The Sixers fall to No. 3, and Utah moves to No. 1 | NBA power rankings
A loss to Portland caused the Sixers to drop one spot in the weekly rankings.
The Utah Jazz have made their first appearance in the top spot of The Inquirer’s NBA power rankings. Led by Donovan Mitchell (23.5 ppg.), the Jazz are coming off a three-game road trip, in which they beat Atlanta, Charlotte and Indiana.
The Sixers, who went 2-1 last week, losing to a depleted Portland Trail Blazers team on Thursday, fell one spot to No. 3. Team records are through Monday’s games. Last week’s rankings are in parentheses.
1. Utah (19-5) (4)
The Jazz, who have won four in a row and 15 of their last 16, will host the Sixers on Monday.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (19-6) (3)
The Lakers needed double overtime to defeat visiting Detroit and one overtime to defeat Oklahoma City in their last two games.
3. Sixers (17-7) (2)
Losing to the depleted Trail Blazers dropped the Sixers one spot.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (17-8) (1)
The Clippers have lost three of their last four to fall after being No. 1 the previous two weeks.
5. Milwaukee (16-8) (6)
Monday’s 125-112 win at Denver was the Bucks’ fifth in a row.
6. Brooklyn (14-11) (7)
In 11 games as a Net, James Harden is averaging 23.6 points, 11.8 assists, and 8.1 rebounds.
7. Phoenix (14-9) (9)
The Suns are 4-1 since Devin Booker returned from a hamstring injury . He scored 36 points in Monday’s 119-113 home win over Cleveland.
8. San Antonio (14-10) (15)
The Spurs have won three in a row and six of eight.
9. Boston (12-10) (8)
Jaylen Brown (26.4 ppg., 42.4% three-point percentage) is having an All-Star season.
10. Denver (12-11) (5)
Nikola Jokic wasted a career-high 50-point effort in Friday’s 119-114 loss at Sacramento.
11. Portland (12-10) (14)
After missing the Sixers game with an abdominal injury, Damian Lillard returned to score 29 points in a 110-99 loss Saturday at New York.
12. Sacramento (12-11) (19)
During the Kings’ four-game win streak, De’Aaron Fox is averaging 31 points and 8.8 assists.
13. Indiana (12-12) (10)
The slumping Pacers have dropped five of six.
14. Golden State (12-12) (11)
Steph Curry scored 57 points, but it wasn’t enough in Saturday’s 134-132 loss at Dallas.
15. Atlanta (11-12) (16)
Clint Capela (13.7 ppg., 14.6 rpg.) is quietly enjoying an outstanding season.
16. Toronto (11-13) (21)
Fred VanVleet set a franchise record with 54 points in last week’s 123-108 win over Orlando.
17. Charlotte (12-13) (17)
LaMelo Ball scored 24 points (7-12 on threes) in Monday’s 119-94 win over Houston.
18. Houston (11-12) (13)
The Rockets are really missing injured forward-center Christian Wood.
19. Memphis (9-10) (12)
The Grizzlies have allowed an average of 123.7 points during their four-game losing streak.
20. Dallas (11-14) (20)
Kristaps Porzingis had 27 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots in Monday’s 127-122 win over Minnesota.
21. Miami (9-14) (22)
The Heat have won two in a row for only the second time this season.
22. Oklahoma City (10-13) (23)
Former Sixer Al Horford is averaging 13.7 points and 7.2 rebounds.
23. New Orleans (10-12) (27)
During a three-game win streak, Zion Williamson is averaging 25 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists and is shooting 70% from the field.
24. Cleveland (10-15) (18)
Collin Sexton is averaging 23.6 points and 4.1 assists.
25. Chicago (9-14) (24)
Lauri Markkanen will miss two to four weeks because of a sprained right shoulder. He is averaging 19.1 points and shooting 39.6% from three-point range.
26. New York (11-14) (25)
In reuniting guard Derrick Rose with coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks are aiming for the postseason after missing the playoffs for the past seven years.
27. Orlando (9-15) (26)
Former Sixers center Nikola Vucevic had a career-high 43 points and a season-high 19 rebounds in Friday’s 123-119 home win over Chicago.
28. Washington (6-15) (30)
Bradley Beal scored 35 points in Monday’s 105-101 win over Chicago, his seventh game of 35 or more points this season.
29. Detroit (5-18) (28)
The Pistons will try to see if Dennis Smith Jr. can revert to his rookie form after acquiring him from the Knicks in the Derrick Rose trade.
30. Minnesota (6-18) (29)
Can coach Ryan Saunders continue to survive this disappointing season in Minnesota?