Record: 13-4

OffRtg: 116.2 (8) DefRtg: 107.5 (4) NetRtg: +8.6 (1) Pace: 98.5 (23)

The Celtics remain undefeated (7-0) at TD Garden, getting their best home win of the season on Wednesday when they held off a late Bucks run and held on to first place in the Eastern Conference. But they lost two road games last week, blowing double-digit, second-half leads in Charlotte and Orlando.

Three takeaways

• When the Celtics have lost, it’s been much more about their offense. They’ve made less than a third of their 3-point attempts in all four losses and have scored just 100.7 points scored per 100 possessions over the four games combined. Jaylen Brown had a big game (26 points and a season-high eight assists) against the Bucks, but shot 11-for-39 (28%) over the two losses last week.

• Their fourth-ranked defense has been pretty consistent. The Celtics are the only team that has yet to allow at least 120 points per 100 possessions in a game this season.

• The depth is being tested. Though Sam Hauser was definitely targeted on defense by Damian Lillard and the Bucks, Boston’s three reserves shot 6-for-10 from 3-point range and each registered a positive plus-minus on Wednesday. But Jrue Holiday has missed the last two games with an ankle issue and Kristaps Porzingis is dealing with calf soreness. With both of those guys out, the Celtics actually played nine guys against Atlanta on Sunday.

The Celtics are 10-1 when they’ve had all five starters available, with the only loss having come by three points in Philadelphia. They’ll face the Sixers for a third time on Friday.

Week 6: vs. CHI*, vs. PHI

Record: 12-4

OffRtg: 113.2 (13) DefRtg: 106.8 (2) NetRtg: +6.4 (4) Pace: 99.2 (19)

The Wolves lost at home for the first time this season on Friday, when they got beat inside by a team (Sacramento) that generally beats opponents from the perimeter. But while the win gave the Kings control of West Group C in the In-Season Tournament, Minnesota still sits in first place in the Western Conference, having won 11 of its last 13 games overall.

Three takeaways

• The Wolves rank in the top 10 in each of the other three factors on defense, but (despite having three centers in the top eight of their rotation) they’re 21st in defensive rebounding percentage. And the 26 second-chance points they allowed on Friday were tied for the most the Kings have scored this season.

• Even with the loss to the Kings, the Wolves have allowed just 100.2 points per 100 possessions (the league’s best mark) at home. The 113.6 points per 100 they’ve allowed on the road ranks 15th. Only the Pacers and Clippers have bigger home-road differentials on defense.

• Jaden McDaniels sprained his ankle on Monday, and with Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the starting lineup for the last three games, bench minutes weren’t great. The Wolves were outscored by 25 points in 35 minutes (scoring just 59 on 70 offensive possessions) with Anthony Edwards off the floor in the three games.

The top two teams in the West will meet for the first time on Tuesday. No, that matchup isn’t Nuggets-Suns or Warriors-Lakers. It’s Thunder-Wolves (!), and a late-game duel between Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would certainly be fun.

Week 6: vs. OKC*, vs. UTA, @ CHA

Record: 11-5

OffRtg: 118.9 (3) DefRtg: 112.5 (13) NetRtg: +6.5 (3) Pace: 99.8 (16)

Tyrese Maxey finally cooled off a bit, and the Sixers lost two straight games for the second time this month. But they got a quality road win over the weekend, outscoring the Thunder by 16 points at the free throw line.

Three takeaways

• The Sixers came back from 18 points down against the Cavs on Tuesday, only to fall in overtime, when Maxey missed a layup with his team down one and 15 seconds left. Then Joel Embiid missed a game (Wednesday in Minnesota) for the first time this season, and the Sixers suffered their first loss that wasn’t within five points in the last five minutes.

• Maxey shot just 3-for-17 from 3-point range and 7-for-11 from the free throw line over the two losses. He’s still one of just two players — Stephen Curry is the other — who’ve shot 40% or better on at least 100 3-point attempts and 85% or better on at least 75 free throws.

• Maxey and Embiid combined to shoot 28-for-32 from the line in Oklahoma City on Saturday. Embiid’s 88.1% would be the highest free throw percentage in NBA history for any player who’s averaged at least 11 attempts per game, and the Sixers now lead the league in free throw differential, having outscored their opponents by 5.9 points per game at the stripe.

The team with the second-best differential (and that led the league in free throw differential last season) is the Lakers, who the Sixers will host on Monday. Their visit to Boston four nights later will be their third meeting with the Celtics, with the teams having split the first two.

Week 6: vs. LAL, @ NOP, @ BOS

Record: 11-6

OffRtg: 115.6 (10) DefRtg: 111.2 (10) NetRtg: +4.4 (7) Pace: 98.0 (25)

The Nuggets’ home-road discrepancy continues to grow. They eked out a win (after Michael Malone and Nikola Jokic were both ejected) in Detroit on Monday, but proceeded to lose games in Orlando and Houston. Those were, respectively, the Nuggets’ worst defensive and worst offensive games of the season.

Three takeaways

• His on-off differential isn’t as big as it was last season, but in three of the Nuggets’ six road losses, Jokic has recorded a triple double and recorded a positive plus-minus in at least 36 minutes. DeAndre Jordan was dusted off in a win (at home) over the Spurs on Sunday.

• Jokic has now seen the second biggest jump in usage rate (from 26.3% to 32.5%) among 241 players who played at least 300 minutes last season and have played at least 200 minutes this season. Christian Braun has seen the seventh biggest jump (from 12.7% to 17.7%).

• It’s not good that, with the Nuggets playing the team with the league’s worst point differential by a wide margin, Jokic was on the floor until the 1:31 mark of the fourth quarter on Sunday, because …

The win over the Spurs was the start of Denver’s second (and final) stretch of five games in seven nights. Jamal Murray suffered his hamstring injury at the end of their first five-in-seven stretch, and this one includes more travel than the first. The Nuggets will be at a rest disadvantage in L.A. on Monday and against Phoenix four nights later.

Week 6: @ LAC, vs. HOU, @ PHX, @ SAC

Record: 11-5

OffRtg: 117.9 (6) DefRtg: 109.6 (7) NetRtg: +8.3 (2) Pace: 100.8 (10)

The Thunder’s six-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday when 30-point games from both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren weren’t enough against the Sixers. It was just the fourth time in 16 games that their seventh-ranked defense has allowed more points per 100 possessions than the league average (113.3).

Three takeaways

• Jalen Williams has missed the last three games, with Cason Wallace replacing him in the starting lineup. The rookie is still shooting 61% from the field, 14-for-26 (54%) from 3-point range and a perfect 9-for-9 from the line, but the new lineup hasn’t been good. It’s been outscored by 7.6 points per 100 possessions in its 25 minutes over the three games, even though one of the three was a 43-point win in Portland.

• That 25 minutes over three games is not a lot for a starting lineup. Lu Dort wasn’t on the floor down the stretch of either of their games last week, and the Thunder have eight different players who’ve played at least five (of a possible 25) clutch minutes.

• Gilgeous-Alexander plus shooting continues to be the best formula for the Thunder, who’ve outscored their opponents by 21.9 points per 100 possessions with Isaiah Joe on the floor alongside their star. That’s the best on-court mark among 364 two-man combinations that have played at least 200 minutes. Joe had a streak of six straight games of shooting at least 50% from 3-point range before going 3-for-12 against Philly on Saturday.

It’s a huge week for the Thunder, who will play three of the other teams in the West’s top seven. They’ve been eliminated from the In-Season Tournament, but they go into Minnesota for their pool-play finale with the league’s best road record (6-1) and its best road point differential (plus 13.7 per 100 possessions) by a huge margin.

They’re one of two teams – the Rockets are the other – that haven’t had a rest-advantage game yet this season, but the Thunder will have advantages against both the Lakers (at home) and Mavs (in Dallas) later in the week.

Week 6: @ MIN*, vs. LAL, @ DAL

Record: 12-5

OffRtg: 117.8 (7) DefRtg: 115.0 (20) NetRtg: +2.8 (12) Pace: 102.2 (5)

The Bucks have won seven of their last eight games, but they lost the big one when their comeback from 20 down in the fourth quarter came up short in Boston on Wednesday.

Three takeaways

• The Bucks missed a lot of shots in the paint (29-for-55) on Wednesday, and their transition defense hasn’t been good enough to survive one guy (who missed a layup) trailing the play. Their opponent’s transition rate (18%) is the fifth highest in the league and up from 16.2% (10th lowest) last season.

• There was some brutal transition defense early on Sunday afternoon as they fell into a 26-point hole against Portland. But that turned into the biggest deficit overcome by a winning team this season, as the Bucks outscored the Blazers, 53-21 over the final 21 minutes. They’re the only team with five wins (they’re 5-5) in games they trailed by double-digits.

• Over the last five games, the Bucks have averaged 17 ball-screens or handoffs where Giannis Antetokounmpo is screening for Damian Lillard. That’s up from an average of 11 per game through their first nine games together. The Boston loss was actually the most successful they’ve been (30 points on 16 possessions) with Lillard/Antetokounmpo screening actions.

The Bucks won’t get another shot at the Celtics until Jan. 11 unless they meet in the In-Season Tournament. Neither team has clinched a spot in the quarterfinals, but the Bucks can do so with a win in Miami on Tuesday. The Heat were without Bam Adebayo when the Bucks beat them in Week 2.

Week 6: @ MIA*, @ CHI, vs. ATL

Record: 12-5

OffRtg: 112.6 (15) DefRtg: 107.0 (3) NetRtg: +5.6 (5) Pace: 100.2 (15)

The Magic have won seven straight games to climb into second place in the Eastern Conference, and the streak was legitimized last week with wins against the Nuggets and Celtics in which Orlando outscored their opponents by 36 points (120-84) in the paint.

Three takeaways

• Last season, the Magic were 1-12 in the second games of back-to-backs, the worst such mark for any team in the last six years. This season, they’re 2-1. They were at a rest disadvantage against Denver on Wednesday and trailed by nine early in the fourth quarter, but came back to win what was their most efficient offensive game of the season.

• The Magic have been without both Markelle Fultz and Wendell Carter Jr. for the entirety of the winning streak, and they’ve been outscored (by nine total points) with starting point guard Anthony Black on the floor over the seven games. But Black’s minutes have been limited (17.6 per game) and the bench, which now ranks second in the league, has been terrific.

• Moe Wagner scored 27 points off the bench against Boston, Cole Anthony had 30 against Charlotte on Sunday, and the Magic have outscored their opponents by 16.9 points per 100 possessions in 129 minutes with both of them on the floor over the winning streak.

The Magic have a good chance to make the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals, though a 20-point loss in Brooklyn two weeks ago could come back to bite them if the Nets beat Toronto and there’s a (two or three-way) tie for first place in East Group C. They’re back in Brooklyn on Saturday for the second game of their fourth back-to-back. First, they get to play the Wizards twice.

Week 6: vs. WAS, vs. WAS, @ BKN

Record: 9-6

OffRtg: 113.6 (12) DefRtg: 113.4 (17) NetRtg: +0.2 (19) Pace: 100.3 (13)

The Kings lost twice in New Orleans last week, getting outscored by 50 points in the restricted area (92-42) over the two games. But they went 4-2 on their six-game road trip, picking up quality wins over the Lakers, Mavs and Wolves.

Three takeaways

• The Kings’ win in Minnesota on Friday was the Wolves’ first (they were previously 7-0) at home and came with 58 points in the paint, the most Minnesota has allowed this season. Twenty of those 58 came from De’Aaron Fox, who took more than 30 shots for the sixth time in his career. It was one of Fox’s least efficient games of the season, but just the fourth time (and the first time at home) that the Wolves’ top-five defense has allowed more than 120 points per 100 possessions.

• In the two losses in New Orleans, the Kings were outscored by 27 points (69-42) over the two second quarters. For the season, they’ve been the league’s second best first-quarter team (plus-14.5 per 100 possessions) and its third worst second-quarter team (minus-13.7 per 100).

• Trey Lyles made his season debut on Wednesday after missing the first 13 games with a calf injury. But before that, the Kings lost Keegan Murray to a back issue. Murray has now missed as many games (two) as he did last season.

With that six-game trip in the books, 10 of the Kings’ next 11 scheduled games are at home. That doesn’t include the as-yet-unscheduled Week 7, but they’ll also be hosting the In-Season Tournament quarterfinal if they beat the Warriors on Tuesday to finish 4-0 in pool play.

They’re currently 4-1 at Golden 1 Center, but the one loss was to Golden State in Week 1, despite 39 points from Fox.

Week 6: vs. GSW*, vs. LAC, vs. DEN

Record: 11-6

OffRtg: 118.0 (5) DefRtg: 113.8 (18) NetRtg: +4.1 (9) Pace: 97.6 (27)

Bradley Beal remains out and Kevin Durant has missed the last two games. But the Suns have Devin Booker, and they’re 8-1 (with seven straight wins since he returned from his absence) with him in uniform. The Knicks tried to get the ball out of his hands in the final seconds on Sunday, but he got it back and drained the game-winning 3-pointer over Julius Randle.

Three takeaways

• The Suns have outscored their opponents by 15.3 points per 100 possessions with Booker on the floor. That’s the best on-court mark among 222 players who’ve averaged at least 20 minutes per game.

• In a win in Memphis on Friday, Booker was 7-for-11 from mid-range and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Otherwise, his shooting from the field over the last five games hasn’t been great. But he’s now 67-for-73 (92%) at the line while registering the highest free throw rate of his career (41 attempts per 100 shots from the field).

• The Suns (3-1, +34) are very likely going to be the Western Conference wildcard in the In-Season Tournament, which means they’ll be in L.A. next Monday or Tuesday and playing the Lakers five times this season. (The last time two teams played each other five times in the regular season was 2003-04, the last season with 29 teams.)

Durant was initially questionable for the game in New York on Sunday, so he could be back in the lineup this week. The Suns have two days off before finishing their three-game trip in Toronto on Wednesday (when they’ll have a rest advantage). Then they’re back home for the first meeting between the two teams many expected to compete in the Western Conference finals.

DEVIN BOOKER FADEAWAY 3 FOR THE LEAD ‼️

1.7 seconds remaining Knicks ball…

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— NBA (@NBA) November 27, 2023

Week 6: @ TOR, vs. DEN, vs. MEM

Record: 9-7

OffRtg: 113.7 (11) DefRtg: 109.5 (6) NetRtg: +4.2 (8) Pace: 96.6 (29)

The Knicks are 7-0 (one of six undefeated teams) against the 13 teams that are currently at or below .500. But they’re 2-7 against the other 16 teams that enter Week 6 with winning records, and that (1.000 vs. .222) is the league’s biggest such differential.

Three takeaways

• Playing three of those good teams last week, the Knicks faced deficits of at least 15 points in all three games. But they erased two of those deficits, with their games against the Heat and Suns over the weekend both coming down to opponent 3-point attempts from the right wing in the closing seconds. Jimmy Butler missed on Friday, while Devin Booker drained the game-winner two nights later.

• Though they scored 113 points on just 91 possessions against the Suns on Sunday, the much bigger difference between the Knicks’ games against good teams and their games against bad ones has been on offense. Prior to Sunday, they had scored just 102.3 points per 100 possessions in their eight games against the currently-over-.500 group.

• So maybe the Phoenix game, in which Jalen Brunson scored 35 points on 15-for-25 shooting, was a breakthrough. The only four games in which the New York offense has scored more efficiently were against the Hornets (x 2), Spurs and Wizards.

The Knicks get to play Charlotte again on Tuesday, and another double-digit win (they won the first two meetings by 22 and 14 points, respectively) would likely earn them a spot in the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals. They’ll get two more games against teams currently below .500 later in the week.

Week 6: vs. CHA*, vs. DET, @ TOR

Record: 10-6

OffRtg: 118.0 (4) DefRtg: 117.2 (25) NetRtg: +0.8 (15) Pace: 101.1 (8)

The Mavs split their two rest-advantage games in L.A. last week, edging the Lakers (after blowing a 20-point, fourth-quarter lead) with a 3-pointer from Kyrie Irving and getting blown out by the Clippers. They enter Week 6 as one of five Western Conference teams with six losses.

Three takeaways

• The Mavs shot just 9-for-38 (24%) from 3-point range on Saturday, but still made more 3s than the Clippers (8-for-29). They rank second in 3-point differential, having outscored their opponents by 10.9 points per game from beyond the arc. That’s mostly because they rank second in 3-point rate (47.3%), but they also have the league’s ninth lowest opponent rate (37.8%).

• But the Mavs have been outscored by more points in the paint (12.9 per game, the league’s worst discrepancy) than they’ve outscored their opponents by from 3-point range. Their loss to the Clippers (32-54) was the sixth time they’ve been outscored by at least 20 points in the paint.

• The Mavs have been slightly more efficient offensively with Luka Doncic off the floor (117.0 points scored per 100 possessions) than they’ve been with him on the floor (116.2). They’ve scored 123.8 per 100 in 143 total minutes with Irving on the floor without Doncic.

The loss on Saturday was the first time this season that the Mavs have scored less than a point per possession. They’ve got two more games against top-10 defenses (those of the Rockets and Thunder) this week. Their Friday-Saturday back-to-back (vs. Memphis and Oklahoma City) is the only of their 13 back-to-backs in which they don’t have to travel.

Week 6: vs. HOU*, vs. MEM, vs. OKC

Record: 10-7

OffRtg: 111.2 (24) DefRtg: 110.7 (9) NetRtg: +0.5 (16) Pace: 100.2 (14)

The Lakers won their four In-Season Tournament games by an average of 18.5 points, so they’ll be hosting a quarterfinal next Monday or Tuesday. They’re 6-7 in non-tournament games, but began a four-game trip with a good win in Cleveland on Saturday

Three takeaways

• The Lakers were without Jarred Vanderbilt (who still hasn’t played this season), Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura and Cam Reddish on Saturday, so they used just eight guys, with LeBron James logging at least 35 minutes for the 10th time this season. Seven of the eight scored in double-figures.

• Despite the balance, it wasn’t a particularly efficient offensive game, and the Lakers have been winning with defense. The last five games have been their best defensive stretch of the season (103.4 points allowed per 100 possessions) and have taken them from 19th to ninth in defensive efficiency.

• The Lakers’ offense has taken a step backward from last season, with an increase in turnovers being one issue. While James has been shooting well, his turnover rate (12.7 per 100 possessions used) is the highest of his career. The Lakers came back from 20 down after the third quarter against Dallas on Wednesday, but after the Mavs regained the league in the final minute, L.A. wasted too much time and James’ dangerous pass to Anthony Davis was intercepted.

The rest of the road trip includes games against a pair of teams — the Thunder and Sixers — that enter Week 6 with 11-5 records. All five of the Lakers’ games against OKC and Philly last season were within five points in the last five minutes.

Week 6: @ PHI, @ DET, @ OKC, vs. HOU

Record: 9-6

OffRtg: 123.6 (1) DefRtg: 120.0 (28) NetRtg: +3.6 (11) Pace: 104.4 (1)

The Pacers were the first team (and remain the only East team) to have clinched a spot in the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals, doing so by outlasting the Hawks in a ridiculous, 157-152 (regulation!) victory in Atlanta on Tuesday. They’re 5-6 (with three straight losses) in non-tournament games, but could be taking the highest-scoring offense in NBA history to Las Vegas.

Three takeaways

• You don’t often see a player getting double-teamed in the backcourt in the NBA. But both teams did it on Tuesday, with the Pacers doubling Trae Young in the backcourt early in the third and the Hawks doing it to Tyrese Haliburton after he caught fire. And yeah, there’s a reason you don’t do that in the NBA.

• There are five players who’ve shot 42% or better on at least 40 pull-up 3-point attempts, and two of the five – Haliburton (42.7%) an Buddy Hield (42.5%) – are Pacers. Haliburton made six pull-up 3s in his 26-point third quarter in Atlanta on Tuesday, and Hield won the game with two pull-up 3s in the final 80 seconds.

• The two shooters combined to go 12-for-22 from beyond the arc the following night, but the Pacers were outscored by 22 points by Toronto on 2-pointers and free throws. Their win over Detroit on Friday was the first time this season that they outscored their opponent at the free throw line.

After Friday’s games, the Pacers ranked first on offense and last on defense. Then the Wizards and Hornets managed to push the Indiana defense up to 28th. Their opponents have scored 120.0 points per 100 possessions, which is more than the Hawks’ second-ranked offense.

The league’s best and worst offenses will meet in Indiana on Monday. Then the Pacers will play a pair of big games in Miami.

Week 6: vs. POR, @ MIA, @ MIA

Record: 9-8

OffRtg: 111.8 (20) DefRtg: 111.4 (11) NetRtg: +0.4 (18) Pace: 101.1 (6)

The Pelicans have won the last five games in which they’ve had Zion Williamson, and all five of those are good wins within the Western Conference. But with Williamson sitting out the second game of a back-to-back in Utah on Saturday, the Pelicans came up empty offensively.

Three takeaways

• With their size, you’d think the Pelicans would rank higher than 10th in point differential in the restricted area (plus-1.8 per game). They did outscore the Kings by 50 points in the restricted area (92-42) as they swept a two-game series in New Orleans last week. Williamson (40) had almost as many restricted-area points as the Kings over the two games.

• Five of the Pelicans’ last six games have been within five points in the last five minutes. They’re 4-3 in clutch games overall, even though they’ve scored just 50 points on 60 clutch possessions (83 per 100). They haven’t shot especially poorly in the clutch, but have 15 turnovers on those 60 possessions. They had a chance to tie their game in Utah on Saturday, but Dyson Daniels committed a travel with 10 seconds left.

• The Pelicans’ most-used lineup (with Daniels at the point) has outscored opponents by 28.1 points per 100 possessions, and the team is 6-0 when that lineup has played together. But its 62 total minutes are the fewest for any team’s most-used lineup.

CJ McCollum practiced on Tuesday, so he could make his return this week, though the Pelicans have another back-to-back (vs. San Antonio, at Chicago) on Friday and Saturday. They went 3-1 in In-Season Tournament games, but need Dallas to beat the 2-1 Rockets on Tuesday to get a spot in the quarterfinals.

Week 6: @ UTA, vs. PHI, vs. SAS, @ CHI

Record: 10-7

OffRtg: 112.1 (18) DefRtg: 110.0 (8) NetRtg: +2.1 (14) Pace: 98.0 (25)

The Heat had a 21-point lead in the second half of their In-Season Tournament game in New York on Friday, and we were looking forward to a Group Play finale between two 3-0 teams this week. But that 21-point lead disappeared, Jimmy Butler went for the win, and his step-back 3-pointer rolled off the rim at the buzzer. With Butler and Bam Adebayo sitting out the following night in Brooklyn, the Heat went 2-3 on the first of the two five-game road trips they’ll have this season.

Three takeaways

• With that loss in New York, the Heat are the only team that’s lost two games it led by at least 20 points this season. Prior to their loss in Chicago nine days ago, they had won 68 straight games they led by 20-plus.

• The Heat have scored 116.2 points per 100 possessions and outscored their opponents by 7.5 per 100 through the first three quarters of games. In the fourth, they’ve scored just 99.5 and been outscored by 14.5 per 100. Butler’s effective field goal percentage of 30.0% in the fourth quarter is the second worst mark for any player (with at least 30 field goal attempts) in any quarter.

• With Duncan Robinson missing the last two games with a thumb injury, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. is the only Heat player to have played in all 17 games. Their original starting lineup (with Tyler Herro and Kevin Love) and their most recent starting lineup (with Robinson and Haywood Highsmith) have outscored their opponents by 20.3 points per 100 possessions, but have played just 112 total minutes.

The Heat have played the league’s most road-heavy schedule to date, with 12 of their 17 games having come away from Biscayne Bay. Nine of their next 11 scheduled games (not including next week, which is undetermined) are at home, where they’re 4-1.

The first of those is their In-Season Tournament group-play finale on Tuesday, and they’ll probably need a decisive victory over the Bucks to advance to the quarterfinals.

Week 6: vs. MIL*, vs. IND, vs. IND

Record: 9-8

OffRtg: 110.6 (25) DefRtg: 112.5 (14) NetRtg: -2.0 (22) Pace: 99.5 (17)

The Cavs got a great win (without Donovan Mitchell) in Philadelphia on Tuesday, but that was immediately followed by a 33-point, rest-disadvantage loss (at home) to Miami. They’re still looking for consistency, both in regard to who’s able to play and how well they play when everybody’s available.

Three takeaways

• Mitchell returned from a four-game absence on Saturday, only for the Cavs to lose Darius Garland to a neck strain. Both were available for all 48 minutes the following night, but the Cavs’ when-healthy lineup has still played just 84 total minutes together.

• Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have made several big-to-big connections in the last week, including one that gave the Cavs a late lead on Tuesday and another that put them up four late on Sunday. The two bigs have 19 total assists to each other, a rate of 3.0 per 36 minutes on the floor together. That’s double their rate from last season (1.5 per 36).

• The Cavs still have the league’s 27th-ranked bench (in part because of absences in the starting lineup), but bench minutes were critical in both of their minutes last week. Two-way rookie Craig Porter Jr. was especially huge in the Philly win, dishing out nine assists and finishing over Joel Embiid for a go-ahead bucket in overtime.

The Cavs still haven’t been able to crack the top 10 on the defensive end of the floor, but they’re two games into a stretch where they’re playing four of five against bottom-10 offenses. The exception is their In-Season Tournament game against the Hawks on Tuesday when a decisive victory would give them a chance at the East wildcard.

Week 6: vs. ATL*, vs. POR, @ DET

Record: 8-6

OffRtg: 111.9 (19) DefRtg: 106.8 (1) NetRtg: +5.1 (6) Pace: 97.1 (28)

The Rockets are 0-5 (and the league’s only winless team) on the road, having been outscored by 24 points from 3-point range (in a five-point loss) at Golden State on Monday. But they’re 8-1 (with eight straight wins) at home, having held the Grizzlies and Nuggets to just 90.8 points per 100 possessions later in the week.

Three takeaways

• With the Rockets holding both of these last two opponents well under a point possession, the bigger difference between the Home Rockets and the Road Rockets has been on defense; They’ve allowed 12.9 fewer points per 100 possessions at the Toyota Center than they have elsewhere.

• On the other end of the floor, Jabari Smith Jr. has an effective field goal percentage of 67.2% at home and just 45.8% on the road.

• Their starting lineup has played more minutes than any five-man group and the Rockets rank 28th in bench scoring (just 26.6 points per game). But bench minutes were big in both of their wins last week. The Memphis game was tied late in the third quarter, but the Rockets went on a 28-9 run spanning the third and fourth. Two nights later, they were tied with the Nuggets late in the first quarter before going on a 28-2 run spanning the first and second.

The Rockets will win West Group B in the In-Season Tournament … if they can get their first road win of the season in Dallas on Tuesday. They’ve played four more home games than road games, and the tournament finale is the start of a three or four-game trip, depending on their Week 7 schedule.

Week 6: @ DAL*, @ DEN, @ LAL

Record: 7-8

OffRtg: 112.3 (16) DefRtg: 108.7 (5) NetRtg: +3.6 (10) Pace: 99.0 (21)

After an 0-5 start with James Harden, the Clippers have won four of their last five games. And their best win of the season came on Saturday when they outscored the Mavs by 34 points (46-12) in the restricted area.

Three takeaways

• The much bigger difference between the Clippers’ first five games with Harden and their last five has been on defense, where they’ve allowed just 102.2 points per 100 possessions over this 4-1 stretch. The first four games came against teams that rank in the bottom 12 offensively, but Saturday was the first time that the Mavs’ fourth-ranked offense has been held under a point per possession.

• The 4-1 stretch coincides with Terance Mann replacing Russell Westbrook in the starting lineup. The new lineup has allowed just 90.4 points per 100 possessions, fewest among 36 lineups that have played at least 75 minutes, but some of that success is about the opponents shooting just 11-for-54 (20.4%) from 3-point range.

• The Clippers are 7-8 with the point differential (plus-4.1 per game, fourth in the West) of a team that’s 10-5. That’s the biggest difference between a team’s actual record and its “expected” record via point differential.

There are seven West teams with a better record and worse point differential than the 11th-place Clips. They’ll play four games against three of those teams – the Nuggets, Kings and Warriors (x 2) this week, having lost their first game against Denver by three points.

The games in northern California on Wednesday and Thursday are the end of the Clippers’ first stretch of five games in seven days. Neither Kawhi Leonard nor Paul George has missed a game yet (the Clippers have played two back-to-backs thus far), though the former shot 2-for-12 with no rest on Saturday.

Week 6: vs. DEN, @ SAC, @ GSW, vs. GSW

Record: 8-9

OffRtg: 113.0 (14) DefRtg: 112.9 (15) NetRtg: +0.1 (20) Pace: 100.4 (12)

The Warriors couldn’t hang with the Suns in Phoenix on Wednesday when Chris Paul got ejected before halftime (with his team already down double-digits). But they broke out of their offensive slump and got two more wins at the Chase Center last week (2-0) than they had through the first four (1-6).

Three takeaways

• The Warriors have played 13 clutch games, two more than any other team. Their only win that wasn’t within five points in the last five minutes was Oct. 30 in New Orleans.

• Klay Thompson has begun to warm up, shooting 14-for-28 from 3-point range over the last three games. Against the Spurs on Saturday, he had at least seven free throw attempts for just the second time (in 152 games) since the 2019 Finals and at least six assists for just the fourth time in that same time span.

• With his five-game suspension over, Draymond Green can return to the lineup this week. The Warriors are 4-3 when they’ve had their full starting lineup together, but that lineup has been outscored by 14.4 points per 100 possessions in its 87 minutes on the floor together, down from plus-21.9 in 331 minutes last season. The 126.6 points per 100 possessions it allowed is the second worst defensive mark among 36 lineups that have played at least 75 minutes.

The Warriors have played the league’s toughest schedule, with 15 of their 17 games having come against teams that currently have winning records. Only one other team – the Lakers (12) – has played more than 11 games against that group.

Golden State can win West Group C if it can win in Sacramento on Tuesday when Green makes his return. The Kings are 3-0 in the In-Season Tournament, but the Warriors are 2-0 in the season series, having come back from double-digit deficits in both games.

Week 6: @ SAC*, vs. LAC, @ LAC

Record: 8-8

OffRtg: 119.4 (2) DefRtg: 117.1 (24) NetRtg: +2.3 (13) Pace: 102.8 (3)

There are three teams – Atlanta, Dallas and Indiana – that rank in the top 10 on offense, in the bottom 10 on defense, and in the top 10 in pace. The first game between any two of those teams was all we could have hoped for, though the Hawks are on the wrong side of the 157-152 score on Tuesday.

Three takeaways

• The Hawks’ 152 points on 108 possessions (140.7 per 100) was the most efficient performance for a losing team in more than four years (since Rockets-Wizards in Oct. 2019). Trae Young’s effective field goal percentage of 91.2% was his highest mark in 305 career games in which he’s attempted at least 15 shots.

• Young did keep things going to a certain degree. He shot 13-for-24 from 3-point range over the next to games and the Hawks’ four games last week were four of the six times this season that he’s registered an effective field goal percentage over 50%. He made two shots for the lead in the final minute of overtime in the Hawks’ rest-disadvantage win over Brooklyn on Wednesday.

• A fracture in the left wrist of Jalen Johnson is a big setback for one of the best development stories in the league this season. Johnson has thrived in a larger role, seeing huge jumps in both his per-game numbers and his shooting stats. He’s also a terrific passer for his size, the kind of player that can grab a rebound, take off down the floor and make a play if he’s not coasting to the rim himself.

Saddiq Bey replaced Johnson in the starting lineup on Sunday when the Hawks got off to a slow start (four points on their first eight possessions) in Boston and suffered their second wire-to-wire defeat of the season.

With that, the Hawks have lost their last five games against teams that currently have winning records. They’ll play two more games against that group this week, having won in Milwaukee (where they’ll be on Saturday) in Week 1.

Week 6: @ CLE*, @ SAS, @ MIL

Record: 8-9

OffRtg: 111.6 (22) DefRtg: 112.1 (12) NetRtg: -0.5 (21) Pace: 99.1 (20)

The Raptors found some offense last week, scoring more than 120 points per 100 possessions in wins over the Pacers and Bulls. But the offense disappeared in Cleveland on Sunday and they’ve now lost their last four attempts to get over .500.

Three takeaways

• The Raptors got a lot of offensive rebounds and a lot of free throws on Sunday. But shooting continues to be an issue. They’re the only team that ranks in the bottom five in both 3-point percentage (34.2%, 26th) and free throw percentage (72.7%, 28th), having shot 8-for-32 from beyond the arc and 20-for-29 (69%) from the line in a three-point loss on Sunday.

• Pascal Siakam is now at 22% from 3-point range (the worst mark among 153 players with at least 50 attempts) after going 0-for-4 on Sunday.

• OG Anunoby is one guy who can’t be blamed for the Raptors’ shooting issues. He’s shot a career-best 41.0% from 3-point range on a career-high 7.2 attempts per 36 minutes, and the Raptors have also allowed 8.2 fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the floor than they’ve allowed with him off the floor. There’s always been a desire for him to be more than a 3-and-D forward, but he’s certainly making the 3-and-D work.

The Raptors are one of four Eastern Conference teams that have no chance of reaching the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals, but their tournament finale (in Brooklyn on Tuesday) is a great opportunity for them to move up the regular East standings.

With their loss in Cleveland on Sunday, the Raps are just 1-3 in rest-advantage games. They’ll have another on Friday against the Knicks, but will be at a disadvantage two nights earlier against Phoenix.

Week 6: @ BKN*, vs. PHX, vs. NYK

Record: 8-8

OffRtg: 115.8 (9) DefRtg: 115.4 (22) NetRtg: +0.4 (17) Pace: 98.8 (22)

The Nets continue to mostly beat the bad teams and lose to the good ones. They do have two wins over the Heat, but Miami was without both Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo when the Nets beat them with a rest advantage on Saturday.

Three takeaways

• The Nets are the only team that ranks in the top five in both 3-point percentage (39.2%, fourth) and the percentage of their shots that have come from 3-point range (44.0%, fourth). Their 26 3s (on 53 attempts) in their win over the Bulls on Sunday were two more than any other team has made in a game this season. All nine Nets who played attempted at least two shots from beyond the arc.

• Though they shoot 3s at a high volume, they’re only 7-5 (the league’s 20th best mark) when they’ve shot better than the league average (36.1%) from beyond the arc. The 12 games of better-than-average 3-point shooting (including six straight through Sunday) are tied with Oklahoma City for the league lead.

• After playing in six straight games, Nic Claxton missed the win over Chicago with an ankle issue. When Claxton has been out, the Nets have chosen to start Dorian Finney-Smith (rather than Day’Ron Sharpe) at the five. That certainly helps their spacing and 3-point volume, but the eight most-used lineups that don’t include Claxton, Sharpe or Ben Simmons have allowed more than 125 points per 100 possessions in 119 total minutes.

The Nets still have a shot at the In-Season Tournament wild card if they can beat the Raptors on Tuesday. That’s also a big game in regard to the regular Eastern Conference standings.

Week 6: vs. TOR*, vs. CHA, vs. ORL

Record: 5-10

OffRtg: 112.2 (17) DefRtg: 120.0 (29) NetRtg: -7.9 (26) Pace: 101.1 (7)

The Hornets won two straight games for the first time this season, with one of those coming against the Celtics. And then they got Terry Rozier back from a nine-game absence … only to lose LaMelo Ball to an ankle injury in Orlando on Sunday.

Three takeaways

• In both of their wins last week, the Hornets trailed by at least 18 points. They were still down nine with two minutes left against Boston, and they were down 13 to start the fourth quarter against Washington. They’re the only team with three wins (they’re 3-8) in games they trailed by at least 15 points. (They were 3-40 when trailing by 15-plus last season.)

• Before turning his ankle on Sunday, Ball had scored at least 34 points in each of his last four games, giving him more 30-point games (seven) than he had all of last season (six).

• The offense hasn’t been terrible with Ball off the floor. He was injured in the second quarter on Sunday, and the Hornets were more efficient in the second half (60 points on 54 possessions) than they were in the first. They just couldn’t get stops on the other end of the floor.

With or without Ball, the defense has to be better. Only the Wizards (+5.7) have seen a bigger jump in points allowed per 100 possessions from last season than the Hornets (+5.3).

Their three games against the Knicks and Nets have been three of the league-leading seven times that the Hornets have allowed more than 125 points per 100 possessions. They’re in New York to face them both again this week.

Week 6: @ NYK*, @ BKN, vs. MIN

Record: 5-11

OffRtg: 111.7 (21) DefRtg: 118.2 (26) NetRtg: -6.5 (24) Pace: 101.0 (9)

Walker Kessler returned from a seven-game absence on Saturday, and the Jazz, playing without Lauri Markkanen, ended a four-game losing streak by holding the Pelicans (who were without Zion Williamson) to just a point per possession. That was Utah’s best defensive game (by the numbers) against a team that’s not the Blazers.

Three takeaways

• The improved defensive numbers were about more than Kessler’s 21 minutes off the bench on Saturday. And the bad defense (125.4 points allowed per 100 possessions) over the losing streak was about more than his absence. In L.A. on Tuesday, the Lakers scored a season-high 58 points in the restricted area, with the Jazz showing a disturbing inability to put out fires, like Anthony Davis driving down (or just standing in) the middle of the paint.

• The Jazz have actually allowed the fewest drives per 100 possessions (40.1), but their opponents have shot 59.9% in the paint. That’s the league’s fifth worst opponent mark.

• The Jazz are 4-0 when they’ve led at the half. They were 0-11 when tied or behind at the half until they came back from a 10-point, halftime deficit (they actually trailed by nine after the third quarter) against the Pelicans on Saturday.

This is the time for the Jazz to be showing some defensive improvement, because (starting with last week) they’re in the middle of the stretch where six of seven games are against teams that rank in the bottom 11 offensively.

That includes their third meetings (coming this week) against both the Grizzlies and Blazers. They’re 2-0 against Memphis and 1-1 against Portland, having allowed 110.3 points per 100 possessions over the four games.

Week 6: vs. NOP, @ MEM, @ MIN, vs. POR

Record: 5-13

OffRtg: 109.3 (27) DefRtg: 115.2 (21) NetRtg: -5.9 (23) Pace: 96.4 (30)

The Bulls have given management no reason to reconsider the idea of trading a piece of their veteran core. They’ve lost seven of their last eight games and are closer to last place in the Eastern Conference than they are to the Play-In club.

Three takeaways

• Heading into their game in Brooklyn on Sunday, the Bulls hadn’t won a first quarter in their previous nine games, and they’d been outscored by a total of 44 points (121-77) in the opening period in their previous four. They actually won the first quarter by 17 points (shooting 8-for-12 from 3-point range) in Brooklyn … and then lost the second quarter by 25.

• Even with the big first quarter on Sunday, the Bulls’ offense has scored 15.0 more points per 100 possessions in the second halves of games (117.0, 10th) than it has in first halves (102.0, 30th). That’s the league’s biggest half-to-half differential on either end of the floor.

• With the Nets going 26-for-53 from beyond the arc on Sunday, Bulls opponents have taken 46.4% of their shots from 3-point range, which would be the highest opponent rate in the 45 seasons of the 3-point line.

Their two losses over the weekend were just the third and fourth times this season that the Bulls have scored more efficiently than the league average, so they got that going for them. Patrick Williams has also been a bright spot in their four-game losing streak.

But the Bulls will now play two of the top three teams in the East, having already lost to the Bucks with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan combining to shoot 8-for-33.

Week 6: @ BOS*, vs. MIL, vs. NOP

Record: 4-12

OffRtg: 104.8 (30) DefRtg: 113.3 (16) NetRtg: -8.4 (28) Pace: 98.2 (24)

While the Pistons, Spurs and Wizards kept their losing streaks going last week, the Blazers put an end to theirs (eight games) with a win over the Jazz on Wednesday, easily their best offensive performance (121 points on 99 possessions) of the season.

Three takeaways

• Jerami Grant led the way with 30 points on 10-for-13 shooting in the win. It was just the second time this season that he’d made at least half his shots, with the other time (10-for-17 eight days earlier) having also come against the Jazz. He’s been more consistent at the free throw line, where he’s wildly 5-for-6 in each of the last four games.

• The offense carried over through the first 27 minutes of the Blazers’ game in Milwaukee on Sunday, when they scored 81 points on their first 61 possessions (133 per 100). And then they scored just 21 on their final 42 trips down the floor as they blew a 26-point lead, the largest that any team has blown in a loss this season.

• Scoot Henderson returned from a nine-game absence on Wednesday and came off the bench for the last two games. He shot just 1-for-7 in the win over the Jazz, but had seven assists in less than 17 minutes. He then scored a career-high 13 points in Milwaukee. He’s played only about a third of his 186 minutes alongside Malcolm Brogdon thus far.

The Sunday collapse was brutal, but the Blazers’ 30th-ranked offense has at least shown some signs of life. They’ll get to face the Jazz again at the completion of this road trip, which continues with a game against the league’s 28th-ranked defense (that of the Pacers) on Monday.

Week 6: @ IND, @ CLE, @ UTA

Record: 3-13

OffRtg: 105.7 (29) DefRtg: 114.0 (19) NetRtg: -8.3 (27) Pace: 99.4 (18)

Eight days ago, the Grizzlies lost by just two to the team (Boston) with the league’s best record. But since then, they’ve dropped three straight by at least 20 points, giving them as many losses by 20-plus (5) as the Spurs.

Three takeaways

• The Grizz rank 29th offensively, but hadn’t scored less than a point per possession until Wednesday, when they shot just 16-for-39 (41%) in the paint and scored just 91 points on 98 possessions in Houston. Then they did it again two nights later, scoring just 89 on 93 against the Suns.

• In total, they’ve scored just 98.7 points per 100 possessions over their four-game losing streak, 114.9 per 100 over the four first quarters and just 93.4 per 100 in quarters 2-4.

• The one thing the Grizzlies have done well is force turnovers, ranking fifth in opponent turnover rate (16.2 per 100 possessions). Jacob Gilyard has averaged 4.7 deflections per 36 minutes, sixth most among 259 players who’ve played at least 200 minutes.

The Grizz still haven’t won at home. Their game against Utah on Wednesday should be a good opportunity to get off the FedExForum schneid, but they’ve already lost twice to the Jazz, having allowed 125 points per 100 possessions over the two games.

Week 6: vs. UTA, @ DAL, @ PHX

Record: 3-14

OffRtg: 106.3 (28) DefRtg: 119.0 (27) NetRtg: -12.7 (30) Pace: 102.5 (4)

The Spurs’ last three losses have been to the Clippers, Warriors and Nuggets by a total of just 25 points. But their losing streak is now at 12 games and they’re the streaking team that doesn’t get to play one of the others (see Wizards-Pistons) this week.

Three takeaways

• Their loss in Denver on Sunday was the Spurs’ most efficient offensive game (120 points on 105 possessions) during the losing streak, and came with six players scoring in double figures. One of the six was Victor Wembanyama, who’s scored at least 20 points in three straight games for the first time.

• There have been three games this season where a player had at least four steals and four blocks, and two of the three have come from rookies: Ausar Thompson (four and four) vs. Phoenix and Victor Wembanyama (six and four) in Denver on Sunday. Wembanyama was the first rookie with at least 10 steals + blocks in a game since Nerlens Noel in Feb. 2015.

• Devin Vassell returned from a three-game absence on Wednesday, but has come off the bench in each of the last three games. The Spurs’ starting lineup with Vassell has been outscored by 14.6 points per 100 possessions in its 84 minutes, but the lineup with Malaki Branham in Vassell’s place has been worse (minus-24.8 per 100).

Tre Jones was a plus-14 in Denver on Sunday and the Spurs have still outscored their opponents by 8.1 points per 100 possessions in his 193 minutes on the floor alongside Wembanyama. This team isn’t going to be good either way, but playing those two together for more than 14 minutes a night might be helpful.

Wembanyama has played in all 17 of the Spurs games, which come at a faster pace than he’s used to. The next two weeks will be more like the French league, with the Spurs having just four games over the next 14 days, though their two this week are a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday.

Week 6: vs. ATL, @ NOP

Record: 2-14

OffRtg: 111.5 (23) DefRtg: 120.6 (30) NetRtg: -9.2 (29) Pace: 103.7 (2)

The Pistons have lost 13 straight games, but aren’t the only team with the league’s worst record. The Wizards have lost nine straight to join Detroit at 2-14.

Three takeaways

• Washington’s losing streak includes two losses to the Hornets, Charlotte’s second and third best offensive games of the season. The first was more about rebounding, while their game on Wednesday (which the Wizards led by 13 after the third quarter) was more about 3-point shooting.

• Jordan Poole was the only Wizard on the floor for all of that 39-23 fourth quarter on Wednesday. The Wizards are 2-14 even though they’ve outscored their opponents by 6.0 points per 100 possessions with Poole off the floor. The 21.1 per 100 that they’ve been outscored by with him on the floor is, by far, the worst on-court mark among 222 players who’ve averaged at least 20 minutes per game.

• The Wiz did have fourth-quarter leads in both of their games against the Bucks last week, and Landry Shamet had a great look for the tie with 15 seconds left on Friday. Among 15 different opponents, only the Pacers have scored more efficiently against Milwaukee.

It’ll be the 2-14 Wizards vs. the 2-14 Pistons in Detroit on Monday when one of these losing streaks will come to an end. The one thing the Pistons have done well this season is rebound on the offensive end of the floor, and the Wizards have a tendency to get clobbered on the glass.

.@landryshamet showing off ALL the bounce 😯

Flight of the Week, presented by @NATCA ✈️ pic.twitter.com/zuhsPQ57Z2

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 25, 2023

Week 6: @ DET, @ ORL, @ ORL

Record: 2-14

OffRtg: 109.4 (26) DefRtg: 116.6 (23) NetRtg: -7.2 (25) Pace: 100.4 (11)

The Pistons had fourth-quarter leads against both the Nuggets and Pacers last week, and they’re still ahead of five other teams in point differential. But they’ve now lost 13 straight games.

Three takeaways

• Half of the Pistons’ games have been within five points in the last five minutes, and they’ve scored an incredibly anemic 35 points on 56 clutch offensive possessions (63 per 100). They’ve scored less than a point per possession in all seven of their games in which they had the ball with the score within five in the last five. (Their game in Indiana was only within five in the last five for a single defensive possession, and the Pistons eventually lost by 23.)

• The Pistons have taken just 32.2% of their shots from 3-point range, which would be lowest rate for any team in the last three seasons. After outscoring their opponents from beyond the arc in each of their first five games, they’ve done so just once in their last 11, with their differential in Indiana on Friday (minus-27) being their worst of the season.

• The lack of 3-point shooting around him may be a reason why Cade Cunningham has shot just 43.2% in the paint, much worse than he shot as a rookie (48.7%). Cunningham has shot 7-for-13 from 3-point range himself over the last three games and was 20-for-20 from the line last week.

The good news is that Bojan Bogdanovic could make his season debut this week. The Pistons’ best chance to end the losing streak will come on Monday when they’ll have their first meeting with the Wizards, who’ve lost nine straight games themselves.

AUSAR THOMPSON TWO-HAND JAM 💥

🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament pic.twitter.com/3aRMBZendo

— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 25, 2023

Week 6: vs. WAS, vs. LAL, @ NYK, vs. CLE