NBA Power Rankings week 15: OKC Thunder and teams hit trade deadline

Toronto Raptors:

Offense: (111.0) 13th
Defense: (104.3) 2nd
Net: (plus +6.7)  4th

 
Results Week 15: (4-0) Won vs. Hawks: 130-114, Cavaliers: 115-109, Pistons: 105-92, Bulls: 129-102
Games Week 16: (3 games) Weds vs Pacers | Fri at Pacers | Sat vs Nets

Last season the defending champions hit the 50 game mark with a record of 36-14! What is startling about this season is they’ve accomplished this without a “superstar” (although Pascal Siakam continues to ascend). More importantly, they’re doing it amidst constant injuries to core talent.

Norman Powell may never want to play in Detroit again. In the first visit, he injured his shoulder and missed the next 11 games. Friday he broke the ring finger on his left hand so he joins Marc Gasol and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson on the sidelines.

But, this squad who are arguably the best at spotting talent and then developing it takes the adage “next man up” to heart. That was the case Sunday as undrafted rookie Terence Davis response to his exclusion from the Rising Stars game was a career-high 31 point effort (12 of 15 from the field and 6 of 7 from deep).

The win ties the franchise-best 11 wins in a row. They’ll attempt to set a new mark but face a tough home and home series versus the Pacers.