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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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(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

15. Golden State Warriors

Last Week: Beat New Orleans Pelicans 123-108, Lost to New Orleans Pelicans 108-103, Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 118-97, Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 136-97

This Week: 5/10 vs. Utah Jazz, 5/11 vs. Phoenix Suns, 5/14 vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 5/16 vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Controlling their own destiny, the Golden State Warriors won three of their four games this week and look to secure the eighth seed in the conference heading into the seeding games. The hero points they earned on Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans will not help them now. They will need to ride the Stephen Curry barrage to consecutive wins to end the week to hold off the Memphis Grizzlies.

Speaking of Curry, the run that he has been on of late has been incendiary. Since April 1, Steph Curry has averaged 37.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He has taken the lead in the scoring race, which remains the thing to watch over the last week of the season.

The race is tight, with Curry averaging 31.9 points per game this season and Bradley Beal close behind at 31.4. Saturday was a prime example of the competitiveness of the race. Beal and Westbrook (more on them later) were pushed to the limit against the Indiana Pacers and they both delivered. Beal went off for his second 50-point performance of the season. Not to be outdone, Curry dropped 49 points in 29 minutes. Curry is able to do things so effortlessly, making the race to the end must watch.