NBA Power Rankings Week 19: LA Clippers get aggressive on buyout market
By Phil Watson
11. team. 93. . 35-22. Previous: . Philadelphia 76ers
Last week: Beat Brooklyn 112-104 (OT), lost at Milwaukee 119-98
This week: Monday vs. Atlanta, Wednesday at Cleveland, Thursday vs. New York
The great Jekyll-and-Hyde campaign of the Philadelphia 76ers continued after the All-Star break with a great escape in an overtime win at home over the Nets before another road dud at Milwaukee. The 76ers are now an NBA-best 26-2 at Wells Fargo Center … and 9-20 away from the friendly confines of the WFC.
Adding to the woes Saturday night was All-Star Ben Simmons departing after less than five minutes, having irritated the sore lower back that kept him out of Thursday’s victory over Brooklyn, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
With Simmons ailing, Joel Embiid stepped up huge against the Nets with 39 points on 10-of-20 shooting, making 18-of-19 at the line as well, to go with 16 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 41 minutes.
It did not go as well in Milwaukee and for the week, Embiid logged 56 points, 27 rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks in 70 minutes shooting 15-of-38 overall, 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 24-for-26 at the free-throw line.
36-20. Previous: . Houston Rockets. 10. team. 169.
Last week: Won at Golden State 135-105, won at Utah 120-110
This week: Monday vs. New York, Wednesday vs. Memphis, Saturday at Boston
Although they are more like sparklers now, the Houston Rockets are doing just fine thanks. Continuing with a lineup so small that adding DeMarre Carroll (6-foot-6) and Jeff Green (6-foot-8) to the roster constituted “adding size,” the Rockets rolled to a pair of double-digit road wins last week and moved back into the West’s top four with the win at Utah on Saturday.
With their win, the Rockets also sealed he tiebreaker over the Jazz, finishing the season series with a 2-1 edge. Houston is one game back of the Clippers for third place in the West and two games in back of second-place Denver.
James Harden found some of his shooting touch at Salt Lake City, dropping 38 points in 37 minutes to go with seven assists, five rebounds and two steals. Harden was 13-for-23 overall and 6-of-11 from the land of 3.
In the two games, he scored 67 points in 67 minutes while dishing 17 dimes with eight rebounds, five steals and three blocks on 19-of-39 shooting, hitting 9-of-22 from deep.