NBA Power Rankings – December 18, 2013

1. Indiana Pacers (20-3)

A statement win in December? You betcha. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

2. Miami Heat (17-6)

You say it’s not a rivalry. Well, you might change your tune when Game 7 is in Indy. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (19-4)

Kevin Durant has scored 30+ points in three of his last five games, as the Thunder have won six straight and 14 of 15. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

4. Portland Trail Blazers (21-4)

Twenty-one threes against Philly? Needless to say, that’s a franchise record. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

5. San Antonio Spurs (19-4)

Tim Duncan has recorded three straight double-doubles, averaging 19.3 point and 14 rebounds during that stretch. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

6. Houston Rockets (16-9)

The Rockets – thanks to a combined 60 points from James Harden – have beaten Golden State each of the last two Fridays. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

7. Los Angeles Clippers (16-9)

Doc Rivers might be the classiest person – not coach, but person – in the NBA. The Clippers also went 4-3 on their seven-game road trip. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

8. Denver Nuggets (14-9)

Denver’s last three losses have all come to losing teams (Utah, Boston and Cleveland). (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

9. Dallas Mavericks (13-9)

Rough road week for the Mavs. They lost at Sacramento and couldn’t hold an 18-point lead at Golden State. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

10. Phoenix Suns (14-9)

The suddenly streaking Suns have won five straight. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

11. Golden State Warriors (13-12)

Stephan Curry might be the best shooter in the league, but he’s also led the Warriors in assists in eight straight games. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

12. Atlanta Hawks (12-12)

The .500 Hawks are holding steady with that 3-seed. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)

13. Los Angeles Lakers (11-12)

Kobe Bryant has committed 7+ turnovers in three of his first four games back. The Lakers are 1-3 during that span. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

14. New Orleans Pelicans (11-11)

Ryan Anderson and Anthony Davis are keeping New Orleans relevant. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

15. Minnesota Timberwolves (12-12)

Not even 42 points from Kevin Love were enough to beat the Spurs in San Antonio. (Photos by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

16. Memphis Grizzlies (10-13)

The offense just hasn’t been there. Memphis has lot four straight and six of seven. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

17. Boston Celtics (11-14)

Classy welcome home for Doc Rivers. In other news, Rajon Rondo could be back in January. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

18. Detroit Pistons (11-14)

Close but no cigar against Portland. (Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

19. Charlotte Bobcats (10-14)

Charlotte has been held under 100 points in 18 of its last 20 games. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

20. Washington Wizards (9-13)

The Wizards have lost four straight – two in overtime, one by a point and one in which John Wall had 24 points and 12 assists. Ouch. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

21. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-14)

The Cavs lost to Miami. Again. LeBron James was the leading scorer. Again. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

22. Toronto Raptors (9-13)

Toronto, which has won two straight and three of four, has a rough road trip upcoming – at Dallas, at Oklahoma City, at San Antonio and at New York. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

23. Brooklyn Nets (8-15)

Brooklyn won three straight games last week – this after not winning even back-to-back games all season. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

24. Sacramento Kings (7-15)

Welcome to Sacramento, Rudy Gay. The Toronto transfer has scored 76 points in his first three games as a King. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

25. New York Knicks (7-16)

Over his last three games, Carmelo Anthony has averaged 30 points, seven rebounds and 3.5 assists. Even better? The Knicks won two of those three. (Photo by Reid B. Kelley/NBAE via Getty Images)