Power Rankings, Week 19: Nuggets, Bucks starting to make their move

Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are off to a solid start since the All-Star break.

In the GM Survey before the season, there were five teams picked to win the 2024 NBA Finals. And about 70% of the way through the schedule, we can’t eliminate any of the five. But as it was written in this space a week ago, three of those five teams — the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns — needed to start playing better as soon as possible.

The Nuggets and Bucks have seemingly answered the call, going a combined 5-0 last week, with road wins over the Timberwolves, Sixers and Warriors. The Suns? Not so much, though they’re without Bradley Beal and did get a needed win over the Lakers on Sunday.

With the league’s toughest remaining schedule, there will be more opportunities for Phoenix … or maybe more roadblocks in their quest to remain a top-six team in the Western Conference.

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Plus-Minus Players of the Week

Right Way: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) was a plus-76 in three games last week.Wrong Way: Kyle Kuzma (WAS) was a minus-57 in three games last week.

Teams of the Week

Make It Last Forever: Milwaukee (2-0) — If you count the All-Star game, Doc Rivers has won three straight.Something Just Ain’t Right: Brooklyn (0-2) — The coaching change didn’t exactly turn things around.

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East vs. West

The West is 171-133 (.563) against the East in interconference games, though the East was 6-4 last week.

Schedule strength through Week 18

Toughest: 1. Memphis, 2. Golden State, 3. PortlandEasiest: 1. Phoenix, 2. Cleveland, 3. PhiladelphiaSchedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record.

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Movement in the Rankings

High jumps of the week: Toronto (+3), Indiana (+2), Milwaukee (+2), Oklahoma City (+2)Free falls of the week: New Orleans (-5), Cleveland (-2), L.A. Lakers (-2), Utah (-2)

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Week 19 Team to Watch

Sacramento — Going back to their last game before the break, the Kings have won three straight, beating the Nuggets and Clippers on the road, to climb to fifth place in the West. Staying there will be tough, especially with games against the Heat (with a rest disadvantage) on Monday, the Nuggets (in Denver again on Wednesday) and Wolves (in Minnesota on Friday) this week.

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Previously…

Last week: Celtics lead, Wolves surge after All-Star weekendThe archive: NBA.com Power Rankings

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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 115.1 points scored per 100 possessions and 99.7 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes this season.

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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, send him an e-mail or contact him via threads.

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#1Boston CelticsLast Week:1

Record: 45-12

OffRtg: 121.2 (1) DefRtg: 110.7 (3) NetRtg: +10.5 (1) Pace: 98.8 (20)

The Celtics are running away with the league’s best record, having won eight straight games to give themselves a five-game cushion in the loss column over everybody else. Their .789 winning percentage would be the best mark in the last six seasons (since the 65-17, 2017-18 Rockets).

Three takeaways

Six of these eight straight wins have come against losing teams, but with the Wolves’ loss to Milwaukee last week and their win in New York, the Celtics now have the best record (23-11) in games played between the 18 teams that are currently over .500. They’ve scored slightly more efficiently in those 34 games (123.1 points per 100 possessions) than they have otherwise (121.1 per 100).Their 116 points on just 84 possessions (138.1 per 100) on Saturday was the most efficient offensive performance for a visiting team in Madison Square Garden in the last 15 seasons (since Jan. 14, 2009). It came with 30 points from Jaylen Brown, one of seven rotation players who’ve shot 50% or better over the winning streak.The win in New York was the slowest-paced game (regular season or playoffs) in the last seven seasons, in part because the Celtics had just seven turnovers. They’re 17-1 when they and their opponents have averaged 97 possessions per 48 minutes or fewer, with the one defeat being their two-point loss to the Nuggets.

The win in New York began a stretch of seven straight games against that currently over .500 group. Two of those 11 losses have come against the Sixers and Warriors, who will be in Boston this week. The other game in their three-game homestand (amid a road-heavy, six-week stretch) is against the team — Dallas — that had a seven-game win streak before Sunday.

Week 19: vs. PHI, vs. DAL, vs. GSW

#2Minnesota TimberwolvesLast Week:2

Record: 40-17

OffRtg: 114.8 (17) DefRtg: 107.9 (1) NetRtg: +6.9 (3) Pace: 98.2 (25)

The Wolves went into the break strong and had a halftime lead against the Bucks on Friday, but came up empty in the third quarter and couldn’t come back from a 17-point deficit. They did get a win, recording their best defensive mark of the season, without Rudy Gobert on Saturday, holding Brooklyn to just 86 points on 100 possessions.

Three takeaways

After scoring 128.6 points per 100 possessions over their four-game winning streak leading into the break, the Wolves scored just 104 per 100 over their two games last week. They rank fourth in the percentage of their shots (52%) that have come in the paint but shot just 26-for-51 (51%) in the paint against the Bucks.More transition would help. According to Second Spectrum tracking, the Wolves have the league’s third biggest differential between their effective field goal percentage in the first six seconds of the shot clock (65.9%, second) and their effective field goal percentage thereafter (56.3%, eighth). But they rank last in the percentage of their shots (12%) that have come in the first six seconds. Having the league’s No. 1 defense and one of the best athletes in the league should lead to more transition opportunities, but this just isn’t a running team.The Wolves are 12-0 when they’ve scored 18 fast break points or more, and they had 25 (tied for their third-highest total) against the Nets on Saturday. They only scored 101 total, getting their first win in a game in which they scored less than a point per possession.

The Wolves’ seven-game homestand continues with a back-to-back against the Spurs and Grizzlies. Then things will get serious later in the week, with the Wolves being the only team with multiple wins and no losses against the Clippers, who will be at Target Center on Sunday afternoon.

Week 19: vs. SAS, vs. MEM, vs. SAC, vs. LAC

#3Oklahoma City ThunderLast Week:5↑

Record: 40-17

OffRtg: 119.6 (3) DefRtg: 111.4 (4) NetRtg: +8.2 (2) Pace: 100.9 (10)

The Thunder have won five straight games to climb back into a virtual tie with the Wolves for the best record in the Western Conference. The biggest win in that stretch was their final game within the top four, a 22-point victory over the Clippers on Thursday, in which they held the league’s fourth-ranked offense to just 107 points on 102 possessions.

Three takeaways

With their win in Houston on Sunday, the Thunder became the second team (the Rockets were the first) to match its win total from last season (40-42). They’ve seen the league’s second-biggest improvement regarding points scored per 100 possessions (+5.4) and its fourth-biggest improvement regarding points allowed per 100 (-1.8).With Clippers’ Ivica Zubac guarding (and mostly ignoring) Josh Giddey on Thursday, Isaiah Joe (who had a career-high three dunks) started the second half in Giddey’s spot. The Thunder have played 115 total minutes with Joe in place of either Giddey or Jalen Williams (and the other four starters on the floor) and outscored their opponents by 119 points (38.6) per 100 possessions in those minutes.When we consider Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Kia MVP candidacy, his defense is certainly a plus. He continues to lead the league in steals, but he doesn’t compromise the league’s fourth-ranked defense (which has allowed fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the floor) to do so. He had a pretty remarkable defensive possession on Thursday, stymying straight two Clippers layups as the Thunder took control of the game with a 26-9, third-quarter run.

The Thunder are done playing the other three teams in the top four, but still have seven games remaining against the other six Western Conference teams with winning records — all of whom are potential first-round playoff opponents. They haven’t played the sixth-place Suns since they came back from a fourth-quarter deficit and won in Phoenix on Nov. 12, when the opponent was without Devin Booker. They’re back in Phoenix and will have a rest advantage for Game 2 of a four-game trip on Sunday.

Week 19: vs. HOU, @ SAS, @ PHX

#4LA ClippersLast Week:3↓

Record: 37-19

OffRtg: 119.1 (4) DefRtg: 114.6 (13) NetRtg: +4.5 (6) Pace: 98.4 (23)

The Clippers have had the Western Conference’s best record (34-12) since mid-November, but they fell to 2-6 in games played between the top four teams in the West with a 22-point loss in Oklahoma City on Thursday. Three nights later, they couldn’t stop the fifth-place Kings

Three takeaways

The Clippers led the league in offensive efficiency in January, but ranked 14th offensively (116.3 points scored per 100 possessions) in February, with games in Memphis and Oklahoma City last week being the fifth and sixth times they’ve scored less than 110 per 100 this month. (They scored less than 110 per 100 only once in all of December and January.)Paul George (from 60.9% to 48.9%), Amir Coffey (from 76.2% to 58.6%) and Ivica Zubac (from 72% to 65.4%) have all seen big drops in effective field goal percentage from January to February, with the Clippers also turning the ball over a lot more. George missed the game against the Kings on Sunday, when James Harden and Kawhi Leonard combined to shoot 2-for-16 from outside the paint.It’s not great that they beat the Grizzlies by only six points on Friday, but the Clippers are 5-0 in clutch games in February, having scored an amazing 61 points on 38 clutch possessions (1.61 per) this month, with six different Clippers having made at least two clutch buckets. They still have a better record in non-clutch games (21-8) than in those that have been within five in the last five (16-11).

Having lost in Oklahoma City on Thursday, the Clippers will have another huge road game this week, visiting the Wolves on Sunday afternoon. Minnesota is one of two teams (the Cavs are the other) that the Clippers (have played and) haven’t beaten since the start of this 34-12 stretch in mid-November.

Week 19: vs. LAL, vs. WAS, @ MIN

#5Denver NuggetsLast Week:6↑

Record: 39-19

OffRtg: 117.5 (12) DefRtg: 113.4 (11) NetRtg: +4.1 (8) Pace: 97.6 (27)

Coming out of the All-Star break in fourth place in the West and with a three-game losing streak, the Nuggets needed to put their foot on the gas. They won all three of their games last week, taking care of business against two bad teams and getting a quality win at Golden State on Sunday.

Three takeaways

Nikola Jokic shot just 47% over the three-game losing streak, but the break seemed to do him good. He averaged 27.3 points, 16.7 rebounds, 15.0 assists and 2.3 steals over the three games last week, shooting 69% from the field (including a perfect 10-for-10 against the Wizards on Thursday). The Nuggets outscored their opponents by 31.7 points per 100 possessions in his 103 minutes.A lot of that damage was done in the paint, where Jokic scored at least 20 points in all three games and with 25 of the 45 total assists coming on dunks or layups. The Nuggets’ 88 points in the paint against the Wizards were the most for any team in a game this season and tied for the eighth most in the 28 seasons for which points in the paint have been tracked. (The record — 98 — came from the Nuggets against the Wizards last season.)Though the Nuggets have scored 124.5 points per 100 possessions over the winning streak, they still don’t rank nearly as high offensively (12th) as they did last season (fifth). But there are now seven teams that have scored between 117.5 and 117.9 points per 100 possessions, with Denver at the bottom of that list and the shorthanded Knicks and Sixers at the top. So there’s an opportunity to climb from 12th to sixth pretty quickly.

The Nuggets have been much better offensively (121.3 scored per 100) at home, where they’ll play six of their next seven games. They’ve won eight of their last nine at Ball Arena and will have a chance to avenge that one loss (against the Kings in the last game before the All-Star break) on Wednesday. The one road game in that stretch is in L.A. on Saturday, with the Nuggets having won seven straight against the Lakers.

Week 19: vs. SAC, vs. MIA, @ LAL

#6Cleveland CavaliersLast Week:4↓

Record: 37-19

OffRtg: 115.9 (15) DefRtg: 110.4 (2) NetRtg: +5.4 (4) Pace: 98.5 (22)

The Cavs still have a two-game lead in the loss column over the Bucks for second place in the East, but are 1-2 on their first stretch of five games in seven days, which comes to an end with a home-road back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Three takeaways

The Cavs won 18 of their last 20 games before the All-Star break, but still went into the break with a 7-10 record against the other seven Eastern Conference teams with winning records. And they came out of the break with two more losses (both by seven points) to that group, getting outscored by 12 points from 3-point range in each game. They’re now 7-12 within the group — only the Knicks (7-13) and Sixers (6-11) have been worse — but have been outscored by just 18 points over the 19 games.Both of those losses came without Donovan Mitchell (illness), who returned on Sunday in a win in Washington. The Cavs are 6-5 without their All-Star, though they’ve been 13.5 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor (plus-10.9 per 100) than they’ve been with him off the floor (minus-2.6). His on-off differential last season was just 1.6 per 100.Caris LeVert shot just 3-for-21 over the two losses but recovered to register 18 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in Washington on Sunday. He was on the floor (instead of Evan Mobley or Max Strus) down the stretch and had the two biggest buckets of the game: a step-back 3 and a transition drive that put the Cavs up seven with four minutes left. LeVert has played just 100 total minutes alongside both Mitchell and Darius Garland (compared to 538 minutes last season), with the Cavs outscoring their opponents by 21.3 points per 100 possessions in those minutes. (A lot of that is their opponents shooting just 16-for-67 from 3-point range.)

The Cavs scored just 96.4 points per 100 possessions and grabbed just 46.1% of available rebounds in an early-season, home-and-home set with the Knicks, the team that eliminated them by destroying them on the glass in the first round of last year’s playoffs. They managed to win one of the two games and the season series will be determined in Cleveland on Sunday.

Week 19: vs. DAL, @ CHI, @ DET, vs. NYK

#7Dallas MavericksLast Week:7

Record: 33-24

OffRtg: 117.5 (11) DefRtg: 116.4 (20) NetRtg: +1.0 (14) Pace: 100.9 (9)

The Mavs have had Kyrie Irving back in the lineup for the last eight games, and they won the first seven of those (with a big win over the Suns on Thursday) before seeing the streak come to an end in Indiana this weekend.

Three takeaways

The Mavs allowed just 104.5 points per 100 possessions over the winning streak, climbing from 25th to 19th in defensive efficiency for the season. Their opponents (including four teams that rank in the top 10 offensively) shot just 50% in the paint over the seven games, down from 61.2% prior.But the Pacers scored 133 on 105 on Sunday, shooting an incredible 14-for-18 from mid-range. Maybe that was some regression to the mean, with the Mavs ranking second in opponent mid-range percentage (38.3%) before Sunday.Since Irving’s return (and the start of the winning streak), the Mavs have outscored their opponents by an incredible 20.7 points per 100 possessions in 215 minutes with him and Luka Doncic on the floor together. They’re now 19-11 when both have been available and have been much better in 722 total minutes with both on the floor (plus-9.0 per 100) than they’ve been in 1,575 minutes with one on the floor without the other (plus-0.2 per 100). Interestingly, the difference has been almost entirely about defense (110.8 vs. 119.5 allowed per 100).

Their loss in Indiana on Sunday began a stretch of nine straight games against the Eastern Conference. The Mavs are 12-6 (6-2 on the road) against the East, though they lost at home to both the Cavs and Celtics, who they’ll visit this week.

Week 19: @ CLE, @ TOR, @ BOS, vs. PHI

#8Phoenix SunsLast Week:8

Record: 34-24

OffRtg: 117.7 (8) DefRtg: 114.6 (14) NetRtg: +3.1 (11) Pace: 99.3 (17)

The Suns came out of the break with two losses by a total of 14 points in Texas, getting outscored by 36 points from 3-point range over the two games. But they returned home on Sunday and got a good win over the improved Lakers, climbing back into the top six in the Western Conference.

Three takeaways

The Suns’ last seven losses have all been on the road. They’ve won eight straight at home, with five of those coming against teams with winning records. With their win over the Lakers on Sunday, they’re 16-16 against the other 17 teams that are currently above .500.They’ve won two straight fourth quarters by at least five points for the first time this season. A strong start to the fourth in Houston helped them erase a 14-point deficit, only to come up short down the stretch. But after seeing a 20-point lead cut to five points at the end of the third quarter on Sunday, they kept the Lakers at bay to get their first post-break win. The Suns still have the league’s worst fourth-quarter offense (103.5 points scored per 100 possessions), but have scored 62 points on 49 possessions (1.27 per) over these last two fourth quarters.Kevin Durant (who moved up to ninth in all-time scoring) has led the way with 17 total points over those two fourth quarters, but right behind him (with 15 points in only 17 minutes) is Bol Bol, who’s gotten rotation minutes in eight of the last nine games. He had 25 points and 14 rebounds (both one shy of his career-high marks) in Houston and the Suns have allowed just 100.4 points per 100 possessions in his 122 minutes over that stretch.

The Suns have more road games (13) than home games (11) remaining, but the win over the Lakers began a stretch where they’re playing six of seven at Footprint Center. They’re still just 1-4 against the top four teams in the West, having allowed 129 points per 100 possessions over those five games, and they’ll be at a rest disadvantage when they host the Thunder on Sunday.

Week 19: vs. HOU, vs. HOU, vs. OKC

#9Milwaukee BucksLast Week:11↑

Record: 37-21

OffRtg: 118.9 (5) DefRtg: 115.5 (115.5) NetRtg: +3.4 (10) Pace: 101.9 (5)

No team needed a strong start to the post-break schedule more than the Bucks. So far, so good, as they got a quality win in Minnesota and a comfortable one in Philly.

Three takeaways

The Bucks have allowed just 104.6 points per 100 possessions over their last six games, with their opponents shooting just 52.9% in the paint over that stretch. They rank 11th defensively (112.2 allowed per 100) over the four weeks that Doc Rivers has been the coach.Khris Middleton has played just eight minutes in last nine games, and Jae Crowder (starting in Middleton’s place) has shot just 7-for-32 (22%) from 3-point range over that stretch. But the Bucks’ lineup with Crowder has outscored opponents by 26.3 points per 100 possessions (with great numbers on both ends of the floor) in 105 minutes over the six games its played together in the last 22 days.The flip side of that is that the Bucks have had the league’s 27th-ranked bench since Jan. 1, having been outscored by 11.0 points per 100 possessions with Bobby Portis on the floor over those 26 games. It’ll be interesting to see if Danilo Gallinari (0-for-3 in 14 minutes over two games) can give them productive minutes at some point.

The Bucks are 11-1 (with 11 straight wins) against the bottom five teams in the Eastern Conference, with five games remaining against the group. Two of those five are this week against the Hornets, who they’ve beat by 31 and 36 points.

Week 19: vs. CHA, @ CHA, @ CHI

#10New York KnicksLast Week:10

Record: 34-23

OffRtg: 117.9 (6) DefRtg: 113.2 (9) NetRtg: +4.6 (5) Pace: 97.0 (30)

The Knicks got an important win over the similarly shorthanded Sixers (whom they now lead by a game) on Thursday, but they fell to 2-8 against the three teams ahead of them and 5-6 in this stretch without OG Anunoby and Julius Randle, suffering their fourth loss to the Celtics.

Three takeaways

The Knicks rank 21st defensively (118 points allowed per 100 possessions) over the four weeks that Anunoby and Randle have been out. The Celtics scored “only” 116 points on Saturday, but that on just 84 offensive possessions, with it being the league’s slowest-paced game (regular season or playoffs) in the last seven seasons.The Knicks have played four of the league’s seven slowest-paced games (two against Boston, two against Orlando) this season, and they’ve lost all four. According to Second Spectrum tracking, they lead the league in the percentage of their shots (24%) that have come in the last six seconds of the shot clock. They rank 10th in effective field goal percentage in the last six seconds (49.7%), but that’s still a significant drop from the first 18 seconds (55.4%, 19th).Jalen Brunson has a usage rate of 35% over the 10 games he’s played since the injuries Anunoby and Randle, second in the league over that stretch and up from 28.1% (23rd and below Randle) prior. His true shooting percentage over the 10 games (57.4%) is down from 60% prior and a pretty incredible 66.3% over the last six games that Anunoby and Randle played.

The Knicks get the Pistons on Monday, but nine of their next 11 games will be against other teams with winning records, and they’re currently 12-21 within that group. After their back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday, they won’t have another until April 4 and 5.

Week 19: vs. DET, vs. NOP, vs. GSW, @ CLE

#11Sacramento KingsLast Week:12↑

Record: 33-23

OffRtg: 117.0 (13) DefRtg: 116.2 (19) NetRtg: +0.8 (16) Pace: 100.5 (11)

The Kings are staking their claim as the best of the rest of the West, sitting in fifth place after a great road win over the Clippers on Sunday.

Three takeaways

Four of the Kings’ last six games have come against the top four teams in the West, and they’ve won three of those four (two of them on the road). They’re the only team in the bottom 11 of the West that has a winning record (7-4) vs. the top four, and they’re responsible for one of the Nuggets’ worst offensive games in Denver, one of the Wolves’ worst defensive games in Minnesota, and one of the Clippers’ worst defensive games in L.A.The Kings haven’t played close games as often, but they have a better clutch record (16-10, seventh best) than they did last season (25-19, ninth), when De’Aaron Fox won the Kia Clutch Player of the Year Award. They’ve lost a couple of them, but the they’ve scored 75 points on 52 clutch possessions (144 per 100) over their last six games that were within five points in the last five minutes.Fox has shot an amazing 15-for-20 on clutch shots, 3-for-5 on clutch 3s and 5-for-6 on clutch free throws over that stretch, up from 21-for-53 (40%), 2-for-16 and 12-for-20 prior to that. He had two huge buckets down the stretch of the Kings’ win over the Spurs on Thursday, with a big block on Devin Vassell sandwiched in between.

The Kings have four games left against the top four in the West, and two of them (both on the road) are this week.

De'Aaron Fox coming up CLUTCH! 🦊🔥 pic.twitter.com/f4wR3gQCCW

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 23, 2024

Week 19: vs. MIA, @ DEN, @ MIN

#12Indiana PacersLast Week:14↑

Record: 33-25

OffRtg: 120.6 (2) DefRtg: 118.8 (26) NetRtg: +1.9 (12) Pace: 102.7 (2)

The Pacers have won six of their last eight games and, given the Knicks’ and Sixers’ injuries, have a shot at a top-four seed in the East.

Three takeaways

The Pacers’ 22-point victory over the Mavs on Sunday was one of their most impressive wins over the season, with Dallas coming in with a seven-game win streak over which it scored 120.9 points per 100 possessions. Indiana held the Mavs (with both of their stars) to just 111 on 106 (105 per 100), even though they shot well (14-for-31, 45%) from 3-point range. The Pacers will generally give up some paint points, but Dallas shot just 18-for-36 in the paint.With Aaron Nesmith (ankle) missing their two games last week, the Pacers’ when-healthy starting lineup has still played just 101 total minutes. But Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam have now played 280 together and, while the Pacers are just 6-6 in the 12 games they’ve both been available, they’ve outscored their opponents by 8.2 points per 100 possessions (with better-than-average defensive numbers) in those 280 minutes.Even with Bennedict Mathurin in the starting lineup, Rick Carlisle played five-man bench units in both games last week, and those units had success against both the Pistons and Mavs. T.J. McConnell totaled 28 points and 12 assists in 37 minutes over the two wins.

The Pacers have the league’s biggest differential between their record with rest (31-17) and their record in the second games of back-to-backs (2-8). They’re one of three teams with only three back-to-backs after the All-Star break, with their game against the Raptors on Monday being the second half of the first one. They’re 1-1 against Toronto, with the one loss (in which the Pacers blew a late, seven-point lead) having come at home in the second game of a back-to-back.

Week 19: vs. TOR, vs. NOP, @ NOP, @ SAS

#13Miami HeatLast Week:13

Record: 31-25

OffRtg: 113.2 (22) DefRtg: 112.7 (7) NetRtg: +0.5 (17) Pace: 97.5 (28)

The Heat have won seven of their last nine games, including three straight (all on the road), and they’re tied in the loss column with the sixth-place Pacers.

Three takeaways

The Heat have the league’s second-ranked defense over this 7-2 stretch, and that’s with four of the nine games having come against teams that rank in the top seven offensively. The Pelicans ranked 12th offensively before the Heat held them under a point per possession on Friday. New Orleans had come back from two double-digit deficits and led by one with less than nine minutes left, but scored just four points on its final 14 possessions.Much of the improved defense has been about opponent 3-point shooting (league-low 31.7%). But the Heat rank in the top 10 in all of the four factors of defense over the last 26 days, having seen improvements in opponent free throw rate and defensive rebounding percentage. The Pelicans had 18 offensive boards on Friday, but just one more free-throw attempt (10-for-13) than Jimmy Butler (8-for-12), who returned from a three-game absence (personal reasons) and then got suspended for their game in Sacramento on Monday.Even after their win in New Orleans on Friday, the Heat are just 3-3 in rest-advantage games. But five of the six have been on the road and they’ve had the league’s top-ranked defense (107.1 points allowed per 100 possessions) with a rest advantage.

They’ll have two more rest-advantage games — in Sacramento and Denver — on the four-game trip that concludes this week, and those are the tougher of the three remaining games, especially with Butler out against the Kings. The Heat will be at a disadvantage in Portland on Tuesday.

Week 19: @ SAC, @ POR, @ DEN, vs. UTA

#14New Orleans PelicansLast Week:9↓

Record: 34-24

OffRtg: 116.7 (14) DefRtg: 112.4 (6) NetRtg: +4.3 (7) Pace: 99.4 (14)

The Pelicans remain an enigma. They went into the break strong (winning seven of eight) and came out of it with an easy win over the Rockets. But they dropped two straight at home over the weekend, suffering their second loss to the Bulls (blowing double-digit leads both times) on Sunday.

Three takeaways

The Pelicans scored just 102.6 points per 100 possessions over the two losses, including just 83 on 94 (88.3 per 100) over the two second halves. They continue to have the league’s biggest half-to-half drop-off, 12.9 points per 100 possessions better before halftime (plus-10.7, second) than they’ve been over the third and fourth quarters (minus-2.2, 21st).For the season, the bigger difference has been on defense, though Jordan Hawkins (from 61.9% to 49.0%), Herb Jones (from 67.3% to 60.3%), Zion Williamson (from 63.9% to 59.1%) and CJ McCollum (from 61.5% to 56.8%) have the biggest, 14th biggest, 21st biggest and 22nd biggest half-to-half drop-offs in true shooting percentage among 194 players with at least 150 field goal attempts in both the first and second halves.With McCollum (ankle sprain suffered Friday) out and Jose Alvarado suspended for the first of three games, the Pelicans didn’t have a point guard in the starting lineup or off the bench on Sunday. Williamson dished out 11 assists and the starters (with Trey Murphy in place of McCollum) were a plus-12 in their 18 minutes together, but the Pels were outscored by 20 points (allowing a bottom-10 offense to score 82 points on 65 possessions) in 30 minutes with at least one reserve on the floor. They still have the league’s third-ranked bench for the season.

The Pelicans will play nine of their next 13 games on the road, and all nine of those road games are against the Eastern Conference. They got an ugly, 96-87 win over the Knicks in their second game of the season and they’ll have a rest advantage at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, currently 6-4 (1-1 on the road) in rest-advantage games.

Larry Nance Jr. with AUTHORITY 😤 pic.twitter.com/CaaAUIX17c

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 24, 2024

Week 19: @ NYK, @ IND, vs. IND

#15Philadelphia 76ersLast Week:15

Record: 33-24

OffRtg: 117.7 (7) DefRtg: 114.0 (12) NetRtg: +3.7 (9) Pace: 99.3 (16)

The Sixers opened their post-break schedule with three games within the top five in the East, going 1-2. That’s not great, but a win over the Cavs without Joel Embiid is encouraging.

Three takeaways

The Sixers are 18-0 (the Mavs are the only other undefeated team) when they’ve allowed fewer than 110 points per 100 possessions, but their win over Cleveland on Friday was just the fourth time they’ve done it in 23 games without Embiid.They attempted 36 fewer free throws than their opponents over their three games since the break and have been outscored at the line in seven straight. They’ve outscored their opponents by 6.3 points per game from the line (what would be the league’s best differential by a huge margin) with Embiid and have been outscored by 4.0 per game (what would be the third-worst differential) without him. Embiid’s 11.9 attempts per game are missed, but the opponents’ free throw rate has also been significantly higher in the games without him (31.8 attempts per 100 shots from the field) than it has been in the games he’s played (25.8 per 100). Paul Reed’s 4.8 fouls per 36 minutes are the second most among 205 players who’ve played at least 1,000 total minutes this season.The Sixers are still in fifth place, but the Pacers, Heat and Magic are all within two games in the loss column, so a drop to eighth is certainly possible. Philly has the second toughest remaining schedule among those four teams, with 16 of its final 25 games (including 15 of the next 20) against teams that currently have winning records.

The Sixers are 1-2 against the Celtics this season, though they’ve outscored Boston by 25 points per 100 possessions (scoring 74 points on 60 offensive possessions) in 24 minutes with Tyrese Maxey on the floor without Embiid. Both All-Stars missed the last meeting (Dec. 1) and the final one is in Boston on Tuesday, the start of a stretch where the Sixers are playing 15 of 22 on the road.

Week 19: @ BOS, vs. CHA, @ DAL

#16Orlando MagicLast Week:17↑

Record: 32-26

OffRtg: 113.0 (23) DefRtg: 112.2 (5) NetRtg: +0.8 (15) Pace: 98.0 (26)

The Magic got a great win in Cleveland on Thursday, but then barely beat the Pistons and fell apart in Atlanta, with a four-point lead turning into a 16-point deficit with a 21-1 Hawks run spanning the third and fourth quarters.

Three takeaways

The three games since the All-Star break have been relatively great 3-point shooting stretch (46.0%) for the Magic, and 11 different players have made at least one 3-pointer over the three games. But the volume remains low (just 34% of their total field goal attempts over the three games) and they remain the only team that ranks in the bottom six in both 3-point percentage (35.4%, 25th) and 3-point rate (36.2%, 26th).Paolo Banchero’s game-winner with less than a second to go in Detroit on Saturday was his eighth bucket (on 17 attempts) to tie or take the lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime this season. Stephen Curry is the league leader with nine, with Banchero (who was 0-for-5 on shots to tie or take the lead in the final minute last season) being the only other player with more than six.Banchero missed the loss in Atlanta (his first absence of the season) on Sunday. That might have been a chance to start Jonathan Isaac alongside Wendell Carter Jr., with the Magic having allowed just 100.5 points per 100 possessions in their 106 minutes together. But Goga Bitadze got the start and then Isaac injured his left knee (the one with a bad history) late in the first quarter.

The Magic are 12-5 against the seven teams below them in the Eastern Conference standings, with all five losses having come against the Hawks (1-3) and Nets (0-2). They lost their two games in Brooklyn by a total of 48 points, allowing 129.7 points per 100 possessions (their worst mark against any opponent) over the two. Their first of two home games against the Nets in the next 17 days is Tuesday when Orlando will have a rest advantage.

PAOLO BANCHERO FOR THE WIN 🍿 pic.twitter.com/rhadvKOX3F

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 25, 2024

Week 19: vs. BKN, vs. UTA, vs. DET

#17Golden State WarriorsLast Week:18↑

Record: 29-27

OffRtg: 117.5 (10) DefRtg: 116.0 (18) NetRtg: +1.6 (13) Pace: 100.2 (12)

The Warriors had won 10 of 12, with a big win over the ninth-place Lakers coming out of the All-Star break. But they remain in 10th, having blown a 16-point lead to the Nuggets on Sunday.

Three takeaways

The Nuggets’ comeback on Sunday gave the Warriors seven losses (they’re 18-7) in games they led by at least 15 points. That’s tied with the Spurs (7-7) for the league lead. Some of us are old enough to remember when the Warriors won 114 straight games that they led by 15-plus.The Warriors ranked in the top five on both ends of the floor over the 10-2 stretch, with the much bigger improvement (9.1 points per 100 possessions) from their first 43 games coming on defense. They scored less than a point per possession for the first time on Friday (they were the last team to do so), but still beat the Hornets by 13.Their current starting lineup — Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green — is now their most-used lineup (148 minutes) for the season. It got outscored by 15 points in a little more than 11 minutes against the champs on Sunday, but is still a plus-21.6 per 100, the second-best mark among 69 lineups that have played at least 100 minutes.

The Warriors will play 16 of their final 26 games on the road, where they’ve won five straight. They’re 13-6 (fourth-best among West teams) against the Eastern Conference and just 1-3 against the East’s top four. Golden State is set to visit the Knicks and Celtics on the four-game trip that begins Tuesday in Washington.

Week 19: @ WAS, @ NYK, @ TOR, @ BOS

#18Los Angeles LakersLast Week:16↓

Record: 31-28

OffRtg: 114.5 (18) DefRtg: 115.1 (16) NetRtg: -0.6 (19) Pace: 101.4 (6)

The Lakers will have a tough time climbing out of the bottom half of the Western Conference Play-In group, especially if they can’t beat the other teams in the West’s top 10. They got a narrow win over the Spurs on Friday, but that was sandwiched by losses at Golden State (without LeBron James) and Phoenix in which they allowed more than 126 points per 100 possessions.

Three takeaways

Before the loss in Phoenix on Sunday, the Lakers were 6-0 in the games that D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura started alongside their two All-Stars (though four of those six wins came against the Blazers, Hornets, Pistons and Spurs). That lineup eclipsed the 100-minute mark last week and (after getting outscored by four points in 16.7 minutes in Phoenix) has outscored opponents by just 5.8 points per 100 possessions, a mark which ranks 29th among 69 lineups that have played at least 100 minutes.Coming into the Phoenix games, the Lakers and Suns had both been outscored by at least 30 points from 3-point range over their first two games out of the break. It was 51-45 from deep in favor of the Suns on Sunday, though the bigger differential was at the free throw line, where the Lakers were just 4-for-8 and got outscored by 14 points, their worst differential in a game that James has played this season. Their opponent free throw rate (20.2 attempts per 100 shots from the field) is still the second lowest in the last 51 seasons, just a hair higher than that of the 2020-21 Bucks.Spencer Dinwiddie has shot just 9-for-29 (31%) over his five games with his new team, though he does have a 17/5 assist/turnover ratio and the Lakers have been at their best (plus-14.0 per 100 possessions) with him on the floor over the five games.

The Lakers have just 23 games (the fewest in the league) remaining and will play 11 of their next 12 at Crypto.com Arena, a stretch that begins with a “road” game against the Clippers. The Lakers won the first two meetings, with James totaling 60 points on 24-for-38 (63%) shooting. But he missed the third one, a loss in which the Clips scored 127 points on 101 possessions.

Week 19: @ LAC, vs. WAS, vs. DEN

#19Chicago BullsLast Week:19

Record: 27-30

OffRtg: 113.5 (21) DefRtg: 115.1 (15) NetRtg: -1.6 (20) Pace: 97.0 (29)

The Bulls continue to look like the best team with a losing record. After a 5-14 start, they’re 22-16 (fifth best in the East) since late November. A lot of that damage (14-1) has been done against other teams that currently have losing records, but they got another quality win in New Orleans on Sunday.

Three takeaways

The Bulls’ current starting lineup — Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic — doesn’t seem like an all-defense lineup on the surface. But it’s scored just 103.1 points per 100 possessions and allowed just 101.7 per 100 in its 193 minutes. Those are the worst offensive mark and the second-best defensive mark among the 38 lineups that have played at least 150 minutes this season.The Bulls have lost another rotation player for the season, with Patrick Williams set to have foot surgery. Williams was one of six top-10 picks from the 2020 Draft who didn’t get a contract extension before the season (or who were waived before they were eligible), so he’ll be a restricted free agent in July, having shown minimal improvement from his rookie year. His 75-for-156 (48.1%) in the paint this season was down from 54.9% through his first three seasons and ranks 240th among 250 players with at least 100 attempts.With their loss to the Celtics on Thursday (in which they were outscored by 39 points from 3-point range), the Bulls are 1-8 (with six straight losses) against the top four teams in the East, having scored just 106.6 points per 100 possessions over those nine games.

The Bulls’ one win vs. the top four in the East was at home against the Bucks, and they’ll complete the season series Friday, playing their final game against the Cavs two nights earlier.

Week 19: vs. DET, vs. CLE, vs. MIL

#20Houston RocketsLast Week:21↑

Record: 25-32

OffRtg: 112.8 (24) DefRtg: 112.8 (8) NetRtg: -0.1 (18) Pace: 99.4 (15)

The Rockets’ first six games out of the All-Star break are all against the Pelicans, Suns (x 3) and Thunder (x 2). They’re 1-2 on that stretch thus far, getting a good win over Phoenix on Friday, but scoring just 105.4 points per 100 possessions over the three games.

Three takeaways

The Rockets continue to have road woes, having lost their last seven games outside of Houston, a stretch that includes losses to the Nets, Raptors, Hawks and Grizzlies. They got clobbered in New Orleans on Friday, committing a season-high 24 turnovers and allowing a season-high 29 fast-break points. The bigger difference between the Home Rockets (108.8 points allowed per 100 possessions, second) and the Road Rockets (117.4, 19th) continues to be on defense.Amen Thompson started the last five games before the All-Star break in place of an injured Fred VanVleet, and he was on the floor down the stretch (instead of Jalen Green) as they edged the Suns on Friday. The rookie ranks 13th among 251 players who’ve played at least 750 total minutes with 3.20 steals + blocks per 36, with his brother (2.85, 29th) not far behind.Though they’ve lost 23 of their last 35 games and are now seven games below .500, the Rockets still have a positive point differential, having outscored their opponents by exactly one point over their 57 games. Theirs would be the third-worst record in NBA history for a team that’s outscored its opponents, though things aren’t looking good regarding keeping that point differential above zero.

The Rockets still have four games left against the Thunder and Suns, all four are on the road (uh oh), and three of the four are in the next six days.

Week 19: @ OKC, @ PHX, @ PHX

#21Toronto RaptorsLast Week:24↑

Record: 21-36

OffRtg: 114.0 (19) DefRtg: 117.2 (22) NetRtg: -3.1 (24) Pace: 99.4 (13)

The 12th-place Raptors still have a shot at a Play-In spot, and they picked up two big wins in that regard last week, beating the 11th-place Nets (getting their first Atlantic Division win) and 10th-place Hawks.

Three takeaways

The Raptors have seen big jumps in ball and player movement under rookie coach Darko Rajakovic, but their half-court offense still isn’t very good and they still need transition opportunities to stay afloat on that end of the floor. They got those transition opportunities in their two games last week, outscoring the Nets and Hawks, 70-16 on fast breaks, with their 46 against Brooklyn tied for the most for any team in the last five seasons.It also helped that Brooklyn and Atlanta combined to shoot 23-for-76 (30%) from 3-point range over the two games, with the Raptors outscoring them each by nine points from beyond the arc. They still rank 28th in 3-point differential (minus-4.7 points per game), having been outscored by an average of 17.6 ppg from beyond the arc over their last seven games before the All-Star break.No. 13 pick Gradey Dick has been in the rotation for the last five-plus weeks and has shot 19-for-38 (50%) from 3-point range over the last eight games. However, the Raptors have been outscored by almost 14 points per 100 possessions in his 168 minutes over that latter stretch.

The Raptors were 1-8 in rest-disadvantage games before their win in Atlanta on Friday. They’ll now play three straight rest-advantage games, though they’re just 3-5 in those and just 8-23 (with six straight losses) against the 18 teams that currently have winning records. Three of those eight wins have come against the three above-500 opponents — the Pacers, Mavs and Warriors — they’ll face this week.

Week 19: @ IND, vs. DAL, vs. GSW, vs. CHA

#22Atlanta HawksLast Week:22

Record: 25-32

OffRtg: 117.5 (9) DefRtg: 119.6 (28) NetRtg: -2.1 (21) Pace: 102.3 (4)

Trae Young is out for at least a month after suffering a torn ligament in his left pinkie, but the Hawks got a good win without their star (and ended a three-game losing streak) on Sunday, holding their opponent (Orlando) under a point per possession for just the second time this season.

Three takeaways

The Hawks are now 3-3 without Young, who missed an average of just 6.8 games over his first five seasons in the league. This is the first season since his rookie year that the team has been better with him off the floor (minus-2.1 points per 100 possessions) than with him on it (minus-2.6 per 100).The Hawks’ recent starting lineup (with Saddiq Bey) had been outscored by 12.4 points per 100 possessions, the second-worst mark among 27 lineups that have played at least 200 minutes. Their lineup on Sunday (with Bogdan Bogdanovic in Young’s place) was a plus-1 in 11.3 minutes and the Hawks had some success (plus-11 in 10.1 minutes) with De’Andre Hunter in place of Clint Capela and Jalen Johnson at the five. For the season, they’re a plus-4 in 84 minutes with Johnson at the five, having combined with their opponents to score an amazing 137 points per 100 possessions.With their two-point loss to the Raptors on Friday, the Hawks are 3-5 against the other three teams — Chicago, Brooklyn and Toronto — with a chance for the final two Play-In spots in the East. Seven of those eight games have been within five points in the last five minutes.

After the Hawks host Utah on Tuesday, they’ll play nine of their next 11 on the road. That stretch begins with two games against the Nets, who they lead by 3 1/2 games for the final Play-In spot. Both of the previous meetings (one win, one loss) went down to the wire.

Week 19: vs. UTA, @ BKN, @ BKN

#23Utah JazzLast Week:20↓

Record: 27-31

OffRtg: 115.7 (16) DefRtg: 118.4 (25) NetRtg: -2.7 (22) Pace: 100.9 (8)

The Jazz opened their post-break schedule with two games against teams — Charlotte and San Antonio — that came out of the break with a combined 24-85 record. But the Jazz split the two games, blowing a seven-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Hornets.

Three takeaways

The Jazz’s return from the All-Star break came with a new lineup, with Taylor Hendricks (who played in only 17 of 56 games before the break) replacing Walker Kessler and giving the team two rookie starters. That’s another sign that they’re not too interested in competing for a Play-In spot, though the lineup played fewer minutes (21) than a lineup of Lauri Markkanen and four reserves (24) over the two games.Over the last four games, Hendricks is a perfect 10-for-10 from 2-point range, with a couple of scores on Sunday against the guy (Victor Wembanyama) who was picked eight spots ahead of him. But just 4-for-19 from beyond the arc (where he’s taken 61% of his shots for the season) over the last five games, though his stroke from the corners doesn’t look too bad.Their win over the Spurs on Sunday was just the third time the Jazz have allowed less than a point per possession. They still rank last defensively (121.3 allowed per 100) in February, in part because six of their nine games have come against teams that rank in the top 10 on offense.

With the loss to the Hornets, the Jazz are 13-9 (6-6 on the road) against the Eastern Conference, with the only East team they haven’t faced being the Hawks. They’ll begin a three-game trip (and a stretch where they’re playing seven of eight against the East) in Atlanta on Tuesday.

Week 19: @ ATL, @ ORL, @ MIA

#24Brooklyn NetsLast Week:23↓

Record: 21-35

OffRtg: 113.6 (20) DefRtg: 116.5 (21) NetRtg: -3.0 (23) Pace: 98.5 (21)

The Nets’ last game under Jacque Vaughn was a 50-point loss in Boston. Their first game under interim coach Kevin Ollie was a 28-point loss in Toronto in which they allowed 46 fast break points. If they were hoping for a new coach bump (or just a fresh start after the All-Star break), that wasn’t much of one.

Three takeaways

The Nets have lost seven of their last eight games, scoring a point per possession or less in five of the eight (including each of the last three), having done so just four times prior. They rank in the bottom five in effective field goal percentage, free-throw rate and offensive rebounding percentage over the last three weeks.Their offense has been worse with their starters on the floor over this stretch than it’s been otherwise. Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas have taken the most shots and combined for an effective field goal percentage of just 46.4% over the eight games. The reserves haven’t been much better, as Cam Johnson has struggled (4-for-21) in his three games back from a four-game absence and Dennis Schroder is just 16-for-52 (31%) in his first four games with his new team.Since Ben Simmons made his return 11 games ago, the Nets have been at their best defensively (108.7 points allowed per 100 possessions) with him on the floor. But he couldn’t make it through 1 1/2 games after the All-Star break, missing the second half of their loss in Minnesota on Saturday with a knee issue.

The Nets are still 4-2 (best record) in games played between the four below-.500 teams — Chicago, Atlanta, Brooklyn and Toronto — with a chance for the final two Play-In spots in the East, set to play their final two games against the Hawks (1-1) this week.

Week 19: @ MEM, @ ORL, vs. ATL, vs. ATL

#25Memphis GrizzliesLast Week:25

Record: 20-37

OffRtg: 107.5 (30) DefRtg: 113.4 (10) NetRtg: -5.8 (25) Pace: 99.1 (18)

The Grizzlies are just 1-9 (with eight straight losses) against the top four teams in the West, but they were pretty competitive (1-3, minus-5.4 points per 100 possessions) in their season series with the Clippers. They had a one-point lead with less than two minutes left on Friday before seeing LA finish the game on a 9-2 run.

Two takeaways

They held the league’s fourth-ranked offense to just 101 points on 96 possessions on Friday, but scored just 95 on 95 themselves, shooting 8-for-35 (23%) from 3-point range. The Grizzlies are just 15-13 when they’ve allowed fewer than 110 points per 100 possessions, with no other team having more than seven losses when allowing fewer than 100 per 100.Not surprisingly, Jaren Jackson Jr. has seen a big jump in usage rate, from 24.3% last season to a career-high 29.9% this season, including an amazing 36.1% since Desmond Bane has been out. It’s higher (34%) in the clutch than its been otherwise, with Jackson having attempted more clutch shots (43) than the next three Grizzlies (42). He has a higher true shooting percentage in the clutch (57.9%) than he does overall (56.0%), but that 9-2 Clippers run to end the game on Friday began with Jackson turning the ball over and then getting stripped (blocked) on the next possession, with both plays leading to transition buckets on the other end.

The Grizzlies said Thursday that both Bane and Marcus Smart will be out for at least another three weeks. They have two games remaining against each of the two teams below them in the Western Conference standings and the two against the Blazers are in Memphis this weekend, with the teams having split a two-game series in Portland back in November.

Week 19: vs. BKN, @ MIN, vs. POR, vs. POR

#26Charlotte HornetsLast Week:27↑

Record: 15-42

OffRtg: 108.9 (28) DefRtg: 119.1 (27) NetRtg: -10.2 (30) Pace: 98.8 (19)

The Hornets went into the break winning three straight games (all at home). And they came out of it winning two out of three on a trip that concludes in Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Two takeaways

The Hornets have allowed just 100.3 points per 100 possessions over the 5-1 stretch. That’s the best mark in the league over the last 16 days and down from 121.3 (last) through their first 51 games. Two of the six games have come against the two lowest-ranked offenses in the league (those of the Grizzlies and Blazers), but three have come against offenses (those of the Pacers, Hawks and Warriors) that rank in the top 10.The improvement coincides with the addition of Grant Williams, and the Hornets’ defense has been at its best (96.6 points allowed per 100 possessions) with Williams on the floor, though it should be noted that he’s been coming off the bench and defending other reserves. Their new starting lineup also has solid numbers on that end of the floor, with Tre Mann averaging a team-best 4.5 deflections per 36 minutes, up from just 1.2 per 36 in his 13 games with the Thunder this season.

The Hornets’ last game before this 5-1 stretch (and their last game before the Williams and Mann additions) was a 36-point loss in Milwaukee. They’ll return to the scene of the crime, the first of two straight games against the league’s fifth-ranked offense, on Tuesday.

Week 19: @ MIL, vs. MIL, @ PHI, @ TOR

#27Portland Trail BlazersLast Week:26↓

Record: 15-41

OffRtg: 108.2 (29) DefRtg: 117.2 (23) NetRtg: -9.0 (28) Pace: 98.3 (24)

The Blazers have dropped eight straight games, a stretch that now includes losses to the Pistons and Hornets. And with those, they have the worst record (3-6) in games played between the bottom six teams in the league.

Two takeaways

Malcolm Brogdon (who’s missed the last seven games) has seen a big drop in efficiency from his one season in Boston, but the Blazers are now 0-17 without him, and they’ve scored an anemic 104.9 points per 100 possessions in his 1,597 total minutes off the floor.Deandre Ayton was a bright spot last week, totaling 48 points (on 22-for-33 shooting) and 29 rebounds as the Blazers lost to Denver and Charlotte. The rest of the team shot 35%, including 11-for-57 (19%) from 3-point range.

It’s kind of amazing that a team ranks lower offensively than this one, and the bottom two offenses will go head-to-head twice in Memphis this coming weekend. Though Brogdon played in both, the Blazers were the less efficient team (103.9 points scored per 100 possessions) as they split two games with the Grizzlies earlier in the season. With Memphis ranking 10th on the other end of the floor, the Blazers are playing their next six (and nine of its next 11) games against teams that rank in the top 10 defensively.

Week 19: vs. MIA, @ MEM, @ MEM

#28San Antonio SpursLast Week:28

Record: 11-47

OffRtg: 109.1 (27) DefRtg: 117.6 (24) NetRtg: -8.5 (26) Pace: 102.3 (3)

The Spurs are 1-7 on the rodeo trip, though they played close games against the Kings and Lakers last week.

Two takeaways

It was just a matter of time. One night after coming one assist shy, Victor Wembanyama recorded the first 5 x 5 game in more than five years (since Jusuf Nurkic in Jan. 2019). Now we have to wonder how many he’ll have in his career, with Hakeem Olajuwon (six) and Andrei Kirilenko (three) the only players with multiple 5 x 5 games in the 51 seasons that blocks and steals have been tracked. Might he have more than everybody in NBA history combined (21)? Wembanyama is now averaging 5.79 steals + blocks per 36 minutes, the most for any player who’s played at least 1,000 minutes in the last 32 seasons (since three guys — David Robinson, Manute Bol and Olajuwon — averaged more in 1991-92).With those two close losses last week, the Spurs have lost 20 of their last 22 games that were within five points in the last five minutes, having scored just 94.7 points per 100 clutch possessions over that stretch. At 5-21, they still don’t have the worst clutch record this season, with one of those two clutch wins since early November having come against the team (Washington) that does.

The rodeo trip ends in Minnesota on Tuesday, with all three meetings between the Spurs and Wolves (including the other clutch Spurs win since early November) having been determined by single digits.

Week 19: @ MIN, vs. OKC, vs. IND

#29Detroit PistonsLast Week:30↑

Record: 8-48

OffRtg: 111.0 (25) DefRtg: 119.8 (30) NetRtg: -8.9 (27) Pace: 101.2 (7)

The Pistons are still stuck on eight wins, having lost five straight.

Two takeaways

Simone Fontecchio has joined Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren in the starting lineup for the last four games, and the group has outscored opponents by 2.8 points per 100 possessions (with good defensive numbers) over that stretch, registering a plus-16 in 39 total minutes over their two games last week. But bench minutes were not good. They were outscored by 24 points in less than 18 minutes with Cunningham off the floor in Indiana, and the Magic took control on Saturday with a 29-14 run spanning the third and fourth quarters.Cunningham totaled 56 points in less than 62 minutes over the two games, shooting 16-for-25 inside the arc and 8-for-16 from 3-point range. But, though he had 26 total drives, he didn’t attempt a single free throw over the two games. His season-long free throw rate of 23.1 attempts per 100 shots from the field is up from 16.8 per 100 over his first two seasons, but still ranks just 111th among 207 players with at least 300 field goal attempts.

With their loss to the Magic on Saturday, the Pistons are 0-19 against the eight Eastern Conference teams with winning records, set to play four more games against that group (including another against Orlando) in the next eight days. They do have a win over the ninth-place Bulls, who they’ll visit on Tuesday.

Week 19: @ NYK, @ CHI, vs. CLE, @ ORL

#30Washington WizardsLast Week:29↓

Record: 9-48

OffRtg: 110.5 (26) DefRtg: 119.7 (29) NetRtg: -9.2 (29) Pace: 103.7 (1)

The Wizards are the second team to surpass its loss total from last season (35-47), and they’ve done it with an 11-game losing streak over which they’ve had the league’s worst offense (105.8 points scored per 100 possessions).

Two takeaways

In the 28 seasons for which points in the paint have been tracked (34,920 total games, including playoffs), there have been 10 instances where a team scored at least 88 points in the paint. Two of those have been the Wizards’ last two games in Denver. They allowed a record 98 points in the paint at Ball Arena last season and 88 in their 20-point loss on Thursday. That was their second loss of the season in which they made at least 10 more 3-pointers than their opponent, with the Warriors (three) and Pacers (two) being the only other teams with multiple such losses.Jordan Poole started his first 52 games but has come off the bench in the Wizards’ first three games since the All-Star break. Even with Deni Avdija missing the last two games and Bilal Coulibaly unavailable for the second half against Cleveland on Sunday, Poole stayed in his reserve role, with Johnny Davis (!) starting the third quarter. Poole shot just 11-for-36 in his first two games off the bench but scored 31 points on 11-for-21 shooting against the league’s second-ranked defense. He’s still seen big drops in both effective field goal percentage (from 51.4% to 47.0%) and free-throw rate (from 32.5 to 21.1 attempts per 100 shots from the field) from last season.

The Wizards are the only winless team (0-10) in the second game of back-to-backs. They have three back-to-backs remaining, with the first of those being two games in L.A. on Thursday and Friday.

Week 19: vs. GSW, @ LAL, @ LAC