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We are in the final leg of the NBA regular season and Week 20 had some really thrilling contests. To everyone's surprise, teams like Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors struggled this week and did not live up to expectations.
In contrary, some of the teams that were going through a rough patch got their act together and delivered strong performances. In this article, we look at the five best teams from this week's action around the league.
#5 Portland Trail Blazers (W-L 2-1)
While the Portland Trail Blazers managed to make the playoffs in the last few seasons, they failed to go past the first round. However, it appears like that is going to change this year as the Blazers continue to play some really good basketball.
The Blazers are one of the most underrated teams in the league and don't get the kind of attention they deserve from the media and the fans around the world. They made few upgrades to the roster after last year's first-round loss to the Pelicans and are better equipped to go deep this year.
The Blazers played three-games this week and finished with a 2-1 record. As a part of their 7-game road trip, the Blazers played their first game of the week in Cleveland against the Cavaliers and registered an easy win, on the back of CJ McCollum's 35-point night.
Two nights later, they traveled to Boston to square off against the Celtics in a highly anticipated matchup. They took care of business in Boston without any difficulty, thanks to Damian Lillard's 33-point performance.
They were then up against the Toronto Raptors, one of the Eastern Conference powerhouses, and the game went down to the wire but the Raptors survived.
#4 Milwaukee Bucks (W-L 3-1)
The Milwaukee Bucks' golden-run continued and they lead the association at 48-15. Looking at the way they have been performing from the beginning of this season, they are the favorites to come out of the East.
After going 2-0 last week, the Bucks went 3-1 this week, which includes their win against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
They defeated the Chicago Bulls in their first game of the week even as Giannis sat out due to right knee soreness. In their last game of February, they squared off against the Sacramento Kings and both the teams went on to producer an OT thriller that ended in a one-point win for the Bucks.
In their last game of the week, they were in Utah to take on the Jazz and their seven-game win streak came to an end, thanks to Donovan Mitchell's 46-points in reply to Giannis' 43-point monster double-double.
#3 Toronto Raptors (W-L 2-1)
The Toronto Raptors are having a great season with Kawhi Leonard as their go-to man, as the forward has been dismantling oppositions with his stellar two-way performances all season long.
The Raptors started the week with a loss against the Orlando Magic but bounced back immediately with two huge wins against quality opponents in Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers.
Kawhi Leonard was the center of attraction in both the games as he scored 21 points in the win against the Celtics and 38 points, including the game-winner over Damian Lillard, against the Portland Trail Blazers.
At 46-17, they are at the second spot in the Eastern Conference and have their sights set on the No.1 seed. They are not far away from the Milwaukee Bucks and with an easier schedule coming up, they can get there.
#2 Houston Rockets (W-L 3-0)
The Houston Rockets got off to a sluggish start but once James Harden took over, they stormed back into the playoff picture and are currently at the fifth spot in the Western Conference. They've started looking like their old selves and with Chris Paul back in the lineup, this team can win it all this year.
The Rockets started the week by hosting the Atlanta Hawks. James Harden's 30-point streak came to an end at 32 as he scored only 28 points. However, the Rockets got the win, thanks to Chris Paul adding 20.
The Rockets, who were on a two-game win streak, entered the Spectrum Center looking to extend their win streak. Harden once again went off and scored 30 points to take the Rockets home.
They ended the week with a win over the Miami Heat in which Harden erupted for 58 points along with 7 rebounds and 10 assists.
#1 Utah Jazz (W-L 3-0)
The Utah Jazz did not have a great start to the season but they are looking really scary at the moment. At 36-26, they hold the sixth spot in the West but looking at the way they have been playing for quite some time, it seems like they will move up the ladder before the season ends.
The Jazz are 7-3 in their last 10 games and are currently on a four-game win streak. Donovan Mitchell successfully led the Utah Jazz to a 3-0 record this week. Mitchell, who is their go-to man in clutch situations, has been playing some of the greatest basketball you will ever see, lately.
They started the week with a six-point win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Mitchell was the top-scorer with 32 points. In their second game in as many nights, they were on the road to square off against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.
While Nikola Jokic and Will Barton exploded with monster double-doubles, Mitchell's 24 points and Ingles' double-double helped the Jazz get the win.
They finished the week with a win against yet another tough opponent in Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis' 43-point double-double went in vain, thanks to Donovan Mitchell's career-high 46-point night.
