Starting 5: What's trending in the East and West

43 for Reaves, five straight for the 1st-place Lakers 👋

And for the first time in 50+ years, the West’s top five teams are all riding win streaks of 4+ games.

See who else is hot and what else is trending in today’s edition.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Sunday’s Best: Lakers extend streak, Sixers bounce back, both move to an NBA-best 9-2

Roundup: Celtics & Wolves stay hot, Flagg shines again, Heat win, Clips snap skid

Power Rankings: A sneak peek at Schuhmann’s latest rankings, featuring a new top three

What’s Trending – West: Spurs (W8) & Dubs (W7) are scorching amid a streaking West pack

What’s Trending – East: Steady at the top, with more contenders on the rise

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Eight games tip off tonight, including the Wizards visiting the Pistons on Peacock/NBCSN (7 ET), before the Warriors seek their eighth consecutive win as they host the Pelicans on NBA TV (10 ET).

1. 9-2 AT THE TOP: LAKERS STAY STREAKING, SIXERS ROLL

Gregory Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images

The Lakers entered Sunday tied atop the West with OKC and San Antonio at 8-2, powered by the blazing-hot Luka Dončić, who had scored 40+ points in four straight games amid a historic start.

But with Dončić sidelined by back tightness, the Lakers needed someone else to step up against Detroit.

Enter Austin Reaves – and yet another 40-ball for Los Angeles.

Lakers 121, Pistons 116: With Luka out, Reaves popped off, dropping a season-high 43 points as the Purple & Gold staved off Cade Cunningham (14 pts, 8 ast) and the Pistons for their fifth win in a row, improving to a West-best 9-2. | Recap

• Scorching Start: Facing Detroit’s top-two defense, the Lakers shot 16-for-22 (72.7%) in the 1st quarter, jumping out to a 38-14 lead
• Clutch Close: Los Angeles never looked back, with Reaves netting 24 points in the 2nd half, including a dagger 3 in the final minute, to hold off a late Pistons push for a wire-to-wire win
• “I thought AR’s decision-making, his aggression … was just fantastic tonight,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick postgame
• Good Omen: Behind Luka (more on him in Sec. 4) and Reaves (25.3 ppg), the Lakers are posting an NBA-best 121.9 ppg, leading to their first 9-2 start since 2019-20, when they won the NBA title

The only other 9-2 team in the NBA? The East-leading Sixers, who also picked up a win Sunday.

76ers 127, Bulls 121: After seeing their five-game win streak snapped by Cleveland in Friday’s Emirates NBA Cup Group Play matchup, the Sixers bounced back with another balanced effort, holding off Chicago to remain atop the East. | Recap

• 20-Piece Combo: Jaylen Brown (29 pts, 7 reb) and Tyrese Maxey (27 pts, 7 ast) led the way, while LeBron James had his highest-scoring game as a Sixer (22 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast)
• Full Five: Joel Embiid added some timely buckets (18 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast), while VJ Edgecombe did a bit of everything (13 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl) as Philly’s starting five combined for a season-high 109 points
• Clutch Time: Up four with 2:13 left, Maxey hit a big-time stepback 3 to extend the lead, before Brown iced the game at the line, improving Philly to an NBA-best 8-0 in clutch games this season
• Good Omen Pt. II: It’s the Sixers’ best 11-game start since opening 10-1 in 2000-01 – the last time they reached the NBA Finals, when they faced … the Lakers

2. ROUNDUP: C’S & WOLVES STAY HOT, FLAGG SHINES, HEAT & CLIPS WIN

Patrick McDermott + David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

Right behind Philly in the East sits 8-2 Boston – just a half-game back.

Celtics 117, Bucks 97: Paul George (27 pts) and Jayson Tatum (21 pts, 6 ast) were in complete control as Boston used a 33-18 2nd quarter to take a double-digit lead that it never relinquished, beating Milwaukee for the second time in five days. | Recap

• Triple Threat: George (5), Tatum (5) and Payton Pritchard (4) combined for 14 of Boston’s 18 triples, while George scored 16 in the 2nd quarter, propelling the C’s to a third consecutive win
• Boston Balance: The Celtics rank 3rd in offensive rating and 4th in defensive rating, joining the Spurs (5th in both) as the only teams in the top five in each category

Meanwhile, the Wolves just keep winning.

Wolves 115, Jazz 100: Despite being without Anthony Edwards (knee) for a seventh straight game, Minnesota picked up its fourth straight W behind Ayo Dosunmu (26 pts), LaMelo Ball (24 pts, 5 ast) and another stout defensive effort. | Recap

• On The Rise: With the win, Minnesota (8-3) moves to 4th in the West, sitting just a half-game back of OKC & San Antonio (both 8-2)
• Clamping Down: Minnesota now leads the NBA in defensive rating (105.1) and has allowed just 104 ppg during its 4-0 run

Mavericks 130, Nets 93: Cooper Flagg’s sophomore surge continued Sunday as he racked up 25 points, 12 dimes and 5 boards in a wire-to-wire win over the Nets. Kyrie Irving added 21 points as Dallas won its second game in a row after back-to-back losses. | Recap

• Teenage Record: At 19 years old, Flagg (28 mins) is the first teenager in league history to record 25+ pts, 10+ ast and 5+ reb in under 30 minutes of playing time

Rocky Widner + Tyler Ross/NBAE via Getty Images

Heat 114, Kings 108: Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. (32 pts, 5 reb, 10 ast) notched his fourth 30-piece of the season for Sacramento, but it wasn’t enough to catch Giannis Antetokounmpo (29 pts, 14 reb) and the Heat, who held on for their fourth win in six games after an 0-4 start. | Recap

• Splash Of Klay: Klay Thompson added 23 points on seven 3s for Miami, which closes a five-game West road trip on Tuesday in Utah (9 ET, League Pass)
• Acuff 🤝 Big O: Acuff (259 pts, 74 ast) joins Oscar Robertson (1960-61) as the only players to record 250+ pts and 70+ ast over their first 10 career NBA games

Clippers 139, Pelicans 123: Behind Darius Garland (24 pts, 10 ast) and six other double-digit scorers, the Clips hung a season-high 139 points to outpace Trey Murphy III (26 pts, 7 reb) and the Pelicans, snapping LA’s seven-game skid. | Recap

3. POWER RANKINGS: A NEW TOP 3 EMERGES

NBAE via Getty Images

A new week brings a new top three in John Schuhmann’s latest Power Rankings, with the Spurs, Thunder and Wolves taking the top spots after climbing a combined 17 places.

This morning, we offer a sneak peek at Schuhmann’s analysis of his top teams, from San Antonio’s stifling defense to Minnesota’s shorthanded success.

Read more later today on the NBA App when his full rankings are revealed.

1. Spurs (Last week’s ranking: 4): “[San Antonio’s] starting lineup has allowed just 85.8 points per 100 possessions, best among lineups that have played at least 50 minutes.”

2. Thunder (Last week’s ranking: 7): “Ajay Mitchell’s 15.6 points in the paint per 36 minutes trail only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama.”

3. Wolves (Last week’s ranking: 12): “Ayo Dosunmu is averaging a team-high 21.6 points on 50/40/90 shooting over seven games (Wolves are 5-2) without Anthony Edwards.”

4. WHAT’S TRENDING – WEST: FIVE TEAMS, 28 STRAIGHT WINS

Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

For the first time since the NBA adopted conferences in 1970-71, each of the West’s top five teams is riding a win streak of at least four games – led by a pair of contenders surging up the standings.

The Spurs started the season 0-2, and the Warriors? 0-3.

Neither team has lost since, turning winless starts into the league’s two longest winning streaks:

• The Spurs (8-2) have won an NBA-best eight straight games, vaulting to 3rd in the West and trailing 2nd-place OKC via tiebreaker
• The Warriors (7-3) have won seven straight and sit just one game back of San Antonio

What’s Fueled Their Runs? Two generational talents playing at an elite level, with a pair of young standouts providing a big-time boost.

• Alien Explosion: Victor Wembanyama has dominated for San Antonio, averaging 31.8 pts, 11.8 reb and 3.9 blk during its 8-0 run, highlighted by a historic 52-point outburst on Wednesday to beat Dallas
• Sophomore Spark: Dylan Harper has delivered in Year 2, stepping into the starting lineup and emerging as the Spurs’ second-leading scorer behind Wemby (18.1 ppg)
• Eyeing Nine: San Antonio looks to extend its streak to nine tonight as it visits Devin Booker and the Suns on League Pass (9 ET)

Noah Graham + Ezra Shaw/NBAE via Getty Images

Chef Curry: In the Bay, Steph Curry is balling, shooting 44.7% from 3 en route to 31.3 ppg – the 2nd-most in the NBA and his highest scoring average since 2020-21, when he won the NBA scoring title (32 ppg).

• The Latest Flurry: Curry poured in 41 points in Saturday’s win over Orlando, passing LeBron James for the most 40-point games by a player age 35 or older (16)
• Rookie Revelation: Adding to the attack is No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg (21.2 pts, 7.2 reb, 4.0 ast), who is the first Warriors rookie to average 20+ ppg through his first 10 outings since Rick Barry in 1965
• Tonight on NBA TV (10 ET), Golden State seeks its eighth straight dub, hosting Zion Williamson and the Pelicans

Joshua Gateley + Katelyn Mulcahy/NBAE via Getty Images

Then There’s OKC: The Thunder (8-2) have won four straight of their own, holding 2nd place in the West despite a slew of injuries. One reason why? No. 2.

• MVP Delivery: With Jalen Williams (fractured leg), Chet Holmgren (patellar tendon tear) and Cason Wallace (torn labrum) out for extended time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has shouldered the offensive load, ranking 3rd in the NBA with 29.9 ppg
• Shai Sizzle: That includes 35.8 ppg during OKC’s current four-game streak, highlighted by back-to-back 40-balls to beat Cleveland twice in three days
• OKC Staple: Meanwhile, the Thunder’s defense has returned to its stingy ways, ranking 3rd in the NBA in defensive rating (105.5)

Speaking of sizzle (and 40-pieces), Luka Dončić is on an absolute tear for the 1st-place Lakers.

Through nine games, the reigning scoring champ is averaging an NBA-best 40.1 ppg, including an NBA season-high 53 points in Friday’s Emirates NBA Cup Group Play win over Portland.

• The only other player in NBA history to average 40+ points through his first nine games of a season? Wilt Chamberlain (1961 & 1962)

Complete Picture: The 4th-place Wolves are also streaking, bringing the West’s top five teams to a combined 28 straight wins: Lakers (W5), Thunder (W4), Spurs (W8), Wolves (W4), Warriors (W7).

The 7-3 Rockets round out the West’s top six, followed by Memphis and Portland, both at 6-3.

5. WHAT’S TRENDING – EAST: MORE CONTENDERS MAKING MOVES

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

While the Sixers, Celtics and Pistons stand atop the East, two other contenders are gaining momentum.

That includes the defending champion Knicks, who have bounced back from an 0-3 start with five wins in their last six games. That turnaround has been fueled by the same formula that helped them win it all last June.

• Offensive Revival: The Knicks posted an NBA-best 119.9 OffRtg in last year’s Playoffs. Since their 0-3 start, they rank 2nd in OffRtg at nearly the same mark (119.6)
• Star Duo: In that same span, Jalen Brunson has averaged 28 points and 6.5 assists per game, while Karl-Anthony Towns has been a menace inside (20.8 pts, 14.3 reb)
• Defensive Strides: New York has also tightened the screws defensively, allowing 105 points or fewer in five of its last six games

Colin Hubbard/NBAE via Getty Images

Sitting a game up on the 5th-place Knicks are the 4th-place Hawks, who have soared up the standings with four straight wins. And Nickeil Alexander-Walker is playing some of the best ball of his career.

• Another Jump: After winning last year’s Kia NBA Most Improved Player award, NAW is averaging a career-high 22.1 ppg
• Heating Up: He’s also found another gear during Atlanta’s 4-0 run, posting 27 ppg, while hitting 5.3 triples per game at a 42% clip
• Star Boost: Atlanta won three of those four games without Jalen Johnson, who returned Saturday from a sprained ankle and dropped a game-high 30 points in a win over Brooklyn
• Fire vs. Fire: Tonight, the Hawks seek their fifth straight win, hosting Luka and the streaking Lakers on League Pass (7 ET)

More Tonight: The Pistons look to bounce back from Sunday’s loss as they host AJ Dybantsa and the Wizards on Peacock/NBCSN (7 ET).

Also on League Pass, the 6th-place Raptors welcome the Grizzlies (7:30 ET), while the Cavs visit the Hornets (7 ET).

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