NBA Power Rankings, Week 20: Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets impress over the weekend
What happens when you pair a former NBA MVP with the current favorite to win this season's award? Well, you get the latest version of the Philadelphia 76ers, who have looked unguardable since James Harden's debut alongside Joel Embiid on Friday night.
In two games -- on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks -- the duo combined for 127 points and 59 free throw attempts, including 27 foul shots by Embiid on Sunday, the most in a single game in nearly three years.
As for the other side of the 2021-22 campaign's biggest blockbuster, the Brooklyn Nets are still waiting for the debut of Ben Simmons as well as the return of Kevin Durant from a knee injury, but Kyrie Irving sparked a huge comeback win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. In his first action since the All-Star break, Irving poured in a season-high 38 points. Brooklyn has won three of its past five games following an 11-game losing streak.
Where do the East contenders and the rest of the league check in this week?
Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.
1. Phoenix Suns
2021-22 record: 49-12
Previous ranking: 1
For only the third time all season, the Suns dropped consecutive games, with losses to the Pelicans and Jazz. Of course, both of those defeats came without point guard Chris Paul, who is out with an avulsion fracture in his right thumb. With Paul sidelined, Suns guard Devin Booker has gotten back to his playmaking ways, averaging eight assists since the All-Star break, including 12 against Oklahoma City on Thursday. Those were the most Booker has had in a game since Paul joined the Suns last season. -- Lopez
2. Memphis Grizzlies
2021-22 record: 42-20
Previous ranking: 2
Ja Morant broke the Grizzlies' regular-season scoring record with his 46 points in Saturday's win over the Bulls. It was his fifth 40-point performance of the season; no other player in Grizzlies history had notched more than one in a season. It was the 19th time this season that Morant scored at least 20 points in the paint. Only five players have exceeded that in a season over the past 25 years, according to ESPN Stats & Information research: Shaquille O'Neal, Amar'e Stoudemire, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson. -- MacMahon
3. Golden State Warriors
2021-22 record: 43-18
Previous ranking: 3
The Warriors blew a 21-point lead against the Mavericks on Sunday night, and they play five of their next six games on the road. Their title chase is contingent upon Draymond Green coming back from a disk issue. Green has started doing drills in practice again, but it remains to be seen when he'll play in games. The Warriors need to continue to tread water as they wait for him to return. -- Friedell
4. Miami Heat
2021-22 record: 40-21
Previous ranking: 4
Miami has won three straight and eight of its past nine. Bam Adebayo continues to put up huge numbers this month, averaging 22.7 points and 11.3 rebounds. The Heat are rounding into form as they head down the stretch atop the Eastern Conference. A win in Monday night's game against the No. 2 Bulls would clinch the tiebreaker for the season. -- Friedell
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