NBA Power Rankings Week 19: LA Clippers get aggressive on buyout market
By Phil Watson
Washington Wizards. 25. team. 142. . 20-34. Previous:
Last week: Lost to Cleveland 113-108
This week: Sunday at Chicago, Monday vs. Milwaukee, Wednesday vs. Brooklyn, Friday at Utah
The Washington Wizards still find themselves in legitimate playoff contention entering the second half of the season, but losses such as the one they took at home from the Cavaliers in their return on Friday will take care of that quickly. Washington led by 16 in the first half and by as much as eight in the fourth quarter before coughing up the victory.
The Wizards did shuffle the roster a bit before the trade deadline, shipping out Jordan McRae and Isaiah Thomas and bringing in Shabazz Napier and Jerome Robinson.
Rui Hachimura returned recently from missing more than two months with a groin injury sustained in a friendly fire incident (he was inadvertently kicked by teammate Isaac Bonga in a Dec. 16 win at Detroit and put up 17 points with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 30 minutes against the Cavs, hitting 7-of-13 from the floor and going 1-for-3 from deep.
The rookie has averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 27.4 minutes per game in six games since coming back, shooting 52.3 percent overall and 4-for-10 from 3-point range. In 31 games overall, he’s at 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in 28.8 minutes a night on a slash line of .489/.241/.831.
24. team. 24. . 19-38. Previous: . Chicago Bulls
Last week: Lost to Charlotte 103-93, lost to Phoenix 112-104
The hits have kept on coming for the Chicago Bulls, who dropped both games last week to run their losing skid to a season-long eight games. The Bulls never led in a loss to the Hornets on Thursday before blowing a 17-point lead Saturday while losing their third straight at United Center.
The banged-up Bulls went with nine men in uniform on Saturday, starting point guard Tomas Satoransky at the 3, second-round pick Daniel Gafford at the 5 and Ryan Arcidiacano at the 1. Less than ideal conditions.
Thaddeus Young performed well against Charlotte with a season-high 22 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in 36 minutes. Young hit 10-of-18 overall and 2-of-3 from deep. Over the two games, he scored 35 points with 16 boards, eight steals and three blocks in 67 minutes, hitting 15-of-29 from the floor and 5-of-8 from 3-point range.