The final week of 2022 and the first games of ’23 provided some exciting NBA performances. In Year 20 at age 38, LeBron James recorded two 40-plus point showings in Lakers wins. Luka Dončić averaged more than 48 points through three games last week for the Mavericks. The Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell exploded for 71 points and recorded the third 70-point game of the century. Klay Thompson notched 54 points, and Kevon Looney had 21 rebounds and 14 points—including a game-winning bucket in double overtime—to lift the Warriors to victory against Atlanta on Monday night.
In the standings, the Celtics maintained the league’s top spot, while the Nets increased their win streak to 12. The Nuggets sit atop the Western Conference. In the first power rankings of 2023, see where all 30 teams in the association stand.
