© Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks rise in latest NBA Power Rankings
The Milwaukee Bucks moved up two notches higher in the latest NBA.com Power Rankings.
From sixth last week, the Bucks moved up to fourth in the latest rankings, trailing the top-ranked Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Came out strong after the All-Star break
Milwaukee’s rise in the ranking was attributed to its six-game winning streak, the team’s longest streak under coach Doc Rivers. The streak also fell one win short of tying the Bucks’ longest winning streak in the season.
NBA writer John Schuhmann noted that defense was the key when the Bucks rattled off six straight wins. In that stretch, the Bucks allowed just 102.6 points per possession. Milwaukee slackened off defensively after that streak, which led to two consecutive losses.
The six-game winning streak ended when the Bucks lost to the Golden State Warriors, 90-125, and then to the Los Angeles Lakers, 122-123. In those back-to-back losses, the Bucks allowed the Warriors and the Lakers to score more than 125 points per 100 possessions.
Staying atop the East rankings
On Sunday, Milwaukee avoided a third-straight loss by pulling off a 124-117 win over the Paul George and Kawhi Leonard-less L.A. Clippers.
The Bucks are currently second in the Eastern Conference with a 42-23 record. They have just one loss from matching their total from last season when they went 58-24.
Milwaukee will play the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night to end a four-game California trip. The Bucks defeated the Kings in their first meeting, banking on Damian Lillard’s buzzer-beating triple to score a 143-142 overtime win.
