Week 8 NBA Power Rankings: Did the Suns beat Steph Curry and the Warriors this week?-Last week, the NBA’s two top teams played twice and split the series. On Tuesday in Phoenix, Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns shut down Stephen Curry, but the Golden State Warriors bounced back on Friday at home.
They’re both 19-4 to start the week, but which team will capture the top spot in our NBA Power Rankings? The Suns and Warriors will face off against Donovan Mitchell and the rising Utah Jazz on Christmas Day in what is building up to be one of the finest games of the season.
Speaking of Western Conference teams on the rise, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Memphis Grizzlies to a 73-point victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, setting an NBA record for the greatest margin of victory. The Grizzlies are on a four-game winning streak and have moved up to fourth place in the Western Conference.
Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls have won three straight games in the Eastern Conference to reclaim a spot near the top of the rankings, barely half a game behind the Brooklyn Nets for the top seed.
Our analysts analyze down how these fast-rising teams stack up against one another.
NBA Power Rankings
1. Golden State Warriors
2021-22 record: 19-4
Previous ranking: 1
The Warriors’ Stephen Curry and the Phoenix Suns saw the first team this season that appeared to be playing on their level: the Suns. The Suns have the same kind of deep and talented roster that has made both of these clubs early Western Conference contenders. Following a loss to Chris Paul and company on Tuesday, the Warriors retaliated by ending the Suns’ 18-game winning streak on Friday. In a shocking loss to the Spurs on Saturday, they ran out of gas, capping a 19-for-69 week from the field for Curry.
2. Phoenix Suns
2021-22 record: 19-4
Previous ranking: 2
The Suns’ franchise-record 18-game winning streak came to an end on Friday night against the Warriors without Devin Booker (left hamstring injury). Last Tuesday, the Suns defeated Golden State to finish November with a 16-0 record, becoming only the seventh team in NBA history to do it in a calendar month. The 18-game win run was also a career best for coach Monty Williams as a coach or a player. His previous best was a 17-game winning streak with San Antonio as a player (1996). On Monday, Williams and the Suns will take on the Spurs for a chance to start a new winning run.
3. Brooklyn Nets
2021-22 record: 16-7
Previous ranking: 3
It continues to be a bizarre season in Brooklyn. The Nets remain atop the Eastern Conference but have now gone a combined 1-6 versus teams now in the top eight in the NBA rankings, including losses to Chicago, Miami, Phoenix and Golden State at Barclays. The Nets are 15-1 against the rest of the league.
4. Chicago Bulls
2021-22 record: 16-8
Previous ranking: 7
The Bulls made an early-season statement with back-to-back sweepings at Staples Center, and their performance in New York last week to sweep the Knicks and Nets was a worthy follow-up. Despite being short-handed recently, Chicago has continued to roll. Alex Caruso was limited to just eight minutes Saturday due to a hamstring issue, and Coby White and Javonte Green have entered the NBA’s health and safety processes.
5. Milwaukee Bucks
2021-22 record: 15-9
Previous ranking: 4
Just as the Bucks were getting back on track, Giannis Antetokounmpo was forced to miss back-to-back games due to a right calf injury. Milwaukee is hoping that Antetokounmpo’s injury is is temporary, since he is on pace for another MVP season. He’s averaging 27.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game, which is a career high.
6. Utah Jazz
2021-22 record: 16-7
Previous ranking: 6
Utah boasts the greatest offense in the NBA, averaging 116.2 points per 100 possessions, 3.7 more than the Warriors, and Donovan Mitchell is in the midst of his best season. During the Jazz’s four-game winning streak, he has averaged 30 points on 56.3 percent shooting, marking the first time this season that he has made more than half of his shots from the field in four consecutive games. Mitchell has scored 30 points or more in each of the last three games, tying his total of 30 points in the first 20 games.
7. Miami Heat
2021-22 record: 14-10
Previous ranking: 5
Miami was given a major setback when it was announced that Bam Adebayo will miss time due to right thumb surgery. Jimmy Butler is still recovering from a tailbone contusion. The Heat must stay healthy ahead of a crucial three-game homestand this week, which includes games against the Grizzlies, Bucks, and Bulls.
8. Washington Wizards
2021-22 record: 14-10
Previous ranking: 8
The Wizards’ defense has shown slippage in recent losses. Last week, Washington surrendered 116 points in both the 17-point loss to San Antonio and the 15-point loss to the Cavs. Worse, Washington trailed by as many as 36 to Cleveland. The Wizards started a brutal 10-game stretch on Sunday in Toronto in which they will play nine games on the road. We’ll find out more about what the Wizards are made of during this road trip.
9. Philadelphia 76ers
2021-22 record: 12-11
Previous ranking: 12
So far this season, Philadelphia has had more COVID-19 absences than any other club, including standout center Joel Embiid missing nine games. But now that Embiid is back, the 76ers have an opportunity to establish some continuity and momentum while the world waits for a possible Ben Simmons deal to happen.
10. Memphis Grizzlies
2021-22 record: 13-10
Previous ranking: 21
According to Elias Sports Bureau data, the Grizzlies have won their last four games in a row, making them the only club to do it in the 25 years since play-by-play data has been tracked. That’s a tremendous response to the loss of standout guard Ja Morant to a knee injury that only lasted a few weeks rather than months. “Everyone has done an outstanding job of rising to the occasion and trusting in one another,” said backup point guard Tyus Jones, who has 30 assists and only four mistakes in the victory streak.
11. Boston Celtics
2021-22 record: 13-11
Previous ranking: 17
Boston emerged from the first few days of its brutal December with a pair of victories over Philadelphia and Portland and a strong performance in a close loss at Utah. Now comes a back-to-back in Los Angeles, followed by a game in Phoenix to round out this five-game West swing.
12. Atlanta Hawks
2021-22 record: 12-12
Previous ranking: 13
Inside State Farm Arena, the Hawks won eight of their first nine games. However, they have lost their last three home games, falling to the Knicks, Sixers, and then the COVID-19-depleted Hornets 130-127 on Sunday. Trae Young did had 25 points and 15 assists against Charlotte, which was his 11th 25-point, 15-assist game since his debut in 2018, the most by any player in the league.
13. Charlotte Hornets
2021-22 record: 14-11
Previous ranking: 10
LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Mason Plumlee, and Jalen McDaniels all missed Sunday’s game due to health and safety concerns, and will be out for the time being. The good news for the Hornets is that Miles Bridges is still active, and he demonstrated once again on Sunday how much he is improving. Bridges scored 32 points to help the Hornets end a three-game losing streak by defeating the Hawks. Charlotte has three more games this week and must rely on Bridges to lead the offense for the time being.
14. Dallas Mavericks
2021-22 record: 11-11
Previous ranking: 9
Since Luka Doncic sprained his left knee and ankle, Dallas has lost seven of nine games. The Mavericks are 2-3 in Doncic’s games over that time, with blowout home losses to the Cavaliers and Pelicans. Coach Jason Kidd stated that Doncic’s incessant whining to the officials often results in bad transition defense. Doncic was sidelined again Saturday night due to ankle soreness, and Kristaps Porzingis has missed the last two games due to a knee contusion.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers
2021-22 record: 13-11
Previous ranking: 20
There are no moral victories in the NBA, but it certainly says a lot about the Cavs’ growth this season that they can look at Sunday’s 109-108 loss to the Utah Jazz as a game they would have won had they not gone 0-for-4 in the final 90 seconds. It was a wildly successful week for the Cavs regardless, as Cleveland went 3-0 on a road trip through Dallas, Washington and Miami before the close loss to Utah.
16. LA Clippers
2021-22 record: 12-12
Previous ranking: 11
The Clippers’ recent week would have been a low point if not for a feel-good and clutch win over the Lakers. They were defeated twice by the Kings, including for the first time in 16 games in Sacramento. The Pelicans and flame-throwing Jonas Valanciunas blew them away at home, with Valanciunas hitting seven three-pointers and totaling 39 points and 15 rebounds. The Clippers have dropped seven of their last ten games, with victories over the Pistons, Lakers, and Mavericks without Luka Doncic all coming at home. With Marcus Morris Sr. back, Ty Lue’s team is getting healthier, and Nic Batum could be close to returning from health and safety regulations.
17. Denver Nuggets
2021-22 record: 11-11
Previous ranking: 16
Michael Porter Jr. underwent lumbar spine surgery last week and will be out indefinitely, confirming the Nuggets’ fears. The Nuggets, on the other hand, continue to have the reigning MVP. Denver had lost six straight games until Nikola Jokic returned from injury to help the Broncos upset the Heat in Miami. While the Nuggets lost in Orlando due to injuries, Jokic had an MVP-like performance in his lone visit to Madison Square Garden, scoring 32 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a win over the Knicks. Jokic will need to keep this up if Denver is to stay afloat in the Western Conference, especially if Jamal Murray is able to return this season.
18. Los Angeles Lakers
2021-22 record: 12-12
Previous ranking: 18
There’s no getting around the fact that the Lakers have had a difficult season thus far, but there is reason to be optimistic: Anthony Davis has scored 25 points or more in four of Los Angeles’ last seven games, indicating that he’s ready to take on offensive responsibility as a recipient of LeBron James’ and Russell Westbrook’s feeds night in and night out.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves
2021-22 record: 11-12
Previous ranking: 19
The Timberwolves have a grueling schedule in December — they will face just one opponent (Denver Nuggets) with a record not currently above .500. Minnesota has boasted a top-five defense in the NBA so far this season, which it will be counting on to keep it afloat through this stretch.
20. New York Knicks
2021-22 record: 11-12
Previous ranking: 14
The Knicks talked about attempting to rediscover themselves moving forward after a blowout defeat to the Nuggets, their third in a row and fourth in their last five games. Is there a way to accomplish it? Begin guarding individuals once more. New York has gone from a playoff squad to one that is now outside of the play-in mix due to a drop in defense from fourth last season to 19th this season.
21. Portland Trail Blazers
2021-22 record: 11-13
Previous ranking: 15
Chauncey Billups, the rookie coach, had a rough week. The Blazers were blown out in three of four games, and general manager Neil Olshey, the man who hired him, was dismissed. Damian Lillard has been out for three games in a row, while CJ McCollum has bruised ribs but is expected to play on Monday. Portland has dropped five of its last six games, but what’s more concerning is that its last four losses have been by 15, 22, 31, and 28 points, respectively.
22. Toronto Raptors
2021-22 record: 11-13
Previous ranking: 23
According to NBA.com advanced metrics, Toronto has the best offensive rebound percentage in the league and the third-worst defensive rebound %. Any Raptors fan who has seen the team struggle to finish defensive possessions with a board could have predicted the latter number, which reflects the team’s lack of inside size on a nightly basis.
23. San Antonio Spurs
2021-22 record: 8-13
Previous ranking: 26
San Antonio extended its winning streak to four games with a triumph against Golden State on Saturday night, becoming the first team this season to maintain a 20-point lead over the Warriors. On the win streak, Dejonute Murray averaged 22.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 8.5 assists, extending his double-double streak to six games in a variety of ways, including one triple-double, two points-rebounds double-doubles, and three points-assists double-doubles.
24. Indiana Pacers
2021-22 record: 9-16
Previous ranking: 22
Indiana has dropped four straight games, including a home loss to a Miami Heat squad that was without two All-Stars. During that game, some frustration looked to boil over when Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert got into a heated argument on the bench during a timeout.
25. Sacramento Kings
2021-22 record: 10-14
Previous ranking: 24
This season, Sacramento is 2-0 versus the Los Angeles Clippers and 8-14 against the rest of the NBA. Sacramento swept the Clippers in a two-game series this week, restricting Reggie Jackson to 5-for-15 shooting in the first game and Paul George to 5-for-21 in the second. Unfortunately, the Clippers aren’t scheduled to play the Kings again until April 9, the season’s second-to-last game.
26. Houston Rockets
2021-22 record: 7-16
Previous ranking: 30
Raise your hand if you think the Rockets are now on the NBA’s longest active winning streak. Houston has won six straight games after going on a 15-game losing streak, the longest in the league this season. During the streak, Eric Gordon, one of the Rockets’ last remaining playoff links, has been spectacular, averaging 16.3 points,.493/.457/.833 shooting splits, and 4.2 assists per game.
27. New Orleans Pelicans
2021-22 record: 7-19
Previous ranking: 28
To begin the season, the Pelicans’ bench was one of the worst in the league, but coach Willie Green’s addition of Willy Hernangomez to the rotation has helped to stabilize the unit. Hernangomez has averaged 11.3 points and 9.1 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game over the last eight games. The Pelicans are averaging 44.3 points off the bench in that time frame, which is the third-best figure in the NBA.
28. Orlando Magic
2021-22 record: 5-19
Previous ranking: 29
With a win over the Nuggets on Wednesday, Orlando ended a seven-game losing streak. Cole Anthony, a second-year guard, has continued his strong play, averaging 50 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds in his last two games. The Magic have four games in a row on the road to finish a difficult West Coast swing, including a Monday night clash with Stephen Curry and the Warriors.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
2021-22 record: 6-16
Previous ranking: 25
The Thunder have now dropped eight games in a row. Last week included a pair of losses to the Rockets — events that might have a big impact on lottery odds — and a 73-point thrashing by the Grizzlies. The Thunder begin their week with a crucial road game against the Pistons, who are one of just two teams in the NBA with fewer wins.
30. Detroit Pistons
2021-22 record: 4-18
Previous ranking: 27
The Pistons, who have lost eight straight games, are second in the NBA in bench scoring, a statistic that won’t instill much confidence in Detroit’s starting lineup, which is full of young players like Cade Cunningham, Jeram Grant, Saddiq Bey, and Killian Hayes who the team hopes will play a big role in the future.
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