NBA Playoff Power Rankings: Sixers Hold On to Top Spot As Lakers Soar to Third

• The Philadelphia 76ers kept hold of the top spot after beating the Boston Celtics in Game 1
• The Nuggets remained in second after taking a 2-0 lead in their series against the Suns
• The Lakers soared to third after taking a 1-0 series lead against the Warriors 

Action has been intense in the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

The Philadelphia 76ers preserved their unbeaten record in the postseason with a Game 1 win over the Boston Celtics.

They claimed the top spot in this week’s power rankings. 

1. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers extended their winning streak in the playoffs to five games with a 119-115 victory over the Celtics in their series opener.

Derrick White scores 26, powers Boston Celtics to Game 2 win over Atlanta Hawks

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James Harden starred for Philadelphia, scoring 45 points in Game 1, per NBC Sports.

He stepped up in the absence of Joel Embiid, who was sidelined because of a knee injury.

Harden delivered when it mattered most, knocking down the go-ahead 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds left.

2. Denver Nuggets 

The Nuggets took care of business during the first part of their series against the Suns, winning Games 1 and 2 at home to take a 2-0 lead.

Jamal Murray starred in the Game 1 win, scoring 34 points in the 125-107 victory.

Nikola Jokic took over in Game 2 for Denver, scoring 39 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in the Nuggets’ 97-87 win.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers stole a win on the road in their series against the Warriors, recording a thrilling 117-112 victory in Game 1 at Chase Center.

Anthony Davis scored 30 points and grabbed 23 boards for the Lakers, who survived a late rally by the Warriors in the series opener.

Darius Garland bounces back in Game 2 as Cavaliers tie series with Knicks

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LeBron James also contributed in that Game 1 win, recording 22 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists.

4. Miami Heat 

The Heat came so close to heading to Miami with a 2-0 series lead. They nearly recorded an upset in Game 2, leading the Knicks by three points with less than five minutes remaining despite playing without their leader Jimmy Butler.

Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent stepped up in Butler’s absence, combining for 43 points in the Heat’s 111-105 loss.

They must replicate those numbers in Game 3 if Butler is still sidelined for that contest.

5. Boston Celtics 

The Celtics squandered a huge opportunity to go 1-0 up in their series against the Sixers.

Turnovers doomed the Celtics, who failed to take advantage of Embiid’s absence in Game 1.

They will still fancy their chances of winning this series as their top stars are currently playing outstanding basketball.

Devin Booker ignites Game 2 rally as Suns level series with Clippers

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Jayson Tatum went toe-to-toe with Harden in Game 1, racking up 39 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.

Jaylen Brown and Malcolm Brogdon also contributed, scoring 26 and 20 points, respectively, in Game 1.

6. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors nearly recorded one of the greatest comebacks in playoff history in Game 1 against the Lakers.

They unleashed a 14-0 run in the closing minutes of Game 1 to erase a 14-point deficit.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, their rally fell short as the Lakers scored the final five points to hold on to the victory.

Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole each made six 3-pointers in Game 1. The Warriors outscored the Lakers by 45 points from beyond the arc but still lost in the contest.

7. New York Knicks

The Knicks avoided falling into a 0-2 hole against Miami, recording a six-point win over the Heat in Game 2.

Memphis Grizzlies sans Morant stun Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 to level series at 1-1

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Jalen Brunson and the returning Julius Randle led the Knicks in that victory, combining for 55 points against the Heat.

Brunson scored 10 of his 30 points in the Knicks’ 14-3 run in the fourth quarter that swung the momentum in their favor.

He made six 3-pointers in Game 2 after missing all seven attempts from deep in Game 1.

8. Phoenix Suns 

The Suns are in trouble. They are down 0-2 in the series against the Nuggets. To make matters worse for Phoenix, Chris Paul may be out for the remainder of the series after suffering a groin injury in Game 2.

Paul’s injury puts more pressure on Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to carry the scoring load for the Suns. They combined for 59 points in the Game 2 loss.

Fans blame Poole for loss

Sports Brief recently reported on reactions to the Lakers’ win over the Warriors in Game 1.

Trae Young, Dejounte Murray sizzle as Hawks knock down Celtics in Game 3

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Fans took to social media to blast Poole’s three-point attempt in the closing seconds of the series opener

He missed a 28-footer with 10 seconds remaining that sealed the Warriors’ fate in Game 1.