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NBA Power Rankings Week 19: April review and the rising Phoenix Suns

By Corey Rausch

Apr 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the Miami Heat in the second half at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the Miami Heat in the second half at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

14. Washington Wizards

Last Week: Beat Cleveland Cavaliers 119-110, Lost/OT to San Antonio Spurs 146-143, Beat Los Angeles Lakers 116-107, Beat Cleveland Cavaliers 122-93, Lost to Dallas Mavericks 125-124

This Week: 5/3 vs. Indiana Pacers, 5/5 at Milwaukee Bucks, 5/6 at Toronto Raptors, 5/8 at Indiana Pacers

One of the hottest teams of the month, the Washington Wizards are a shining example of the play-in system making the entire regular season matter more. Before the trade deadline, the season looked lost and doom was starting to settle in. In April the Wizards went 11-5 and are actually in the hunt for the eighth seed, not just the play-in.

Surprisingly, the defense is carrying the Wizards, as they posted the eighth-best defensive rating in the month (109.2) for a team expected to be putrid on that end of the floor. Bradley Beal remains the hot hand on offense as the second-leading scorer in the league in the month and overall this season. Russell Westbrook was apparently injured earlier in the year and has turned back into a triple-double machine leading the charge to the postseason, averaging 21.1 points, 13.3 rebounds and 12.0 assists per game this month.

Deni Avdija is out the rest of the season and Rui Hachimura has been limited by injuries, so the only young player getting reps at this point is Daniel Gafford. He has led the pack on the defensive transformation, making his status as an afterthought at the trade deadline all the more pleasing.