NBA Power Rankings Week 20: Philadelphia 76ers streaking

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

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 Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

5. Denver Nuggets

Last Week: Lost to Los Angeles Lakers 93-89, Beat New York Knicks 113-97, Lost to Utah Jazz 127-120, Lost to Brooklyn Nets 125-119

This Week: 5/11 at Charlotte Hornets, 5/13 at Minnesota Timberwolves, 5/14 at Detroit Pistons, 5/16 at Portland Trail Blazers

The good news for the Denver Nuggets is they should be able to ease their way through the final week of the season, with games against the Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons before closing the season out with the Portland Trail Blazers. The bad news is injuries are not going anywhere and all four of their final games will be on the road.

Denver could forgo pushing for the three seed, given that they cannot slip to the five seed unless the Mavericks win all their games and the Nuggets lose all of theirs. Nikola Jokic is unlikely to sit, as the presumptive MVP has played in every game this season. Averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game, it is hard to fathom him losing the award at this point but playing every game in a season mired by absences is a nice cherry on top.

Simply put, the Nuggets should just hope to avoid any more injuries. Even beyond Jamal Murray, the team has been missing Paul Millsap, Aaron Gordon, Monte Morris, PJ Dozier and Will Barton. With the four seed nearly guaranteed perhaps it is time to limit the minutes and give more time to the Markus Howard’s of the world.