5. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks just got their four-game winning streak cut by the Milwaukee Bucks, but what a run that was. Jalen Brunson missed the first win in that stretch due to a sore hip. When he returned though, this is what he did:
24 points and six assists versus Phoenix
38 points and six assists versus San Antonio
26 points and eight assists versus Toronto
In the Raptors game, Brunson also came up with the clutch basket to get a win in Toronto for the first time since 2015. The point guard also poured in 44 points in the loss against the Bucks, making his case to be an All-Star reserve in the Eastern Conference. If Brunson—and Julius Randle—will continue to prove All-Star voters wrong until February then Knicks games will continue to be entertaining and League Pass-worthy.
4. Los Angeles Lakers
It’s still not paradise in Hollywood but at least it’s not a wasteland either. The Lakers have somehow managed to steer the ship in the right direction despite sailing on without Anthony Davis. It’s still unclear when AD will return, and until then, this version of the Lakers will have to grit and grind every game to even get a chance at a win. That makes for exciting basketball.
The Lakers are sitting in 12th place in the West with a 19-22 record - that’s still within play-in tournament distance. But Dennis Schroder, Thomas Bryant, and Austin Reaves will have to continue stepping up in the absence of AD and Loonie Walker. Plus, Russell Westbrook, who is doing his best impression of what a Sixth Man of the Year awardee looks like, is getting better and better each week.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota has won four straight, beating the Nuggets, Blazers, Clippers, and Rockets. Save for a bad shooting day versus LA, Anthony Edwards is finally getting into the groove of things after an underwhelming start to the season. Rudy Gobert is also on a personal hot streak, dropping double-doubles in three straight games.
Minnesota’s season is not at all lost with a win-loss record of 20-21, good for ninth place in the West. Karl-Anthony Towns, who is still dealing with a calf injury and has missed more than a month of basketball, is nearing a return, which will only make things interesting in Minnesota, chemistry-wise–whether for good or bad.
2. Chicago Bulls
Zach LaVine is on a hot streak right now. The Chicago Bulls haven’t been particularly special this season as they continue to battle with injuries left and right but LaVine is making it interesting. He’s averaging close to 35 points per game in the Bulls’ last three games, thanks to a 41-point explosion against the Sixers. In that game, he shot an insane 11-of-13 from 3, a feat only he and Steph Curry have done in league history.
DeMar DeRozan suffered a quad strain in their recent loss to Boston, which means he might miss a couple of games for the first time this season. While this will no doubt hurt Chicago again in the standings, it will only give LaVine more room to operate. Is he on track for a 50-, even 60-point game? In today’s league, that’s far from impossible.
1. Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings currently have a better record than the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Phoenix Suns. As we approach the midway point of the season, the Kings are proving more and more that it’s no fluke. They’re a legit team oozing with talent. De’Aaron Fox has more than embraced his role as the Kings’ go-to guy but the unexpected contributors in Sacramento’s roster are propelling them to where they are now.
The Kings are a deep team that’s getting valuable production from Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk, and Keegan Murray–important pieces they didn’t have last season. This makes the job easier for Fox and Domantas Sabonis. There have been several games this season that have ended in game-winners and clutch moments in which the Kings were involved, making them a perennial must-watch League Pass team.
