NBA Power Rankings – December 24, 2013

Filed Under: Sixers, Sports

1. Indiana Pacers (22-5)The Pacers let one slip away in Miami but still lead the Heat by 1.5 games. For now, that’s all that matters. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

2. Miami Heat (20-6)Miami beat Indiana, and Dwyane Wade got engaged. Good week for the Heat. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

3. Portland Trail Blazers (23-5)Damian Lillard is averaging 33.7 points over his last three games. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images)

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (22-5)The Thunder’s first home loss of the season came Sunday to, of all teams, Toronto. It’s just a blip on the radar, but it’s also a blip that dropped Oklahoma City to second in the Western Conference. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

5. San Antonio Spurs (21-6)Another loss to an elite team, another loss to the Thunder. (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

6. Los Angeles Clippers (20-9)The Clippers – thanks to 32 and 10 from Blake Griffin and 19 and 13 from Chris Paul – came back to beat the Timberwolves in overtime and remain in the top four out West. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

7. Houston Rockets (18-10)Patrick Beverley (broken hand) will miss up to six weeks, meaning Jeremy Lin (back spasms) needs to suit up and deal with it. (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

8. Phoenix Suns (16-10)Phoenix outscored Dallas 45-9 from three-point range in a 123-108 win on Saturday. That’s seven wins in eight games. (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

9. Golden State Warriors (15-13)It had been a rough stretch for the Warriors (five losses in eight games), but let’s see if Saturday’s 102-83 blowout of the Lakers sparks a run. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

10. Dallas Mavericks (15-12)The Mavs are 6-8 following their 9-4 start.(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

11. Atlanta Hawks (15-12)Atlanta has won three straight games – all against losing teams from the Western Conference (Lakers, Kings and Jazz). (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)

12. Denver Nuggets (14-12)Three straight losses. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

13. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-15)Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic combined for 79 points and 33 rebounds in a 120-116 overtime loss to the Clippers. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

14. Los Angeles Lakers (13-14)Losing Kobe Bryant for another six weeks makes a playoff berth unlikely. Unfortunately for the Lakers, that’s the least of their problems. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

15. New Orleans Pelicans (11-14)That’s four straight losses for New Orleans – all on the road, all against winning teams from the West. (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

16. Toronto Raptors (11-14)Great win for Toronto. The Raptors allowed Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to combine for 51 but held everyone else to single digits. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

17. Memphis Grizzlies (11-15)Zach Randolph (25 points and 15 rebounds in a 95-87 win over the Knicks) helped the Grizzlies snap a five-game losing streak. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

18. Washington Wizards (12-13)The Wizards have won three straight and are almost back to .500. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

19. Detroit Pistons (13-16)Detroit has lost six of nine after starting 10-10. (Photo by D. Williams/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

20. Charlotte Bobcats (13-15)First Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (broken hand), now Jeff Taylor (ruptured Achilles). The latter is out for the season; the former needs to return as soon as possible. (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)

21. Boston Celtics (12-17)No one expected Boston to win at Indiana, but a 27-point loss makes a weak No. 8 seed look even weaker. The Celtics have now lost five of seven, including three straight. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

22. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-16)Losing 119-116 to the Trail Blazers might have been Cleveland’s most impressive performance last week. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images)

D.J. AugustineD.J. Augustine is no Derrick Rose, but he did have 18 points and 10 assists in 46 minutes in a 100-84 home win over the Cavs on Saturday. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

24. Brooklyn Nets (9-17)Brook Lopez has a broken right foot (again), which means Kevin Garnett – just as he did in Boston – might take over center duties. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

25. Sacramento Kings (8-18)Completely random stat: The Kings are 2-0 when Rudy Gay plays at least 39 minutes; they’re 0-4 when he doesn’t. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

26. New York Knicks (8-18)For what it’s worth, the Knicks are 5-5 since their 3-13 start. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

27. Orlando Magic (8-19)The Magic have lost four of five. Their one win? A one-point victory against the Rose-less Bulls. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

28. Utah Jazz (8-22)Trey Burke is about the only thing the Jazz have going for themselves. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

29. Philadelphia 76ers (8-20)The defense, which is allowing a league-worst 111.7 points, remains atrocious. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

30. Milwaukee Bucks (6-21)Saturday’s 10-point win over Philadelphia snapped a five-game losing streak. (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

CFEVA Art PartyCredit: HughE Dillon.