Week 15: Concerns for Milwaukee Bucks, other contenders
By Phil Watson
Previous: . Brooklyn Nets. 17. team. 147. . 19-25
Last week: Lost to Philadelphia 117-111, lost to Lakers 128-113, won at Detroit 121-111 (OT)
This week: Sunday at New York, Wednesday vs. Detroit, Friday vs. Chicago, Saturday at Washington
With their win at Detroit Saturday night, the Brooklyn Nets stopped a five-game losing streak, but they are still just 3-12 in their last 15 games. The win improves them to 6-11 with Kyrie Irving in the lineup, while they are 13-14 — including Monday’s loss to the 76ers — without their free-agent signing.
Jarrett Allen had a couple of strong games this week, even as the Nets gave up another 20/20 game to Detroit center Andre Drummond. It’s the fifth time Drummond has posted at least 20 points and 20 rebounds against Brooklyn since Jan. 10, 2018, a span of nine meetings. Allen had 20 points, 15 boards and four blocks for Brooklyn.
For the week, Allen averaged 13.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 33.5 minutes per game, shooting 55.2 percent overall, missing his lone 3-point attempt. The Nets also made a change Saturday night, bringing Spencer Dinwiddie off the bench after he had started 32 straight games. He played 37 minutes as opposed to the 22 starter Garrett Temple logged.
Phoenix Suns. 16. team. 66. . 19-26. Previous:
Last week: Lost to San Antonio 120-118, lost to Indiana 112-87, won at San Antonio 103-99
This week: Sunday at Memphis, Tuesday at Dallas, Friday vs. Oklahoma City
The Phoenix Suns lost a pair of games at home before getting a road win at San Antonio to salvage a 1-2 week. The win over the Spurs on Friday came four days after a loss to San Antonio at home on Monday. The Suns have won five of their last eight games and are 8-6 since ending an eight-game losing streak on Dec. 28.
Devin Booker, not surprisingly, set the tone for the week, averaging 29.3 points, 6.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 36.9 minutes per game, while shooting 52.7 percent overall and hitting 7-of-16 from 3-point range. Booker scored 37 points in the loss to the Spurs at home before going for 35 points and 10 assists in the win at San Antonio.