NBA Power Rankings Week 21: Milwaukee Bucks won’t match Warriors

Last week: Beat Milwaukee 105-89, beat Orlando 116-113, lost at New Orleans 110-104

This week: Sunday at Washington, Wednesday vs. Charlotte, Friday vs. New York, Saturday vs. Chicago

The Miami Heat have a chance to potentially solidify their hold on the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, where they currently lead the Pacers by two games. The Heat play four sub-.500 teams this week, three of them at home. Miami is 27-4 at home, including a 16-point thumping of the mighty Bucks on Monday.

The Heat may have let one get away Friday night at New Orleans, a defeat that ended a four-game winning streak. More critically for Miami, it was their fourth straight loss away from AmericanAirlines Arena. The Heat haven’t won a road game since before the All-Star break, a Feb. 10 win at Golden State. That was followed by losses at Utah, Atlanta and Cleveland before Friday.

Jimmy Butler had 28 points with eight rebounds, six assists and three steals in 37 minutes at New Orleans and for the week averaged 19.3 points, 7.0 boards, 7.0 dimes and 2.0 steals in 35.3 minutes a night. He shot 47.5 percent overall and was 1-for-2 from 3-point range while going 12-of-14 at the line against the Pelicans.

Last week: Won at Minnesota 111-91, lost at Chicago 109-107, beat New Orleans 127-123 (OT), beat Memphis 121-96

This week: Sunday vs. Indiana, Tuesday at San Antonio, Wednesday vs. Denver, Saturday vs. Phoenix

The Dallas Mavericks are closing in on their first playoff berth since 2016, with a 3-1 week that leaves them seventh in the Western Conference, but within 2½ games of fourth-place Utah. Dallas went 3-1 last week despite having to juggle their starting five and rotation all week long.

Kristaps Porzingis, who is rounding into his former All-Star form of late, rested Monday in the loss at Chicago as part of the plan to keep his left knee healthy. Seth Curry also sat out that game with tightness in his lower back.

All-Star Luka Doncic missed last Sunday’s win at Minnesota with a sprained left thumb, while starters Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness) and Dorian Finney-Smith (right hip) missed Friday’s blowout of the Grizzlies.

Among the Mavericks to appear in all four games, Delon Wright had the strongest week, averaging 6.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.3 steals in 28.2 minutes per game, making one start along the way. He shot 40.9 percent overall and hit 4-of-10 from deep, dropping 11 points with eight boards, five times and three steals on Friday against the Grizzlies.