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NBA Power Rankings: The Heat are looking good

By Daniel Lewis

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 26: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play during the game against the Orlando Magic on December 26, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 26: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat reacts to a play during the game against the Orlando Magic on December 26, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – OCTOBER 24: Damian Lillard
PORTLAND, OR – OCTOBER 24: Damian Lillard /

New Orleans Pelicans. 14. team. 69. . . Previous: 16th

DeMarcus Cousins stepped up Monday after Anthony Davis had to leave the game with a sprained ankle, scoring 16 points after his teammate had to go to the locker room. Davis left the Pelicans in a good place, with 30 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes. Davis missed the Pelicans game against the Grizzlies, and his teammates narrowly lost to their former teammate Tyreke Evans, 105-102. Davis returned with a vengeance against Portland, picking up 36 points and nine rebounds, missing just seven of his 23 field goal attempts. Cousins had himself quite the game against Jusuf Nurkic, bulldozing the Trail Blazers for 24 points and 19 rebounds in 36 minutes.

Davis’ really good and impressive week continued when New Orleans traveled up to New York for a game against the Knicks, with 48 points and 17 rebounds in game that needed five extra minutes to decide the outcome. They rallied from down nine points with just over four minutes remaining, holding the Knicks to 22 points in the fourth quarter and overtime after giving up 39 points in the third quarter. After reaching the halfway mark of the season, the Pelicans are two games over .500 and in prime position to make the postseason, where they’ll rely on their formula of having two dominant big men that can give them a chance on any night.

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