NBA Power Rankings Week 17: Brooklyn Nets make a charge up the middle
By Phil Watson
22-31. Previous: . New Orleans Pelicans. 15. team. 69.
Last week: Lost at Houston 117-109, lost to Milwaukee 120-108, won at Chicago 125-119, won at Indiana 124-117
This week: Tuesday vs. Portland, Thursday vs. Oklahoma City
The New Orleans Pelicans may have gotten their most impressive win of the season on Saturday to salvage a 2-2 week, winning at Indiana without starting forwards Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, both out with ankle sprains. With Nicolo Melli and Josh Hart getting the starting assignments, Jrue Holiday and J.J. Redick combined for 54 points in the win.
For the week, Lonzo Ball helped steer the ship, averaging 11.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks in four games, logging 36.9 minutes a night and shooting 47.2 percent overall while hitting 34.6 percent on 6.5 3-point tries a game. He had 10 points with 11 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks in last Sunday’s loss at Houston.
23-28. Previous: . Brooklyn Nets. 14. team. 147.
Last week: Beat Phoenix 119-97, beat Golden State 129-88, lost at Toronto 119-118
This week: Monday at Indiana, Wednesday vs. Toronto
The Brooklyn Nets nearly had a perfect week, losing at Toronto Saturday night when Caris LeVert‘s pull-up jumper was off target and Joe Harris couldn’t convert a putback as time expired. It was still a solid week for the Nets, who were 2-1 with a pair of blowout wins at home. They’ve now won four of their last six and will play at Indiana and host the Raptors before the break.
LeVert had a huge week for Brooklyn, averaging 29.7 points, 6.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 30.6 minutes per game, shooting 51.7 percent overall and hitting 11-of-16 from deep. He matched a career-high with 29 points in the win over the Suns on Monday and then shattered that mark with 37 points in the loss at Toronto Saturday night.