Rockets Climbing Standings With 9 Game Winning Streak

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Houston Rockets have won nine straight games and have moved into the top five in the KSL Sports NBA Power Rankings.

The Milwaukee Bucks remain the top team with 51 wins so far this season.

The Utah Jazz dropped two spots with a 1-2 week.

Here is the Week 21 NBA Power Rankings from games played on Wednesday, March 6 to Tuesday, March 12.

1. Milwaukee Bucks (51-17)

Week 21 Record: 3-1

Wins: vs. Indiana, vs. Charlotte, at New Orleans

Losses: at San Antonio

Recap: The Bucks are 4-3 so far in March and 47-14 through the first four months of the season. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still playing at an MVP level. With the exception of their last game of the week against New Orleans, he has led the Bucks in scoring, rebounding and assists.

Previous Ranking: 1

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

 

2. Toronto Raptors (48-20)

Week 21 Record: 2-1

Wins: at New Orleans, at Miami

Losses: at Cleveland

Recap: The Raptors lost to Cleveland by 25 points, which is a puzzling result. Their two wins were by 44 combined points. They are 3-3 in the month of March.

Previous Ranking: 2

Next Up: vs. LA Lakers, at Detroit, vs. New York

 

3. Golden State Warriors (45-21)

Week 21 Record: 1-1

Wins: vs. Denver

Losses: vs. Phoenix

Recap: In a two game stretch with the Nuggets and the Suns at home, no one expected the results that the defending champs had. They lost to the worst team in the Western Conference at home. The Warriors have lost 5 of their last 8.

Previous Ranking: 3

Next Up: at Houston, at Oklahoma City, at San Antonio, at Minnesota

 

4. Denver Nuggets (44-22)

Week 21 Record: 2-1

Wins: at LA Lakers, vs. Minnesota

Losses: at Golden State

Recap: After losing three straight games, the Nuggets have started to improve their play, winning two of their last three. Their only loss was to the Warriors on the road.

Previous Ranking: 4

Next Up: vs. Dallas, vs. Indiana, at Boston

 

5. Houston Rockets (42-25)

Week 21 Record: 3-0

Wins: vs. Philadelphia, at Dallas, vs. Charlotte

Recap: The Rockets are on a roll, winning their last nine games. Their last loss was the first game off of the All-Star break. James Harden led the team with 31 points against the Sixers and 28 points against Charlotte. Eric Gordon had 26 in their win over Dallas.

Previous Ranking: 6

Next Up: vs. Golden State, vs. Phoenix, vs. Minnesota, at Atlanta

 

6. Portland Trail Blazers (41-26)

Week 21 Record: 2-1

Wins: vs. Phoenix, at LA Clippers

Losses: vs. Oklahoma City (in OT)

Recap: The Blazers are starting to return to form after they lost three of four, they have won their last two games. Damian Lillard dropped 51 points in their overtime loss to the Thunder.

Previous Ranking: 5

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

 

7. Oklahoma City Thunder (41-26)

Week 21 Record: 2-1

Wins: at Portland, at Utah

Losses: at LA Clippers

Recap: The Thunder won two close games with an overtime win over Portland and a nine point victory in Salt Lake City, with some extracurricular activity. They lost by 8 points to the Clippers. Russell Westbrook scored 30 points or more in two of the three games, Dennis Schroder had to drop 24 points to beat the Jazz.

Previous Ranking: 7

Next Up: vs. Brooklyn, at Indiana, vs. Golden State, vs. Miami

 

8. Philadelphia 76ers (43-25)

Week 21 Record: 2-2

Wins: vs. Indiana, vs. Cleveland

Losses: at Chicago, at Houston

Recap: Joel Embiid is back in the lineup and dropped 33 points and 12 rebounds in his first game back. The Sixers have won their last two games after losing two in a row.

Previous Ranking: 9

Next Up: vs. Sacramento, at Milwaukee, at Charlotte

 

9. Indiana Pacers (43-25)

Week 21 Record: 1-2

Wins: vs. New York

Losses: at Milwaukee, at Philadelphia

Recap: The Pacers have lost three of their last five. Bojan Bogdanovic is keeping Indiana afloat, leading the team in scoring in seven of their last eight games.

Previous Ranking: 8

Next Up: vs. Oklahoma City, at Denver, at Portland, at LA Clippers

 

10. Boston Celtics (41-27)

Week 21 Record: 2-1

Wins: at Sacramento, at LA Lakers

Losses: at LA Clippers

Recap: The Celtics had their three game winning streak snapped against the Clippers, but things are looking better now for the Celtics than two weeks ago.

Previous Ranking: 10

Next Up: vs. Sacramento, vs. Atlanta, vs. Denver

 

11. San Antonio Spurs (39-29)

Week 21 Record: 3-0

Wins: at Atlanta, vs. Milwaukee, at Dallas

Recap: From February 4 to February 25, the Spurs went 1-7. Since that stretch they have won six straight and are climbing the western conference standings.

Previous Ranking: 13

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

 

12. LA Clippers (39-30)

Week 21 Record: 2-1

Wins: vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Boston

Losses: vs. Portland

Recap: The Clippers won five straight games before they lost to the Trail Blazers by 21 points to end the week. Lou Williams had great back-to-back performances with 40 points against Oklahoma City and 34 points against Boston.

Previous Ranking: 12

Next Up: vs. Chicago, vs. Brooklyn, vs. Indiana

 

13. Utah Jazz (37-29)

Week 21 Record: 1-2

Wins: at New Orleans

Losses: at Memphis, vs. Oklahoma City

Recap: The Jazz went from a four game winning streak to losing three of their last four games. Utah is in eighth place in the western conference standings.

Previous Ranking: 11

Next Up: at Phoenix, vs. Minnesota, vs. Brooklyn, at Washington

 

14. Brooklyn Nets (36-33)

Week 21 Record: 3-0

Wins: vs. Cleveland, at Atlanta, vs. Detroit

Recap: The Nets lost three straight, but are now on a four game winning streak and looking like a playoff team in the eastern conference. Spencer Dinwiddie had 28 against the Cavaliers, 23 against the Hawks and 19 against the Pistons to lead the Nets.

Previous Ranking: 15

Next Up: at Oklahoma City, at Utah, at LA Clippers, at Sacramento

 

15. Detroit Pistons (34-32)

Week 21 Record: 3-1

Wins: vs. Minnesota, at Chicago, vs. Chicago

Losses: at Brooklyn

Recap: The Pistons had their five game winning streak snapped when the Nets beat them by 28 points. Blake Griffin had 27 points and 28 points against the Bulls.

Previous Ranking: 16

Next Up: at Miami, vs. LA Lakers, vs. Toronto, at Cleveland

 

16. Sacramento Kings (33-33)

Week 21 Record: 1-2

Wins: at New York

Losses: vs. Boston, at Washington

Recap: The Kings are struggling as they have lost five of their last seven. The eighth spot in the west is slipping away and it looks like they are headed for the lottery once again.

Previous Ranking: 14

Next Up: at Boston, at Philadelphia, vs. Chicago, vs. Brooklyn

 

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-36)

Week 21 Record: 2-2

Wins: vs. Washington (in OT), vs. New York

Losses: at Detroit, at Denver

Recap: The Timberwolves have won three of their last five games. Karl Anthony-Towns had 40 points and 15 rebounds against the Wizards in overtime.

Previous Ranking: 18

Next Up: at Utah, at Houston, vs. Golden State

 

18. LA Lakers (31-36)

Week 21 Record: 1-2

Wins: at Chicago

Losses: vs. Denver, vs. Boston

Recap: The Lakers snapped a five game losing streak with a road win over the Bulls. It doesn’t get easier for LeBron and company with four straight road games, three of the four are against teams currently in a playoff race.

Previous Ranking: 17

Next Up: at Toronto, at Detroit, at New York, at Milwaukee

 

19. Charlotte Hornets (30-37)

Week 21 Record: 1-3

Wins: vs. Washington

Losses: vs. Miami, at Milwaukee, at Houston

Recap: The Hornets are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, but need to start turning things around. They have lost seven of their last 10 games.

Previous Ranking: 20

Next Up: at Washington, at Miami, vs. Philadelphia

 

20. Miami Heat (31-35)

Week 21 Record: 2-1

Wins: at Charlotte, vs. Cleveland

Losses: vs. Toronto

Recap: The Heat continue to fight for a playoff spot in the east in Dwyane Wade’s last season. They have won five of their last six. Their only loss was to a very good Raptors team this week.

Previous Ranking: 22

Next Up: vs. Detroit, vs. Milwaukee, vs. Charlotte, at Oklahoma City

 

21. Orlando Magic (31-37)

Week 21 Record: 1-1

Wins: vs. Dallas

Losses: at Memphis

Recap: The Magic have lost four of their last five. The playoffs aren’t out of reach, but a slowly slipping away.

Previous Ranking: 21

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

 

22. New Orleans Pelicans (30-40)

Week 21 Record: 0-4

Losses: vs. Utah, vs. Toronto, at Atlanta, vs. Milwaukee

Recap: As expected, the Pelicans are struggling. They lost to three playoff teams and suffered one disappointing loss to the Hawks.

Previous Ranking: 23

Next Up: vs. Portland, vs. Phoenix, at Dallas

 

23. Washington Wizards (28-39)

Week 21 Record: 2-2

Wins: vs. Dallas, vs. Sacramento

Losses: at Charlotte, at Minnesota

Recap: A nice week for the Wizards as Bradley Beal continues to impress. He was the leading scorer in three of their four games this week.

Previous Ranking: 24

Next Up: vs. Orlando, vs. Charlotte, vs. Memphis, vs. Utah

 

24. Memphis Grizzlies (28-40)

Week 21 Record: 2-0

Wins: vs. Utah, vs. Orlando

Recap: Mike Conley scored 28 against the Jazz and 26 against the Magic. The Grizzlies have won four of their last five games.

Previous Ranking: 25

Next Up: at Atlanta, at Washington

 

25. Dallas Mavericks (27-40)

Week 21 Record: 0-4

Losses: at Washington, at Orlando, vs. Houston, vs. San Antonio

Recap: The Mavericks have lost six straight games and 11 of their last 12. They are clearly looking ahead to next season when they will have Kristaps Porzingis.

Previous Ranking: 19

Next Up: at Denver, vs. Cleveland, vs. New Orleans

 

26. Atlanta Hawks (23-45)

Week 21 Record: 1-2

Wins: vs. New Orleans

Losses: vs. San Antonio, vs. Brooklyn

Recap: The Hawks snapped a three game losing streak with a win over New Orleans. Kevin Huerter had a nice game with 27 points.

Previous Ranking: 26

Next Up: vs. Memphis, at Boston, at Orlando, vs. Houston

 

27. Chicago Bulls (19-50)

Week 21 Record: 1-3

Wins: vs. Philadelphia

Losses: vs. Detroit, at Detroit, vs. LA Lakers

Recap: The Bulls picked up a big win over the Sixers before losing back-to-back games to the Pistons. Zach LaVine had 39 points against Philly.

Previous Ranking: 27

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

 

28. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-51)

Week 21 Record: 1-3

Wins: vs. Toronto

Losses: at Brooklyn, at Miami, at Philadelphia

Recap: The Cavs picked up a big win over the Raptors. Collin Sexton dropped 28 points. He scored 26 points or more in the last three games of the week.

Previous Ranking: 28

Next Up: at Orlando, at Dallas, vs. Detroit

 

29. Phoenix Suns (16-52)

Week 21 Record: 2-1

Wins: vs. New York, at Golden State

Losses: at Portland

Recap: The fans in Oakland were in shock when the struggling Suns beat the Warriors at their place. Their only loss was by seven points against the Trail Blazers.

Previous Ranking: 29

Next Up: vs. Utah, at Houston, at New Orleans, vs. Chicago

 

30. New York Knicks (13-55)

Week 21 Record: 0-4

Losses: at Phoenix, vs. Sacramento, at Minnesota, at Indiana

Recap: The Knicks are on track for the worst record in the NBA. They lost to the second worst team in the Phoenix Suns. New York has lost seven straight games.

Previous Ranking: 30

Next Up: at San Antonio, vs. LA Lakers, at Toronto