NBA Western Conference Week Eight Power Rankings: Warriors Back On Top After 3-0 Week

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After one week of not being the top team in the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors have returned to the No. 1 spot.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in the top 5, while the former No. 1 team, Los Angeles Clippers dropped to No. 5.

The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder stay at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively.

Here is the KSL Sports NBA Western Conference Power Rankings for the seventh week of the season from games played from Wednesday, December 5 to Tuesday, December 11.

1. Golden State Warriors (19-9)

Week eight record: 3-0

Wins: at Cleveland, at Milwaukee, vs. Minnesota

Stephen Curry had 42 points against Cleveland. Klay Thompson dropped 20 in an impressive road win against Milwaukee and Curry scored 38 points in an 8-point road win at Minnesota.

Previous ranking: 4

Next up: vs. Toronto, at Sacramento, vs. Memphis

 

2. Denver Nuggets (18-9)

Week eight record: 2-2

Wins: at Orlando (in OT), vs. Memphis

Losses: at Charlotte, at Atlanta

Nikola Jokic had another great week with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists against Atlanta. He added 27 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists against Memphis. They had two close losses, falling to Charlotte by six points and Atlanta by eight.

Previous ranking: 2

Next up: vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Toronto, vs. Dallas

 

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-8)

Week eight record: 2-1

Wins: at Brooklyn, vs. Utah

Losses: at Chicago

Despite a disappointing loss to a bad Chicago Bulls team, the Thunder had two big wins by two at Brooklyn off of a buzzer beater by Paul George to go with 47 points and nine-point win against the Jazz. He led the team with 31 against Utah. Russell Westbrook exploded with 24 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists in their loss to the Bulls.

Previous ranking: 3

Next up: at New Orleans, at Denver, vs. LA Clippers, vs. Chicago

 

4. Los Angeles Lakers (17-10)

Week eight record: 3-1

Wins: vs. San Antonio, at Memphis, vs. Miami

Losses: at San Antonio

A 13-point loss in San Antonio prevented the Lakers from having another perfect week and a seven-game winning streak. LeBron James had 42 points in the home win against the Spurs and 35 points and 11 assists in the loss. Kyle Kuzma had 33 points in the win over Miami, it was the last time the James would face Dwyane Wade.

Previous ranking: 5

Next up: at Houston, at Charlotte, at Washington, at Brooklyn

 

5. Los Angeles Clippers (17-10)

Week eight record: 1-3

Wins: at Phoenix (in OT)

Losses: at Memphis, vs. Miami, vs. Toronto

The Clippers have gone back to earth with a 1-3 week. They barely beat Phoenix in overtime but lost to Memphis by 10, Miami by 23 and Toronto by 24. Tobias Harris led the team in scoring with 20 against the Heat and 33 against the Suns.

Previous ranking: 1

Next up: at San Antonio, at Oklahoma City, vs. Portland

 

6. Memphis Grizzlies (15-11)

Week eight record: 2-2

Wins: vs. LA Clippers, at New Orleans

Losses: vs. LA Lakers, at Denver

A ten point win over the Clippers was impressive as well as the four point victory over New Orleans. They lost by 23 to the Lakers and six on the road against the Nuggets. Mike Conley had 22 points against the Clippers and 19 points at Denver.

Previous ranking: 6

Next up: vs. Portland, vs. Miami, vs. Houston, at Golden State

 

7. Portland Trail Blazers (15-12)

Week eight record: 2-1

Wins: vs. Phoenix, vs. Minnesota

Losses: at Houston

The Blazers snapped out of their funk with two straight wins led by Damian Lillard with 25 against Phoenix and 28 against Minnesota. He had 34 points in their loss to Houston by 7 points.

Previous ranking: 7

Next up: at Memphis, vs. Toronto, vs. LA Clippers

 

8. Dallas Mavericks (14-11)

Week eight record: 2-1

Wins: vs. Houston, vs. Orlando

Losses: at New Orleans

The Mavericks have been playing really well with a big win over Houston and Orlando. Luka Doncic had 11 rebounds and 9 assists to go with 7 points against the Magic. He also scored 21 against the Rockets.

Previous ranking: 8

Next up: vs. Atlanta, at Phoenix, vs. Sacramento, at Denver

 

9. Sacramento Kings (14-12)

Week eight record: 2-1

Wins: at Cleveland, at Chicago

Losses: at Indiana

The Kings were able to beat two teams in the Eastern Conference that they were supposed to beat. They lost by 10 to Indiana but De’Aaron Fox had a 30-point and 12-assist performance against the Cavaliers and had 25 points and 6 assists against the Bulls.

Previous ranking: 9

Next up: vs. Minnesota, vs. Golden State, at Dallas, at Minnesota

 

10. San Antonio Spurs (14-14)

Week eight record: 3-1

Wins: vs. LA Lakers, vs. Utah, vs. Phoenix

Losses: at LA Lakers

The Spurs got back on track after getting some big wins at home. DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points in LA, 36 at home against the Lakers and 26 against the Jazz.

Previous ranking: 14

Next up: vs. LA Clippers, vs. Chicago, vs. Philadelphia

 

11. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-14)

Week eight record: 1-2

Wins: vs. Charlotte

Losses: at Portland, at Golden State

The Timberwolves are starting to sink after an impressive run of four straight wins and 9 of their last 12 games. Karl Anthony-Towns was dominate during the week with 35 points and 12 rebounds against the Hornets. He also had 31 points and 11 rebounds in their 12-point loss to the Warriors.

Previous ranking: 10

Next up: at Sacramento, at Phoenix, vs. Sacramento

 

12. Utah Jazz (13-15)

Week eight record: 1-2

Wins: vs. Houston

Losses: at San Antonio, at Oklahoma City

A rough week for Utah. Rudy Gobert was ejected minutes into the win over Houston. Derrick Favors had 24 points and 10 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell had 27 points in the 13-point loss to the Spurs and 19 points in the 9-point defeat to the Thunder.

Previous ranking: 12

Next up: vs. Miami, vs. Orlando (Mexico City), at Houston

 

13. Houston Rockets (12-14)

Week eight record: 1-2

Wins: vs. Portland

Losses: at Utah, at Dallas

James Harden started the week with just 15 points in a 27-point loss to the Jazz, he followed up with 35 points against Dallas, where the Rockets lost by three points. Harden ended the week with 29 points in their 7-point win at home against Portland, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

Previous ranking: 11

Next up: vs. LA Lakers, at Memphis, vs. Utah

 

14. New Orleans Pelicans (14-15)

Week eight record: 2-2

Wins: vs. Dallas, at Detroit

Losses: vs. Memphis, at Boston

The Pelicans continue to trade wins and losses without any streaks. Julius Randle had 27 points and 18 rebounds in their win over Dallas, 26 points and 13 boards in their loss to the Grizzlies. Jrue Holiday dropped 37 points in the Pelicans’ win at Detroit and Anthony Davis poured in 41 points against the Celtics.

Previous ranking: 13

Next up: vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Miami

 

15. Phoenix Suns (4-24)

Week eight record: 0-4

Losses: at Portland, vs. Miami, vs. LA Clippers (in OT), at San Antonio

The Suns lost by a combined total of 68 points in their four games. They have lost 10 in a row and 13 of their last 14. The only close game was a four-point loss to the Clippers in overtime.

Previous ranking: 15

Next up: vs. Dallas, vs. Minnesota, at New York