2014-15 NBA Power Rankings Week 17

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The Oklahoma City Thunder have been without star forward Kevin Durant for much of the season and are without him again, for now.

After his October surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his foot, Durant made his season debut on December 2nd, but he has missed another 12 games as well so far this season.

Durant has had a second surgical procedure on his foot and will be evaluated in a week.

"The good news is that the fracture itself is healing excellently and from what the doctors conveyed to us we continue to feel very good about the prognosis moving forward," Presti said (via ESPN). "But in the short term, as he's continued to have this discomfort we wanted to determine the best way to alleviate it while still promoting the healing of the initial injury."

At the moment, the Thunder, who own a league-high six-game winning streak, are currently the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and they are two games ahead of Phoenix and 2.5 games ahead of the Pelicans.

The Pelicans will be dealing with their own injuries, perhaps more significant on a short-term basis, as they will be without power forward Anthony Davis (shoulder) for up to two weeks. In addition, Ryan Anderson is out with a torn MCL as well.

The 'Brow has missed seven games this season and the Pelicans are 2-5 in those games without him.

On the season, Davis is averaging 23.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 54.4 percent from the field and 83.1 percent from the line.

The only other player to average 23/10/2.5/1 since three players -- David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning and Hakeem Olajuwon -- did so in the 1995-96 season was Elton Brand (2005-06). Of the nine players, some in multiple seasons, to average 23/10/2.5/1 since 1973-74, none of them (aside from Davis) have shot better than 80 percent from the free-throw line.

Meanwhile, the Suns have traded away Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas to the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, respectively, although they added Brandon Knight as well.

In other words, it's going to be difficult for the Pelicans and/or Suns to be able to catch the Thunder provided that KD does not miss too much time.

Here are my Week 17 NBA Power Rankings:

1. Golden State Warriors (Record 43-10, Last Week 2)
2. Atlanta Hawks (Record 44-12, Last Week 1)
3. Memphis Grizzlies (Record 40-14, Last Week 3)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (Record 35-22, Last Week 4)
5. Toronto Raptors (Record 37-18, Last Week 7)
6. San Antonio Spurs (Record 34-21, Last Week 5)
7. Houston Rockets (Record 37-18, Last Week 8)
8. Dallas Mavericks (Record 38-20, Last Week 9)
9. Portland Trail Blazers (Record 36-19, Last Week 6)
10. Los Angeles Clippers (Record 37-19, Last Week 10)
11. Chicago Bulls (Record 35-21, Last Week 11)
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (Record 31-25, Last Week 15)
13. Phoenix Suns (Record 29-27, Last Week 14)
14. Washington Wizards (Record 33-23, Last Week 12)
15. Milwaukee Bucks (Record 31-24, Last Week 16)
16. New Orleans Pelicans (Record 28-27, Last Week 13)
17. Indiana Pacers (Record 23-33, Last Week 19)
18. Detroit Pistons (Record 23-33, Last Week 18)
19. Charlotte Hornets (Record 22-32, Last Week 17)
20. Brooklyn Nets (Record 22-31, Last Week 21)
21. Miami Heat (Record 23-31, Last Week 20)
22. Orlando Magic (Record 19-39, Last Week 27)
23. Utah Jazz (Record 20-34, Last Week 22)
24. Sacramento Kings (Record 19-35, Last Week 23)
25. Boston Celtics (Record 20-33, Last Week 24)
26. Denver Nuggets (Record 20-35, Last Week 26)
27. Minnesota Timberwolves (Record 12-42, Last Week 30)
28. Los Angeles Lakers (Record 14-41, Last Week 29)
29. Philadelphia 76ers (Record 12-43, Last Week 28)
30. New York Knicks (Record 10-45, Last Week 25)

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Miles Plumlee now 2-for-2 in double-doubles

In 14 games with the Pacers last season, Suns center Miles Plumlee scored a total of 13 points in just 54 total minutes.

For the second time (in two games), Plumlee has scored at least 13 points for the Suns.

On Friday night, Plumlee scored 13 points and added 13 rebounds to notch his second consecutive double-double of the season. He also added three blocks again.

Through two games, Plumlee is averaging 15.5 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks per game while also shooting 56.0 percent from the field. Not only is he second on the team in scoring behind Eric Bledsoe, but he ranks fourth in the NBA in rebounding and is tied for fifth in the league in blocks.

Dirk Nowitzki doubtful for Friday's game vs. Suns

Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki unexpectedly missed last night's game against the Warriors and it's doubtful that he plays tonight against the Suns.

"It's possible but doubtful," coach Rick Carlisle said, per ESPN Dallas. "We don't want to risk anything right now."

"I don't know. I need that good deer antler spray," Nowitzki jokingly added. "I don't know if 24 hours will change it much. Obviously we've got a tough back to back. I'm on the anti-inflammatories and we'll see if they kick in more until tomorrow, but I doubt it. We'll see what happens tomorrow night. We'll see if I even try to go. But hopefully Monday -- we'll see how it responds this weekend."

Nowitzki suffered the injury (right adductor strain) in Tuesday's loss to the Blazers.

In that loss, Nowitzki scored a season-high 26 points and it was his first game with 20-plus since January 7th.  In fact, he has only three games with 20 points or more and is averaging only 14.8 points per game (almost eight points below his career average).

NBA Consensus Power Rankings, Week 14

No other player has done it more than once this season and Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo did it for a fifth time Sunday.

In their 19-point beatdown of the Miami Heat, Rondo finished with a triple-double: 16 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds.

In addition, he had double-digit assists for the 13th straight game. That's the longest streak since Steve Nash had 14 straight games with double-digit assists back in 2005.

And who knows? Maybe Nash will be the Heat point guard in 2012.

Nash said on the Dan Patrick Show (via the L.A. Times) that he would be interested in, um, taking his talents to South Beach: "I would listen. He's phenomenal. I love what they're doing there. A lot of people don't like them because they put all that talent there. But they're professional, they play hard, they play together."

Both Nash and Rondo are the only two players to average double-digit assists this season.

Winners of five straight games, the Celtics are now in first place in the Atlantic Division and are the biggest mover up our Power Rankings board this week.

Here are some stats about this week's NBA Consensus Power Rankings:

- Biggest jump from last week: Boston Celtics (+4.92)
- Biggest drop from last week: Utah Jazz (-2.67)
- Team with widest difference between high and low ranker: Indiana Pacers (6) [See our full NBA Consensus Power Rankings.]

Each week, we respond to one roundtable question and here's this week's question: Excluding the top four seeds in each conference, which team will be the toughest out in the postseason?

John (follow on Twitter): Memphis Grizzlies

This one is easy for me, as I think that the Memphis Grizzlies are going to be a tougher out than some of the top four seeds in each conference. Because they are in the same division as San Antonio, who at this point has a pretty firm grip on the division, Memphis is unlikely to crack the top four by season's end, and will likely finish with either the 5 or 6 seed. The Grizzlies went on a run in last year's playoffs, and I was initially reluctant to assume that they had another run like that in them. I felt comparable about the Mavericks, who clearly have a team capable of being in contention, but are certainly not the favorite. Last year, Dallas surprised virtually everyone, getting extremely hot at the right time, and riding out one of the best playoff performances of all time by Dirk Nowitzki (a performance that for a short time, vaulted him into the conversation as a top 10 player of all time.) I feel a secondary run is extremely unlikely, even though they have the bulk of last year's championship roster. I felt similar about Memphis, but after watching them play the last few weeks, they are really built for the playoffs. They have a great mix of youth and experience, and have a team that is athletic enough to hang with the Oklahoma City's of the world. I think behind OKC and San Antonio, Memphis is the next team most likely to make a deep run, and it wouldn't shock me at all to see them in the Conference Finals.

Kevin (follow on Twitter): Philadelphia 76ers

My initial thought was to go with the Grizzlies, and while I think they will make some noise in the West, I'm going to go with the "homer" pick (Sixers). They are currently only one game out of first in the Atlantic so it's very possible that they end up with a top-four seed. Although they have been a mediocre .500 (9-9) since the break, they have plenty of attributes that make them dangerous in the East. The Sixers rank first in the NBA in team defense (87.8 points allowed per game) and first in the league in fewest turnovers (10.5 per game). They are unselfish and deep (Lou Williams leads the team in scoring off the bench) and they have elite perimeter defenders in Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday.

Dan (follow on Twitter): Memphis Grizzlies

I am going to go with the Memphis Grizzlies as the toughest non-top-four seed out in this year's postseason (much like last year). They have an awesome rotation of bigs with Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Rudy Gay, and solid scoring from both Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo. Memphis is also 17-7 at home, and have the pedigree from last year as a lower seed to spring an upset in this year's playoffs.

Sean (follow on Twitter): Memphis Grizzlies

The defending champ Mavs currently hold the No. 5 seed in the West, and would be the logical choice, but after watching them play over the past two weeks, I just don't think they can make a run. I'm going with the No. 6 seed in the West and that is the Memphis Grizzlies. Zach Randolph is back in the lineup, and they are going to be a very dangerous team in the playoffs. I think they would beat the Lakers right now in a series.

To see where all 30 teams fall in our power rankings going through Week 14, click here.

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Jared Dudley has his first double-double of season

Suns swingman Jared Dudley had his best game and first double-double of the season last night.

Dudley set a season high with 10 rebounds and tied his previous season high in points with 20. In addition to his double-double, Dudley added two steals and two blocks to his stat line and converted on three of six three-pointers.

In his past three games, Dudley has made eight of 13 three's. Plus, he has now scored in double-digits in eight consecutive games.

After averaging only 9.8 points in December and 10.6 points per game in January, Dudley is averaging 15.5 points this month.

Marcin Gortat has 8th straight dobule-double

In the first eight games of the season, Phoenix center Marcin Gortat had only one double-double. Since then, The Polish Hammer has had eight straight double-doubles.

Last night's loss to the Mavs, Gortat had 19 points and a season-high 17 rebounds.

Since January 4th, Gortat has scored in double-digits in 11 straight games. During that span, Gortat is averaging 17.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game and he's shooting 61.1 percent from the field.

The Suns face the Raptors Tuesday night.