We’ve been seeing a lot of 50-point nights lately in the NBA. A couple of weeks ago, it was Luka Doncic and Ja Morant hitting the half-century mark, and LeBron James turned back the clock to drop 56 on Golden State in a comeback win. On Sunday, Boston got 54 out of Jayson Tatum against Brooklyn. Khris Middleton got close, putting up 44 against Phoenix. We’re also creeping closer and closer to the end of the regular season, so as you consider your latest online betting moves, look at our updated NBA power rankings.
NBA News: Updated Power Rankings
#1 Phoenix Suns (51-13)
The Suns almost lost to the lowly New York Knicks, but it was Cameron Johnson who saved the day Friday night, dropping six three-pointers in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning shot. He ended the night with 38 points and nine three-balls, both career highs. He also had 21 points in the fourth alone, which matched the Knicks’ output.
#2 Miami Heat (44-22)
Winners of 11 of 13, including a Thursday night win over Brooklyn without P.J. Tucker, Kyle Lowry or Jimmy Butler, the Heat look more authentic every night. Bam Adebayo put the team on his back with 30 points and 11 boards on the night.
#3 Memphis Grizzlies (44-22)
Memphis is staggering a bit, with four losses in their last seven contests, including two setbacks against teams with losing records. Ja Morant has put up 35.3 points per game over those seven games, breaking the Memphis scoring record on two occasions, but he needs help, as only two of his teammates have averaged double figures over that stretch.
#4 Milwaukee Bucks (40-25)
A potential problem for the Bucks is that their remaining schedule is one of the toughest in the league. Giannis Antetokounmpo thinks that the influx of close games in the next few weeks will help prepare for the Bucks for the postseason grind. We’ll see.
#5 Philadelphia 76ers (39-24)
The 76ers is 4-0 with James Harden in the lineup, but Harden missed the loss in Miami, getting rest on the second day of a back-to-back. Ben Simmons is still progressing with his back concerns, but Harden should return for a date with his former team, the Brooklyn Nets.
#6 Golden State Warriors (43-21)
The Warriors are sliding after losing eight of their last 10…and giving up a 19-point lead to Dalas at home…and letting LeBron drop 56 on them. Klay Thompson’s shooting has not come back to normal yet, and Andrew Wiggins has lost his scoring touch.
#7 Utah Jazz (40-23)
Bojan Bogdanovic set a franchise record with 11 three-pointers in a 35-point night against Oklahoma City on Sunday. He’d been in a drought, shooting only 32% from behind the arc in his previous 11 games.
#8 Boston Celtics (39-27)
The Celtics had been stacking wins against some bottom-feeders, but when they beat Memphis and Brooklyn (and with both Kyrie Irving and KD taking the floor for the Nets), it looks like the Celtics have arrived.
#9 Dallas Mavericks (39-25)
Luka is usually the news in Dallas, but the emergence of Dorian Finney-Smith, both on offense and defense, is an exciting story. Finney-Smith is a candidate for the All-Defensive team, and he has shot 60.7% from the floor, including 54.8% from three-point land, in the last seven games – of which Dallas has won six.
#10 Chicago Bulls (39-25)
The Bulls are riding a four-game losing streak, tied for their longest of the season, and they struggle with elite teams. They are the fourth seed in the East but are 0-8 against the top three seeds.
#11 Denver Nuggets (38-26)
Denver has won 10 of 12, and the last win (over Houston) came without star center Nikola Jokic, as DeMarcus Cousins had to turn back the clock and put up 31 points and nine boards in the win. Jokic returned on Sunday to put up 46 points in an overtime win over New Orleans.
#12 Cleveland Cavaliers (37-27)
The Cavs had lost six of seven but then stopped Toronto on Sunday. However, that win came with a heavy cost, as center Jarrett Allen had to leave with a fractured finger. The team already doesn’t have Caris LeVert, so holding onto sixth place could be tough.
#13 Minnesota Timberwolves (36-29)
Don’t look now, but Minnesota has won four straight and has jumped into a tight playoff picture in the West. Right now, they hold the seventh seed, which would give them a pair of shots to win one game at home and get into the playoffs.
#14 L.A. Clippers (34-32)
A puzzling, 23-point home loss to the Knicks on Sunday will hopefully turn out to be a blip on a trend that is generally moving upward. We’ve heard that Paul George has started to shoot with his right hand, a sign that that torn ligament in his right elbow is doing much better.
#15 Toronto Raptors (34-30)
Toronto has dropped three straight and are now three games back of Cleveland in the East. O.G. Anunoby (finger) and Fred VanVleet (knee) are on the shelf, but a top-six finish would make life much easier.
#16 Brooklyn Nets (32-33)
KD is back, and Kyrie Irving could be back full-time soon, but the Nets have still dropped 17 of 20 and are now a half-game back of Charlotte, in ninth in the East. Next up: a trip to Philadelphia to take on James Harden.
#17 Atlanta Hawks (31-32)
Atlanta is right on the edge of the playoff picture in the East, sittin in tenth place and even with Charlotte and Brooklyn virtually. Winners of five out of seven and facing the second-easiest schedule among all remaining teams, the Hawks are in a good position to make the play-in tournament – if not go even higher.
#18 L.A. Lakers (28-35)
No player had ever put up more than 50 games before turning 21 and after the age of 35 in the NBA until LeBron hung 56 on Golden State on Saturday. Could the Lakers finally find positive momentum after that win?
#19 Charlotte Hornets (32-33)
The Hornets start a stretch of seven out of nine games at home, which gives them an edge when it comes to breaking that logjam in the East.
#20 New Orleans Pelicans (27-37)
Since the All-Star break, New Orleans has gone 4-1, with their only loss coming in overtime at Denver. Brandon Ingram has been on fire, averaging 29.4 points, 7.2 assists, and 5.6 boards while shooting 58.5% in that stretch. Their defensive rating (101.4) since the break leads the NBA.
#21 Washington Wizards (29-34)
Kristaps Porzingis made his debut in Washington last week, putting up 25 points in just 21 minutes to help take down Indiana. Bradley Beal indicated in an interview that he is leaning toward signing an extension with Washington during the off-season. The Wizards have dropped 13 of 19 – but have won two of three as they head west.
#22 Portland Trail Blazers (25-38)
Since the All-Star break, the Trail Blazers have lost four in a row, permitting at least 120 points in each setback. Justise Winslow (Achilles), Eric Bledsoe (Achilles) and Anfernee Simons (quad) are all out, which isn’t helping.
#23 N.Y. Knicks (26-38)
Even with that win over the Clippers, the Knicks are still 5 ½ games out of the play-in tournament, and they have 18 games to play. Time to start thinking about next season?
#24 San Antonio Spurs (24-40)
The Spurs have dropped four in a row, but they open a seven-game homestand after their longest road trip of the season.
#25 Sacramento Kings (24-42)
The Kings got 44 from De’Aaron Fox on Saturday but blew a 19-point lead in Dallas to lose by one. Sacramento has the sixth-worst record in the NBA.
#26 Indiana Pacers (22-44)
Tyrese Haliburton looks promising at the point. In six of his first nine games since coming to the Pacers, he has scored at least 20 points, and he is averaging more than nine assists per contest.
#27 Oklahoma City Thunder (20-44)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has put up 33.3 points, 6.7 assists and 6.0 boards per game in the Thunder’s six contests since the All-Star break. If the rebuild ever starts to take shape, he will be the keystone.
#28 Detroit Pistons (17-47)
Detroit beat Atlanta in overtime on Monday night, giving them a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2018-19, and they have won five of seven. During that span, Cade Cunningham is averaging 20.4 points, 8.0 boards and 4.9 assists.
#29 Orlando Magic (16-49)
The Magic won two games last week after Markelle Fultz made his return from an ACL tear. In his first three games back, Fultz is putting up 9.0 points and 3.7 assists in just 16.7 minutes per game.
#30 Houston Rockets (16-48)
Jalen Green continues to come on strong in the second half of his rookie season. In 14 games since February 1, he has averaged 18.1 points per game, shooting 46.7%. He has at least 20 points in five of his last seven games, including a 24-point night on Sunday in an upset of Memphis.
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