NBA Power Rankings: Warriors rolling
1. Golden State Warriors (Record: 17-2; last week’s rank: 2): The Warriors, without David Lee, have opened with a franchise-best start. They have won 12 straight games and are 10-1 on the road.
2. San Antonio Spurs (Record: 15-5; last week’s rank: 4): Center Tiago Splitter (calf), who has only played 10 minutes this season, could return Tuesday at Utah.
3. Portland Trail Blazers (Record: 16-4; last week’s rank: 3): The Blazers, who have played 12 of 20 games at home, opened a five-game road trip Sunday at New York with their fourth consecutive win.
4. Memphis Grizzlies (Record: 16-4; last week’s rank: 1): The Grizzlies fell from the top spot after losing two of three, but are still off to the best start in franchise history.
5. Houston Rockets (Record: 16-4; last week’s rank: 7). One sign that Dwight Howard (knee) could return soon: he took part in an intense workout Sunday, a source said.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (Record: 14-5; last week’s rank: 9) The Clippers have won seven straight games and nine of their past 10. Five of their next six games are against the East.
7. Dallas Mavericks (Record: 16-6; last week’s rank: 5): The Mavericks are 6-0 this season when forward Chandler Parsons scores at least 20.
8. Toronto Raptors (Record: 15-5; last week’s rank: 6): Toronto has allowed 100-plus points in seven straight games, which is the longest such streak during coach Dwane Casey’s tenure.
9. Washington Wizards (Record: 13-6; last week’s rank: 10): The Wizards went 3-1 after point guard John Wall averaged 13.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds over the past four games.
10. Atlanta Hawks (Record: 13-6; last week’s rank: 12): Atlanta is now tied for second in the Eastern Conference with Washington (1½ games behind frontrunner Toronto) after winning six straight games.
11. Cleveland Cavaliers (Record: 11-7; last week’s rank: 14): LeBron James has earned a double-double in six of his last seven games, averaging 23 points and 10.1 assists in that stretch.
12. Chicago Bulls (Record: 12-8; last week’s rank: 8): Derrick Rose missed nine of 11 field-goal attempts in a loss to Golden State on Saturday and has shot 32.7 percent the past four games.
13. Phoenix Suns (Record: 12-9; last week’s rank: 15): Isaiah Thomas (ankle), who averages 15.5 points per game, could return Monday against the Clippers after missing the past six games.
14. Sacramento Kings (Record: 10-10; last week’s rank: 13): DeMarcus Cousins will be out another week after being diagnosed with viral meningitis and it’s uncertain when he will return.
15. Milwaukee Bucks (Record: 11-11; last week’s rank: 16): The surprising Bucks have come back to Earth, losing six of their past 10 games. A tough stretch against the West is up next.
16. New Orleans Pelicans (Record: 9-10; last week’s rank: 18) Forward Anthony Davis is tied with Kobe Bryant and James Harden as the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 25.2 points per game.
17. Denver Nuggets (Record: 9-11; last week’s rank: 17) Up-and-down Denver has lost three straight games following a 7-1 stretch. Next up: Toronto, Miami, Houston and San Antonio.
18. Miami Heat (Record: 9-11; last week’s rank: 11): Miami has lost four straight while allowing opponents to average 107.7 points per game. The hot-scoring Suns are up next Tuesday.
19. Oklahoma City Thunder (Record: 7-13; last week’s rank: 19): In case you were wondering, the Thunder is 4½ games out of the eighth and final West playoff spot with 62 games remaining.
20. Indiana Pacers (Record: 7-13; last week’s rank: 20): The Pacers lost 69 player games to injury last season. Indiana players have already missed 88 games to injury this season.
21. Orlando Magic (Record: 9-14; last week’s rank: 21): Rookie Aaron Gordon was encouraged by Kevin Durant’s quick return because both had foot surgery performed by the same doctor, a source said.
22. Brooklyn Nets (Record: 8-10; last week’s rank: 22): With one more steal, Kevin Garnett will become the first NBA player to reach 25,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 5,000 blocks and 1,800 steals.
23. Boston Celtics (Record: 7-11; last week’s rank: 25): Boston has won three straight games after losing the previous five. The Knicks will get a close look at free agent-to-be Rajon Rondo on Friday.
24. Utah Jazz (Record: 5-15; last week’s rank: 23): Kings assistant coach Tyrone Corbin, who was Utah’s head coach from 2011-14, faces the Jazz on Monday for the first time since his contract wasn’t renewed.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (Record: 5-16; last week’s rank: 24): Coach Byron Scott made some bold moves in shifting point guard Jeremy Lin and power forward Carlos Boozer to the bench.
26. Charlotte Hornets (Record: 5-15; last week’s rank: 25): Lance Stephenson might have broken out of his early-season slump after averaging 18 points the past two games.
27. New York Knicks (Record: 4-18; last week’s rank: 26): The Knicks are 2-9 in games decided by five points or less and have lost 16 of their past 18. Is this the worst team in Knicks history?
28. Philadelphia 76ers (Record: 2-18; last week’s rank: 30) The doormat Sixers have won two of their last three games, defeating Minnesota and Detroit.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves (Record: 4-15; last week’s rank: 28): The T-Wolves will face Warriors guard Klay Thompson on Monday for the first time since thinking about trading for him last off-season.
30. Detroit Pistons (Record: 3-18; last week’s rank: 29): The Pistons own the NBA’s longest losing streak at 12 games. Detroit last won Nov. 14 against Oklahoma City, which was without Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
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