NBA Power Rankings: Mavs Crack All-Star Break Top 10 Behind Kyrie Irving's Return
The Dallas Mavericks enter the All-Star break as the hottest team in the NBA, as they've won six straight games. With that run, Dallas has jumped two spots to No. 10 in Bleacher Report's power rankings.
The Mavs' (32-23) recent run has been led by Kyrie Irving, who returned from a sprained right thumb after missing six straight games and has averaged just over 26 points and six assists during the win streak.
Kyrie Irving goes for a layup.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
"The biggest catalyst behind Dallas' current six-game winning streak may be Irving," Bleacher Report writes. "That just happens to be the exact number of games he's been back from injury, and Kyrie is averaging 26.7 points, 6.3 assists and 3.0 threes while shooting 42.9 percent from deep in that span."
The additions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford have also paid dividends immediately. The Mavs have outscored their opponents by an average of 22 points in the three games they've played, including a 146-111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder (37-17).
Gafford has averaged 15.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in his three games with the Mavericks, while Washington has a 114.9 offensive rating and 89.1 defensive rating.
Dallas is currently the No. 7 seed in the West and just two games out from becoming the No. 5 seed, which belongs to the Phoenix Suns (33-22), and they play each other in their first game after the All-Star break on Thursday. If Dallas can carry its momentum from its win streak into the second half of the season, it'll continue to rise the standings and power rankings and better position itself for the playoffs.
