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Another week, another season-high for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the points allowed column.
After their most recent beatdown — 148-124 at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder — all four of the games in which the Cavs have allowed 125 or more points this season have come this month. What's more, they've been outscored by an NBA-worst 93 total points in their past seven games, five of which have been losses.
Still think this current roster can win a championship?
With the second half of the 2017-18 season underway, here's how we view the league's current power structure. Voters, listed at the bottom of this page, include NBA reporters from across the USA TODAY Network.
1. Golden State Warriors (37-10) | Last week: 1
Saturday's loss to Houston wasn't enough for a drop in the rankings. It was, if nothing else, a reminder that the Rockets — heathy and firing on all cylinders — will likely be the toughest test for the Warriors as they seek their third championship in four years.
2. Houston Rockets (32-12) | Last week: 4
With their win on Saturday, the Rockets improved to 17-0 when the trio of James Harden, Chris Paul and Clint Capela play.
3. Boston Celtics (34-13) | Last week: 2
The Celtics, who have lost three in a row, have the NBA's worst offense in January, scoring 96.4 points per 100 possessions.
4. Toronto Raptors (31-14) | Last week: 3
The Raptors, who now have a four-game lead over Cleveland for second place in the East, boast the second-best home record in the NBA at 17-3.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (30-18) | Last week: 5
Saturday night's win against Toronto was an encouraging sign for those concerned about Andrew Wiggins, as the fourth-year forward scored a season-high 29 points and made some key plays down the stretch as Jimmy Butler sat with knee soreness and Karl-Anthony Towns dealt with foul trouble.
6. San Antonio Spurs (30-18) | Last week: 6
How much longer can the Spurs, who have gone 5-6 in January, stay afloat without Kawhi Leonard? The perennial MVP candidate, who has played in nine games this season, is out indefinitely — again — as he rehabs his injured quad. Gregg Popovich says he won't be out for the rest of the season, but his extended absence is nonetheless concerning for a Spurs team that's now fourth in the West.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (26-20) | Last week: 10
The Thunder, winners of four in a row, had four players — Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and Steven Adams — score 23 points or more in Saturday's rout of Cleveland. The quartet combined for 113 points.
8. Miami Heat (27-19) | Last week: 9
Wayne Ellington, who ranks third in the NBA with 137 three-pointers made, has already tied the Heat single-season franchise record of eight games with at least six three-pointers made.
9. Washington Wizards (26-20) | Last week: 8
The Wizards play a surging Oklahoma City team twice to close out the month, but their two most important late-January games may be against Dallas and Atlanta. Lowly opponents have been Washington's kryptonite; 10 of their 20 losses have come against sub-.500 teams.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (27-18) | Last week: 7
Not only did Oklahoma City's 148 points match the most allowed in regulation in Cavaliers history, it was the most points ever scored on a LeBron James-led team.
11. Portland Trail Blazers (25-21) | Last week: 18
Can the Blazers, looking to put together their first four-game winning streak of the season on Monday against Denver, ever overcome their inconsistencies? They've followed up each of their three three-game winning streaks this season with a losing streak of at least three games.
12. Indiana Pacers (25-22) | Last week: 11
The Pacers, who snapped San Antonio's 14-game home winning streak on Sunday, have the NBA's fourth-ranked defense in January, allowing 102.4 points per 100 possessions. They rank 16th on the season (106 points allowed per).
13. New Orleans Pelicans (24-21) | Last week: 13
Jrue Holiday is reaping the benefits of his All-Star teammates Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, as he's averaging career-highs in scoring (18.8 points per game), rebounds (4.4) and field goal percentage (49.8%).
14. Philadelphia 76ers (22-20) | Last week: 17
The 76ers, who have won seven of their past eight games and eight of their past 10, are now just ½ game out of sixth place in the East.
15. Los Angeles Clippers (23-22) | Last week: 14
Lou Williams' All-Star campaign reached new heights in Saturday's loss to Utah, as he became the first player since Michael Jordan (1988) to record 30 points and 10 steals in a game.
16. Milwaukee Bucks (23-22) | Last week: 12
The Bucks, who have lost four of their past five games and have fallen to eighth place in the East, continue to underperform. If they fall to Phoenix on Monday, they'll be .500 for the sixth time this season.
17. Denver Nuggets (23-23) | Last week: 16
In their past eight games, six of which have been losses, the Nuggets' once-elite offense ranks 28th in the NBA, scoring 99.1 points per 100 possessions.
18. Detroit Pistons (22-23) | Last week: 15
The Pistons, whose fifth consecutive loss came on a Brooklyn game-winner with 0.9 seconds remaining on Sunday, have the second-worst record in the NBA in January (2-8).
19. New York Knicks (21-26) | Last week: 19
While the Knicks, losers of seven of their past 10, continue to slip in the standings, Tim Hardaway Jr. is thinking postseason. "We’re trying to make the playoffs, point blank," he said Saturday.
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20. Charlotte Hornets (18-26) | Last week: 20
As his name circulates through the NBA trade rumor mill, Kemba Walker says he'd be "pretty upset" if he were to be sent out of Charlotte. "I'm here right now," Walker said Friday. "I've put my heart and soul into this team, this city, and that's what I'm going to do until everything is over."
21. Utah Jazz (19-27) | Last week: 21
Donovan Mitchell is on pace to become the first rookie since Blake Griffin (excluding Joel Embiid, who played 31 games) to average more than 19 points per game.
22. Chicago Bulls (18-28) | Last week: 22
The Bulls, who have won four of their past five games, are tied for the sixth-best record in the NBA (15-8) since their 3-20 start.
23. Los Angeles Lakers (17-29) | Last week: 25
The Lakers, winners of six of their past eight games, have already matched their win total from the 2015-16 season and are on pace for their best finish since 2012-13.
24. Brooklyn Nets (18-29) | Last week: 23
The Nets needed 77 games to reach 18 wins last season. They needed 47 this season.
25. Phoenix Suns (17-29) | Last week: 26
Devin Booker isn't only emerging as one of the league's top shooting guards, he's becoming one of the NBA's top scorers on the road, too. The 21-year-old ranks fourth in the NBA in away-game scoring with 27.8 points per game and shoots significantly better in opposing arenas (46.9% from the field, 41.5% from three) than he does in games played at home (41.8% from the field, 35.8% from three).
26. Dallas Mavericks (15-31) | Last week: 24
The Mavs, with a winning percentage of .326, may just finish with the worst record since the 1997-98 season — also the season during which Dennis Smith Jr. was born.
27. Memphis Grizzlies (16-29) | Last week: 27
In case you were wondering why the Grizzlies are on pace for their worst season since 2008-09: Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, who were signed to contracts worth a combined $247 million two summers ago, remain on the sidelines, and there's little clarity as to when — or if — they'll return this season.
28. Orlando Magic (14-32) | Last week: 30
Take it with a grain of salt, but in their past three games — impressive wins against Minnesota and Boston and a one-point loss to Cleveland — the Magic have the seventh-ranked defense in the NBA in terms of defensive rating.
29. Atlanta Hawks (13-32) | Last week: 28
John Collins leads all rookies in total offensive rebounds with 108. The next closest player is Ben Simmons with 72.
30. Sacramento Kings (13-32) | Last week: 29
Not only have the Kings lost their past seven games, but coach Dave Joerger plans to rest two or three veterans each game for the rest of the season.
This week’s voters: USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick, Jeff Zillgitt, Michael Singer and AJ Neuharth-Keusch; The Record's Steve Popper; The Indianapolis Star's Clifton Brown; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Matt Velazquez; HoopsHype's Jorge Sierra and Raul Barrigon