NBA Eastern Conference Week Eight Power Rankings: Toronto Holds Top Spot By Slim Margin
Dec 12, 2018, 10:24 AM | Updated: Jan 17, 2019, 10:30 am
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors drives toward the basket during the game against Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 7, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Toronto Raptors still slightly hold on to the best record in the NBA and the top spot in the Power Rankings.
The Pistons had a 0-4 week and have dropped out of the top 5.
Rankings are based on results Week eight of the NBA season from Wednesday, December 5 to Tuesday, December 11.
1. Toronto Raptors (22-7)
Week eight record: 2-2
Wins: vs. Philadelphia, at LA Clippers
Losses: at Brooklyn (in OT), vs. Milwaukee
The Raptors had a disappointing loss to the Brooklyn Nets in overtime and a 5-point loss to the Bucks at home. Kawhi Leonard had 36 points against the Sixers and 32 against the Nets.
Previous Ranking: 1
Next up: at Golden State, at Portland, at Denver
2. Milwaukee Bucks (18-8)
Week eight record: 3-1
Wins: vs. Detroit, at Toronto, vs. Cleveland
Losses: vs. Golden State
Giannis Antetokounmpo was fantastic, he had 22 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in their 10-point loss to the Warriors. He had 19 points and 19 rebounds in their big road win over the Raptors. Eric Bledsoe led the team with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists against the Cavaliers.
Previous Ranking: 2
Next up: at Indiana, at Cleveland, at Detroit
3. Philadelphia 76ers (19-9)
Week eight record: 2-1
Wins: at Detroit, vs. Detroit
Losses: at Toronto
Jimmy Butler scored 38 points in the loss to Toronto at the win at Detroit. Joel Embiid had 24 points at home against the Pistons.
Previous Ranking: 3
Next up: vs. Brooklyn, vs. Indiana, at Cleveland, at San Antonio
4. Indiana Pacers (17-10)
Week eight record: 3-0
Wins: at Orlando, vs. Sacramento, vs. Washington
Not only did the Pacers win every game of the week, but they had three different players lead the team in scoring. Two of their three games were wins by double digits.
Previous ranking: 5
Next up: vs. Milwaukee, at Philadelphia, vs. New York, vs. Cleveland
5. Boston Celtics (16-10)
Week eight record: 3-0
Wins: vs. New York, at Chicago, vs. New Orleans
A fantastic week for the Celtics that included a 56 point win on the road against the Bulls to hand them their worst home loss in team history. They beat the Knicks by 28 points and New Orleans by 13.
Previous Ranking: 6
Next up: at Washington, vs. Atlanta, at Detroit
6. Detroit Pistons (13-12)
Week eight record: 0-4
Losses: at Milwaukee, vs. Philadelphia, vs. New Orleans, at Philadelphia
It was the worst week of the season for the Pistons. They lost by 23 to the Bucks, 6 points and 14 points to the Sixers and 8 points to the Pelicans. Blake Griffin scored over 30 points in three of their four games.
Previous ranking: 4
Next up: at Charlotte, vs. Boston, vs. Milwaukee
7. Charlotte Hornets (13-13)
Week eight record: 2-1
Wins: vs. Denver, at New York
Losses: at Minnesota
The Hornets are back to .500 on the season. Kemba Walker scored 21 points in their big win over Denver and had 25 in New York.
Previous ranking: 8
Next up: vs. Detroit, vs. New York, vs. LA Lakers
8. Orlando Magic (12-15)
Week eight record: 0-3
Losses: vs. Denver (in OT), vs. Indiana, at Dallas
The Magic had a tough week with only one loss being close. Other than the overtime defeat, Orlando lost by 22 and 15 respectively against Indiana and Dallas.
Previous ranking: 7
Next up: vs. Chicago (in Mexico), vs. Utah (in Mexico)
9. Miami Heat (11-15)
Week eight record: 2-1
Wins: at Phoenix, at LA Clippers
Losses: at LA Lakers
Dwyane Wade scored 25 points against a good Clippers team and also played LeBron James for the last time in their careers. The Heat were three points away from a perfect week on the road.
Previous ranking: 10
Next up: at Utah, at Memphis, at New Orleans
10. Washington Wizards (11-16)
Week eight record: 1-2
Wins: at Atlanta
Losses: at Cleveland, at Indiana
Tough loss to the Cavaliers and even tougher losing by 15. Bradley Beal was the leading scorer in all three games with 36 against Atlanta, 27 against Cleveland and 30 against Indiana.
Previous ranking: 9
Next up: vs. Boston, at Brooklyn, vs. LA Lakers, at Atlanta
11. Brooklyn Nets (10-18)
Week eight record: 2-1
Wins: vs. Toronto, at New York
Losses: vs. Oklahoma City
The Nets had a great week with a big one-point overtime win over the best team in the league. Plus, they only lost to Oklahoma City by two points. Three different players led the team in scoring.
Previous ranking: 12
Next up: at Philadelphia, vs. Washington, vs. Atlanta, vs. LA Lakers
12. New York Knicks (8-20)
Week eight record: 0-3
Losses: at Boston, vs. Brooklyn, vs. Charlotte
The Knicks lost by 36 combined points in their three games. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 22 against Boston, Enes Kanter had 23 points and 14 rebounds against Brooklyn and rookie Kevin Knox dropped 26 points against Charlotte.
Previous ranking: 11
Next up: at Cleveland, at Charlotte, at Indiana, vs. Phoenix
13. Atlanta Hawks (6-20)
Week eight record: 1-1
Wins: vs. Denver
Losses: vs. Washington
The Hawks lost to Washington by 14 points and beat the Nuggets by 8 points. John Collins scored 56 points and pulled down 26 rebounds in those two games.
Previous ranking: 13
Next up: at Dallas, at Boston, at Brooklyn, vs. Washington
14. Cleveland Cavaliers (6-21)
Week eight record: 1-3
Wins: vs. Washington
Losses: vs. Golden State, vs. Sacramento, at Milwaukee
Collin Sexton scored 29 points in the Cavs only win of the week. They lost by 59 points in three games.
Previous ranking: 14
Next up: vs. New York, vs. Milwaukee, vs. Philadelphia, at Indiana
15. Chicago Bulls (6-22)
Week eight record: 1-2
Wins: vs. Oklahoma City
Losses: vs. Boston, vs. Sacramento
The Jim Boylen era has gotten off to a rocky start with a 1-3 record. The worst loss was at home to the Celtics by 56 points, the worst home loss in Bulls history.
Previous ranking: 15
Next up: vs. Orlando, at San Antonio, at Oklahoma City
