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  4. title => "2019-20 NBA power rankings: Taking stock heading into the second half of the regular season"
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  6. article_body => "<p>With the trade deadline a little over two weeks away, every team in the NBA has played at least 41 games.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take stock as the second half of the regular season begins:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The top 10<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It took the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/markelle-fultz-sixers-magic-has-big-night-against-lakers\" target=\"_blank\">second triple-double of Markelle Fultz\u2019s career<\/a> Wednesday to snap the Lakers\u2019 nine-game winning streak.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Jimmy Butler has gotten to the free throw line in every game he\u2019s played besides one this season and is third in the NBA in free throw attempts per game (9.3).<\/p>\n<p>Mike Conley returned from a hamstring injury Saturday for Utah, and the Jazz have won&nbsp;16 of 18.<\/p>\n<p>The Rockets have lost three straight and the Mavs have won four straight, but Dallas has a difficult upcoming schedule with the Clippers and Jazz on tap this week.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ben Simmons has been stellar in just about every way besides fourth-quarter scoring for the Sixers in Joel Embiid\u2019s absence and is averaging 21.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists over his last four games.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Though Marcus Smart set a franchise record with 11 threes and scored a career-high 37 points in Saturday\u2019s defeat to the Suns, Boston has lost three in a row.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Milwaukee Bucks (38-6)&nbsp;<br>2. Los Angeles Lakers (34-8)<br>3. Los Angeles Clippers (30-13)<br>4. Denver Nuggets (29-13)&nbsp;<br>5. Miami Heat (29-13)&nbsp;<br>6. Utah Jazz (29-13)&nbsp;<br>7. Dallas Mavericks (27-15)&nbsp;<br>8. Houston Rockets (26-15)<br>9. Sixers (28-16)&nbsp;<br>10. Boston Celtics (27-14)<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>The middle 10<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Raptors shot over 50 percent from the floor in every game this week and could easily be higher in our rankings \u2014 it\u2019s tightly bunched in the six through 12 range.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Memphis has seven straight wins. Ja Morant is mesmerizing, and both he and Jaren Jackson Jr. are shooting over 40 percent on threes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Kyrie Irving talked Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center about the Nets requiring \u201cone or two more pieces,\u201d then reached out to teammates to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/28503420\/kyrie-irving-talked-teammates-listing-pillars-nets-future\" target=\"_blank\">clarify his comments<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Zion Williamson is expected to debut Wednesday vs. the Spurs, exciting news if you enjoy basketball.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>After their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/28509507\/sources-trail-blazers-trade-kent-bazemore-kings-multiplayer-deal\" target=\"_blank\">trade with the Kings<\/a>, Portland got 34 points from Damian Lillard and a career-high 30 from <a href=\"http:\/\/https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/portland-trail-blazers\/gary-trent-jrs-flu-game-leads-career-high-and-trip-down-memory-lane\" target=\"_blank\">flu-stricken Gary Trent Jr.<\/a>, and they still lost by 13 to Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n<p><strong>11. Toronto Raptors (28-14)<br>12. Indiana Pacers (28-15)&nbsp;<br>13. Oklahoma City Thunder (24-19)&nbsp;<br>14. Memphis Grizzlies (20-22)<br>15. Brooklyn Nets (18-23)&nbsp;<br>16. San Antonio Spurs (18-23)&nbsp;<br>17. Orlando Magic (20-23)<br>18. Phoenix Suns (18-24)&nbsp;<br>19. New Orleans Pelicans (16-27)&nbsp;<br>20. Portland Trail Blazers (18-26)<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>The bottom 10&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Bulls\u2019 last win over a team currently in playoff position was on Dec. 14, but Zach LaVine is putting up big numbers, including 42 points Saturday vs. Cleveland, and trying to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/bulls\/zach-lavine-continues-all-star-push-historic-outing-against-cavaliers\" target=\"_blank\"> push for a home All-Star appearance<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sekou Doumbouya, the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/story\/sports\/nba\/pistons\/2020\/01\/17\/pistons-vets-in-awe-sekou-doumbouyas-approach\/4487287002\/\" target=\"_blank\"> league\u2019s youngest player<\/a>, scored 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting Wednesday night at TD Garden.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It appears that a clear bottom four has separated from the pack. Stephen Curry is targeting a March 1 return, according to The Athletic\u2019s Marcus Thompson.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>21. Chicago Bulls (16-28)<br>22. Sacramento Kings (15-27)&nbsp;<br>23. Detroit Pistons (16-27)<br>24. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-27)&nbsp;<br>25. Charlotte Hornets (15-29)<br>26. Washington Wizards (13-28)<br>27. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-31)<br>28. New York Knicks (11-32)<br>29. Golden State Warriors (10-34)<br>30. Atlanta Hawks (10-33)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/sixers-talk-a-philadelphia-76ers-podcast\/episodes\/e450037c-5c60-4d13-89ff-2ebfd44431a8\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><br><br><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb788a3d5b83?site_id=Web_NBCS_Philly&amp;creative_id=nbcsphi1356&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a> to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">More on the Sixers<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/ben-simmons-sixers-win-knicks-al-horford-josh-richardson-tobias-harris\">Phew \u2026 Sixers sweat out a win over Knicks and end skid on road&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/tobias-harris-trolls-ben-simmons-sixers-win-knicks\">Tobias Harris trolls Ben Simmons before and after Sixers' win<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-ben-simmons-steve-nash-basketball-hall-of-fame-nba-all-star-game-2020\">\u2018It\u2019s a gift and a curse\u2019 \u2014 Hall of Famer shares his thoughts on Simmons&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/furkan-korkmaz-sixers-win-chicago-bulls-brett-brown\">Korkmaz sparks sudden blaze, then leaps over logic&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/ben-simmons-sixers-film-review-brett-brown-josh-richardson-tobias-harris\">Ben Simmons film review: Making the most of his jumper-less game in the half court<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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76ers

76ers

With the trade deadline a little over two weeks away, every team in the NBA has played at least 41 games.

Let’s take stock as the second half of the regular season begins: 

The top 10

It took the second triple-double of Markelle Fultz’s career Wednesday to snap the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak. 

Jimmy Butler has gotten to the free throw line in every game he’s played besides one this season and is third in the NBA in free throw attempts per game (9.3).

Mike Conley returned from a hamstring injury Saturday for Utah, and the Jazz have won 16 of 18.

The Rockets have lost three straight and the Mavs have won four straight, but Dallas has a difficult upcoming schedule with the Clippers and Jazz on tap this week. 

Ben Simmons has been stellar in just about every way besides fourth-quarter scoring for the Sixers in Joel Embiid’s absence and is averaging 21.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists over his last four games. 

Though Marcus Smart set a franchise record with 11 threes and scored a career-high 37 points in Saturday’s defeat to the Suns, Boston has lost three in a row. 

1. Milwaukee Bucks (38-6) 
2. Los Angeles Lakers (34-8)
3. Los Angeles Clippers (30-13)
4. Denver Nuggets (29-13) 
5. Miami Heat (29-13) 
6. Utah Jazz (29-13) 
7. Dallas Mavericks (27-15) 
8. Houston Rockets (26-15)
9. Sixers (28-16) 
10. Boston Celtics (27-14)

 

The middle 10

The Raptors shot over 50 percent from the floor in every game this week and could easily be higher in our rankings — it’s tightly bunched in the six through 12 range. 

Memphis has seven straight wins. Ja Morant is mesmerizing, and both he and Jaren Jackson Jr. are shooting over 40 percent on threes. 

Kyrie Irving talked Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center about the Nets requiring “one or two more pieces,” then reached out to teammates to clarify his comments.

Zion Williamson is expected to debut Wednesday vs. the Spurs, exciting news if you enjoy basketball. 

After their trade with the Kings, Portland got 34 points from Damian Lillard and a career-high 30 from flu-stricken Gary Trent Jr., and they still lost by 13 to Oklahoma City.

11. Toronto Raptors (28-14)
12. Indiana Pacers (28-15) 
13. Oklahoma City Thunder (24-19) 
14. Memphis Grizzlies (20-22)
15. Brooklyn Nets (18-23) 
16. San Antonio Spurs (18-23) 
17. Orlando Magic (20-23)
18. Phoenix Suns (18-24) 
19. New Orleans Pelicans (16-27) 
20. Portland Trail Blazers (18-26)

The bottom 10 

The Bulls’ last win over a team currently in playoff position was on Dec. 14, but Zach LaVine is putting up big numbers, including 42 points Saturday vs. Cleveland, and trying to push for a home All-Star appearance. 

Sekou Doumbouya, the league’s youngest player, scored 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting Wednesday night at TD Garden. 

It appears that a clear bottom four has separated from the pack. Stephen Curry is targeting a March 1 return, according to The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson. 

21. Chicago Bulls (16-28)
22. Sacramento Kings (15-27) 
23. Detroit Pistons (16-27)
24. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-27) 
25. Charlotte Hornets (15-29)
26. Washington Wizards (13-28)
27. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-31)
28. New York Knicks (11-32)
29. Golden State Warriors (10-34)
30. Atlanta Hawks (10-33) 



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