NBA Western Conference Week Six Power Rankings: Warriors Back On Top, Blazers Drop Five Spots
Nov 28, 2018, 1:23 PM | Updated: Dec 26, 2018, 2:42 pm
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After a 3-1 week, the Golden State Warriors moved up to No. 1 as they passed the Portland Trail Blazers who has dropped five spots to No. 6 in the Power Rankings.
The New Orleans Pelicans took a similar drop from No. 7 to No. 13 with an 0-4 week and a losing record.
Here is the KSL Sports NBA Western Conference Power Rankings for the sixth week of the season from games played from Wednesday, November 21 to Tuesday, November 27.
1. Golden State Warriors (15-7)
Week six record: 3-1
Wins: vs. Portland, vs. Sacramento, vs. Orlando
Losses: vs. Oklahoma City
The 28-point loss to the Thunder at home capped a four game losing streak for the Warriors. They bounced back by beat the Trail Blazers by almost the same exact score of the Thunder game but both Portland and Golden State scored two less points. The Warriors beat Sacramento by one point and Orlando by six points. Kevin Durant was sensational in the three wins as he dropped 32 points against Portland and back-to-back 40-point games against the Kings and Magic.
Previous ranking: 2
Next up: at Toronto, at Detroit, at Atlanta
2. Los Angeles Clippers (13-6)
Week six record: 2-0
Wins: vs. Memphis (in OT), at Portland
The Clippers had another great week with two wins during week six. They beat Memphis by five in overtime led by Harrell’s 22 points. Tobias Harris dropped 34 points in their four point win in Portland. The Clippers have now won nine of their last 11 games and continue to surprise the NBA.
Previous ranking: 3
Next up: vs. Phoenix, at Sacramento, at Dallas, at New Orleans
3. Denver Nuggets (14-7)
Week six record: 4-0
Wins: at Minnesota, vs. Orlando, at Oklahoma City, vs. LA Lakers
The week started with a two-point win over Minnesota led by Paul Millsap’s 25 points. Trey Lyles scored 22 to help the Nuggets beat Orlando by 25. Jamal Murray dropped 22 in a close six-point win over the Thunder in Oklahoma City. Ended the week with a dominating 28 point win over the Lakers.
Previous ranking: 5
Next up: at Portland, at Toronto
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (12-7)
Week six record: 2-1
Wins: at Golden State, vs. Charlotte
Losses: vs. Denver
The Thunder have found their rhythm as they have won 12 of their last 15 games since October. Dennis Schroder had a great game with 32 points in their 28 point win over the Warriors in Oakland. Russell Westbrook had a near triple-double against Charlotte with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. Paul George scored 24 in their seven point loss to Denver.
Previous ranking: 6
Next up: vs. Cleveland, vs. Atlanta, at Detroit
5. Memphis Grizzlies (12-8)
Week six record: 1-3
Wins: at San Antonio
Losses: at LA Clippers (in OT), vs. New York, vs. Toronto
A disappointing week for the Grizzlies as they lost to the Knicks at home by five points. In the three losses, the Grizzlies lost by 18 combined points and Marc Gasol led the team with 27 points in all three games. Mike Conley scored 30 in the one point win over San Antonio.
Previous ranking: 4
Next up: at Brooklyn, at Philadelphia
6. Portland Trail Blazers (12-8)
Week six record: 0-3
Losses: at Milwaukee, at Golden State, vs. LA Clippers
It was a tough week for the Trail Blazers. They finished their six game road trip with a 2-4 record that included a 43 point blowout to the Bucks and a 28 point defeat to Golden State.
Previous ranking: 1
Next up: vs. Orlando, vs. Denver, at San Antonio, at Dallas
7. Los Angeles Lakers (11-9)
Week six record: 2-2
Wins: at Cleveland, vs. Utah
Losses: vs. Orlando, at Denver
The LeBron reunion tour ended with a four point win in Cleveland as he scored 32 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. Brandon Ingram took over with 24 points against the Jazz and their two losses were by a combined 36 points.
Previous ranking: 8
Next up: vs. Indiana, vs. Dallas, vs. Phoenix
8. San Antonio Spurs (10-10)
Week six record: 2-2
Wins: at Indiana, at Chicago
Losses: vs. Mempis, at Milwaukee
They beat Chicago by one point which isn’t the best sign for the Spurs. But they countered that with an 11 point win in Indiana. Demar DeRozan scored 34 points in the six point defeat to the Bucks. This doesn’t look like your typical season from Gregg Popovich and the Spurs.
Previous ranking: 9
Next up: at Minnesota, vs. Houston, vs. Portland, at Utah
9. Sacramento Kings (10-10)
Week six record: 1-2
Wins: at Utah
Losses: at Golden State, vs. Utah
Wille Cauley-Stein scored 23 points in Utah as they won by 9 points. Then they lost by just one to the Warriors in Oakland with Buddy Hield dropping 25 points and the wheels fell off at home with the Jazz getting revenge with a 21 point win in Sacramento.
Previous ranking: 10
Next up: vs. LA Clippers, vs. Indiana, at Phoenix
10. Houston Rockets (9-10)
Week six record: 1-3
Wins: vs. Detroit
Losses: at Detroit, at Cleveland, at Washington
The Rockets allowed 116 points or more in all four games while losing to the Cavaliers who have one of the worst records in the NBA. James Harden scored over 40 points in all but one game including a 54-point performance in their loss to Washington.
Previous ranking: 11
Next up: vs. Dallas, at San Antonio, vs. Chicago, at Minnesota
11. Dallas Mavericks (9-9)
Week six record: 2-0
Wins: vs. Brooklyn, vs. Boston
Harrison Barnes scored 28 points in their six point win over Brooklyn and J.J. Barea had 20 in the nine point victory against Boston. Dallas is starting to turn some heads with the games they have been able to win. They have won six of their last seven.
Previous ranking: 12
Next up: at Houston, at LA Lakers, vs. LA Clippers, vs. Portland
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-11)
Week six record: 3-1
Wins: at Brooklyn, vs. Chicago, at Cleveland
Losses: vs. Denver
The Timberwolves were two points away from a perfect week. Derrick Rose scored 25 in their win over the Nets, Karl Anthony-Towns was a monster in their 15 point win against Chicago with 35 points and 23 rebounds. Robert Covington had his best game in at Timberwolves uniform with 23 points in Cleveland.
Previous ranking: 14
Next up: vs. San Antonio, vs. Boston, vs. Houston
13. New Orleans Pelicans (10-11)
Week six record: 0-4
Losses: at Philadelphia, at New York, at Washington, vs. Boston
The Pelicans started the week with a three game winning streak and six of their last seven but lost all four week six games by a combined 33 points. Their worst loss was at home to the Celtics.
Previous ranking: 7
Next up: vs. Washington, at Miami, at Charlotte, vs. LA Clippers
14. Utah Jazz (9-12)
Week six record: 1-3
Wins: at Sacramento
Losses: vs. Sacramento, at LA Lakers, vs. Indiana
Things are not looking good in Utah as they couldn’t win either game at home during week six, losing by 42 combined points in just two games. Ricky Rubio scored 27 points in the Jazz only win of the week.
Previous ranking: 13
Next up: vs. Sacramento, at LA Lakers, at Sacramento, vs. Indiana
15. Phoenix Suns (4-16)
Week six record: 1-3
Wins: at Milwaukee
Losses: at Chicago, at Detroit, vs. Indiana
The Suns were able to snap a three game losing streak with a surprising two point win over Milwaukee as Devin Booker scored 29 points. They lost their other three games by a combined 24 points. Phoenix has lost nine of their last 11 games.
Previous ranking: 15
Next up: at LA Clippers, vs. Orlando, at LA Lakers, vs. Sacramento