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NBA Power Rankings: Warriors still shining

NBA Power Rankings: Warriors still shining

1. Golden State Warriors (Record: 22-3; last week’s rank: 1): A Warriors player suggested that Marreese Speights, who is averaging 12.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, should get NBA Sixth Man of the Year consideration.


Portland
Portland

2. Portland Trail Blazers (Record: 22-6; last week’s rank: 3): Point guard Damian Lillard offered a reminder of how talented he is with his career-high 43-point performance Friday at San Antonio.


Memphis
Memphis

3. Memphis Grizzlies (Record: 21-6; last week’s rank: 2): Keep an eye on injured forward Zach Randolph (knee), who is expected to miss his second straight game tonight against Utah.


Toronto
Toronto

4. Toronto Raptors (Record: 22-6; last week’s rank: 6): The top team in the East has won six straight, but each win came against an East team with a losing record. Next up: at Chicago.


Houston
Houston

5. Houston Rockets (Record: 19-7; last week’s rank: 4) Dwight Howard has averaged 21.5 points, 13.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks since returning from a knee injury, but he now has an ailing shoulder.


Dallas
Dallas

6. Dallas Mavericks (Record: 20-8; last week’s rank: 7) One Western Conference assistant coach said the loss of Brandan Wright in the Rajon Rondo trade would be detrimental to Dallas.


Los Angeles
Los Angeles

7. Los Angeles Clippers (Record: 19-8; last week’s rank: 8) Remember when the Warriors-Clippers game got testy last year on Christmas? Well, they meet this Christmas in Los Angeles.


Atlanta
Atlanta

8. Atlanta Hawks (Record: 19-7; last week’s rank: 11): The Hawks are limiting foes to 89.6 points per game and 41.8 percent shooting during their 12-1 run.


Washington
Washington

9. Washington Wizards (Record: 19-7; last week’s rank: 10): Wonder what former Celtics great Paul Pierce, who plays his old team Saturday, thinks about the direction Boston is going after the Rajon Rondo trade.


San Antonio
San Antonio

10. San Antonio Spurs (Record: 17-11; last week’s rank: 5): It is very possible injury-plagued San Antonio, losers of four straight, could end up without a top-four West playoff seed.


Chicago
Chicago

11. Chicago Bulls (Record: 17-9; last week’s rank: 12): Former Laker Pau Gasol faces his old team on Christmas, but we’ll see if ex-teammate Kobe Bryant (fatigue) will be playing.


Cleveland
Cleveland

12. Cleveland Cavaliers (Record: 16-10; last week’s rank: 13): The Heat will play a video honoring LeBron James when he returns to face Miami on Christmas, a source told Yahoo Sports.


New Orleans
New Orleans

13. New Orleans Pelicans (Record: 14-13; last week’s rank: 16) The NBA and its partner networks made a big mistake by not having MVP candidate Anthony Davis play on Christmas.


Phoenix
Phoenix

14. Phoenix Suns (Record: 15-14; last week’s rank: 14): After being up and down early, the Suns have won three straight games and are competing for a playoff spot.


Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City

15. Oklahoma City Thunder (Record: 13-15; last week’s rank: 9): Kevin Durant has missed two straight games after spraining his right ankle last week, but he says the injury is minor.


Milwaukee
Milwaukee

16. Milwaukee Bucks (Record: 14-14; last week’s rank: 15) Can the Bucks make it to the postseason without rookie Jabari Parker, who is out for the season because of a knee injury? In the East, it’s definitely possible.


Sacramento
Sacramento

17. Sacramento Kings (Record: 12-15; last week’s rank: 17): The Kings have been getting a lot of calls from playoff teams about guard Ben McLemore, but they aren’t interested in trading him.


Denver
Denver

18. Denver Nuggets (Record: 12-15; last week’s rank: 18) Danilo Gallinari’s injury woes make for an interesting debate on whether New York or Denver got the best of the Carmelo Anthony trade.


Miami
Miami

19. Miami Heat (Record: 13-15; last week’s rank: 19): Free agent Ray Allen, who played for Miami last season, has been getting interest from about half the league’s teams, a source said.


Brooklyn
Brooklyn

20. Brooklyn Nets (Record: 11-15; last week’s rank: 20): Kevin Garnett is still pulling in 8.3 rebounds a game, but as Brooklyn struggles along, does anybody notice?


Boston
Boston

21. Boston Celtics (Record: 10-15; last week’s rank: 23): With the 2016 NBA draft potentially looking strong, it made sense for Boston to make a play for Dallas’ 2016 first-round pick in the Rajon Rondo deal.


Los Angeles
Los Angeles

22. Los Angeles Lakers (Record: 8-19; last week’s rank: 21): The Lakers and Celtics had mutual interest for a Rajon Rondo deal, but the Lakers weren’t willing to give up injured rookie Julius Randle, a source said.


Indiana
Indiana

23. Indiana Pacers (Record: 9-19; last week’s rank: 24): It’s not a good sign when Rodney Stuckey is leading the way in scoring at 12.4 points per game.


Orlando
Orlando

24. Orlando Magic (Record: 10-20; last week’s rank: 22): The Magic have fallen on hard times of late, losing four straight, including a loss at home to the 76ers.


Charlotte
Charlotte

25. Charlotte Hornets (Record: 8-19; last week’s rank: 26): Offseason acquisition Lance Stephenson is not only struggling but isn’t seeing eye to eye with teammates, a source said.


Utah
Utah

26. Utah Jazz (Record: 8-20; last week’s rank: 25): The Jazz have a chance to win three of four games for the first time this season at Memphis tonight with Zach Randolph (knee) likely sidelined.


Minnesota
Minnesota

27. Minnesota Timberwolves (Record: 5-21; last week’s rank: 27): Second-year forward Shabazz Muhammad has had a breakthrough December, which made it easier for Minnesota to trade Corey Brewer to the Rockets.


Detroit
Detroit

28. Detroit Pistons (Record: 5-23; last week’s rank: 28): The Pistons must have been really tired of Josh Smith to waive him Monday with two years and $26 million remaining on his contract.


New York
New York

29. New York Knicks (Record: 5-25; last week’s rank: 29): Free-agent forward Kenyon Martin, who played for New York last season, has healed from ankle injuries and says he is in shape.


Philadelphia
Philadelphia

30. Philadelphia 76ers (Record: 3-23; last week’s rank: 30) Need another sign of tanking? The Sixers have already had an NBA record 11 undrafted players on their roster this season.

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