NBA Power Rankings Week 9: Milwaukee remain on top as Philadelphia 76ers continue to climb

We are now two months into the 2019-20 NBA season and a few teams in each Conference are starting to pull away from a crowded chasing pack. With more than two-thirds of the season still to be played, plenty could still change and here we will take a look at the latest NBA power rankings heading into Week 9.

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#10 Denver Nuggets - Record: 17-8

Nikola Jokic appears to be nearing his best following a tough start to the season

It took two months, although Nikola Jokic has finally come to life. Following a muted start to the season, the Serbian was excellent as the Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers, Thunder, and Knicks. Denver's lone defeat came to the Sixers, and following a tough start to December, the team could surge up the West standings over the next few weeks.

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#9 Houston Rockets - Record: 17-9

The Rockets failed to take full advantage of a favorable schedule last week

Houston had a favorable schedule in Week 8, although the team finished the week with a 2-2 record after suffering home defeats to the Kings and Pistons. We have now had plenty of time to see the James Harden and Russell Westbrook pairing, and there is little evidence to suggest that the Rockets are better off with Westbrook than Chris Paul. Nevertheless, the Rockets remain a dangerous team and they will be looking to make a statement on Wednesday when they face the Clippers

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#8 Toronto Raptors - Record: 17-8

Pascal Siakam has been Toronto's best performer this season

The Raptors have lost four of their past six games, although thanks to an excellent start to the season they remain near the top of the East standings. Sunday night's impressive win over the Nets also provided the team with a much-needed lift, and with a favorable schedule over the next seven days, Nick Nurse's team should be able to get back on track.

#7 Boston Celtics - Record: 17-7

Gordon Hayward returned for the Celtics last week

The Celtics endured a frustrating week as they lost to two Eastern Conference contenders in the form of Indiana and Philadelphia. Boston's lone win came against the dismal Cavaliers, although Brad Stevens' team still possesses a 17-7 record and Gordon Hayward has looked increasingly sharp since returning.

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#6 Miami Heat - Record: 19-7

Jimmy Butler has excelled since joining the Heat during the offseason

The Heat ended Week 8 with a 2-1 record as the Lakers inflicted a first home defeat of the season. Nevertheless, Miami looked like the better team for long periods, and if not for a huge second-half performance from LeBron James, the Heat's record would be intact. They bounced back with a win against the Mavericks, and other than a mid-week game against the Sixers, Miami should have few problems this week.

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#5 Dallas Mavericks - Record: 17-8

The Mavericks will be without Luka Doncic this week

The Mavericks opened the week by beating the Pistons in Detroit, but the team suffered a serious setback over the weekend as Luka Doncic left the court just two minutes into the game against the Heat. The Mavs put on a brave showing without their MVP candidate, and still boast an impressive 17-8 record. However, they now face a tough week as they take on the Bucks, Celtics, 76ers, and Raptors without their star man.

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#4 LA Clippers - Record: 20-8

Paul George enjoyed a strong week for the Clippers

After weeks of contending with injury issues, the Clippers are beginning to look like the real deal. While Doc Rivers' team suffered a surprise defeat to the Bulls, they were mostly excellent as they picked up wins over Indiana, Toronto, and Minnesota. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard combined for 88 points in the win over the Timberwolves, and the Clippers are now three games clear of the third-placed Mavericks - and the gap will only get bigger.

#3 Philadelphia 76ers - Record: 20-8

Ben Simmons is making a bigger impact on the offensive end

Philadelphia has still yet to hit top form following a mixed start to the season, although they continue to be heading in the right direction and now possess a 20-8 record. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are currently playing their best basketball of the season, and the Sixers picked up a notable win last week as they beat the Celtics in Boston. This is a team heading in the direction, and they will be a force in the new year.

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#2 Los Angeles Lakers - Record: 24-3

Anthony Davis is among the contenders to be named Defensive Player of the Year

The Lakers played three consecutive road games over the past seven days, although Frank Vogel's team managed to finish the week with a 3-0 record thanks to wins over Orlando, Miami, and Atlanta. The win over a Heat team that had been unbeaten at home was especially impressive, and the superstar duo of Anthony Davis and LeBron James is looking increasingly unstoppable.

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#1 Milwaukee Bucks - Record: 24-3

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have won 18 consecutive games

The Bucks took advantage of a favorable schedule in Week 8, and Milwaukee's win streak now stands at 18 games following wins over the Magic, Pelicans, Grizzlies, and Cavaliers. Nevertheless, while Giannis Antetokounmpo has returned from injury, the influential Eric Bledsoe faces two weeks on the sidelines and Milwaukee's streak will be under threat as they face the Lakers later this week.