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NBA Power Rankings Week 20: Philadelphia 76ers streak in the penultimate week

By Corey Rausch

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Ben Simmons #25 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers react in front of Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Ben Simmons #25 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers react in front of Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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NBA, 76ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NBA, 76ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

20. Sacramento Kings

Last Week: Beat Dallas Mavericks 111-92, Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 103-99, Beat Indiana Pacers 104-93, Lost to San Antonio Spurs 113-104

This Week: 5/9 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 5/11 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 5/13 at Memphis Grizzlies, 5/14 at Memphis Grizzlies, 5/16 vs. Utah Jazz

Going into the final week of the season, the Sacramento Kings are clinging to play-in life without De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton in the lineup. Dropping the game to the San Antonio Spurs may be the final nail in the coffin, but the Kings have shown an unwillingness to fully go away for months. Had they beaten the Spurs both the Kings and Pelicans would have only been two games out. Now the Kings sit three games back with five to go.

Surprisingly, Marvin Bagley III has made an impact over the last week. The third-year big man averaged 17.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this week and showed some of the offensive tools that had him so highly touted coming out of high school. Health has always been the issue for Bagley but if he can string together a second consecutive productive week the Kings will have to feel better about his future heading into a possible extension season.

This will end up as another lost season for the Sacramento Kings, who will likely remain entrenched in the longest active postseason drought. Losing their guards as they had a chance to make a final push is crippling, so hoping that this final week can provide flashes for the future seems to be the only possible positive outcome.