NBA Power Rankings Week 20: What history will Milwaukee Bucks make?
By Phil Watson
team. 38. . 27-33. Previous: . Orlando Magic. 15
Last week: Won at Brooklyn 115-113, won at Atlanta 130-120, beat Minnesota 136-125, lost at San Antonio 114-113
This week: Monday vs. Portland, Wednesday at Miami, Friday at Minnesota
The Orlando Magic rode a 3-1 week into seventh place in the Eastern Conference, jumping past Brooklyn with a win at home over the Timberwolves on Friday. At nine games behind sixth-place Indiana, seventh appears to be about as good as it’s going to get for the Magic this season.
Orlando has won five of its last seven overall and nearly made it a 4-0 week, but Evan Fournier couldn’t quite finish a fast-break opportunity off a Markelle Fultz steal in the closing seconds Saturday night at San Antonio. It would have given the Magic a win in the Alamo City for the second straight season for the first time in franchise history — Orlando is now 6-26 there.
Aaron Gordon had a huge week (until San Antonio, at least), scoring 25 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks in the win at Atlanta on Wednesday and notching his first career triple-double Friday against the Wolves.
In four games, Gordon averaged 19.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.8 blocks in 39.8 minutes a game, shooting 58.3 percent overall and hitting 7-of-16 from deep.
69. . 26-33. Previous: . New Orleans Pelicans. 14. team
Last week: Won at Golden State 115-101, lost at Lakers 118-109, beat Cleveland 116-104
This week: Sunday vs. Lakers, Tuesday vs. Minnesota, Wednesday at Dallas, Friday vs. Miami
The New Orleans Pelicans continue to pressure the eighth-place Grizzlies in the Western Conference, with a 2-1 week pulling them to within 2½ games of Memphis in the playoff race. New Orleans has won three of four, six of its last eight and is 20-11 since Dec. 17.
The Pelicans will be at home for three of their four games this week, including another matchup with the Lakers in an attempt to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the leaders in the West. New Orleans will also visit Dallas in its lone road game and host the Heat during a tough slate.
Zion Williamson had a strong week, running his streak of consecutive 20-point games to 10 — the longest by a rookie since Donovan Mitchell from March 15-April 3, 2018, and in three games averaged 27.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 32.2 minutes per game, shooting 59.3 percent overall and making his only 3-point attempt.
He scored 28 points with seven rebounds — six offensive — in Sunday’s win at Golden State and took a career-high 19 free throws in Tuesday’s loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles.