Why is Dallas’ Luka Doncic an All-Star starter, based on fan voting, for the second season in a row? We learned why on Tuesday night when the phenomenal guard sank not one, but two, three-balls in the last minute of Dallas’ 110-107 win over Boston. The Mavericks had let an 11-point lead slip away in the last four minutes of regulation, but Doncic made two step-back threes from well beyond the arc to carry the team. Dallas has now won five of seven to get back to .500, but where do they and the rest of the league sit as far as power rankings go?
Check out our latest rankings and NBA betting insights.
NBA News: Updated Power Rankings
#1 Utah Jazz
No team has played fewer clutch minutes than the Utah Jazz, who had just 20 of those minutes in their first 30 games. Clutch minutes happen in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime, with neither team up by more than five. That’s how dominant the Jazz have been, so when Utah lost to the Clippers, they got a reminder of needing to execute down the stretch. In their next game, they clearly remembered as they beat the Hornets by 22.
#2 L.A. Clippers
The Clippers finally have Nicolas Batum (concussion), Paul George (toe) and Kawhi Leonard (leg contusion) all back into the starting rotation. Their defense is still a work in progress, as we saw in their loss to Brooklyn. However, as chemistry continues to build, the Clippers will continue to get tougher.
#3 L.A. Lakers
The Lakers have dropped three in a row and four of five with Anthony Davis out (calf/tendinosis) and Dennis Schroder out (COVID-19 contact tracing). It’s up to LeBron to carry things at least until the All-Star break, but will that wear him down ahead of the playoffs?
#4 Brooklyn Nets
The Nets beat the Lakers and the Clippers over the weekend at the Staples Center; the main knock on Brooklyn’s Big Three was a lack of defensive intensity. However, they got some big stops against both teams — and the Nets did not have Kevin Durant in either Hollywood victory.
#5 Phoenix Suns
Phoenix started 8-8 and then won 11 of 13. Their outside shooting has taken off; in weekend wins over New Orleans and Memphis, the Suns nailed 46 shots from behind the arc combined.
#6 Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons has turned up the aggressiveness in his game. He put up 42 points in a loss in Utah and then added 28 more against Toronto. Simmons has never been a big scorer, but if he has decided to add that to his game as well, the Sixers will be even more difficult to beat in the postseason.
#7 Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks ended a five-game losing streak on Friday and then got 70 combined points from Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo in their win on Sunday. The offense has not been a question for Milwaukee, though; it has been their ability to rise to the occasion when the game gets tough.
#8 Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard is second in the NBA in clutch time points, shooting 61.5 percent overall and 58.8 percent from downtown. He’s made 24 of 24 free throws in clutch time as well, and the Trail Blazers are 12-4 in games that have featured clutch time.
#9 Denver Nuggets
Denver took down the Lakers 10 days ago but then lost three of their next four on the road, saved from a sweep by Jamal Murray’s 50-point night in Cleveland. Gary Harris and JaMychal Green are both out, and Nikola Jokic is hobbled by a sore thumb.
#10 San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs had a lengthy pause start February 14 due to positive COVID-19 results, with four players on the shelf. Before that stoppage, though, the Spurs had won five of six.
#11 Indiana Pacers
Domantas Sabonis put up 36 points, 17 boards and 10 assists in the Pacers’ win against MInnesota. He became the first Pacer to put up at least 30-15-10 since the Pacers came into the NBA 45 years ago.
#12 Boston Celtics
Boston led New Orleans by 24 points in the second half, but the Pelicans roared back to force overtime and completed the comeback in the extra frame. Then the Celtics fought back late against Dallas only to lose on that Luka dagger. You’d think the Celtics would have to be active players ahead of the trade deadline.
#13 Golden State Warriors
One step forward, two steps back. The Warriors came back fro 19 down to beat Miami, but then the team fell apart in the waning minutes against Orlando and Charlotte. However, getting back James Wiseman (wrist) and Kevon Looney (ankle) will work wonders.
#14 Toronto Raptors
After a 2-8 start, the Raptors have won 14 of 21; last week they beat Philadelphia once and Milwaukee twice, so things finally seem to be working down in Florida for the displaced Raptors.
#15 New York Knicks
These are some old-school Knicks, ranked third in the league in defensive rating, gritting out win after ugly win. Julius Randle has been a particularly bright spot.
#16 Dallas Mavericks
Kristaps Porzingis is putting up 22.8 points per game, but recurring back stiffness, knee stiffness and defensive struggles have kept him from contributing much to the team. His defensive rating (119.5) is the worst of any player with a minimum of 20 minutes on average per game, and in February that number has gotten up to 128.2. Coach Rick Carlisle attributes this to KP having to play his way into game shape due to a lengthy rehab process in the off-season.
#17 Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte faces six road games in a row due to postponements from earlier in the season. Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball have emerged as huge bright spots.
#18 Memphis Grizzlies
Justise Winslow is finally playing for the Grizzlies, over a year after Memphis traded for him. At the time, he had a back injury, and then he displaced a hip in the bubble during practice. However, he still shows flashes of potential.
#19 Miami Heat
The Heat got 51 points from Kendrick Nunn and Jimmy Butler combined in a win in L.A. over the Lakers. They came back down to earth with losses to the Clippers and the Warriors.
#20 Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young had 35 points and 15 assists in Atlanta’s win over Denver on Sunday, giving him 42 games with at least 25-10, more than anyone else in the league since he made his debut.
#21 New Orleans Pelicans
On Friday, New Orleans led Phoenix by 11 going into the fourth period — and lost by 18, taking the biggest loss in the shot clock era for a team that came into the fourth with a double-digit lead. On Sunday, though, they pulled off the opposite trick, erasing a 24-point deficit to beat Boston.
#22 Chicago Bulls
Chicago had four games last week, beating the Pacers, Pistons and Kings while falling to the 76ers. Zach laVine dropped 38 points on Sacramento, giving him 281 points combined over his last eight games.
#23 Sacramento Kings
Sacramento had their losing streak hit seven against Milwaukee, despite 23 points, 8 assists, five boards and a pair of steals from top rookie Tyrese Haliburton.
#24 Orlando Magic
The Magic had a three-game winning streak before losing to Detroit on Tuesday. Nikola Vucevic had a triple-double against Golden State, and Evan Fournier had 76 points, 16 assists and 14 boards in three games last week.
#25 Houston Rockets
Christian Wood (ankle) is out, possibly until the All-Star break. Without their leading rebounder and scorer, Houston has lost eight straight. When Wood is in the game, Houston puts up 111.3 points per 100 possessions; without him, that number drops to 103.1.
#26 Washington Wizards
The Wizards have won five in a row, knocking off Boston, Houston, Denver, Portland and the Lakers. Russell Westbrook has found the groove that the Wizards hoped he would, and Davis Bertans dropped 35 points on Denver. Rui Hachimura is emerging as well.
#27 Oklahoma City Thunder
There’s a youth movement going on in Oklahoma City, and the brightest star so far is Hamidou Diallo, averaging career highs in just about every statistical category, going from a one-time dunk champ to a versatile contributor.
#28 Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers remain in free fall, with their losing streak hitting double figures on Sunday against the Thunder, despite 11 for 11 shooting from Jarrett Allen, who put up 26 points, 17 boards and three blocks.
#29 Detroit Pistons
Delon Wright (Grade 2 groin strain) is the latest bad news for the Pistons. However, some god news came in Detroit’s loss to Chicago, when Jerami Grant hit a career best with 43 points.
#30 Minnesota Timberwolves
Coming into the season, management saw this as a developmental season to build a strong core, but through 31 games the team had won just seven times, and the team made a change at head coach, sending Ryan Saunders out the door.
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