NBA Western Conference Week Three Power Rankings: Nuggets Stay On Warriors Heels

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Denver Nuggets have won their last five games and nine of their last ten to remain behind the Golden State Warriors in the Power Rankings.

Oklahoma City is starting to climb the power rankings and the standings as they now have a winning record.

Here is the KSL Sports NBA Western Conference Power Rankings for the third week of the season from games played from October 31 to November 6.

1. Golden State Warriors (10-1)

Week three record: 3-0

Wins: vs. New Orleans, vs. Minnesota, vs. Memphis

All three of the Warriors wins were by 10 points or more, opponents not making it close. Stephen Curry scored 37 points against New Orleans, Kevin Durant dropped 33 against Minnesota and Klay Thompson had 27 against Memphis. This just shows how dangerous the defending champions are.

Previous ranking: 1

Next up: vs. Milwaukee, vs. Brooklyn, at LA Clippers, vs. Atlanta

2. Denver Nuggets (9-1)

Week three record: 4-0

Wins: at Chicago (OT), at Cleveland, vs. Utah, vs. Boston

The Nuggets have really started the season with a vengeance. They seem to have different scoring weapons each night. Four different players led the team in scoring in their four games during week three. Other than the overtime win against Chicago, Denver has won the other three games by 8 points or more.

Previous ranking: 2

Next up: at Memphis, vs. Brooklyn, vs. Milwaukee, vs. Houston

3. Portland Trail Blazers (8-3)

Week three record: 3-1

Wins: vs. New Orleans, vs. Minnesota, vs. Milwaukee

Losses: vs. LA Lakers

C.J. McCollum had a great week, averaging 23.5 points per game. He scored 40 points in the Blazers win over Milwaukee. Jusuf Nurkic is looking to be that third option for the Blazers alongside Lillard and McCollum. Nurkic had a double-double in half of the week three games, pulling down 9 rebounds in the other two games.

Previous ranking: 3

Next up: vs. New Orleans, vs. LA Lakers, vs. Minnesota, vs. Milwaukee

4. San Antonio Spurs (6-3)

Week three record: 2-1

Wins: at Phoenix, vs. New Orleans

Losses: vs. Orlando

DeMar DeRozan continues to be the focal point of the Spurs offense, averaging 25.3 points per game. The Spurs’ two wins were by 44 combined points and they lost to Orlando by 7. Still early in the season, but it’s looking like the Spurs haven’t missed a beat since trading Kawhi Leonard.

Previous ranking: 5

Next up: at Miami, vs. Houston, at Sacramento

5. Los Angeles Clippers (6-4)

Week three record: 2-1

Wins: at Orlando, at Minnesota

Losses: at Philadelphia

Lou Williams led the team in scoring in two of the three games with 54 total points. They beat Orlando by 25 points and the Timberwolves by 11. Tobias Harris averaged 22.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game during week three.

Previous ranking: 9

Next up: at Portland, vs. Milwaukee, vs. Golden State

6. Sacramento Kings (6-4)

Week three record: 1-1

Wins: at Atlanta

Losses: at Milwaukee

De’Aaron Fox had an impressive triple-double against the Atlanta Hawks, scoring 31 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 15 assists. The Kings continue to surprise the league with a winning record through three weeks.

Previous ranking: 8

Next up: vs. Toronto, vs. Minnesota, vs. LA Lakers, vs. San Antonio

7. Oklahoma City Thunder (5-4)

Week three record: 3-0

Wins: at Charlotte, at Washington, vs. New Orleans

The Thunder are starting to put things together as their winning streak stands at five games. Russell Westbrook averaged 23 points, 6 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game. Paul George chipped in 17 points per game during week three.

Previous ranking: 11

Next up: at Cleveland, vs. Houston, at Dallas, vs. Phoenix

8. Memphis Grizzlies (5-4)

Week three record: 1-2

Wins: at Utah

Losses: at Phoenix, at Golden State

They seem to have Utah’s number as they have beaten them twice this season thus far. A tough two point loss to a struggling Phoenix team prevents them from climbing the power rankings. They also lost to the Golden State Warriors by 16 in Oakland, which was expected.

Previous ranking: 7

Next up: vs. Denver, vs. Philadelphia, vs. Utah

9. Utah Jazz (4-6)

Week three record: 0-4

Losses: at Minnesota, vs. Memphis, at Denver, vs. Toronto

It was a tough week for the Jazz. They had to play without Donovan Mitchell for two of the four games. But, Rudy Gobert continues to post double-doubles in all but one game this season.  It’s an important week coming up for the Jazz as they will host Gordon Hayward and the Celtics and hope to finally beat the Memphis Grizzlies. They still haven’t won a game at home.

Previous ranking: 4

Next up: vs. Dallas, vs. Boston, at Memphis

10. New Orleans Pelicans (4-6)

Week three record: 0-4

Losses: at Golden State, at Portland, at San Antonio, at Oklahoma City

After a 4-0 start, the Pelicans have lost their last six games. Anthony Davis missed just one game during week four but the Pelicans are still in a slump. They have lost by 43 combined points in their four losses during week three.

Previous ranking: 6

Next up: vs. Chicago, vs. Phoenix, at Toronto

11. Houston Rockets (4-5)

Week three record: 3-0

Losses: at Brooklyn, at Chicago, at Indiana

The 3-0 record during week three is looking more like the Houston Rockets but they still struggle to find their identity. James Harden has played well though, he averaged 26.5 points in the two games he played during week three. He missed the previous three games with a hamstring injury.

Previous ranking: 11

Next up: at Oklahoma City, at San Antonio, vs. Indiana

12. Los Angeles Lakers (4-6)

Week three record: 2-1

Wins: vs. Dallas, at Portland

Losses: vs. Toronto

As expected, LeBron James continues to carry the Lakers. He averaged 25 points per game. Their two wins were by five points combined but they lost to the Raptors by 14 points. They were trailing by 25 points after the first quarter.

Previous ranking: 12

Next up: vs. Minnesota, at Sacramento, vs. Atlanta

13. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-7)

Week three record: 1-3

Wins: vs. Utah

Losses: at Golden State, at Portland, at LA Clippers

Derrick Rose scored a career-high 50 points against the Jazz. That was the highlight of the week for the Timberwolves and their only win of week three. They lost by 58 points combined in their three losses.

Previous ranking: 10

Next up: at LA Lakers, at Sacramento, vs. Brooklyn

14. Dallas Mavericks (3-7)

Week three record: 1-2

Wins: vs. Washington

Losses: at LA Lakers, vs. New York

Tough week for the Mavericks as they lost to the Lakers by one point and the Knicks by 12. They did beat the struggling Washington Wizards by 19 points. Luka Doncic averaged 18.3 points and 5.3 assists during the third week of the season.

Previous ranking: 13

Next up: at Utah, vs. Oklahoma City, at Chicago

15. Phoenix Suns (2-8)

Week three record: 1-3

Wins: vs. Memphis

Losses: vs. San Antonio, vs. Toronto, vs. Brooklyn

The win over Memphis snapped a 7-game losing streak. Devin Booker returned from injury and has led the team in scoring in every game since his return.

Previous ranking: 15

Next up: vs. Boston, at New Orleans, at Oklahoma City