NBA Power Rankings Week 17: Brooklyn Nets make a charge up the middle
By Phil Watson
Indiana Pacers. 13. team. 100. . 31-22. Previous:
Last week: Lost to Dallas 112-103, lost at Toronto 119-118, lost to Toronto 115-106, lost to New Orleans124-117
This week: Monday vs. Brooklyn, Wednesday vs. Milwaukee
The Indiana Pacers are scuffling after an 0-4 week, with a five-game losing streak that is the team’s longest since it dropped five in a row from Dec. 26, 2017-Jan. 3, 2018. Indiana has also lost four straight games at home, the most it has dropped consecutively at Bankers Life Fieldhouse since losing four straight from Feb. 8-16, 2017.
All-Star Domantas Sabonis has done what he can to keep the Pacers competitive, averaging 19.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists in 36.9 minutes per game, shooting 60.0 percent in four games while making 2-of-6 from deep. He had 26 points with 12 rebounds, nine assists and two steals in Monday’s loss to the Mavericks.
Previous: . Oklahoma City Thunder. 12. team. 149. . 32-20
Last week: Beat Cleveland 109-103, beat Detroit 108-101
This week: Sunday vs. Boston, Tuesday vs. San Antonio, Thursday at New Orleans
It was a workmanlike week for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who took care of business at home against Eastern also-rans in the Cavaliers and Pistons. Oklahoma City has now won four straight games and nine of its last 10 to move to a season-best 12 games above the .500 mark. OKC is 27-10 since Nov. 25.
Dennis Schroder continued to cook off the bench for the Thunder, scoring 48 points with nine assists and seven rebounds in 61 minutes. He shot 58.1 percent overall and was 2-for-6 from long range. Schroder went off for 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting with six assists and five boards in the win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday.