Milwaukee Is New Top Team In NBA

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Milwaukee Bucks hold the best record in the NBA despite winning just two of their four games last week. They are the new top team in the KSL Sports NBA Power Rankings.

Golden State dropped two spots after losing three games out of four, including a 27-point home loss to the Celtics.

The Los Angeles Lakers have basically called it a season with the playoffs nearly out of reach and putting LeBron James on a minute’s restriction.

Here is the Week 20 NBA Power Rankings from games played on Wednesday, February 27 to Tuesday, March 5.

1. Milwaukee Bucks (48-16)

Week 20 Record: 2-2

Wins: at Sacramento (in OT), at LA Lakers

Losses: at Utah, at Phoenix

Recap: After winning in overtime against the Kings and knocking off the Lakers, the Bucks lost two close games. They lost to Utah after having a double digit lead and they lost to the struggling Suns by nine points. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 43 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists against the Jazz.

Previous Ranking: 2

Next Up: vs. Indiana, vs. Charlotte, at San Antonio, at New Orleans

 

2. Toronto Raptors (46-19)

Week 20 Record: 1-2

Wins: vs. Portland

Losses: at Detroit, vs. Houston

Recap: The Raptors beat the Trail Blazers by 2 points after Kawhi Leonard dropped 38 points. They lost their last two games of the week by 17 combined points. Since the All-Star break, the Raptors are 3-3.

Previous Ranking: 3

Next Up: at New Orleans, at Miami, at Cleveland

 

3. Golden State Warriors (44-20)

Week 20 Record: 1-3

Wins: at Philadelphia

Losses: at Miami, at Orlando, vs. Boston

Recap: It was a tough week for the Warriors, they lost three of their four games. The only game they did win was against Philly. They suffered their worst home loss under Steve Kerr when Boston beat them by 27. The defending champs are just one game ahead of Denver for the top spot in the west.

Previous Ranking: 1

Next Up: vs. Denver, vs. Phoenix

 

4. Denver Nuggets (42-21)

Week 20 Record: 0-3

Losses: vs. Utah, vs. New Orleans, at San Antonio

Recap: The Nuggets lost two home games and one of them to a team that won’t reach the postseason. They won five straight games before the three-game skid.

Previous Ranking: 4

Next Up: at LA Lakers, at Golden State, vs. Minnesota

 

5. Portland Trail Blazers (39-25)

Week 20 Record: 2-2

Wins: at Boston, at Charlotte

Losses: at Toronto, at Memphis

Recap: The Blazers finished their seven game road trip with a 5-2 record. They lost to Toronto by just two points and Memphis by nine. The schedule looks to be favorable for Portland down the stretch of the season.

Previous Ranking: 6

Next Up: vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Phoenix, at LA Clippers

 

6. Houston Rockets (39-25)

Week 20 Record: 4-0

Wins: at Charlotte, vs. Miami, at Boston, at Toronto

Recap: After losing their first game since the break, the Rockets have rattled off six straight wins. James Harden continues to impress offensively with 30 against Charlotte, 58 against Miami, 42 against Boston and 35 against Toronto.

Previous Ranking: 7

Next Up: vs. Philadelphia, at Dallas, vs. Charlotte

 

7. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-25)

Week 20 Record: 1-3

Wins: vs. Memphis

Losses: vs. Philadelphia, at San Antonio, at Minnesota

Recap: The Thunder have struggled mightily since the All-Star break, they have lost 5 of their last 8 games. Two wins came in overtime and the other by four points to Memphis. What looked like a top three team in the west, now looks like a team fighting for home court advantage in the first round of the postseason.

Previous Ranking: 5

Next Up: at Portland, at LA Clippers, at Utah

 

8. Indiana Pacers (42-23)

Week 20 Record: 2-2

Wins: vs. Minnesota, vs. Chicago

Losses: at Dallas, vs. Orlando

Recap: The Pacers seem to really miss Victor Oladipo, having lost 4 of their last 6 games. Bojan Bogdanovic has taken over the scoring load as he led the team in scoring in every game this week.

Previous Ranking: 8

Next Up: at Milwaukee, at Philadelphia, vs. New York

 

9. Philadelphia 76ers (41-23)

Week 20 Record: 2-1

Wins: at Oklahoma City, vs. Orlando

Losses: vs. Golden State

Recap: The Sixers are still without Joel Embiid, but hope to get him back soon. They are 4-2 without him but they have won three of their last four games.

Previous Ranking: 9

Next Up: at Chicago, at Houston, vs. Indiana, vs. Cleveland

 

10. Boston Celtics (39-26)

Week 20 Record: 2-2

Losses: at Milwaukee, at Chicago, at Toronto

Recap: It wasn’t looking pretty in Boston when they lost four straight, but a 2-2 week is a step in the right direction. Gordon Hayward had a big game with 30 points in their 27 point win in Oakland, handing the Warriors their worst home loss under Steve Kerr.

Previous Ranking: 10

Next Up: at Sacramento, at LA Lakers, at LA Clippers

 

11. Utah Jazz (36-27)

Week 20 Record: 3-1

Wins: vs. LA Clippers, at Denver, vs. Milwaukee

Losses: vs. New Orleans

Recap: The Jazz had three massive wins in a row with victories over the Clippers, the Nuggets and Milwaukee. Donovan Mitchell exploded for a career-high 46 points in the win over the Bucks. Their only loss of the week was to New Orleans after the Pelicans overcame a double digit deficit to win in Utah.

Previous Ranking: 11

Next Up: at New Orleans, at Memphis, vs. Oklahoma City

 

12. LA Clippers (37-29)

Week 20 Record: 3-1

Wins: at Sacramento, vs. New York, at LA Lakers

Losses: at Utah

Recap: The Clippers had another solid week with three straight wins. Landry Shamet is feeling comfortable in his new home with 20 points against the Kings and 21 against the Knicks, both team-highs.

Previous Ranking: 12

Next Up: vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Boston, vs. Portland

 

13. San Antonio Spurs (36-29)

Week 20 Record: 3-0

Wins: vs. Detroit, vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Denver

Recap: After losing seven of eight, the Spurs have won three straight and are still holding on to one of the final playoff spots in the west.

Previous Ranking: 13

Next Up: at Atlanta, vs. Milwaukee, at Dallas

 

14. Sacramento Kings (32-31)

Week 20 Record: 1-2

Wins: vs. New York

Losses: vs. Milwaukee (in OT), vs. LA Clippers

Recap: Buddy Hield was the leading scorer in all three games of the week for the Kings. They lost by one point in overtime to the Bucks and narrowly fell to the Clippers. Sacramento has lost three of their last four games. Not going to help their chances to reach a playoff spot.

Previous Ranking: 14

Next Up: vs. Boston, at New York, at Washington

 

15. Brooklyn Nets (33-33)

Week 20 Record: 1-3

Wins: vs. Dallas

Losses: vs. Washington, vs. Charlotte, at Miami

Recap: The Nets are currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings and snapped a three-game losing streak with a 39-point win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Previous Ranking: 15

Next Up: vs. Cleveland, at Atlanta, vs. Detroit

 

16. Detroit Pistons (31-31)

Week 20 Record: 2-1

Wins: at Cleveland, vs. Toronto

Losses: at San Antonio

Recap: The Pistons have won five of their last six since returning from the All-Star break and they did it with three different players leading the team in scoring this past week. Andre Drummond has recorded 15 straight double-doubles.

Previous Ranking: 19

Next Up: vs. Minnesota, at Chicago, vs. Chicago, at Brooklyn

 

17. LA Lakers (30-34)

Week 20 Record: 1-3

Wins: vs. New Orleans

Losses: vs. Milwaukee, at Phoenix, vs. LA Clippers

Recap: The Lakers are a mess, they have lost five of their last seven games since the All-Star break. The playoffs are pretty much out of reach and LA has mailed in the season. They will be putting LeBron James on a minute restriction for the rest of the season.

Previous Ranking: 16

Next Up: vs. Denver, vs. Boston, at Chicago

 

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (30-34)

Week 20 Record: 1-3

Wins: vs. Oklahoma City

Losses: at Atlanta, at Indiana, at Washington

Recap: The Timberwolves stopped the bleeding with a big win over Oklahoma City to snap a three-game losing streak. Karl Anthony-Towns had an outstanding week with 42 points and 17 rebounds against Indiana and dropped 41 points and 14 rebounds in the win over the Thunder.

Previous Ranking: 18

Next Up: at Detroit, vs. Washington, vs. New York, at Denver

 

19. Dallas Mavericks (27-36)

Week 20 Record: 1-2

Wins: vs. Indiana

Losses: vs. Memphis, at Brooklyn

Recap: The Mavericks have lost six of their last seven, including a 39-point loss to the Nets on the road.

Previous Ranking: 17

Next Up: at Washington, at Orlando, vs. Houston, vs. San Antonio

 

20. Charlotte Hornets (29-34)

Week 20 Record: 1-2

Wins: at Brooklyn

Losses: vs. Houston, vs. Portland

Recap: The Hornets have lost five of their last seven since they returned from the break. It’s not looking good for their playoff chances, but they are just one game back of the Heat for the eighth spot.

Previous Ranking: 20

Next Up: vs. Miami, vs. Washington, at Milwaukee, at Houston

 

21. Orlando Magic (30-36)

Week 20 Record: 2-2

Wins: vs. Golden State, at Indiana

Losses: at Cleveland, at Philadelphia

Recap: The Magic picked up an impressive 7-point win against the Warriors but lost to the Cavaliers. Seems to be a consistent theme with beating high caliber teams and losing to rebuilding teams.

Previous Ranking: 21

Next Up: vs. Dallas, at Memphis

 

22. Miami Heat (29-34)

Week 20 Record: 3-1

Wins: vs. Golden State, vs. Brooklyn, vs. Atlanta

Losses: at Houston

Recap: Dwyane Wade hit a crazy buzzer-beater to beat the defending champs, but lost by three to the red-hot Rockets. They dominated the Nets and narrowly beat the Hawks. The Heat currently hold the eighth spot in the east.

Previous Ranking: 22

Next Up: at Charlotte, vs. Cleveland, vs. Toronto

 

23. New Orleans Pelicans (30-36)

Week 20 Record: 3-1

Wins: at Phoenix, at Denver, at Utah

Losses: at LA Lakers

Recap: The Pelicans won three of their four games, all on the road. Two games were against playoff teams in the west. That’s impressive with their star player on minute restriction.

Previous Ranking: 25

Next Up: vs. Utah, vs. Toronto, at Atlanta, vs. Milwaukee

 

24. Washington Wizards (26-37)

Week 20 Record: 2-1

Wins: at Brooklyn, vs. Minnesota

Losses: at Boston

Recap: A nice week for the Wizards with two wins over decent teams. Bradley Beal continues to be the main man for the Wizards. He had 29 points or more in two of the three games.

Previous Ranking: 23

Next Up: vs. Dallas, at Charlotte, at Minnesota, vs. Sacramento

 

25. Memphis Grizzlies (26-40)

Week 20 Record: 2-2

Wins: at Dallas, vs. Portland

Losses: vs. Chicago, at Oklahoma City

Recap: Mike Conley ended the week with a career-high 40 points in their 9-point win over Portland. The Grizzlies have won three of their last five games.

Previous Ranking: 24

Next Up: vs. Utah, vs. Orlando

 

26. Atlanta Hawks (22-43)

Week 20 Record: 2-2

Wins: vs. Minnesota (in OT), at Chicago

Losses: vs. Chicago (in 4 OT), at Miami

Recap: The Hawks lost a heartbreaker to the Bulls in quadruple overtime. Trae Young scored a career-high 49 points in that game. They won their two games by 13 combined points.

Previous Ranking: 26

Next Up: vs. San Antonio, vs. Brooklyn, vs. New Orleans

 

27. Chicago Bulls (18-47)

Week 20 Record: 2-2

Wins: at Memphis, at Atlanta (in 4 OT)

Losses: vs. Atlanta, at Indiana

Recap: The Bulls picked up a big win in Atlanta in quadruple overtime with Zach LaVine scoring 47 points. Before that game, LaVine had 30 against Memphis, scoring 77 points in two games is impressive.

Previous Ranking: 27

Next Up: vs. Philadelphia, vs. Detroit, at Detroit, vs. LA Lakers

 

28. Cleveland Cavaliers (16-48)

Week 20 Record: 2-1

Wins: at New York, vs. Orlando

Losses: vs. Detroit

Recap: The Cavs have alternated wins and losses in the last two weeks. They are 4-3 since the All-Star break.

Previous Ranking: 28

Next Up: at Brooklyn, at Miami, vs. Toronto, at Philadelphia

 

29. Phoenix Suns (14-51)

Week 20 Record: 2-1

Wins: vs. LA Lakers, vs. Milwaukee

Losses: vs. New Orleans

Recap: After the Suns snapped their franchise record losing streak, they won three of their last four games. They are no longer have the worst record in the NBA.

Previous Ranking: 30

Next Up: vs. New York, at Portland, at Golden State

 

30. New York Knicks (13-51)

Week 20 Record: 0-3

Losses: vs. Cleveland, at LA Clippers, at Sacramento

Recap: The Knicks look to be tanking for Zion Williamson. They lost to the Cavaliers and Kings by seven points each. New York holds the worst record in the NBA.

Previous Ranking: 29

Next Up: at Phoenix, vs. Sacramento, at Minnesota, at Indiana