NBA Power Rankings Week 21: Milwaukee Bucks won’t match Warriors
By Phil Watson
team. 77. . 43-19. Previous: . Los Angeles Clippers. 3
Last week: Beat Philadelphia 136-130, won at Oklahoma City 109-94, won at Houston 120-105
This week: Sunday vs. Lakers, Tuesday at Golden State, Friday vs. Brooklyn, Saturday vs. New Orleans
Only two teams ahead of the LA Clippers in the NBA Power Rankings and they’re still No. 2 in their own city. But the Clippers have been sizzling of late, following up a 1-4 stretch around the All-Star break last month with six consecutive victories, including road wins against playoff teams at Oklahoma City and Houston last week.
LA is 5½ games behind the Lakers in the Western Conference but has moved up to second-place and can clinch the season series from their Staples Center roommates with a victory on Sunday. The Clippers opened the season win a win over the Lakers at “home” on Oct. 22 and then got a Christmas Day “road” win.
Kawhi Leonard continues to prove he was a wise investment, averaging 26.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 31.6 minutes per game last week while shooting 49.1 percent overall and hitting 8-of-18 from 3-point range. He scored 30 points with six boards and three dimes in last Sunday’s win over the 76ers.
Previous: . Los Angeles Lakers. 2. team. 20. . 48-13
Last week: Won at New Orleans 122-114, beat Philadelphia 120-107, beat Milwaukee 113-103
This week: Sunday at Clippers, Tuesday vs. Brooklyn, Thursday vs. Houston
The Los Angeles Lakers, and by extension their Staples co-tenant in the Clippers, are never short of scheduling anomalies. The Lakers are in the midst of playing six straight games at their downtown L.A. arena. But they will have a road game in that mix when they play the Clips on Sunday looking to try and salvage a shot at a season split after losing the first two meetings.
But the Lakers are running away and hiding with the Western Conference lead, opening a 5½-game edge over the Clippers in part by winning 10 of their last 11 games and 12 of 14 overall. On Friday night, L.A. gained a season split with the Bucks with their win at home. The Lakers had lost at Milwaukee back on Dec. 19.
And the ageless wonder, LeBron James, continues to lead the way. He picked up his 13th triple-double of the season in last Sunday’s win at New Orleans with 34 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds and averaged 31.0 points, 11.7 dimes, 9.0 boards and 2.0 steals in 35.5 minutes on the week. He hit 60.3 percent of his shots, including 6-of-17 from deep.