NBA Power Rankings: Week Thirteen

Jan 22, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a shot during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (36-10, Last week: #3)

Kevin Durant returned from injury to post a triple-double 32 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists. He followed that up by making it eleven consecutive games scoring thirty or more points with a 41-point night against Atlanta including the game-winning jumper with the defense draped all over them. Only five others have achieved such a streak in the last 24 years – Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James. He’s now the MVP front-runner on a team that still waits to welcome back one of the two or three best point guards in the league.

Offensive Rating: 107.4, Defensive Rating: 99.1

2. Indiana Pacers (34-9, Last week: #1)

Indiana finally played in a game where they were nowhere close to winning in their lost to Phoenix. It was bound to happen but that it came this late in the season and on the second night of a back-to-back still bodes well for them. Also, Lance Stephenson is going to get paid this season. His transformation from bench cheerleader two seasons ago to probable $10 million per-year cornerstone is startling.

ORtg: 102.7, DRtg: 93.9