Power Rankings, Week 15: Pistons power past Thunder for No. 1

Detroit is looking sharp in the East and may be the team to beat.

The weather isn’t the only thing that’s been cold over the last month. NBA offenses have also cooled off a bit.

‘Tis the season for weird NBA results. Witness the top five teams in last week’s Power Rankings going 9-10 over the last seven days. The Detroit Pistons might be the only really good team that’s playing really good basketball right now.

The league, as a whole, is in a little bit of an offensive slump …

• Through Christmas, teams averaged 114.8 points scored per 100 possessions.

• Since Christmas, teams have averaged just 114.3 per 100.

It’s a minor drop, but league-wide efficiency usually rises as the season goes on. Some teams have certainly slumped more than others, and they’ll have to decide if they have real problems or if things will self-correct with time, maybe after the All-Star break.

Unfortunately, the trade deadline is just 10 days away, and the break isn’t until a week after that.

Plus-Minus Players of the Week

Teams of the Week

• Make It Last Forever: Toronto (4-0) — The Raptors capped a 4-1 trip with a win in Oklahoma City.
• Something Just Ain’t Right: Brooklyn (0-4) — Remember December? The Nets, apparently, do not.

* * *

East vs. West

• The West is 127-107 (.543) against the East in interconference games, though the East was 16-12 last week.

Schedule strength through Week 14

• Toughest: 1. Sacramento, 2. Utah, 3. New Orleans
• Easiest: 1. Denver, 2. Detroit, 3. Oklahoma City
• Schedule strength = cumulative opponent record.

* * *

Movement in the Rankings

• High jumps of the week: Houston (+5), Chicago (+4)
• Free falls of the week: Memphis (-4), Minnesota (-3)

* * *

Week 15 Team to Watch

• Chicago — The Bulls have won four straight games to climb over .500. They’re now tied in the loss column with the eighth-place Heat, who they’ll play three times this week, once in Chicago and then twice in Miami.

* * *

Previously…

OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)

The league has averaged 114.6 points scored per 100 possessions and 100.4 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes this season.

NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, contact him via Bluesky.

#1

Detroit PistonsLast Week:2↑

Record: 33-11

OffRtg: 116.1 (11) DefRtg: 108.6 (2) NetRtg: +7.5 (2) Pace: 100.8 (14)

The Pistons lost a rest-advantage game to the Rockets on Friday, but they won their more important game (vs. Boston) last week. They still have the East’s best record (8-3) in January and their coaching staff is going to L.A. for the All-Star Game(s).

Three takeaways

• Like most of the league, the Pistons have had some offensive issues of late. Prior to Sunday, they had a six-game stretch where they scored just 106.1 points per 100 possessions, with turnovers a recurring issue. Cade Cunningham missed two of those games and shot 18-for-60 (30%) in the other four.

• But the Pistons got to play the Kings on Sunday afternoon, and they had their most efficient offensive performance of the season, scoring 139 points on 100 possessions. Cunningham led eight Pistons in double-figures with 29 points on 13-for-22 shooting. He’s shot worse both in the paint and from 3-point range than he did last season, but his overall efficiency (true shooting percentage) is down just a tick, because his free throw rate (35.9 attempts per 100 shots from the field) is the highest of his career by a wide margin.

• Despite the loss to Houston on Friday, the Pistons still have the best record (14-6) in games played between the 17 teams that are currently over .500. Of course, their visit to Denver on Tuesday will be their first game against one of the top three teams in the West.

Coming up: The Pistons have spent most of January at home, but they’ll close the month with their final three games in the Mountain or Pacific time zones. They’re an impressive 5-0 in rest-disadvantage games and will be at a disadvantage at Golden State on Friday.

Week 15: @ DEN, @ PHX, @ GSW, vs. BKN

#2

Oklahoma City ThunderLast Week:1↓

Record: 37-10

OffRtg: 118.1 (5) DefRtg: 105.4 (1) NetRtg: +12.6 (1) Pace: 101.2 (13)

The Thunder dropped two close games over the weekend and are 13-9 since their 24-1 start to the season. That includes losses at home to the Hornets and Pacers.

Three takeaways

• The possession game continues to be an issue for the Thunder. They’ve had fewer shot opportunities than their opponent in six of their last seven games, averaging 9.6 fewer over that stretch. Rebounding remains a much bigger issue than turnovers and as they lost weekend games to Indiana and Toronto by a total of five points, they were outscored by 16 (27-11) on second chances.

• The Thunder’s point differential (plus-12.9 per game) is still the best in NBA history, a hair better than their mark from last season. Their win in Milwaukee on Wednesday was their 17th by at least 20 points. That’s eight more than any other team has this season and only five fewer than their 22 from last season. The record for 20-point wins (held by the 1970-71 Bucks) is 28.

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot a ridiculous 17-for-22 (77%) from mid-range over the Thunder’s four games last week. His true shooting percentage of 67.6% would be the highest in NBA history for a player who averaged at least 30 points per game, topping Stephen Curry’s mark of 66.9% in 2015-16.

Coming up: The Thunder won their first seven games against teams that are currently above .500, but since then, they’re 6-7 against that group. After they host the Pelicans on Tuesday, they’ll play seven straight games against winning teams, a stretch that includes games against each of the other six teams in the West’s top seven.

Week 15: vs. NOP, @ MIN, @ DEN

#3

Houston RocketsLast Week:8↑

Record: 27-16

OffRtg: 118.7 (4) DefRtg: 112.5 (8) NetRtg: +6.2 (4) Pace: 96.8 (27)

The Rockets lost in overtime in Philadelphia on Thursday, but they have wins over the Wolves, Spurs and Pistons in the last 10 days. Only Detroit (14-6) has been better in games played between the 17 teams currently over .500 than Houston (15-7).

Three takeaways

• The Rockets are 1-5 in overtime games after the loss in Philly, in which they committed six turnovers on 16 clutch possessions. They rank 28th in clutch turnover rate (15.5 per 100 possessions) and 20th in clutch efficiency (108.7 points scored per 100).

• But while they’re just 10-13 in games that were within five points in the last five minutes, the Rockets are 17-3 in games that weren’t within five in the last five. And they handed Detroit its third non-clutch loss on Friday, even though they were playing less than 24 hours after the OT loss in Philly. The Rockets lost their first three games of the season without rest, but are 2-0 in the second games of back-to-backs in January, with rest-disadvantage wins over the Wolves and Pistons. They played just eight guys on Friday and, while Kevin Durant had eight turnovers in the Philly loss, he shot 24-for-40 (60%) as he played almost 85 total minutes over the back-to-back.

• Ten of the Rockets’ last 12 games have been determined by single digits, in part because they rank just 25th offensively (110.6 points scored per 100 possessions) over that stretch. They ranked second in 3-point percentage (40.0%) through their first 31 games, but are 30th (30.5%) over their last 12.

Coming up: Even with the win in Detroit on Friday, the Rockets have the league’s biggest differential between their home record (15-3) and their road record (12-13). They’ve got 10 games before the All-Star break and seven of them are at the Toyota Center, with the Spurs making a return visit on Wednesday. Reed Sheppard had a huge fourth quarter (12 points on 4-for-7 shooting) as the Rockets came back from 16 down to beat San Antonio last week.

Week 15: vs. MEM, vs. SAS, @ ATL, vs. DAL

#4

San Antonio SpursLast Week:3↓

Record: 31-15

OffRtg: 116.5 (9) DefRtg: 111.5 (3) NetRtg: +5.0 (5) Pace: 100.6 (16)

The Spurs are just 8-8 since they beat the Thunder for the third time on Christmas Day, a stretch that includes losses to the Jazz, Grizzlies and Pelicans. But they’re still in second place in the West and one of four teams (all in the Western Conference) that rank in the top 10 on both ends of the floor.

Three takeaways

• The Spurs have scored more than 124 points per 100 possessions over their last four wins, but they still rank just 24th offensively (111.8 scored per 100) since Christmas. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper have combined for an effective field goal percentage of just 40.4% over the 16 games, and Harrison Barnes has gone quiet, averaging just 6.2 points, down from 12.9 through the Christmas win in Oklahoma City.

• Keldon Johnson has picked up some of the slack. His 20.2 points per 36 minutes would be the second-highest mark of his career, and he’s having his most efficient season (true shooting percentage of 65.2%) since his rookie year, when he attempted only 89 shots. He’s been the only Spur who’s played in clutch time in all 10 of their games since Christmas that have been within five points in the last five minutes.

• The Spurs did get Devin Vassell back from a 13-game absence on Sunday, and they’ve outscored their opponents by 12.9 points per 100 possessions with Vassell, De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama on the floor together, though that sample size (137 minutes) is still pretty small.

Coming up: The Spurs will have a chance to avenge last week’s loss in Houston when they return to the Toyota Center on Wednesday. They’re 8-7 (5-0 at home or on a neutral court, 3-7 on the road) in games played between the top seven teams in the West.

Week 15: @ HOU, @ CHA, vs. ORL

#5

Denver NuggetsLast Week:6↑

Record: 31-15

OffRtg: 121.0 (2) DefRtg: 116.4 (23) NetRtg: +4.6 (6) Pace: 98.9 (25)

The Nuggets continue to survive without Nikola Jokić. They’ve won eight of their last 11 games, a stretch that includes a 3-1 mark without Jamal Murray. They’re now tied with the Spurs (who hold the head-to-head tie-breaker for now) for second place in the West.

Three takeaways

• Just when you thought Peyton Watson’s offensive surge was unsustainable, he scored a career-high 35 points (shooting 6-for-8 from 3-point range) in the Nuggets’ win in Washington on Thursday. He’s averaged 23.1 points over Jokić’s absence, with a much higher percentage of his shots coming from outside the paint (53%) than prior to the three-time Kia MVP’s injury (38%).

• But the Nuggets’ offense has finally seen some slippage. They’ve scored just 108 points per 100 possessions over their last four games, easily their worst stretch on that end of the floor this season. Tim Hardaway Jr. has had a couple of big games over the last four weeks, but has gone cold, at one point missing 21 straight attempts from 3-point range. And with the team-wide mini-slump, the Nuggets have ceded the No. 1 spot in offensive efficiency to the Celtics.

• The Nuggets’ schedule over these last 3 1/2 weeks without Jokić has been relatively soft, as eight of their last nine games have come against teams with losing records. It’s about to get tougher, with their first games against the two best teams in the league coming this week.

Coming up: The Nuggets also just completed playing five games in seven days. And, while they got an extra day off with their Sunday game in Memphis being postponed, another five-in-seven stretch starts Thursday. They’ll be at a rest disadvantage when they host the Clippers on Friday night.

Week 15: vs. DET, vs. BKN, vs. LAC, vs. OKC

#6

Phoenix SunsLast Week:5↓

Record: 27-19

OffRtg: 114.3 (16) DefRtg: 112.1 (5) NetRtg: +2.3 (10) Pace: 99.6 (20)

The Suns are hanging on to a top-six spot in the West, but they’ve lost two straight games and have lost Devin Booker for at least a week.

Three takeaways

• The Suns were up seven when Booker sprained his ankle at the end of the third quarter in Atlanta on Friday. But they scored just 12 points (shooting 5-for-21) on 22 fourth-quarter possessions as they blew that seven-point lead to the Hawks. Two nights later and back at home, they fell to 1-4 without Booker, scoring just 102 points on 101 possessions against the Heat. Dillon Brooks has had a breakout offensive season, but the Suns have scored just 101.7 per 100 in his 255 minutes on the floor without Booker.

• Jalen Green could help the offense, and he returned from a 33-game absence on Tuesday, scoring 12 points off the bench in the Suns’ win in Philadelphia. But three nights later, Green was back on the shelf, leaving in the first quarter of the loss to Atlanta with hamstring tightness. Green was initially listed as questionable for the Suns’ game against the Heat on Sunday, so he could be back this week, but he’s now missed twice as many games this season (42) as he missed in his previous four seasons combined (21).

• Defense can still win the Suns some games. They rank second on that end of the floor, having seen a significant drop in opponent field goal percentage in the paint (54.8%) from their first 28 games (59.5%).

Coming up: The Suns have still played the league’s second-most road-heavy schedule, but their loss to Miami on Sunday began a stretch (spanning the All-Star break) where they’re playing 16 of 19 games at home. Thursday brings an opportunity to avenge a three-point loss to the Pistons from two weeks earlier.

Week 15: vs. BKN, vs. DET, vs. CLE, vs. LAC

#7

Minnesota TimberwolvesLast Week:4↓

Record: 27-19

OffRtg: 116.6 (7) DefRtg: 112.8 (10) NetRtg: +3.8 (8) Pace: 101.4 (12)

The Wolves won six of their first seven games of 2026, but have since lost five straight for the first time since 2022, sliding out of the top six in the West.

Three takeaways

• The first four of those losses came by a total of just 18 points. But they included a rest-advantage loss on Tuesday to the Jazz, who were previously 0-10 without Lauri Markkanen. At one point, the Wolves were 14-1 against the 13 teams currently at or below .500, but they’re 3-4 against that group since mid-December. The loss in Utah was also the Wolves’ first (they were previously 17-0) after leading by at least 15 points.

• They led for just 38 seconds against the Warriors on Sunday, when they got blown out in the second half. Anthony Edwards scored an efficient 32 points, but it was still the fifth-worst offensive game (85 points on 103 possessions) for any team this season. The Wolves continue to have the worst record (4-11) in games played between the top eight teams in the West.

• The Wolves have drawn even with their opponents with Edwards on the floor over their last five games. But, they’ve been outscored by 21.6 points per 100 possessions in his 92 minutes off the floor. Their bench ranks 12th this season, down from fourth last season.

Coming up: The Wolves will play two more games within the West’s top eight this week. One of those four wins within the top eight came (at home) against the Thunder, who will be back at Target Center on Thursday, when the Wolves will be at a rest disadvantage, having played in Dallas the night before.

Week 15: vs. GSW, @ DAL, vs. OKC, @ MEM

#8

Boston CelticsLast Week:7↓

Record: 28-17

OffRtg: 121.2 (1) DefRtg: 114.0 (12) NetRtg: +7.2 (3) Pace: 96.2 (30)

The Celtics are still in second place in the East, but they went 1-3 against the first-place Pistons, coming up short down the stretch in Detroit last Monday.

Three takeaways

• All four games between Boston and Detroit were within three points in the last three minutes, and the Celtics shot 0-for-6 on clutch 3-pointers over the three losses, also missing three big free throws down the stretch of their one-point loss last week. They have the league’s biggest differential between their record in non-clutch games (18-3) and their record in those that were within five in the last five minutes (10-14).

• The Celtics had just 13 assists on 33 field goals in Detroit last Monday and are now 2-6 when they’ve recorded assists on less than half of their buckets, a record that includes all three of their losses to the Pistons. The Celtics rank just 25th in ball movement overall, but the league’s second-ranked defense has suppressed their movement even more. They’ve averaged 307 passes per 24 minutes of possession against everybody else and just 293 per 24 against Detroit.

• With the Nuggets’ offense showing some slippage without Nikola Jokić, the Celtics now have the league’s No. 1 offense. They had also been playing better defense before their rest-disadvantage loss in Chicago on Saturday, allowing just 108.2 points per 100 possessions over their previous seven games. They benefitted from some poor 3-point shooting (31.4%), but also limited their opponents’ free throws and offensive rebounds. They’ve still seen the league’s fourth biggest jump in points allowed per 100 possessions from last season.

Coming up: The Celtics are 14-5 against the 13 teams currently at or below .500, with four of those five losses having been within five points in the last five minutes. They’ll play their next five games against that group, looking to avenge their Dec. 28 loss in Portland when they begin a four-game homestand on Monday.

Week 15: vs. POR, vs. ATL, vs. SAC, vs. MIL

#9

New York KnicksLast Week:9

Record: 27-18

OffRtg: 119.0 (3) DefRtg: 114.9 (17) NetRtg: +4.0 (7) Pace: 99.0 (23)

The Knicks may have hit the nadir with their loss to Dallas last Monday, the first game this season in which they never had a lead. But they’ve since beaten the Nets by 54 points (the largest margin of victory in franchise history) and picked up a big win in Philadelphia.

Three takeaways

• In their three-point win in Philadelphia on Saturday, the Knicks outscored the Sixers by 24 points (27-3) from the corners. They continue to be on pace for the most corner 3s per game (5.3) in the 30 years of shot-location data, and Mikal Bridges (league-leading 52) is on pace to be the third player in that time (joining Bruce Bowen and P.J. Tucker) to make at least 90 corner 3s in two straight seasons.

Coming up: The Knicks trail the third-place Raptors by a half game, and they’ve won the first two meetings by a total of 38 points. They’ll meet three more times, and the Knicks will be at a rest disadvantage (playing the second game of a back-to-back) in Toronto on Wednesday.

Week 15: vs. SAC, @ TOR, vs. POR, vs. LAL

#10

Cleveland CavaliersLast Week:10

Record: 27-20

OffRtg: 116.4 (10) DefRtg: 114.0 (13) NetRtg: +2.3 (10) Pace: 102.0 (6)

The Cavs have been without Darius Garland for the last five games, but they’re now seven games over .500 for the first time. They’ve won five of their last six, a stretch that includes three huge road wins over the Sixers (twice) and Magic.

Three takeaways

• The Cavs are 13-6 when they have Donovan Mitchell in the lineup without Garland, but they’ve outscored their opponents by just 11 total points in those 19 games. They include their two worst losses of the season, including a 32-point defeat at the hands of the Thunder last Monday. Overall, they’ve scored just 113.8 points per 100 possessions in those 19 games, though they’ve still been very good (plus-8.4 per 100) in Mitchell’s 1,038 total minutes on the floor without Garland.

• The offense picked up over the weekend, when the Cavs scored more than 120 points per 100 possessions in two straight games for the first time since Christmas. The first of those games was against the Kings, but the second was a rest-disadvantage game against the Magic, with Jalen Suggs back in uniform. Mitchell totaled 69 points over the two games and is having the most efficient scoring season (true shooting percentage of 61.5%) of his career.

• Evan Mobley has had at least three blocks in five of the last seven games and now ranks third in rim protection (opponents have shot 51.9% at the basket when he’s been there) among 21 players who’ve defended at least 200 shots at the rim.

Coming up: The Cavs are one of two teams – the Sixers are the other – that have yet to play in the Mountain or Pacific time zones. After finishing their home-and-home set with the Magic and hosting the Lakers, they’ll begin their longest road trip of the season (five games over 11 days) in Phoenix.

Week 15: vs. ORL, vs. LAL, @ PHX, @ POR

#11

Toronto RaptorsLast Week:14↑

Record: 29-19

OffRtg: 114.0 (18) DefRtg: 112.0 (4) NetRtg: +2.1 (12) Pace: 99.1 (22)

The Raptors won the last four games of a five-game trip out West, a streak capped by a fourth-quarter comeback in Oklahoma City on Sunday. They’ve climbed to third place in the East and are one win from matching last season’s total (30-52).

Three takeaways

• The Raptors had their best offensive performance of the season (145 points on 104 possessions) at Golden State on Tuesday. But the last three games have been more about the other end of the floor, where they’ve allowed just 104.4 per 100. That includes just 94.6 per 100 in Scottie Barnes’ 99 minutes over the last three games. He’s had 10 blocks over the three games, with the biggest being a pretty incredible block of a Chet Holmgren step-back jumper with the Raptors up two and just 30 seconds left on Sunday.

• Immanuel Quickley hit the big shots in Oklahoma City: two consecutive catch-and-shoot 3-pointers that put the Raptors up four with a little more than a minute left. Quickley has averaged 25.3 points over the winning streak, shooting 17-for-28 (61%) inside the arc, 16-for-26 (62%) from 3-point range, and 19-for-20 (95%) from the free throw line. Quickley’s true shooting percentage has been remarkably consistent (between 57% and 57.8%) over the last four seasons.

• One of those two Quickley 3-pointers came off a drive-and-kick feed from Jamal Shead, who’s been on the floor down the stretch of each of the Raptors’ last 11 clutch games (going back to mid-December). He’s had nine clutch assists and zero clutch turnovers in that stretch, and the two-point-guard look has worked pretty well, with Toronto outscoring opponents by 11.0 points per 100 possessions in 297 total minutes with Shead and Quickley on the floor together.

Coming up: The Raptors lead the fourth-place Knicks by a half game, but they’ve scored just 102.1 points per 100 possessions as they’ve lost the first two (of five) head-to-head meetings. The third is in Toronto on Wednesday, when the Raptors will have a rest advantage, with the Knicks playing at home the night before.

Week 15: vs. NYK, @ ORL, vs. UTA

#12

Los Angeles LakersLast Week:12

Record: 27-17

OffRtg: 116.5 (8) DefRtg: 117.0 (25) NetRtg: -0.5 (18) Pace: 99.5 (21)

The Lakers still have a negative point differential, but they’re still in the top six in the West because they pulled off a couple of big comebacks last week.

Three takeaways

• The Lakers still rank 25th defensively, but they had some flashes of quality on defense as they got two wins in games they trailed by at least 15 points in the second half. They held the Nuggets to just 27 points on their final 38 possessions on Tuesday and shut down the Mavs (eight points on 17 possessions) over the final seven minutes on Saturday. The Lakers are 10-17 in games they trailed by double-digits, going 7-27 last season.

• Their loss to the Clippers in between the two comeback wins was more about offense and rebounding. It was just the third time that the Clippers shot below 50% in the paint and the eighth time they committed at least 20 turnovers, but the Lakers didn’t shoot well themselves and didn’t get to the line as much as they usually do. They’re 5-9 (with seven straight losses) when they’ve been outscored from the free-throw line.

• The Lakers’ current starting lineup (with Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia) has been outscored by 1.6 points per 100 possessions in its 165 minutes, with some brutal numbers over their three games last week. They closed the win in Dallas with Rui Hachimura on the floor instead of Deandre Ayton and have outscored opponents by 24 points in about 25 total minutes with Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura on the floor without any other bigs.

Coming up: The last five games of the Lakers’ eight-game “trip” will come against the Eastern Conference. They’re 7-5 (4-2 on the road) against the East thus far, having yet to face any of the five teams they’ll visit on this trip.

Week 15: @ CHI, @ CLE, @ WAS, @ NYK

#13

Miami HeatLast Week:11↓

Record: 25-22

OffRtg: 113.9 (20) DefRtg: 112.6 (9) NetRtg: +1.3 (13) Pace: 104.8 (1)

The Heat went 3-2 on a five-games-in-seven-days trip out West, and they’ve climbed ahead of Orlando for seventh place in the East.

Three takeaways

• The trip wasn’t anything close to the Heat’s best basketball on either end of the floor, but they came out ahead, taking advantage of the Kings being the Kings, the Jazz being the Jazz and the Suns playing without Devin Booker. Of the nine Heat players who played in all five games, seven averaged double-figures over the trip. They’ve played the most interconference games in the league and are now 13-10 against the West.

• With their wins in Sacramento and Phoenix last week, the Heat are 7-3 (tied for third best) in the second games of back-to-backs, including 6-3 in rest-disadvantage games. They’ve scored more efficiently (115.4 points scored per 100 possessions) and played at a slightly faster pace (105 possessions per 48 minutes) in the second games of back-to-backs than they have as they’ve gone 18-19 with rest. Their 10 back-to-backs are tied for the most in the league, but more are coming.

• The Heat have still been at their best (plus-5.0 points per 100 possessions) with Davion Mitchell on the floor. But, after losing their first three games without him, they’ve won three of the last four games he’s missed. Kasparas Jakučionis started the last three games in Mitchell’s place. While he played just 51 total minutes over those three games, he didn’t have any turnovers with his seven assists.

• With their wins in Sacramento and Phoenix last week, the Heat are 7-3 (tied for third best) in the second games of back-to-backs, including 6-3 in rest-disadvantage games. They’ve scored more efficiently (115.4 points scored per 100 possessions) and played at a slightly faster pace (105.0 possessions per 48 minutes) in the second games of back-to-backs than they have as they’ve gone 18-19 with rest. Their 10 back-to-backs are tied for the most in the league, but more are coming.

Coming up: The Heat just finished playing five games in seven days. And thanks to their rescheduled game in Chicago, they’ll begin another stretch of five games in seven days on Wednesday with a huge game against the Magic. They’re 0-3 against Orlando thus far (they’ll play five games total), having scored just 105.7 points per 100 possessions over the three losses.

Week 15: vs. ORL, @ CHI, vs. CHI, vs. CHI

#14

Philadelphia 76ersLast Week:13↓

Record: 24-20

OffRtg: 114.6 (15) DefRtg: 113.3 (11) NetRtg: +1.3 (13) Pace: 99.9 (19)

The Sixers are the first team to match their win total from last season (24-58), but they set a low bar with a rough 2024-25 campaign. They’re also just 2-4 on their six-game homestand, with more third-quarter issues in losses to Phoenix and New York.

Three takeaways

• Joel Embiid missed the Sixers’ loss to Phoenix on Tuesday, but he’s averaged 33.3 points (on a true shooting percentage of 67%), 10 rebounds and 5.5 assists over his last four games, easily his best stretch of the last two seasons. The Sixers have scored 123.5 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor and just 98.1 per 100 with him off the floor over that stretch.

• Bench minutes have been an issue. Kelly Oubre Jr. was moved into the starting lineup last week, starting alongside Paul George for the first two times this season on Thursday and Saturday. But the Sixers were outscored by 26 points (27 per 100 possessions) in Oubre’s 49 minutes off the floor over their four games. Their starters played the entirety of clutch time in their overtime win over the Rockets on Thursday, with Embiid logging 45:36 total, the fifth-most minutes he’s played in his career.

• There are now nine Eastern Conference teams with winning records, and the Sixers have the second-worst record (8-13) in games played between them, having scored just 113.3 points per 100 possessions over those 21 games. But they’re still holding onto sixth place, thanks in part to the Magic having lost three straight.

Coming up: The six-game homestand is over, but the Sixers are on the road for just one game, and their visit to Charlotte on Monday is the start of five straight against teams with losing records. They have the league’s second-best record (14-3) against the 13 teams currently at or below .500.

Week 15: @ CHA, vs. MIL, vs. SAC, vs. NOP

#15

LA ClippersLast Week:16↑

Record: 21-24

OffRtg: 115.7 (12) DefRtg: 115.8 (19) NetRtg: -0.2 (16) Pace: 96.8 (28)

The Clippers saw their six-game winning streak end in Chicago on Tuesday, but they still have two fewer losses than every other team (they’re 15-3) over the last 37 days.

Three takeaways

• It didn’t look good when Kawhi Leonard was sent home early from the Clippers’ recent road trip. But he missed just three games with his latest injury, and he led the Clippers in scoring (52 points total) in each of their two wins upon returning to L.A. Both over this 15-3 stretch (plus-16.1 points per 100 possessions) and over the season as a whole (plus-4.1 per 100), the Clippers have been at their best with Leonard on the floor.

• The Clippers almost blew all of a 26-point lead against the Lakers on Thursday, but held the other L.A. team off in the last two minutes, with John Collins hitting a dagger 3-pointer from the left corner. Collins is having his most efficient scoring season (true shooting percentage of 65.6%) in the last six seasons and has already made a career-high 42 corner 3-pointers (tied for eighth-most league-wide).

• The Clippers have a winning record (20-18, with seven straight wins) when they’ve been rested. But with their loss in Chicago on Tuesday, they’re 1-6 (only the Nets and Wizards have been worse) in the second games of back-to-backs.

Coming up: The Clippers are also 0-3 (one of two winless teams) in rest-advantage games, but haven’t had one since Nov. 12. They’ll be at an advantage in Denver on Friday, now 5-9 against the eight West teams with winning records after their win over the Lakers last week.

Week 15: @ UTA, @ DEN, @ PHX

#16

Golden State WarriorsLast Week:15↓

Record: 26-21

OffRtg: 115.4 (13) DefRtg: 112.2 (6) NetRtg: +3.2 (9) Pace: 100.7 (15)

Jimmy Butler suffered a devastating and season-ending ACL tear last Monday and, with losses in their next two games, the Warriors fell to 2-6 without the 36-year-old. But they clobbered the Wolves on Sunday to stay two games in the loss column ahead of the ninth-place Blazers.

Three takeaways

• The Warriors outscored their opponents by 6.9 points per 100 possessions in 452 minutes with Butler, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on the floor together, but (even with the blowout win on Sunday) have been outscored by 0.4 per 100 in 329 minutes with Curry and Green on the floor without Butler.

• Brandin Podziemski has replaced Butler in the starting lineup but has shot just 1-for-13 from 3-point range over the last three games. Jonathan Kuminga also got a chance to play in the wake of Butler’s injury, and he scored 30 points in less than 31 total minutes against the Raptors and Mavs. But he suffered his own knee injury (a bone bruise) in the second quarter in Dallas on Thursday and could be out for an extended period. The good news is that, because most of the roster has been in the Warriors’ rotation at some point this season, they always have more guys ready to play.

• The Warriors have won 13 of their last 19 games, with only the Clippers and Pistons having better records over that stretch. Of course, it hasn’t been a particularly tough stretch of schedule. Only eight of the 19 games came against teams currently over .500, and 13 of the 19 have come at home. Their win in Minnesota on Sunday was the start of a stretch where they’re playing six of seven against teams with winning records, with the Warriors now 12-12 against that group.

Coming up: After completing their back-to-back in Minnesota on Monday, the Warriors will have three straight rest-advantage games, with a three-day break after their game against the Pistons on Friday night.

Week 15: @ MIN, @ UTA, vs. DET

#17

Portland Trail BlazersLast Week:18↑

Record: 23-23

OffRtg: 113.5 (21) DefRtg: 115.1 (18) NetRtg: -1.6 (21) Pace: 101.9 (8)

The Blazers won five straight games to climb above .500 for the first time since they were 6-5. But Deni Avdija continues to have back issues, and the winning streak came to an end when they lost to Toronto without him on Friday.

Three takeaways

• The Blazers have scored a pretty anemic 102.1 points per 100 possessions with Avdija off the floor, and they registered their lowest free-throw rate of the season (10 attempts to go along with 98 shots from the field) as they scored just 98 on 97 against Toronto. Nine and a half minutes into the game, they had scored just six points on 19 offensive possessions.

• The Blazers are still not as good a defensive team as they were last season, but the last five games (107.7 points allowed per 100 possessions) have been their best stretch of the season on that end of the floor. They may have had some luck with how poorly their opponents have shot from 3-point range (31% over the five games), but they also rank fourth in opponent free-throw rate this month, up from 28th through Dec. 31.

• The Blazers are 2 1/2 games behind the eighth-place Warriors, who are without Jimmy Butler for the rest of the season. Portland has the head-to-head tiebreaker and the much easier remaining schedule, with only 16 of its remaining 36 games against teams currently over .500.

Coming up: The Blazers are two games into a stretch of six straight against the Eastern Conference, with Avdija listed as questionable as they begin a three-game trip in Boston on Monday. They’ll be at a rest disadvantage in Washington the following night, now 6-3 in the second games of back-to-backs after the loss to Toronto.

Week 15: @ BOS, @ WAS, @ NYK, vs. CLE

#18

Orlando MagicLast Week:17↓

Record: 23-21

OffRtg: 113.9 (19) DefRtg: 114.1 (14) NetRtg: -0.2 (16) Pace: 100.6 (16)

Travel can take a lot out of you, and the Magic and Grizzlies are both 0-2 since returning from Europe, with three of those four losses having come against teams with losing records. The Magic have lost three straight overall, with all three losses coming by at least 14 points.

Three takeaways

• Franz Wagner played in the two Europe games, but missed the Magic’s two games last week with lingering ankle soreness. The Magic got Jalen Suggs back on Saturday, but have still had just 11 games with Suggs, Wagner and Paolo Banchero all in the lineup. They’ve been outscored by 7.3 points per 100 possessions in 729 total minutes with Banchero on the floor without the other two.

• Banchero has been a little more efficient over the three-game losing streak (true shooting percentage of 57.9%) than he was prior (55.5%), but the Magic have scored just 105.4 points per 100 possessions over the three games. They still rank as the league’s second-most-improved offensive team from last season, but they’re not far from falling into the bottom 10 on that end of the floor for what would be the 14th straight season.

Coming up: The Magic’s loss to the Cavs on Saturday was the first of six straight games against teams with winning records, and the next three – including a second straight against Cleveland – are all huge regarding the Eastern Conference standings. The Magic are now just a half-game ahead of the ninth-place Bulls and are 9-11 in games played between the top nine teams in the East.

Week 15: @ CLE, @ MIA, vs. TOR, @ SAS

#19

Chicago BullsLast Week:23↑

Record: 23-22

OffRtg: 114.6 (14) DefRtg: 116.7 (24) NetRtg: -2.1 (22) Pace: 102.2 (5)

The Bulls have won four straight games, with the last three wins coming against the Clippers, Wolves and Celtics. They’re over .500 for the first time since they were 9-8 and they’re only a game and a half behind the sixth-place Sixers.

Three takeaways

• The winning streak has been the Bulls’ best four-game stretch of offense (126.2 points scored per 100 possessions) this season, with eight guys having averaged double-figures over the streak. Six of those eight have played in all four games and all six have shot 40% or better on at least 15 3-point attempts.

• The Bulls have still seen a drop in 3-point rate this season, but wins over the Clippers and Celtics last week were the second and third times that they’ve taken more than half of their shots from beyond the arc. They’ve outscored their opponents from 3-point range in eight of their last nine games.

• The Bulls generated Kevin Huerter’s game-winning corner 3 against Boston with a Josh Giddey-Coby White pick-and-pop in which the Celtics botched the switch. Giddey (who returned from an 11-game absence on Thursday) and White have played just 318 minutes together, and they’ve set just 28 ball-screens for each other. But the Bulls have scored 21 points on 12 possessions (1.75 per) when one of those ball screens has led directly to a shot, turnover or trip to the line.

Coming up: The Bulls’ rescheduled game against the Heat has both teams playing stretches of four games in five days (which are otherwise gone from the league schedule) from Wednesday to Sunday, with three of the four games coming against each other. The first meeting (Nov. 21 in Chicago) was a 36-point win for the visitors, the Bulls’ worst loss of the season.

Week 15: vs. LAL, @ IND, vs. MIA, @ MIA, @ MIA

#20

Atlanta HawksLast Week:20

Record: 22-25

OffRtg: 113.4 (22) DefRtg: 114.6 (16) NetRtg: -1.2 (19) Pace: 103.1 (2)

After losing to the Bucks last Monday, the Hawks were just a half-game ahead of Milwaukee for the final SoFi Play-In Tournament spot in the East. But they’ve since created some separation, and they got a quality win on Friday, shutting down the Suns (who had lost Devin Booker to an ankle injury) in the fourth quarter.

Three takeaways

• The Hawks rank 27th offensively since Jan. 1 (not long after Trae Young played his last game with Atlanta). But they’re also a top-10 defensive team this month, and their win on Friday was just the sixth time the Suns have been held under 105 points per 100 possessions.

• Corey Kispert has started the last three games (Zaccharie Risacher has missed the last eight), but has averaged just 16.4 minutes over that stretch. The Hawks have closed all three games with CJ McCollum (who’s been coming off the bench) instead of Kispert, and McCollum hit a huge step-back 3 in their win in Memphis on Wednesday. Over the seven games that the two former Wizards have played, the Hawks have been at their best with McCollum on the floor with the other starters.

• The Hawks not only have a winning record (14-12) on the road and a losing record (8-13) at home. They also have a winning record (12-8) against the Western Conference and a losing record (10-17) within the East. They’ve also already played 10 of their 12 games against the top six in the West.

Coming up: Houston is the one team in the top 10 in the West that the Hawks haven’t played. They’ll host the Rockets on Thursday, when both teams will be playing the second game of a back-to-back.

Week 15: vs. IND, @ BOS, vs. HOU, @ IND

#21

Charlotte HornetsLast Week:21

Record: 18-28

OffRtg: 116.7 (6) DefRtg: 116.0 (21) NetRtg: +0.7 (15) Pace: 98.8 (26)

Having clobbered the Magic on Thursday, the 18-28 Hornets now have a positive point differential, that of a team that’s 24-22. It’s a better point differential than that of the 27-17 Lakers.

Three takeaways

• With their wins over the Magic and Wizards last week, the Hornets are 14-11 when LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel have all been available. They’re 14-7 when all three have been in the starting lineup. Ball has come off the bench for one of the two games of the Hornets’ last three back-to-backs, and they’ve lost all three of those games (plus an early-season game when Knueppel came off the bench). They scored just 87 points on 96 possessions in their loss to Cleveland (with Ball as a reserve) on Wednesday, their worst 3-point shooting game (8-for-47) of the season.

• Before Saturday, the Hornets were the only team without a win (they were 0-14) when they were outscored from 3-point range. But they beat the Wizards by four despite making five fewer 3s, because they were a plus-four inside the arc and a plus-15 (tied for their best differential of the season) at the free throw line. They still rank third in 3-point differential, having outscored their opponents by 5.2 points per game from beyond the arc.

• The Hornets’ current starting lineup – Ball, Miller, Knueppel, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté – has played 138 minutes and outscored opponents by 23.4 points per 100 possessions, the second-best mark among 43 lineups that have played at least 100 minutes.

Coming up: The Hornets are one win from matching their win total from last season (19-63), and after winning just one of their first eight games against the Western Conference, they’ve won four of their last six. After hosting the Sixers on Monday, they’ll play five straight games against the West, facing the Grizzlies, Mavs and Spurs for the first time this week.

Week 15: vs. PHI, @ MEM, @ DAL, vs. SAS

#22

Dallas MavericksLast Week:24↑

Record: 19-27

OffRtg: 110.3 (27) DefRtg: 112.4 (7) NetRtg: -2.1 (22) Pace: 102.5 (4)

The Mavs had won four straight games for the first time this season, beating the Knicks and Warriors last week. And they were seven minutes from making it five straight, but then they blew a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Lakers, scoring just eight points on their final 17 possessions on Saturday.

Three takeaways

• The Mavs rank seventh defensively and the last five games (107.8 points allowed per 100 possessions) have been their best stretch on that end of the floor since early November. Two of those games came against teams that rank in the top 10 offensively and their win last Monday was the Knicks’ worst offensive game of the season (97 points on 105 possessions).

• P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford both returned from short absences last week, but Dwight Powell has remained in the starting lineup. He’s played just 478 total minutes thus far, but the Mavs have been at their best (plus-11.6 per 100 possessions) with Powell on the floor.

Coming up: The Mavs’ defense will continue to be tested, with seven of their final eight games before the All-Star break coming against teams that rank in the top 10 offensively. They’ve held the Rockets (fourth) to just 108.0 points per 100 possessions (Houston’s second-worst mark vs. any opponent) in three meetings thus far, set to complete the season series on Saturday.

Week 15: vs. MIN, vs. CHA, @ HOU

#23

Memphis GrizzliesLast Week:19↓

Record: 18-25

OffRtg: 113.1 (23) DefRtg: 114.3 (15) NetRtg: -1.3 (20) Pace: 101.6 (9)

The Grizzlies have lost Ja Morant to another injury (elbow sprain), and they dropped two close games last week to return to the bottom five in the West.

Three takeaways

• Ten of the Grizzlies’ last 12 games have been within five points in the last five minutes, and they’ve lost eight of those 10 close ones, scoring just 80 points on 93 clutch possessions. They’re one of three teams that have scored less than a point per clutch possession for the season, and Jaren Jackson Jr. is now 8-for-36 (22%) on clutch shots, the worst mark among 75 players who’ve attempted at least 20.

• The Grizzlies still have the best record (14-5) in games played between the 13 teams that are currently at or below .500. But, with their losses to the Hawks and Pelicans last week, they’ve dropped three of their last four within the group.

• Morant totaled 47 points and 25 assists (in less than 60 total minutes) over his two games back, but will now be out for at least another three weeks. So it’s again possible that he’s played his last game with the Grizzlies. They have a better record without him (11-12) than they do with him (7-13) this season, though their offense has been equally efficient (113.1 points scored per 100 possessions) whether he’s played or not.

Coming up: Their game against the Nuggets on Sunday would have been the start of the Grizzlies’ only stretch of five games in seven days, but it was postponed. So they’ll be rested in Houston (assuming they can make it there) on Monday night, and they’ll likely face a schedule pinch at some point down the line.

Week 15: @ HOU, vs. CHA, @ NOP, vs. MIN

#24

Milwaukee BucksLast Week:22↓

Record: 18-26

OffRtg: 112.6 (24) DefRtg: 116.1 (22) NetRtg: -3.5 (24) Pace: 98.9 (24)

The Bucks got an important win over the 10th-place Hawks last Monday, but they’ve since lost two straight games, and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be out for an extended period after suffering another calf strain on Friday.

Three takeaways

• Offense continues to be a struggle. The Bucks have lost five of their last six games, and they’ve scored fewer than 110 points per 100 possessions in all six. Even with Antetokounmpo on the floor, the offense hasn’t been very good (106.7 points scored per 100) over that stretch. Other starters have been in and out of the lineup and Ryan Rollins has gone cold, registering an effective field goal percentage of just 37.9% over his last seven games. (He did hit a couple of late 3-pointers to make things interesting against the very shorthanded Nuggets on Friday.)

• It doesn’t help the offense that the Bucks haven’t been forcing many turnovers, with their opponents having committed just 26 over their last three games. They’ve actually seen the league’s fifth-biggest jump in opponent turnover rate from last season, but that’s just taken them from 26th to 22nd, and they’ve suffered big drop-offs when it comes to opponent shooting, opponent free throw rate and opponent offensive rebounding.

• The Bucks now trail Atlanta by four games in the win column for the final Play-In spot in the East. They’ve won the only head-to-head meeting thus far, but they have the tougher remaining schedule and they’re just 3-11 without Antetokounmpo.

Coming up: The Bucks will have a rest advantage when they begin a three-game trip in Philadelphia on Tuesday. One of their three wins without Antetokounmpo came against the Celtics, who they’ll visit on Sunday afternoon.

Week 15: @ PHI, @ WAS, @ BOS

#25

Utah JazzLast Week:25

Record: 15-31

OffRtg: 114.0 (17) DefRtg: 122.5 (30) NetRtg: -8.4 (28) Pace: 103.0 (3)

The Jazz got their first win without Lauri Markkanen, stunning the Wolves with a 26-12 fourth quarter while playing with a rest disadvantage on Tuesday. But they’ve lost six of their last seven games overall, continuing to struggle defensively.

Three takeaways

• Losses to the Spurs and Heat at the end of last week were the 19th and 20th times that the Jazz have allowed more than 125 points per 100 possessions. No other team has allowed more than 15 such games, and overall, the Jazz have allowed 7.9 more points per 100 than the league average (114.6 per 100), which would be the worst differential for any team in the last 27 seasons.

• Before Tuesday, Jusuf Nurkić had one career triple-double and it was more than six seasons ago. But he’s recorded triple-doubles in three straight games, though he had to play several minutes of garbage time to get the third one on Saturday, looking pretty thirsty for his 10th rebound on one particular defensive possession against the Heat. Nurkić’s 6.8 assists per 36 minutes would be a career-high mark by a wide margin.

• Markkanen has missed the last seven games, the Jazz are now 1-12 without him, and his absence has affected their 3-point rate. They ranked ninth in the percentage of their shots that came from beyond the arc (43.7%) through Dec. 31, but rank 27th (36.6%) in January.

Coming up: The Jazz are halfway through their longest homestand of the season (six games over 11 days). Two of those 20 games in which they’ve allowed more than 125 points per 100 possessions were against the Warriors, and the Jazz will be at a rest disadvantage when they face Golden State for the third time on Wednesday.

Week 15: vs. LAC, vs. GSW, vs. BKN, @ TOR

#26

New Orleans PelicansLast Week:26

Record: 12-36

OffRtg: 112.2 (25) DefRtg: 118.7 (27) NetRtg: -6.5 (25) Pace: 101.5 (10)

The Pelicans are whole again (though Dejounte Murray still hasn’t played) and they’ve won two straight games for the first time since before Christmas.

Three takeaways

• Herb Jones is a difference maker. He returned from an extended absence (he had played in just one of the previous 16 games) on Friday, and the Pelicans won both of their games with him back in the lineup. They’ve now won seven of the last eight that Jones has played, outscoring their opponents by 16.7 points per 100 possessions in his 194 minutes on the floor over that stretch.

• Jones was on the floor down the stretch of both of the Pelicans’ clutch wins over the weekend. They trailed the Grizzlies by one with a minute and a half left on Friday, but then went on a 9-0 run, with Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey providing the offensive heroics. Two nights later (and after they blew a 20-point lead), they were down five with five minutes left in San Antonio, but then went on a 15-1 run, with Trey Murphy III hitting the two biggest shots. Bey is one of 13 players who’ve shot 50% or better on at least 25 clutch shots, while Murphy is one of three who’ve been perfect on at least 15 clutch free throws.

• The Pelicans have been starting and finishing without a point guard. The last two games have been Jeremiah Fears’ first two games off the bench since the second game of the season, and Jordan Poole received a DNP-CD in San Antonio on Sunday. New Orleans has been outscored by 8.8 points per 100 possessions in 1,789 total minutes with Fears and/or Poole on the floor, with their 175 minutes together being particularly bad (minus-21.8 per 100).

Coming up: The Pelicans were 1-19 against the top eight teams in the West before their win in San Antonio on Sunday. They’ve lost their two games against the Thunder by a total of 48 points and will be in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

Week 15: @ OKC, vs. MEM, @ PHI

#27

Indiana PacersLast Week:29↑

Record: 11-35

OffRtg: 108.0 (30) DefRtg: 115.9 (20) NetRtg: -7.9 (27) Pace: 101.5 (11)

Before Friday, the Pacers were 1-15 on the road against the 17 teams with winning records (the lone victory came in Chicago). But they beat the champs in Oklahoma City on Friday night, getting a career-high 26 points from Jarace Walker.

Three takeaways

• In a three-point win, the Pacers outscored the Thunder by 27 (48-21) from 3-point range. They had one of their better shooting games of the season, but also held Oklahoma City to just 26 attempts (tied for their second fewest of the season) from beyond the arc. The Pacers rank second in opponent 3-point percentage (34.1%) and first in (lowest) opponent 3-point rate (37.5% of opponent shots), and they’ve outscored their opponents by 3.8 points per game from beyond the arc, the league’s seventh-best differential.

• Of course, the Pacers have still lost a lot of games when they’ve limited their opponents from 3-point range. There have been 13 games where the winning team had five or fewer made 3s, and the Pacers have been the losing team in four of those 13 games. That includes their loss in Philadelphia last Monday, when they outscored the Sixers by 24 points from beyond the arc.

• Walker was having a rough season, and he still ranks in the bottom 10 in effective field goal percentage (47.6%) among 200 players with at least 250 field goal attempts. But he’s also just 22 years old, and there are no lost seasons in this league. This one provides the Pacers with an opportunity (like the Warriors with Jordan Poole several years ago) to develop a couple of young guys into rotation contributors.

Coming up: The Pacers will play the Hawks twice this week, finishing their five-game trip in Atlanta on Monday. They were a plus-9 from 3-point range, but were outscored by 38 points inside the arc when they lost the first meeting back in October.

Week 15: @ ATL, vs. CHI, vs. ATL

#28

Brooklyn NetsLast Week:27↓

Record: 12-32

OffRtg: 110.9 (26) DefRtg: 117.9 (26) NetRtg: -7.0 (26) Pace: 96.8 (29)

Things are getting a little ugly in Brooklyn. The Nets have lost 13 of their last 15 games, and their current, five-game losing streak includes losses by 54 and 37 points.

Three takeaways

• In December, the Nets had the league’s No. 1 defense. In January, they ranked 29th defensively. The January schedule has been a little tougher in regard to opposing offenses, but only four of their 14 games this month have come against teams that rank in the top 10 offensively.

• The Nets made a nice, fourth-quarter comeback against Boston on Friday, and they were poised to win in the first overtime. But that January defense somehow left Hugo González wide open in the strong-side corner on the Celtics’ inbounds play with 2.5 seconds left. The rookie sent the game to a second overtime, where the Nets came up short. They’ve lost 20 of their last 22 games to the Celtics.

• When the Nets traded Kevin Durant to Phoenix in Feb. 2023, they had won nine straight games vs. the Knicks. Since the Durant trade and including their 54-point loss at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, the Nets have lost 13 straight to New York. They have now suffered a loss by at least 50 points in each of the last three seasons.

Coming up: The Nets are just 3-13 against the Western Conference and 0-8 in the second games of back-to-backs. They’ll be in Utah for the second game of a Thursday-Friday back-to-back this week, having lost to the Jazz (in the second game of a back-to-back) at home in early December.

Week 15: @ PHX, @ DEN, @ UTA, @ DET

#29

Sacramento KingsLast Week:28↓

Record: 12-35

OffRtg: 109.8 (28) DefRtg: 119.7 (28) NetRtg: -9.9 (29) Pace: 100.5 (18)

The Kings had a four-game winning streak a couple of weeks ago, but it’s been sandwiched by losing streaks of seven and five games, with the latter ongoing.

Three takeaways

• The Jazz will be tough to catch for 30th in defensive efficiency, but the Kings might make it an interesting race. They’ve allowed more than 120 points per 100 possessions in each of their last four games and, with their loss in Detroit on Sunday, are now responsible for two of the Pistons’ three most efficient performances of the season. Sacramento had a bottom-10 defense last season and has still seen the league’s third biggest jump in points allowed per 100 possessions.

• The Kings are just 5-32 in games they trailed by double-digits, but they erased two double-digit deficits in Cleveland on Friday and had a one-point lead with three minutes left. Alas, the Cavs then went on a 10-2 run, with the Kings scoring just six points on nine clutch possessions. In a five-point loss, they were outscored by 21 points in Domantas Sabonis’ 17:17 off the floor. So he was back in the starting lineup (for the first time since his return from an extended absence) in Detroit on Sunday.

• Malik Monk wasn’t in the rotation earlier this month, but he’s been getting regular playing time of late, averaging a team-high 18.6 points in 27.1 minutes over the last five games. He’s shot 19-for-37 (51%) from 3-point range over that stretch and is at a career-high 42.7% for the season.

Coming up: The Kings are two games into their longest road trip of the season (six games over 10 days), and it’s not going to get any easier until they close the trip in Washington over the weekend. They did beat the Knicks (who lost Jalen Brunson to an injury in the first quarter) 12 days ago, and the rematch is Tuesday in New York.

Week 15: @ NYK, @ PHI, @ BOS, @ WAS

#30

Washington WizardsLast Week:30

Record: 10-34

OffRtg: 109.5 (29) DefRtg: 120.5 (29) NetRtg: -11.0 (30) Pace: 101.9 (7)

The Wizards have lost nine straight games and are alone at the bottom of the combined standings as the only team with just 10 wins.

Three takeaways

• Statistically, this streak (minus-13.0 points per 100 possessions) hasn’t been quite as bad as the Wizards’ 14-game losing streak in October and November (minus-17.5 per 100). Three of their last four games have been within five points in the last five minutes, but their opponents have scored 39 points on 28 clutch possessions (1.39 per) over that stretch.

• The Wizards also aren’t getting killed in the possession game as much as they were early in the season. Through their first 23 games, they averaged 7.7 fewer shot opportunities than their opponents. Over their last 21 games, they’ve averaged only 1.4 fewer than their opponents. They’ve seen improvements in each of the possession-related factors (turnover rate and rebounding percentage) on both ends of the floor.

• They won the possession battle in Charlotte on Saturday afternoon, committing eight fewer turnovers than the Hornets. But fouls have been a problem of late, with the Wizards getting outscored by 51 points at the free throw line over their last six games. Jamir Watkins has been in the rotation and has averaged six fouls per 36 minutes over that stretch.

Coming up: The Wizards’ longest homestand of the season (five games over eight days) begins with a visit from the Blazers on Tuesday. That’s a rest-advantage game, though Washington is just 1-7 in rest-advantage games thus far.

Week 15: vs. POR, vs. MIL, vs. LAL, vs. SAC