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The Milwaukee Bucks rise in latest NBA Power Rankings

The Bucks have performed better after the All-Star streak.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

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.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.