Power Rankings Week 7: Quartet of teams rising in Top 10

Record: 20-1

OffRtg: 118.9 (6) DefRtg: 103.6 (1) NetRtg: +15.3 (1) Pace: 100.9 (15)

Jalen Williams is back and the Thunder have won 12 straight games, picking up a win on Sunday at the site (the Moda Center) of their only loss of the season.

Three takeaways

• Williams shot just 10-for-30 (33%) in his two games back, even though only six of those 30 shots came from outside the paint. But the Thunder allowed just 104.2 points per 100 possessions in his 63 minutes on the floor and have now allowed 11.1 fewer points per 100 than the league average, a mark that would crush the previous best differential (8.3 per 100 – 2003-04 Spurs) in the 30 seasons for which we have play-by-play data.

• Each of the Thunder’s last three games has been within five points in the last five minutes, and they’ve scored 42 points on 31 clutch possessions over that stretch. They’ve slipped out of the top five in overall offensive efficiency, but they now have the league’s top-ranked clutch offense, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having scored more clutch points (a league-high 80 on 52% shooting) than he did all of last season (67).

• According to tracking data, the Thunder lead the league in shot quality … on both ends of the floor.

Coming up: The Thunder have still played a pretty soft schedule in regard to opposing offenses, and they’ll begin December with three games against teams that rank in the bottom 10 on that end of the floor.

Week 7: @ GSW, vs. DAL, @ UTA

Record: 14-5

OffRtg: 123.9 (1) DefRtg: 114.2 (15) NetRtg: +9.7 (3) Pace: 100.2 (21)

Missing two starters, the Nuggets have suffered some slippage, losing home games to the Kings and Spurs over the last nine days. But they got another quality road win on Saturday, blowing past the Suns in the second half.

Three takeaways

• Aaron Gordon has missed all but three minutes of the last six games, and the last four have been the Nuggets’ worst stretch of defense (127.0 points allowed per 100 possessions) this season. Their loss on Friday was the Spurs’ best offensive game of the year (139 on 102) and, over the last nine days, Denver has slid from fourth to 15th on defense.

• The last four games have also been the Nuggets’ best offensive stretch (132.8 scored per 100), even though they already ranked second offensively prior. They’ve been on fire from deep, shooting 60-for-120 (50%) from 3-point range over the last three games. After shooting 8-for-38 (21%) from 3-point range through his first 11 games, Cam Johnson is 23-for-38 (61%) over his last seven, taking his season-long mark to 40.8%, the second best mark of his career.

• The Nuggets’ current starting lineup (with Spencer Jones and Peyton Watson in place of Gordon and Christian Braun) has scored almost 142 points per 100 possessions in its 61 minutes together. Watson had his the two highest scoring games of his career (including 27 points in the Nuggets’ win in Memphis last Monday) over the span of six days.

Coming up: The Nuggets have won seven straight on the road and, after hosting the Mavs on Monday, will take a three-game trip through the Eastern Conference. Their first meeting with the Pacers (against whom they’ll begin the trip) was one of the two times this season that they’ve allowed less than a point per possession.

Week 7: vs. DAL, @ IND, @ ATL, @ CHA

Record: 13-4

OffRtg: 122.3 (2) DefRtg: 110.3 (2) NetRtg: +12.0 (2) Pace: 97.7 (27)

After losing a nail-biter to the Nuggets, the Rockets have won three straight games, including two (against teams with winning records) without Kevin Durant.

Three takeaways

• The Rockets’ win in Phoenix last Monday was the first time that they’ve held an opponent under a point per possession, something they did 13 times (five times before Dec. 1) last season. They’ve climbed to second defensively and are now the only team in the top five on both ends of the floor.

• With league-wide free throw rate having seen a huge jump, 28 of the 30 teams have a higher opponent rate than they did last season. But the Rockets have seen a relatively small jump, ranking sixth after ranking 19th last season.

• Reed Sheppard got his first two starts of the season in Durant’s absence, scoring a career-high 31 points (and hitting Amen Thompson with a clutch dime) in the Rockets win at Golden State on Wednesday. He remained in the lineup (with Josh Okogie going to the bench) upon Durant’s return on Sunday afternoon, having played just 31 total minutes alongside the Rockets’ four full-time starters prior to that. That lineup has now outscored opponents by 28 points (23.2 per 100 possessions) in its 42 minutes through Sunday.

Coming up: The Rockets have the league’s easiest December schedule in regard to cumulative opponent winning percentage (.405), but their win in Utah on Sunday was the start of their first stretch of five games in seven days. Durant didn’t play in their win over the Suns last week, so he’ll get his first shot at his former team on Friday.

Week 7: @ UTA, vs. SAC, vs. PHX, @ DAL

Record: 15-4

OffRtg: 118.9 (5) DefRtg: 114.9 (17) NetRtg: +4.1 (12) Pace: 100.5 (20)

The Lakers are heading back to the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals, they’re undefeated (4-0) with LeBron James in uniform, and their seven-game winning streak has taken them to second place in the Western Conference.

Three takeaways

• Luka Dončić led the league in usage rate (35.9%) prior to LeBron James making his season debut, and he had an even higher rate (38.7%) over James’ first three games in uniform. That rate has come down a little in the last couple of games and James (sore foot) didn’t play in the Lakers’ win over the Pelicans on Sunday.

• A higher usage rate for Dončić has been good for the Lakers, who have scored 129 points per 100 possessions over their last five games, easily their best stretch of offense this season. Austin Reaves has been on fire, averaging 29.4 points on a true shooting percentage of 76.2% over the seven-game winning streak.

• All seven games on the streak have come against teams that currently have losing records, with four of those seven having come against the Pelicans and Jazz. The Lakers have played the league’s third-easiest schedule (cumulative opponent winning percentage of .435) overall.

Coming up: The Lakers are 4-3 against teams currently with winning records, and their next six games will come against that group. They’ll be at a rest disadvantage when they host the Suns (their first meeting of the season) on Monday, and then heat East for a three-game trip.

Week 7: vs. PHX, @ TOR, @ BOS, @ PHI

Record: 16-4

OffRtg: 117.1 (10) DefRtg: 111.3 (5) NetRtg: +5.8 (5) Pace: 101.8 (11)

After winning 13 straight games, the Pistons dropped two in a row, faltering down the stretch in Boston and again against the Magic. But they recovered to get a quality, rest-disadvantage win in Miami on Saturday, though they almost blew a 22-point, fourth-quarter lead.

Three takeaways

• Turnovers are again an issue. Cade Cunningham’s turnover rate (10.6 per 100 possessions used) is the lowest of his career and the Pistons committed fewer turnovers than their opponent in the first 12 games of their winning streak. But their star had critical miscues down the stretch of both of their losses last week (also missing a free throw to tie the game in Boston), and the team committed 45 total turnovers over their two weekend games.

• Over the two games that the Pistons lost by a total of six points last week, they were outscored by 34 in 34:31 with Jalen Duren on the bench. They won in Miami without Duren on Saturday, though Paul Reed’s minutes off the bench were better than Isaiah Stewart’s minutes as the replacement starter. For the season, the Pistons have outscored their opponents by an incredible 15.3 points per 100 possessions in Duren’s 368 minutes on the floor without Stewart, but are minus-8.2 per 100 in Stewart’s 256 minutes on the floor without Duren.

• Their win in Miami on Saturday was one of the Pistons’ best shooting games of the season, but they were still outscored from beyond the arc. Only the Thunder (9-1) have a better record than the Pistons (10-2) in games they’ve been outscored from 3-point range. Detroit has taken 56.9% of its shots in the paint, which would be the highest rate for any team in the last 13 seasons.

Coming up: The only time the Pistons shot more effectively than they did in Miami on Saturday was in Milwaukee seven days earlier (when the Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo). Their second and third meetings with the Bucks are this week, and both teams will be playing the second game of a back-to-back when they meet in Detroit this Saturday.

Week 7: vs. ATL, @ MIL, vs. POR, vs. MIL

Record: 13-6

OffRtg: 120.5 (3) DefRtg: 113.1 (12) NetRtg: +7.4 (4) Pace: 99.9 (25)

The Knicks are the only team to reach the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals in all three seasons, and they’ve climbed from sixth to second place in the East with a four-game winning streak that includes a blowout of the third-place Raptors on Sunday.

Three takeaways

• OG Anunoby (last seven games) and Landry Shamet have been out for the entirety of the four-game winning streak. With Mitchell Robinson coming off the bench, Josh Hart got his first four starts of the season and the Knicks have been pretty small on the perimeter. But the new lineup has scored 127.7 points per 100 possessions in its 61 minutes over the four games. Robinson is obviously the Knicks’ best offensive rebounder, but that lineup has still retained 35.1% of available offensive boards, a rate higher than the Knicks’ season-long mark (34.2%, sixth).

• For the third straight season, the Knicks are better with McBride on the court with Jalen Brunson (plus-13.6 per 100 possessions) than they’ve been with Brunson on the floor without McBride (plus-9.9).

• The winning streak has also been the Knicks’ best stretch of defense (106.3 points allowed per 100 possessions) this season, though it helped that three of the four opponents shot no better than 30% from 3-point range. They also had rest advantages in two of the four games, including when they held the Raptors under a point per possession on Sunday.

Coming up: The Knicks are 0-2 against the Magic, having allowed 127.2 points per 100 possessions (their worst mark vs. any opponent) over the two games. They’ll meet again on Sunday, the start of a stretch (which could include another meeting with Orlando in the NBA Cup semifinals) where the Knicks are playing 12 of 14 against teams that currently have winning records.

Week 7: @ BOS, vs. CHA, vs. UTA, vs. ORL

Record: 12-9

OffRtg: 115.8 (12) DefRtg: 113.5 (14) NetRtg: +2.3 (14) Pace: 100.1 (24)

The Suns took care of business in Sacramento on Wednesday, but their schedule has gotten tougher. They went 0-3 against the Rockets, Thunder and Nuggets last week, sliding out of the top six in the West.

Three takeaways

• The Suns still rank as the league’s most improved defensive team, having allowed 4.2 fewer points per 100 possessions than they did last season. But they’ve allowed 125.6 per 100 over their four games against the Nuggets (0-2), Rockets and Thunder. Oklahoma City’s 10 turnovers on Friday were the fewest the Suns have forced all season, and Denver’s effective field goal percentage of 72.4% the following night (the end of the Suns’ first stretch of five games in seven days) was the fourth-highest mark for any team.

• Ryan Dunn has missed the last five games and Mark Williams has sat out the second game of the Suns’ back-to-backs. Phoenix has allowed just 101.8 points per 100 possessions when both have been on the floor, but, at 176 minutes, they’re the team’s 22nd most-used two-man combination.

• Grayson Allen returned from a seven-game absence on Saturday, bumping Collin Gillespie back to the bench. Allen was just 2-for-7 from beyond the arc in the loss to the Nuggets, but, as things stand, he is the only player who’s shot 42% or better on at least 100 3-point attempts in each of the last three seasons.

Coming up: The Suns have just two or three home games in December, but their visit to the Lakers on Monday (their first meeting of the season) will be their first rest-advantage game. (The Nets are the only other team that hasn’t had one.) After that, they’ll play just seven games (eight if they reach the NBA cup final) over the next 24 days.

Week 7: @ LAL, @ HOU

Record: 13-6

OffRtg: 118.0 (7) DefRtg: 113.5 (13) NetRtg: +4.5 (10) Pace: 99.9 (26)

The Spurs are 5-2 without Victor Wembanyama, having come back from 18 points down in Denver on Friday to get their best win of the season and advance to the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

Three takeaways

• Not surprisingly, the Spurs have taken a step backward (ranking 18th) defensively in Wembanyama’s absence. Their weekend games in Denver and Minnesota were, statistically, their two worst defensive games of the season and their opponents have averaged 49.6 points in the paint per 48 minutes with Wembanyama off the floor, compared to just 33.0 per 48 with him on the floor.

• But their offense ranks sixth over these last seven games, with De’Aaron Fox averaging 26.1 points and 7.1 assists. Devin Vassell went off in Denver, scoring 35 points on 12-for-17 shooting and giving the Spurs the lead for good with two straight 3-pointers (both off feeds from Luke Kornet) with less than a minute and a half to go. The Nuggets’ 136 points on 100 possessions was the most efficient performance for a losing team this season.

• Dylan Harper returned from a 10-game absence last week and had 17 points (on 8-for-12 shooting) off the bench in Minnesota on Sunday. He and Fox (who didn’t play until after Harper was injured) played just seven minutes together over his three games back and the Spurs were outscored by four points (allowing 18 on 13 defensive possessions) in those minutes.

Coming up: The Spurs are in the middle of a stretch where they’re playing eight of nine on the road. The lone home game is against the Grizzlies on Tuesday, and they’ll be at a rest disadvantage the following night in Orlando.

Week 7: vs. MEM, @ ORL, @ CLE

Record: 12-8

OffRtg: 117.3 (9) DefRtg: 112.4 (8) NetRtg: +4.9 (6) Pace: 101.0 (13)

The Magic went undefeated in NBA Cup pool play, picking up their best win of the season on Friday, when they edged the Pistons in Detroit. They’ve climbed into the top six in the East, having won eight of their last 10 games.

Three takeaways

• The Magic are 10-5 with Jalen Suggs in the lineup, having won their last seven games that he’s been available. The Orlando defense has been at its best (104.6 points allowed per 100 possessions) with Suggs on the floor, and he had six steals (plus three blocks) as the Magic forced 45 total turnovers in their wins in Philadelphia and Detroit last week.

• The Magic shot just 5-for-30 (17%) from 3-point range on Friday, the worst 3-point shooting performance for a winning team this season. But in a three-point win, they outscored the Pistons at the free throw line … by three points. Orlando ranks second in free-throw differential at plus-5.0 points per game and hasn’t been outscored from the line in its last 12 games.

• The starting lineup with Tristan da Silva in Paolo Banchero’s place hasn’t been great (minus-1.2 points per 100 possessions), but the Magic have had the league’s top-ranked bench during Banchero’s eight-game absence. Anthony Black scored a career-high 31 points in Philadelphia on Tuesday and played a big role in the 24-6 run spanning the first and second quarters that allowed the Magic to take control in Detroit three nights later.

Coming up: The Magic are now 6-6 against the other eight Eastern Conference teams with winning records, having avenged losses to the Sixers and Pistons. Their worst offensive game of the season was when they suffered a Week 1 loss to the 9-10 Bulls, who will be back in Orlando on Monday.

Week 7: vs. CHI, vs. SAS, vs. MIA, @ NYK

Record: 12-8

OffRtg: 117.6 (8) DefRtg: 112.9 (10) NetRtg: +4.7 (8) Pace: 100.7 (17)

The Wolves suffered their first loss to a bad team last Monday, blowing a(nother) late lead in Sacramento. But they also got their first two wins against teams currently over .500, beating the Celtics and Spurs over the weekend.

Three takeaways

• The Wolves had two of the most brutal, late-game collapses for any team this season over four days. They lost in Phoenix after leading by eight points with a minute left, and they lost in Sacramento after leading by 10 with three minutes to go in regulation. They lost all of a 12-point lead with less than four minutes left to the Celtics on Saturday, but got big 3-pointers from Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards to escape with the win. The Wolves have 18 losses (most in the league) over the last six seasons in games they led by double-digits in the fourth quarter.

• Terrence Shannon Jr. returned from a nine-game absence last week, so the Wolves have been whole (and using a 10-man rotation) for the last four games. Bench minutes were not good for the first three of those games and they lost in Oklahoma City by eight on Wednesday, when their starting lineup was a plus-10 in its 17.2 minutes together. But they beat the Spurs on Sunday night with a 37-14 run spanning the third and fourth quarters, with Conley and Naz Reid on the floor for most or all of it. The bench still ranks 18th, down from fourth last season.

• Overall, the Wolves have been a tick worse than last season (plus-5.0 per 100 possessions), but they’re now one of five teams that rank in the top 10 on both ends of the floor.

Coming up: The Wolves have one of the West’s easiest December schedules, and it begins with their first three games against the Pelicans (x 2) and Clippers. They’ve won 10 of their last 12 games against the Clippers.

Week 7: @ NOP, @ NOP, vs. LAC

Record: 14-7

OffRtg: 116.1 (11) DefRtg: 111.5 (6) NetRtg: +4.6 (9) Pace: 100.8 (16)

The Raptors are going to the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals for the first time, but after winning nine straight games, they lost both ends of their weekend back-to-back.

Three takeaways

• It’s not often that a team loses a game it never trailed in regulation, but that’s how the Raptors’ nine-game winning streak ended in Charlotte on Saturday, when they were playing with a rest advantage. They blew a 12-point lead with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter and came up short in overtime, scoring just 11 points on their final 19 possessions. Brandon Ingram had a last-second game-winner three nights earlier, but the Raptors are one of six teams that have scored less than a point per possession in the clutch.

• The Raptors have been without RJ Barrett for the last four games (the first games that any of their perimeter starters have missed), and they were also without Jakob Poeltl in New York on Sunday, because he hasn’t played in both games of a back-to-back since Week 2. They started Scottie Barnes at center, had their worst rebounding game since October, and are now 0-5 when they’ve grabbed less than 45% of available boards. They’re 3-3 without Poeltl.

• Before his absence, the Raptors were slightly better offensively with Barrett off the floor. But the four games without him have been their worst offensive stretch (102.7 points scored per 100 possessions). Of the five Raptors with at least 25 field goal attempts over the four games, only Scottie Barnes (57.8%) has an effective field goal percentage over 50%.

Coming up: The Raptors’ weekend back-to-back was the start of their only stretch of five games in seven days, which includes a second game (a chance for revenge) against the Hornets. Their game against the Blazers on Tuesday is the start of a five-game homestand.

Week 7: vs. POR, vs. LAL, vs. CHA, vs. BOS

Record: 13-7

OffRtg: 115.7 (13) DefRtg: 110.9 (3) NetRtg: +4.8 (7) Pace: 106.1 (1)

Tyler Herro made his season debut last Monday and capped his 24-point performance against Dallas with the go-ahead bucket with 41 seconds left. The Heat ran their winning streak to six games before losing to the Pistons on Saturday.

Three takeaways

• With Andrew Wiggins returning from a three-game absence on Wednesday, the Heat were whole for the first time, and they started small: Davion Mitchell, Herro, Norman Powell, Wiggins and Bam Adebayo. The lineup was outscored by 10 points (allowing 98 on 80 defensive possessions) in its 36 minutes last week, but the bench (featuring former starter Kel’el Ware) was again terrific in the Heat’s win over Milwaukee.

• After Herro’s go-ahead bucket, the Heat came out of the ensuing timeout playing zone. They allowed a pretty good look from the left corner, but got the stop and held on for the win. Two nights later, they played more zone after Myles Turner took advantage of switches in the post. They’ve led the league in the amount of zone they’ve played in each of the last three (and five of the last seven) seasons, and rank third (9.5% of their defensive possessions) this year, according to Synergy tracking. The 0.90 points per possession they’ve allowed in zone ranks fifth among the 15 teams that have played at least 50 total zone possessions.

• Herro is 9-for-18 from 3-point range, but the Heat have taken just 32% of their shots from beyond the arc in his 94 minutes. Their new offense has produced the league’s second-biggest drop in 3-point rate, from 42.9% (12th highest) last season to just 38.0% (24th) this season.

Coming up: The Heat (3-0) are one of three unbeaten teams – the Spurs (2-0) and Rockets (0-0) are the others – in the second games of back-to-backs. Their next back-to-back is a road-home back-to-back this coming weekend, and they’ll be at a rest disadvantage against the Kings on Saturday.

Week 7: vs. LAC, @ DAL, @ ORL, vs. SAC

Record: 11-9

OffRtg: 119.1 (4) DefRtg: 114.9 (18) NetRtg: +4.2 (11) Pace: 96.5 (30)

The Celtics have won six of their last eight games, and they’ve beaten the Magic, Pistons (ending Detroit’s 13-game winning streak) and Cavs in the last eight days.

Three takeaways

• Neemias Queta has missed two of the last three games and the Celtics played some small ball (with a 6-6 frontline of Jaylen Brown and Jordan Walsh) down the stretch against Detroit on Wednesday. They allowed five offensive rebounds in the last minute and a half, but escaped with the win when Cade Cunningham missed a free throw with 4.4 seconds left. The Celtics got another win without Queta in Cleveland on Sunday, but they’ve still been at their best (plus-15.2 points per 100 possessions) with the big man on the floor, with his impact being entirely about defense.

• Over the last 19 days, the Celtics have climbed from 14th to fourth on offense. That rise has come with a jump in usage rate from Brown (36.7% over his last eight games), but Payton Pritchard (42 points) picked up the slack when Brown (who recorded his fourth career triple-double) shot just 3-for-13 in Cleveland.

• After losing five of their first seven games against teams with current winning records, the Celtics have won four of their last six, scoring 121.2 points per 100 possessions over those six games. They have three games left on a stretch where they’re playing 10 of 12 against that group, and Sunday will bring their first meeting with the third-place Raptors.

Coming up: The Celtics are two games into their second stretch of five games in seven days. Their visit from the Lakers on Friday will be the second game of a back-to-back for both teams.

Week 7: vs. NYK, @ WAS, vs. LAL, @ TOR

Record: 13-8

OffRtg: 115.2 (15) DefRtg: 113.1 (11) NetRtg: +2.2 (15) Pace: 102.1 (8)

The Hawks had their worst game of the season on Tuesday, allowing the Wizards to score 132 points and end their 14-game losing streak. But Atlanta responded with weekend wins (without Kristaps Porziņģis) over the Cavs and Sixers, with Jalen Johnson averaging 35 points, 13 rebounds and 9.5 assists over the two games.

Three takeaways

• The Hawks’ defense looked pretty awful as Washington’s 28th-ranked offense scored 45 points on its first 23 possessions on Tuesday. But the Hawks allowed the Cavs and Sixers to score just 109.4 per 100 over the weekend and have had a top-10 defense (111.7 allowed per 100) over Trae Young’s 16-game absence.

• It helped that the Sixers shot just 10-for-44 (23%) from 3-point range, but Philly also had its worst rebounding game of the season. The Hawks remain one of six teams ranking in the bottom 10 in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage, but there’s been a little bit of improvement on the glass over the last few games.

• Johnson sent the Philly game to a second overtime with two free throws with :00.3 seconds left in the first OT, and he then put the Hawks up six with a pair of catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. His 3-point rate (24.6% of his shots) is the lowest of his career, but he’s now shooting better than 40% from beyond the arc.

Coming up: The Hawks have the East’s toughest December schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage (.579), and they begin the month with the final four games of their second (and final) stretch of five in seven days. They’ll be at a serious rest disadvantage in Detroit on Monday night.

Week 7: @ DET, vs. LAC, vs. DEN, @ WAS

Record: 12-9

OffRtg: 115.7 (14) DefRtg: 112.6 (9) NetRtg: +3.1 (13) Pace: 102.2 (7)

The Cavs can’t get or stay healthy, and they’ve lost three straight games, sliding out of the top six in the Eastern Conference.

Three takeaways

• Jarrett Allen returned for one game (the Cavs’ fourth with all four of their core guys), but is out again as he deals with a finger injury he sustained in October. Larry Nance Jr. is also out, and Thomas Bryant barely plays, so it’s been up to Evan Mobley to protect the paint. The Cavs have seen the league’s seventh-biggest jump from last season in the percentage of their opponents’ shots that have come in the paint and, over their three-game losing streak, Cleveland opponents have shot 77-for-112 (69%) inside.

• Mobley had a big game (27 points, 14 rebounds and four assists) against Boston on Saturday, but the Cavs have scored just 108.0 points per 100 possessions in his 160 minutes on the floor without Donovan Mitchell. Mobley has seen just a small increase in usage rate from last season, but his true shooting percentage is down from 63.3% to 58.0% this year. He’s seen a big jump in free-throw rate, but has shot just 61% at the line.

• The Cavs are now just 4-8 (with four straight losses) in games played between the nine Eastern Conference teams with winning records, having scored just 113.1 points per 100 possessions over those 12 games. They only had nine losses (they were 21-9) within the East’s top nine all of last season.

Coming up: The Cavs’ loss to the Celtics on Sunday was the start of their second stretch of five games in seven days. They’ll be at a rest disadvantage in Indiana on Monday night and again against the Warriors over the weekend.

Week 7: @ IND, vs. POR, vs. SAS, vs. GSW

Record: 11-10

OffRtg: 113.0 (22) DefRtg: 111.8 (7) NetRtg: +1.3 (16) Pace: 101.0 (14)

Stephen Curry (quad contusion) is out for at least a couple of games. But, Jonathan Kuminga is back, and the Warriors are back over .500, improving to 2-3 without Curry with a win over the Pelicans on Saturday.

Three takeaways

• The Warriors have scored just 106.0 points per 100 possessions over their five games that Curry has missed and just 100.3 per 100 in 179 total minutes with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green on the floor without Curry. Green shot 0-for-9 in their win on Saturday, but the Warriors won ugly, holding the Pelicans to just one point on a stretch of nine possessions in the closing minutes.

• For the second straight season (and the fourth time in the last six), the Warriors rank much higher on defense than they do on offense. They’ve seen a big drop-off on the glass, but are the only team ranking in the top 10 in opponent effective field goal percentage, opponent free throw rate and opponent turnover rate. In their last two games, the Rockets and Pelicans combined to shoot just 45-for-98 (46%) in the paint.

• Even with Curry out on Saturday, the Warriors took at least half of their shots from 3-point range for the fifth straight game. They continue to be the only team with a 3-point rate above 50% and, with the split against Houston and New Orleans, are 2-5 when they’ve shot below the league average (35.9%) from beyond the arc.

Coming up: The Warriors’ five-game homestand concludes with a visit from the champs on Tuesday. Their loss in Oklahoma City 20 days ago was their worst offensive performance of the season (102 points on 102 possessions) in a game that Curry played.

Week 7: vs. OKC, @ PHI, @ CLE, @ CHI

Record: 10-9

OffRtg: 114.8 (16) DefRtg: 115.6 (20) NetRtg: -0.8 (17) Pace: 100.6 (18)

Their 19th game of the season (Sunday vs. Atlanta) was the first time the Sixers had Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Joel Embiid all in the lineup. It was also their fourth straight home loss (a double-overtime game vs. Atlanta).

Three takeaways

• Maxey, George and Embiid played a little more than 19 minutes together on Sunday. The Sixers outscored the Hawks by a point in those minutes, but scored just 50 points on 48 offensive possessions. Both George and Embiid saw action in the first overtime, but neither was available for the second one.

• In his return from a nine-game absence, Embiid took 11 of his 14 shots from outside the paint, missing all three of his attempts from 3-point range. Since the start of last season, he has had an effective field goal percentage of just 48.6%, down from 56.8% over the previous two seasons.

• Jared McCain played in both overtimes and had a big 3-pointer in the first, but he totaled just five points (on 2-for-7 shooting) in his 28 1/2 minutes on Sunday. He had averaged 16.7 points over his previous three games after scoring just 13 points total through his first six. We’ve gotten nine total minutes of Maxey, McCain and VJ Edgecombe on the floor together thus far.

Coming up: The Sixers have five games left on a stretch where they’re playing 12 of 16 at home. Their one road game this week is Friday in Milwaukee, where they won in overtime (behind a career-high 54 points from Maxey) 11 days ago.

Week 7: vs. WAS, vs. GSW, @ MIL, vs. LAL

Record: 9-12

OffRtg: 114.3 (18) DefRtg: 116.3 (21) NetRtg: -2.0 (18) Pace: 100.1 (22)

The Bucks got Giannis Antetokounmpo back from a four-game absence on Friday, but their losing streak hit seven games before they got a comfortable win over Brooklyn the following night. They’ve still got some work to do just to get back to .500.

Three takeaways

• Antetokounmpo totaled 59 points (on 22-for-29 shooting) in just 47 minutes over his two games back, taking his season-long numbers to 36.3 points per 36 minutes. He’s shot 73.5% in the paint, the best mark among 88 players with at least 100 paint attempts and the best mark of his career, up from 68.3% over the last two seasons. The percentage of his shots that have come in the paint (79%) is also the highest rate of his career.

• The Bucks outscored the Knicks by two points in Antetokounmpo’s 28 minutes on Friday, but they allowed New York to score 56 points on 41 possessions (137 per 100) in his 18 minutes on the bench. For the season, they’ve been 21.0 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor (plus-9.5) than they’ve been with him off the floor (minus-11.5), with the much bigger difference having come on offense.

• Kevin Porter Jr. returned from a 19-game absence (he was injured in the season opener) on Saturday, and he started alongside Ryan Rollins, with Gary Trent Jr. coming off the bench. Porter and AJ Green combined to shoot 8-for-12 from 3-point range and the Bucks’ new starting lineup outscored the Nets by 14 points in its 10.9 minutes.

Coming up: With the win on Saturday, the Bucks are 4-1 against the four teams behind them in the East standings. They beat the Wizards on opening night and will visit Washington on Monday before the schedule gets tougher.

Week 7: @ WAS, vs. DET, vs. PHI, @ DET

Record: 9-12

OffRtg: 111.1 (25) DefRtg: 114.5 (16) NetRtg: -3.3 (21) Pace: 101.4 (12)

The Grizzlies have won five of their last six games, improving to 5-4 without Ja Morant and establishing themselves as the league’s best sub-.500 team.

Three takeaways

• All five wins on this stretch have come against teams currently below them in the Western Conference standings, and the Grizzlies are now 8-0 against the other 12 teams that currently have losing records. They’ve allowed just 106.3 points per 100 possessions in those eight games and 119.5 per 100 otherwise.

• Cedric Coward and Vince Williams Jr. combined to make three big defensive plays down the stretch of the Grizzlies’ overtime win in New Orleans on Wednesday. Coward had a phenomenal block at the rim on Yves Missi, Williams stripped Zion Williamson with the Grizzlies up two, and then he deflected the Pelicans’ inbounds pass when they had another chance to tie. The Grizzlies have allowed just 107.3 points per 100 possessions in 293 minutes with Coward and Williams on the floor together.

• Those defense numbers have been much better (96.3 allowed per 100) in 153 minutes with Zach Edey on the floor alongside Coward and Williams. The second-year big man continues to be a difference-maker while putting up big numbers. He’s averaged 17 rebounds over the last three games, he scored a career-high 32 points in the Grizzlies’ win in Sacramento on Sunday, and the Grizzlies have outscored their opponents by an amazing 22.6 points per 100 possessions in his 203 minutes on the floor.

Coming up: With their NBA Cup fill-in games coming against the Jazz and Clippers, the Grizzlies are three games into a stretch where they’re playing seven of eight against that group that’s currently below .500. The one exception is their Tuesday visit to San Antonio, where they lost by 10 just 13 days ago, when the Spurs closed the game on an 11-0 run.

Week 7: @ SAS, vs. LAC, vs. POR

Record: 8-12

OffRtg: 113.8 (19) DefRtg: 116.3 (22) NetRtg: -2.5 (19) Pace: 103.5 (3)

The Blazers remain the only team to beat the Thunder, and they played the champs close again on Sunday. But they’re just 2-9 since their 5-3 start to the season.

Three takeaways

• Per tracking data, the Blazers rank fourth in shot quality, behind only the Thunder, Warriors and Hawks. But Portland ranks 26th in effective field goal percentage, with only the Pacers having underachieved more regarding the quality of shots they’ve gotten. Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara are both in the bottom six in field goal percentage above (below) expected among 136 qualified players.

• Jrue Holiday has missed the last eight games, and the Blazers are now 2-6 without their veteran point guard. Shaedon Sharpe returned from a four-game absence on Wednesday, but came off the bench in his two games back, with two-way guard Sidy Cissoko remaining in the starting lineup. The Blazers have outscored their opponents by 4.8 points per 100 possessions in 170 minutes with Cissoko and Deni Avdija on the floor together.

• Avdija recorded his fourth career triple-double on Sunday, and all four have come with him scoring at least 30 points. He had 31 against the champs, with his 23 free throw attempts being the most the Thunder have allowed to a single player in the last three seasons. Avdija (53.6 per 100) and Jerami Grant (53.8 per 100) are two of the eight players with at least 200 field goal attempts and a free-throw rate better than 50 attempts per 100 shots from the field.

Coming up: The Blazers got their first win (they’re 1-3) against the Eastern Conference last Monday, beating the Antetokounmpo-less Bucks in Milwaukee, with Grant going 16-for-19 from the line. They’re heading East again, beginning a five-game trip with games in Toronto, Cleveland and Detroit.

Week 7: @ TOR, @ CLE, @ DET, @ MEM

Record: 6-15

OffRtg: 106.0 (30) DefRtg: 111.1 (4) NetRtg: -5.1 (23) Pace: 102.6 (6)

Anthony Davis wasn’t able to get the Mavs a win in his return from a 14-game absence on Friday, but Cooper Flagg had a huge performance as they beat the Clippers (without Davis) the following night.

Three takeaways

• Flagg scored a career-high 35 points on Saturday, hitting a huge pull-up to put the Mavs ahead with a little less than three minutes left and then going 6-for-6 from the line after that. That clutch jumper represented the only two of his 35 points that didn’t come in the paint (12-for-15) or at the line (9-for-11). He continues to shoot much more effectively in the paint (58.4%) than he does from the outside (34.2% from mid-range, 25.3% from beyond the arc).

• That was definitely more of a defensive win (the Mavs scored just 114 points on 104 possessions), but they’re now 4-1 when Flagg scores more than 20 points and 2-13 when he scores 20 or fewer.

• Rookie Ryan Nembhard (on a two-way contract) is the latest experiment at point guard. He played more minutes in the Mavs’ three games last week (61) than he did before that (45), and he started the last two. Alas, the Mavs were outscored by 16.2 points per 100 possessions in those 61 minutes and they closed the win over the Clippers with Brandon Williams on the floor instead of Nembhard.

Coming up: The Mavs are still just 1-9 against teams currently sporting winning records, with the one win (vs. Toronto) coming back in October. They’ll play their next four games against teams with a combined record of 60-17, with Monday bringing their first meeting with the Nuggets.

Week 7: @ DEN, vs. MIA, @ OKC, vs. HOU

Record: 6-14

OffRtg: 114.6 (17) DefRtg: 118.8 (24) NetRtg: -4.2 (22) Pace: 100.1 (23)

The Hornets have won two straight games for the first time, and they ended the Raptors’ nine-game win streak on Saturday, coming back from 12 points down with less than six minutes left in regulation.

Three takeaways

• Before Friday, the Hornets were the only team without a clutch win, having lost all five games that were within five points in the last five minutes. But they held off the Bulls on Friday and then came back against Toronto with a rest disadvantage, scoring 29 points on 18 clutch offensive possessions over the two games. Miles Bridges shot 5-for-5 on clutch shots over the weekend and Kon Knueppel hit the game-tying 3-pointer on Saturday, when the Hornets never led in regulation. (It was also their first win in a game they trailed after the first quarter.)

• LaMelo Ball played in both games of the back-to-back, though he was limited to about 25 minutes per game and shot just 12-for-35. The Hornets’ offense has been at its best with him on the floor, but Ball’s effective field goal percentage of 44.8% is easily the worst mark of his career and ranks just 213th among 222 players (first among two Ball brothers) with at least 100 field goal attempts.

• Ryan Kalkbrenner has started all 18 games he’s played in, but Moussa Diabaté was on the floor down the stretch of the two close wins over the weekend and remains a force on the offensive glass. The Hornets have retained 40.7% of available offensive rebounds with Diabaté on the floor and just 28.4% with him off the floor.

Coming up: The Hornets opened the season with a 19-point win over the Nets, with nine guys scoring in double-figures. The second of their three meetings is Monday in Brooklyn, the start of a three-game trip in which the Hornets will have rest advantages against the Knicks and Raptors.

Week 7: @ BKN, @ NYK, @ TOR, vs. DEN

Record: 9-10

OffRtg: 113.5 (21) DefRtg: 116.8 (23) NetRtg: -3.3 (20) Pace: 104.4 (2)

The Bulls had a four-game stretch against teams that, going into it, were a combined 9-53. They beat the Wizards by one, and then they lost to the Pelicans (who had lost nine straight games), Hornets (who had lost seven straight) and Pacers to drop below .500 for the first time in 2025-26.

Three takeaways

• Going back to their 36-point loss to the Heat 10 days ago, the last five games have been the Bulls’ worst stretch of offense this season. They’ve scored just 107.9 points per 100 possessions over the five games, sliding into the bottom 10 on that end of the floor for the season. Josh Giddey and Ayo Dosunmu have combined to shoot 22-for-48 (46%) from 3-point range over the five games, but the rest of the roster is 44-for-159 (28%).

• The Bulls have seen a drop from last season in the percentage of their shots that have come from beyond the arc, but they lead the league in the percentage of their 3-point attempts (65%) that have been wide open.

• The Bulls went 5-0 in October, when four of the five games were at home. They went 4-10 in November, when 10 of the 14 games were on the road. They have the league’s second-biggest home-road differential in regard to winning percentage (6-2 vs. 3-8), though it’s not a big difference compared to the numbers on either end of the floor, because 13 of their 19 games have been within five points in the last five minutes.

Coming up: Perhaps another flip of the calendar will spark another turnaround. The Bulls will open December with the final game of their four-game trip, but then play five of their next six games at the United Center.

Week 7: @ ORL, vs. BKN, vs. IND, vs. GSW

Record: 6-13

OffRtg: 112.6 (23) DefRtg: 120.0 (27) NetRtg: -7.4 (25) Pace: 102.8 (5)

The Jazz’s longest losing streak of the season is four games, and they ended it with a comfortable win over the Kings on Friday, improving to 2-2 in games played between the seven Western Conference teams with losing records.

Three takeaways

• The Jazz had had 17 fewer shooting opportunities than their opponents over their three games last week, but have seen the league’s third-biggest improvement in the possession game. For the season, they’ve averaged just 0.5 fewer shooting opportunities than their opponents, up from 4.3 fewer than their opponents (the league’s worst discrepancy) last season. They’re one of five teams that rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage.

• One reason for the improved rebounding is the presence of Jusuf Nurkić, who ranks fourth in defensive rebounding percentage (27.8%) among the 274 players who’ve averaged at least 15 minutes per game. As a team, the Jazz have grabbed 75.1% of available defensive boards with Nurkić on the floor and just 64.7% with him off the floor.

• Nurkić also has 18 assists over the last two games, though the Utah offense has been much better in Lauri Markkanen’s 287 minutes on the floor without Nurkić (119.9 points scored per 100 possessions) than it’s been in their 387 minutes together (108.1 scored per 100).

Coming up: The Jazz have the league’s second-toughest December schedule regarding their cumulative opponent winning percentage (.602). Also, nine of their 13 December games are against teams that currently rank in the top 10 offensively. The only exception in their four games this week is a rest-advantage game in Brooklyn on Thursday.

Week 7: vs. HOU, @ BKN, @ NYK, vs. OKC

Record: 5-15

OffRtg: 113.6 (20) DefRtg: 119.4 (25) NetRtg: -5.8 (24) Pace: 97.5 (28)

After two weeks on the road, the Clippers finally returned to the Intuit Dome. But they proceeded to lose what were probably their two most important games of the early season, finishing with a 2-13 record (only the Wizards were worse) in November.

Three takeaways

• The Clippers aren’t the only disappointing team in the Western Conference, so the door has been open for them to (at least) climb into the Play-In picture. But upon their return home, they lost to two of the other six West teams with losing records, scoring just 106.9 points per 100 possessions against the Grizzlies and Mavs. Kawhi Leonard played in both games of the back-to-back and totaled 69 points on 57% shooting, but James Harden has gone cold (effective field goal percentage of just 41% over the Clippers’ four-game losing streak) and had 12 turnovers over the weekend back-to-back.

• The defense wasn’t bad overall, but the Clippers allowed Memphis and Dallas to total 23 points on 14 clutch possessions. They’re now 2-7 in games that have been within five points in the last five minutes, ranking 24th in clutch defense.

• The four-game losing streak coincides with Leonard’s return from a 10-game absence, but the Clippers’ starting lineup has outscored its opponents by 9 points per 100 possessions in its 63 minutes over the four games. Bench minutes continue to be a major problem, with the Clippers being outscored by 32 points (30.4 per 100) in Ivica Zubac’s 45 minutes on the bench over the streak.

Coming up: The Clippers have the league’s toughest December schedule in regard to cumulative opponent winning percentage (.609), though it includes two more important games against the Grizzlies. The first of those is Friday in Memphis, Game 3 of a four-game trip.

Week 7: @ MIA, @ ATL, @ MEM, @ MIN

Record: 5-16

OffRtg: 109.1 (27) DefRtg: 119.5 (26) NetRtg: -10.4 (28) Pace: 102.1 (9)

The Kings had themselves a nice little winning streak, beating the Nuggets and Wolves in the span of three days. They’ve since lost three straight, including weekend games to the Jazz and Grizzlies.

Three takeaways

• The Kings outscored the Grizzlies (35-31) in the first quarter on Sunday, ending a streak of nine straight games in which they trailed after the first 12 minutes. They were down by 25 (41-16) after the first quarter against the Suns on Wednesday and have been outscored by 14.1 points per 100 possessions (only the Nets have been worse) in the first quarter for the season.

• In a related matter, the Kings have allowed 125.5 points per 100 possessions in 293 total minutes with Russell Westbrook (who’s started the last 10 games), Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan on the floor together. But bench minutes were critical in the win over the Wolves last Monday, and seven-foot rookie Maxime Raynaud is getting a chance to play. He scored a career-high 19 points in Utah on Friday and was on the floor down the stretch against the Grizzlies two nights later.

• The Kings are the only team that hasn’t won a non-clutch game. They’re 5-4 in games that were within five points in the last five minutes and 0-12 otherwise. They’ve played the league’s toughest schedule, but also have the West’s worst point differential (-11.1 per game).

Coming up: The Kings are 2-11 against the top seven teams in the West and will face the Rockets for the first time on Wednesday, the start of a three-game trip.

Week 7: @ HOU, @ MIA

Record: 3-18

OffRtg: 109.6 (26) DefRtg: 120.0 (28) NetRtg: -10.4 (27) Pace: 100.6 (19)

The Pelicans have lost 12 of their last 13 games, but they ended a nine-game losing streak last Monday, scoring 70 points in the restricted area (tied for the second most for any team in a game this season) against the Bulls. It was both their first win under interim coach James Borrego and their first win with Zion Williamson in uniform.

Three takeaways

• The win over Chicago was both the Pelicans’ best offensive game (143 points on 109 possessions) and their fastest-paced game of the season. And that was despite them grabbing a season-high 19 offensive rebounds (which extended possessions). They rank seventh in pace (101.9 possessions per 48 minutes) since Borrego took over, up from 26th (99.6 per 48) under Willie Green.

• The Pels have been without Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Jordan Poole, and Williamson sat out the second game of a back-to-back on Sunday. He’s now started five games alongside Derik Queen, and the Pels have been outscored by five points in their 106 minutes together, with efficient offense on both ends of the floor.

• The Pelicans are now the only team that hasn’t won a game it trailed after the first quarter. They’re 0-11 after losing the opening period after getting clobbered by the Lakers (46-27) in the first quarter on Sunday. That also tied them with Brooklyn for the most games (four) in which they never held a lead.

Coming up: The Pelicans are 11 games into a stretch where they’re playing 18 of 24 at home, though their best chance at a win in the next two weeks is probably their game in Brooklyn on Saturday. They lost their two games against the Nets last season by a total of seven points.

Week 7: vs. MIN, vs. MIN, @ BKN

Record: 4-16

OffRtg: 106.6 (29) DefRtg: 115.3 (19) NetRtg: -8.7 (26) Pace: 101.9 (10)

The Pacers won as many games in the span of 27 hours on Friday and Saturday as they had through the first 36 days of the season. They clobbered the Wizards and then beat the Bulls at the buzzer to climb to 13th place in the Eastern Conference.

Three takeaways

• Over their last three games, the Pacers have allowed just 94 points per 100 possessions, fewer than they allowed in any three-game stretch last season. It helped that the Raptors and Wizards combined to shoot 12-for-58 (21%) from 3-point range, but the three opponents also combined to shoot just 46.6% in the paint.

• Jay Huff has started the last two games at center, replacing Isaiah Jackson. Opponents have shot just 50% in the paint with Huff on the floor, compared to 65% with Jackson on the floor.

• T.J. McConnell played in both games of the back-to-back and seems to have his legs back after missing the first 10 games of the season with a hamstring injury. Over the Pacers’ four games last week, he averaged 13.5 points in less than 23 minutes, shooting 56% and registering an assist/turnover ratio of 25/4.

Coming up: The second half of the Pacers’ four-game homestand (Cleveland and Denver) is just a little tougher than the first half (Washington and Chicago), though they’ll have a rest advantage when they host the Cavs on Monday.

Week 7: vs. CLE, vs. DEN, @ CHI

Record: 3-16

OffRtg: 111.6 (24) DefRtg: 122.4 (29) NetRtg: -10.8 (29) Pace: 97.3 (29)

The Nets have lost four straight games by double-digits, are the only team that hasn’t won a home game, and were passed in the Eastern Conference standings by the Pacers last week.

Three takeaways

• Michael Porter Jr. (who’s scored at least 32 points in each of the Nets’ three wins) was just 1-for-9 from 3-point range against the Knicks last Monday and has missed the last two games with a back issue. Those three games have been the Nets’ worst offensive stretch (106.3 points scored per 100 possessions) in 2025-26. Overall, they’ve scored just 106.5 per 100 in 306 total minutes with neither Porter nor Cam Thomas (who’s missed the last 11 games) on the floor.

• The Nets’ loss in Milwaukee on Saturday was one of their worst games of the season in regard to defensive shot quality, mostly because Giannis Antetokounmpo was 11-for-12 in the restricted area in just 19 minutes on the floor. (The Nets had 11 restricted-area buckets the entire game.) But overall, they rank 20th in defensive shot quality over their last 10 games, up from 30th through their first nine.

• Egor Dëmin sat out the second game of the Nets’ weekend back-to-back, but they still had three rookies in the rotation, and Danny Wolf led them with a career-high 22 points, shooting 5-for-9 from 3-point range. Though they drafted five guys in the first round five months ago, they still rank fourth in the percentage of their minutes that have come from rookies, with their 19% being half the rate of the Hornets (38%).

Coming up: The Nets’ next five games are their easiest stretch of the season in regard to cumulative opponent winning percentage (.300), but the next three are the end of their only stretch of five games in seven days. They’re the only team that doesn’t have a win vs. the opposite conference (they’re 0-3 vs. the West), but they’ll have two decent shots when they host the Jazz and Pelicans on Thursday and Saturday.

Week 7: vs. CHA, @ CHI, vs. UTA, vs. NOP

Record: 2-16

OffRtg: 107.8 (28) DefRtg: 122.4 (30) NetRtg: -14.6 (30) Pace: 103.1 (4)

The Wizards’ game in Indiana on Friday looked like their best opportunity to end their losing streak and get their first NBA Cup victory. Instead, they beat the Hawks three nights earlier and then lost to the Pacers by 33 points.

Three takeaways

• Less than 10 minutes into their game on Tuesday, the Wizards led the Hawks, 43-14, with CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert having combined to shoot 8-for-8 from 3-point range. That was Kispert’s second straight start and he totaled 39 points over the two games, but he fractured his thumb in the third quarter on Tuesday. The win over Atlanta was, easily, the Wizards’ best offensive game of the season (132 points on 103 possessions). And it was followed by their worst (86 on 101 at Indiana).

• The Wizards rank fifth in 3-point percentage (37.4%), having seen the league’s second-biggest jump from last season (33.5%, 29th). They’re also one of just three teams (the Nuggets and Rockets are the others) with at least four players – Kispert, McCollum, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George – who’ve shot 40% or better on at least 50 3-point attempts.

• They’ve still outscored their opponents from beyond the arc in just seven of their 18 games, mostly because the Wizards continue to lose the possession game and get fewer shots at the basket.

Coming up: The Wizards are one of two teams – the Rockets are the other – that have yet to have a rest-disadvantage game. Their first is Tuesday in Philadelphia.

Week 7: vs. MIL, @ PHI, vs. BOS, vs. ATL