1
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Lakers
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Regardless of the Nets’ latest improve, the Lakers proceed to point out why they’re the title favourite with the league’s finest report. They completely smashed the Rockets, Thunder and Pelicans this week with a plus-21.5 internet ranking and are getting it accomplished on each ends of the ground. They did all this with Anthony Davis averaging 18 factors and whereas retaining each he and LeBron James beneath half-hour per sport. This can be a deep, assured, gifted crew that is going to be laborious to beat.
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— |
11-4 |
2
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Clippers
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After successful a closer-than-expected matchup towards the depleted Pelicans on Wednesday, the Clippers obliterated the Kings and Pacers by 30-plus factors to shut out the week. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard every averaged over 24 factors per sport this week, whereas Marcus Morris and Luke Kennard have bolstered the Clippers bench. Kennard thrived in two video games as the first reserve ball-handler with Lou Williams sidelined, averaging 17 factors on blistering 7-for-10 3-point taking pictures, maybe strengthening the case for an eventual Williams commerce.
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7 |
10-4 |
3
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Jazz
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Utah blasted the Cavs and Hawks earlier than a convincing win over the Nuggets in Denver on Sunday, and has now gained 5 straight video games. The Jazz had been throwing flames from 3-point distance, making 59 3s within the three wins this week at a 46.8 % clip. Jordan Clarkson is on certainly one of his signature sizzling streaks, averaging 20 factors and 6 rebounds on 45 % 3-point taking pictures this week, whereas Bojan Bogdanovic has discovered his offensive rhythm after a sluggish begin. The Jazz look harmful to begin the season.
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7 |
9-4 |
4
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Bucks
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After beating the Magic and the Pistons, the Bucks picked up an enormous win over Luka Doncic and the Mavericks on nationwide TV on Friday. Regardless of going simply 1 for 10 from the free throw line, Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 31 factors and 9 rebounds within the win, whereas Khris Middleton added 25 factors on 4-of-9 3-point taking pictures. Milwaukee continues its historic offensive tempo whereas the protection slowly makes strides.
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— |
9-5 |
5
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Nets
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What per week for the Nets, who gained all three video games and noticed three-time NBA scoring champ James Harden be part of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to doubtlessly create one of the crucial explosive offenses of all time. Harden endeared himself to Brooklyn followers and made league historical past by changing into the primary participant to ever put up a 30-point triple-double in his crew debut. In the meantime, Durant made Nets historical past on Saturday by scoring 25 or extra factors for the ninth straight sport. Irving is anticipated to rejoin the crew quickly, making Brooklyn must-watch leisure for the foreseeable future.
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11 |
9-6 |
6
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Celtics
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The Celtics performed two video games this week, they usually had been polar reverse performances. First they beat the Magic by 27 with out Jayson Tatum, then rotated and misplaced to the Knicks by 30 on Sunday in Kemba Walker’s return. Placing the dangerous loss apart, Walker mentioned he felt pain-free, placing up 9 factors and 4 assists in 20 minutes. Having Walker on the courtroom is a welcome sight for the Celtics, who, even with out him, have been one of many league’s finest groups to begin the season.
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4 |
8-4 |
7
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Pacers
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The Pacers took successful within the brief time period with newly acquired Caris LeVert out indefinitely because of a mass on his kidney, and now have to switch Victor Oladipo’s manufacturing by committee. Indiana went 2-2 this week, with wins over the Warriors and Blazers and losses to the Kings and Clippers. Malcolm Brogdon cooled off a bit from the 3-point line, however nonetheless averaged 19.5 factors and eight assists this week, whereas Domantas Sabonis put up 22 factors, 13.5 rebounds and 5 assists per sport. These two must do the heavy lifting offensively till LeVert and TJ Warren are able to get again on the courtroom.
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— |
8-5 |
8
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76ers
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The Sixers had been capable of choose up back-to-back wins over the Warmth, a crew dealing with related points with participant availability, however fell to the Hawks and Grizzlies. The loss to Memphis was ugly, as Philly dedicated 22 turnovers, together with seven from Ben Simmons, with Joel Embiid out of the lineup. Shake Milton returned to the lineup for the ultimate two video games of the week and was on fireplace, scoring almost 30 factors and meting out 5.5 assists per sport on 64 % taking pictures.
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3 |
9-5 |
9
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Suns
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The Suns solely performed one sport this week because of well being and security protocols, and it was not good. They had been clobbered by the Wizards with out Russell Westbrook or Thomas Bryant, and Phoenix made simply 4-of-27 3-pointers within the loss. The Suns have 4 video games scheduled for this week, so we’ll see what number of they’ll really play.
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6 |
7-5 |
10
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Trail Blazers
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A 3-1 week for the Blazers was hampered by accidents, as Jusuf Nurkic is anticipated to overlook two months with a damaged wrist and CJ McCollum is out indefinitely with a sprained left foot. Enes Kanter helped beat the Hawks on Saturday with 12 factors, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks, however stayed on model defensively by permitting Clint Capela to rack up 25 factors and 15 rebounds. Damian Lillard averaged 30 factors for the week, and that needs to be the norm so long as McCollum is out.
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4 |
8-6 |
11
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Spurs
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After a win over the Thunder on Tuesday, the Spurs had been blitzed by a defiant Rockets crew within the sport after the James Harden commerce, however bounced again to beat them within the rematch on Saturday. Keldon Johnson averaged a team-high 19.3 factors for the week, together with a career-high 29 within the loss to Houston. San Antonio has the second-best defensive ranking within the league over its final six video games.
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1 |
8-6 |
12
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Nuggets
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The Nuggets beat the Warriors however misplaced to the Nets and later the Jazz in a rematch of one of the crucial thrilling playoff sequence from the bubble. Nikola Jokic is placing up MVP numbers, averaging 27 factors, 12 rebounds and 10 assists this week, however the Denver protection continues to battle, ranked twenty fifth within the NBA permitting 112.5 factors per 100 possessions. Michael Porter Jr. is anticipated to rejoin the crew by the top of this week, however he will not do a lot to assist on the defensive finish.
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4 |
6-7 |
13
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Mavericks
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Kristaps Porzingis returned for the Mavericks this week, however they performed all three video games with out key rotation gamers because of well being and security protocols. Porzingis appeared expectedly rusty, averaging 17 factors and seven.3 rebounds on 26 % 3-point taking pictures in three video games, however in the meantime Luka Doncic put up an unbelievable week. The early MVP candidate averaged 32.7 factors, 12.7 rebounds and 12.3 assists whereas taking pictures 44 % on 9 3-point makes an attempt per sport this week, however he was solely capable of lead his crew to at least one win.
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7 |
6-7 |
14
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Warriors
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After a meteoric rise in final week’s rankings, the Warriors plummet as soon as once more because the offense utterly stalled in losses to the Pacers and Nuggets this week. Stephen Curry struggled to seek out clear seems towards Indiana, and his 35 factors on 5-for-11 3-point taking pictures weren’t sufficient to outlast Denver. The Warriors beginning lineup now has a minus-10.8 internet ranking with a 92.8 offensive ranking this season, which makes you marvel if Steve Kerr will make a change within the close to future.
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9 |
7-6 |
15
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Thunder
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The Thunder’s lone win this week was of the comeback selection, erasing a 10-point deficit with two minutes remaining within the fourth quarter to set themselves up for the extra time victory behind a career-high 33 factors from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Lu Dort had an incredible week taking pictures the ball, going 10 for 23 from 3-point vary earlier than Sunday’s sport towards the 76ers was postponed.
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— |
6-6 |
16
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Grizzlies
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The Grizzlies put up a 3-0 week and, extra importantly, noticed Ja Morant return to the courtroom in Saturday’s win over the 76ers. He appeared a bit rusty, however nonetheless put up 17 factors and 6 assists in half-hour. In Morant’s absence, Memphis has gotten robust contributions from gamers like Brandon Clarke, Grayson Allen and rookies Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman, which ought to solely bolster its depth shifting ahead.
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10 |
7-6 |
17
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Raptors
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Toronto dropped a detailed one to the Blazers, then bought two tight, however much-needed “residence” wins over the Hornets in Tampa to shut out the week. The protection remains to be struggling, however the offense did sufficient to win because the Raptors made a mixed 41 3-pointers within the two wins towards Charlotte. Chris Boucher has continued to be a revelation off the bench, averaging 21.7 factors, 9 rebounds and a couple of.3 blocks this week, whereas Norman Powell tied a profession excessive with six 3-pointers on Saturday.
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7 |
5-8 |
18
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Hornets
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Charlotte beat the Knicks this week earlier than dropping to the Mavericks and twice to the Raptors. Gordon Hayward missed the primary Toronto loss with a hip pressure, however had an incredible week in any other case, averaging 25 factors on 55 % 3-point taking pictures. LaMelo Ball retains filling the stat sheet, however he had a tough week taking pictures the ball at 33 % subject objectives and 29 % from behind the arc. The Hornets rallied again from giant deficits in each Toronto video games, however had been unable to finish the comebacks.
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— |
6-8 |
19
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Pelicans
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Regardless of being severely short-handed, the Pelicans stored issues shut towards the Clippers, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker pouring in a career-high 37 factors on 5-of-8 3-point taking pictures. Issues weren’t so shut a few nights later towards the Lakers, however New Orleans closed out the week by hanging on to beat the Kings in Sacramento. Zion Williamson missed the primary sport of the week, however appeared glorious within the subsequent two, averaging 26 factors and 9 rebounds on 65 % subject objectives.
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1 |
5-7 |
20
|
Cavaliers
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The Cavs offense continued to battle this week with out Darius Garland and Collin Sexton within the lineup, however Andre Drummond got here to the rescue with a monster 33-point, 23-rebound efficiency in Friday’s win over the Knicks earlier than Sunday’s sport towards the Wizards was postponed. Cedi Osman has appeared fairly good with extra offensive accountability, averaging 18.7 factors and 5 assists per sport for the week.
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1 |
6-7 |
21
|
Knicks
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The Knicks had been on their method towards a dismal week, however they saved face by destroying the Celtics in Boston on Sunday afternoon. That win adopted losses to the Hornets, Nets and Cavs, who had been with out Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Kevin Love, amongst others. Immanuel Quickley has taken Knicks Twitter by storm, averaging 19.7 factors and 5 assists on 47 % 3-point taking pictures over his final three video games.
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4 |
7-8 |
22
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Bulls
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Chicago break up two video games this week after Tuesday’s postponement, coughing away a win towards the Thunder earlier than handily defeating the Mavericks in Dallas on Sunday. Lauri Markkanen performed in each video games following a seven-game absence, averaging 22.5 factors and eight rebounds in 34 minutes. Chicago beat the Mavericks regardless of Zach LaVine and Coby White combining for simply 10 factors on 1-for-13 taking pictures, a testomony to the remainder of the roster.
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1 |
6-8 |
23
|
Magic
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One other tough week for the Magic, who’ve now dropped 5 video games in a row after a robust begin to the season. The losses to the potent offenses of the Bucks and Nets had been considerably excusable, however being blown out by almost 30 factors towards a severely undermanned Celtics crew cannot sit effectively with head coach Steve Clifford. The usually dependable Magic protection has allowed an abysmal 123.4 factors per 100 possessions through the five-game skid.
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4 |
6-8 |
24
|
Rockets
|
Houston picked up a gritty win with solely 9 accessible gamers the sport after buying and selling away disgruntled James Harden, however they misplaced to the exact same Spurs on Saturday. Christian Wooden is staking his declare because the crew’s new finest participant, averaging 25.5 factors, 16.5 rebounds and three blocks within the two video games after Harden was dealt. If Wooden, John Wall, Eric Gordon, DeMarcus Cousins and Victor Oladipo can constantly keep on the courtroom, they need to have the ability to stay aggressive regardless of a commerce that clearly prioritized the longer term.
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2 |
4-8 |
25
|
Pistons
|
The Pistons’ league-worst 3-9 report may be a bit deceiving, since they’ve performed a brutal schedule to start the yr. They appeared nice of their win over the Warmth on Saturday, with Jerami Grant persevering with his improvement because the crew’s high offensive possibility. He averaged 23 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and a couple of.5 blocks in Detroit’s 1-1 week, and head coach Dwane Casey mentioned he was impressed by the way in which Grant patiently dealt with the additional defensive consideration from the Warmth. Derrick Rose additionally appeared stable in his return from a two-game absence, and the Pistons have been taking part in higher than their report signifies.
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— |
3-10 |
26
|
Kings
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If protection is your factor, you may wish to avoid the Kings this season. They’re on tempo to have the worst defensive ranking in league historical past, have allowed at the very least 120 factors in eight straight video games, and opponents are taking pictures 50 % from the sphere and 40 % from 3-point vary towards them. All this provides as much as plenty of losses, and a sizzling seat for Luke Walton … if it wasn’t sizzling sufficient already. De’Aaron Fox had an unbelievable week, averaging 26.8 factors and seven.8 assists on 43 % 3-point taking pictures, however none of that may matter if Sacramento cannot guard anybody.
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3 |
5-9 |
27
|
Hawks
|
The Hawks bought a much-needed win on Monday towards the severely short-handed 76ers, then misplaced to the Jazz and the Blazers to shut out the week. That is now six losses in seven video games for Atlanta after a 4-1 begin, and Trae Younger is mired in a horrific taking pictures stoop. He averaged 18.7 factors this week on 32 % taking pictures from the sphere and 22 % from 3-point vary, whereas Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic proceed to be sidelined with accidents.
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1 |
6-7 |
28
|
Heat
|
Miami performed at various levels of short-handedness all week, and it confirmed because it misplaced twice to the 76ers and to the Pistons on Saturday. Will probably be laborious to guage this crew till it will get a full complement of gamers, but it surely wasn’t precisely setting the world on fireplace earlier than the COVID-19 points arose. No less than the lacking gamers opened up time for rookie Treasured Achiuwa, who almost averaged a double-double this week in 25 minutes per sport, and could possibly be a useful contributor come playoff time.
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15 |
5-7 |
29
|
Wizards
|
The Wizards had been lastly on the verge of selecting up some momentum after a blowout win over the Suns on Monday, however a crew COVID outbreak halted all basketball actions for the remainder of the week, together with video games. Washington gained doing what it does finest — scoring — hitting 15-of-34 3-pointers whereas Phoenix went ice chilly, making simply 4-of-27 3-pointers. It might be some time earlier than the Wiz get again to full energy.
|
1 |
3-8 |
30
|
Timberwolves
|
Simply an terrible week for the Timberwolves, who noticed large man Karl-Anthony Cities take a look at optimistic for COVID-19 after dropping a number of members of his household, together with his mom, to the virus. The Wolves misplaced their solely sport of the week on Wednesday to the Grizzlies earlier than Friday’s rematch was postponed.
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3 |
3-9 |
