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DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls ended 2021 with fireworks. They started 2022 with some too.

The NBA’s leader in fourth-quarter scoring was at it again this past week, knocking down wild, buzzer-beating 3-pointers in back-to-back fashion to stun the Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards.

Thanks to DeRozan’s late-game heroics, the Bulls have now won seven straight to vault into the Eastern Conference lead.

Sticking in the East: The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks have taken advantage of softer stretch in their schedule to reel off a six-game win streak.

The longest active run in the Western Conference belongs to the Memphis Grizzlies, who remain in the driver’s seat for home-court advantage behind four straight wins, a run that includes close victories over the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.

See where the league’s streaking teams check in this week in our latest breakdown of all 30.

Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.

1. Golden State Warriors
2021-22 record: 28-7
Previous ranking: 1

The Warriors picked up a big win over the Jazz on Saturday night, made even more impressive given the fact that they did it without Draymond Green, who was out because of COVID-19 protocols. After dealing with a variety of coronavirus-related absences, Steve Kerr’s team just rolls on and is on the verge of getting Klay Thompson back. The Warriors are clearly the best team in the league through the first 2 1/2 months of the season. — Friedell

2. Phoenix Suns
2021-22 record: 28-8
Previous ranking: 2

Jalen Smith delivered an epic poster over Mason Plumlee on Sunday night. But more importantly, Smith, who has been forced into action because of health and safety protocols hitting Phoenix, has made the most of his time. In the past four games, Smith is averaging 16 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 56.1% from the field — all while not hitting 30 minutes in any game. — Lopez

3. Chicago Bulls
2021-22 record: 24-10
Previous ranking: 6

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Good luck stopping DeMar DeRozan right now. During the seven-game winning streak that has vaulted the Bulls into first place in the Eastern Conference, DeRozan is averaging 28.4 points, 6.3 assists and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 48.6% (including 5-of-7 from 3). Last week, he became the first player in NBA history with buzzer-beaters on back-to-back nights, against the Pacers and the Wizards; it was a small peak into how good he has been in the clutch. The Bulls are 11-6 in clutch situations, and DeRozan is shooting 55.6% from the field and 96.2% from the free throw line in those situations. — Collier

4. Utah Jazz
2021-22 record: 26-10
Previous ranking: 4

The Jazz had no choice but to play some small ball in Saturday night’s loss to the Warriors because backup center Hassan Whiteside was sidelined by a concussion. It didn’t go well. Utah outscored Golden State by 10 points in Rudy Gobert‘s 35 minutes — and lost the game by seven. Signing Rudy Gay gave the Jazz the flexibility to tinker with small-ball lineups, but they’ve largely been ineffective, as Utah’s five most frequently used centerless lineups are minus-15 in 40 minutes. — MacMahon

5. Milwaukee Bucks
2021-22 record: 25-13
Previous ranking: 5

After being slowed by injuries to start the season, Jrue Holiday has started to settle into a groove lately. He is averaging 21.5 points and 7.2 assists per game during Milwaukee’s six-game winning streak, shooting 60.2% from the floor and 45.8% from 3. — Collier

6. Brooklyn Nets
2021-22 record: 23-11
Previous ranking: 3

Will Kyrie Irving make his debut this week? He could play as soon as Wednesday at Indiana. The Nets, meanwhile, have a couple of signpost games on their schedule over the next couple of weeks, beginning with Friday’s showdown at Barclays Center against the defending champion Bucks. — Bontemps

7. Miami Heat
2021-22 record: 23-14
Previous ranking: 7

Miami had its five-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in Sacramento, the start of a West Coast swing that includes tough games against the Warriors on Monday and the Suns on Saturday. Jimmy Butler is in the midst of a solid run and continues to set the tone for his team. Over his past four games, Butler is averaging 25 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists. — Friedell

8. Memphis Grizzlies
2021-22 record: 23-14
Previous ranking: 9

Ja Morant is in the midst of one of the greatest scoring runs in Grizzlies history. He has scored at least 30 points in three straight games, just the second time that has happened for the franchise. Morant has averaged 34.7 points during that stretch, shooting 55.7% from the floor and 80% from 3-point range. Morant, whose jumper had been considered a weakness, is shooting 40% from 3-point range this season. — MacMahon

9. Philadelphia 76ers
2021-22 record: 19-16
Previous ranking: 10

It’s been a wild season in Philly for many reasons, but the 76ers have lifted themselves out of the play-in morass with three straight wins to end 2021 and have begun trying to climb back to the top of the East standings. — Bontemps

10. Cleveland Cavaliers
2021-22 record: 21-16
Previous ranking: 8

Much of the talk surrounding Kevin Love coming into the season regarded how healthy he would be and whether Cleveland would still be a fit for him at this stage of his career. He has proved to be vital to the Cavs’ resurgence. And his 20-point, eight-rebound and four-assist performance in a win over Indiana on Sunday marked his fifth straight 20-point game — his longest such streak since LeBron James was his teammate. — McMenamin

11. Denver Nuggets
2021-22 record: 18-16
Previous ranking: 11

Despite having a game postponed because of COVID-19 issues then watching coach Michael Malone and lead assistant David Adelman enter protocols, the Nuggets still have won three straight games. Nikola Jokic continues to put up MVP-like numbers, averaging 25.0 points and 18.2 rebounds over his past four games. And if Denver hadn’t blown a 17-point fourth-quarter lead to the Hornets, the Nuggets would be riding a four-game winning streak. Not bad for a team without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. — Youngmisuk

12. LA Clippers
2021-22 record: 19-18
Previous ranking: 12

Still reeling from the Christmas Day news that they will be without Paul George for likely at least a month due to a torn ligament in his right elbow, the Clippers were routed by Brooklyn at home last Monday. They rebounded to win at Boston, but Clippers coach Ty Lue and starting center Ivica Zubac entered health and safety protocols before the team suffered a tough close loss at Toronto on New Year’s Eve. Forced to play at Brooklyn on a back-to-back, the Clippers learned Luke Kennard entered protocols before they left the hotel for the arena. Still, even with Nicolas Batum (ankle), Marcus Morris Sr. (rest) and Isaiah Hartenstein (ankle) also out, the Clippers pulled out their biggest and most improbable win of the season over an uninspired Nets team. Somehow, the depleted Clippers remain above .500. A few reasons: Eric Bledsoe is playing his best basketball of the season, and youngsters Terance Mann and Amir Coffey are developing. — Youngmisuk

13. Charlotte Hornets
2021-22 record: 19-18
Previous ranking: 13

Wednesday, Jan. 5
Warriors at Mavs, 7:30 p.m.
Jazz at Nuggets, 10 p.m.

All times Eastern

Charlotte had its three-game winning streak snapped in a blowout loss to the Suns on Sunday. The good news for the Hornets is that LaMelo Ball continues to have a nice rhythm: Over his past five games, he is averaging 18.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists. The Hornets, however, have tough back-to-back home games against the Bucks at the end of the week. — Friedell

14. Los Angeles Lakers
2021-22 record: 19-19
Previous ranking: 14

Russell Westbrook had nine turnovers in Sunday’s win over the Wolves. He also had 20 points — including a big jumper to put L.A. up six with just less than five minutes remaining — along with five assists. LeBron James explained how Westbrook cutting his turnovers to two in the second half against Minnesota, after seven in the first half, helped the team. “It resulted in us being able to get shots, and when we get shots, we’re a really good team,” James said. “What has really hurt us this year is when we turn the ball over a lot, and not able to set our defense, where we’re really good in half court, have teams run it out on us.” — McMenamin

15. Washington Wizards
2021-22 record: 18-18
Previous ranking: 15

Like many other teams around the league, the Wizards have a long injury report, with six players, including Spencer Dinwiddie and Montrezl Harrell, in health and safety protocols. That 10-3 start Washington enjoyed has become 18-18 on the season. Washington, though, looked like it was going to beat the Bulls, until DeMar DeRozan drilled a 3-point buzzer-beater against them on Saturday. The Wizards are in a stretch in which they play 12 of 14 games at home. If they can get closer to whole, they could make some noise again. — Youngmisuk

16. Dallas Mavericks
2021-22 record: 18-18
Previous ranking: 17

The Mavericks managed to go 5-5 during Luka Doncic‘s extended absence in large part due to Jalen Brunson‘s performance as the fill-in starting point guard. In the 10 games, Brunson averaged 21.0 points and 7.4 assists while shooting 51.3% from the floor and 37.5% from 3-point range. Brunson, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, remained in the starting lineup alongside Doncic on Sunday, recording 12 points and seven assists in a road win over the Thunder. — MacMahon

17. Boston Celtics
2021-22 record: 18-19
Previous ranking: 16

Boston nearly got 2022 off to a disastrous start, only for Jaylen Brown‘s first 50-point game to save the Celtics from a home loss to Orlando to open the year. After a brutal December schedule, however, it gets easier in January, and Boston also should get Jayson Tatum back from health and safety protocols this week. — Bontemps

18. Toronto Raptors
2021-22 record: 16-17
Previous ranking: 19

Despite a season full of injuries, COVID-19 issues and now playing in an empty arena in Toronto, the Raptors have pulled themselves back to within a game of .500 after Sunday’s win over the Knicks. Coach Nick Nurse’s team finally has its best lineup — Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes — available, and now Toronto will try to scoot even farther up the standings. — Bontemps

19. Minnesota Timberwolves
2021-22 record: 16-20
Previous ranking: 20

Minnesota should be adding some reinforcements to its lineup this week, with Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell nearing the end of their stays in health and safety protocols. They are both likely to miss Monday’s game against the Clippers, but Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said a return for Wednesday’s game against the Thunder is a realistic target. — Collier

20. Atlanta Hawks
2021-22 record: 16-19
Previous ranking: 18

Trae Young averaged 30.5 points and 10.0 assists per game in December, the third time in his career that he has averaged 30 and 10 over the span of a month. (He averaged 31.7 and 11.5 in January 2020 and followed that up with 31.3 and 10.1 the next month.) According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that’s the fourth-most calendar months averaging 30 points and 10 assists in NBA history, trailing Oscar Robertson (19), Tiny Archibald (six) and Russell Westbrook (four). — Lopez

21. New York Knicks
2021-22 record: 17-20
Previous ranking: 21

New York has fallen out of the play-in spots in the East. Kemba Walker is sidelined with knee soreness, and Julius Randle is in health and safety protocols. With the Eastern Conference being far more difficult than at any point this century, the Knicks had better get themselves straightened out — and fast. — Bontemps

22. San Antonio Spurs
2021-22 record: 14-21
Previous ranking: 22

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San Antonio’s 3-point defense has been stellar over the past six games. Opponents have failed to make more than 10 3s against the Spurs in that stretch while shooting 27.3% from deep. San Antonio’s six consecutive games of holding an opponent to 10 or fewer 3s is the longest such streak by any team this season, and it’s tied for the second-longest streak by any team in the past three campaigns. (Utah had a streak of seven that started with two games at the end of the 2020-21 campaign and five to begin this season.) — Lopez

23. Sacramento Kings
2021-22 record: 16-22
Previous ranking: 26

Jimmy Butler’s layup attempt to force overtime at the buzzer on Sunday bounced twice off the rim before missing, giving Sacramento a quality win to cap a 3-1 week that included a buzzer-beating winner from Chimezie Metu. — McMenamin

24. Indiana Pacers
2021-22 record: 14-23
Previous ranking: 23

The Pacers have dropped four consecutive games, with their two most recent losses following a trend that has plagued them all season long: defeats in close contests, dropping to 1-11 in games decided by four or fewer points this season. — Collier

25. Portland Trail Blazers
2021-22 record: 13-22
Previous ranking: 24

The season continues to spiral for Portland. The Blazers dropped their fourth straight game on New Year’s Eve, when they fell by 33 points to the Lakers. Portland enters 2022 having lost 11 of the past 13 tilts. With Jusuf Nurkic, Cody Zeller and Dennis Smith Jr. in health and safety protocols and CJ McCollum (lung) still out, Damian Lillard will have to continue to shoulder a massive load to resuscitate Portland’s sinking season. — Youngmisuk

26. New Orleans Pelicans
2021-22 record: 13-23
Previous ranking: 25

Pelicans forward Herbert Jones has a block in 14 consecutive games, which is a franchise record for a rookie. He leads all rookies in steals (43) and deflections (95) and is second in blocks (34), behind Cavs center Evan Mobley. Jones is also the only rookie to average at least one block and one steal per game this season. — Lopez

27. Oklahoma City Thunder
2021-22 record: 13-23
Previous ranking: 27

Rookie Josh Giddey returned from health and safety protocols with a historic performance, becoming the youngest NBA player (19 years, 84 days) to record a triple-double by putting up 17 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists in Sunday’s loss to the Mavericks. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Giddey tied an NBA record for most assists by a teenager, matching LeBron James and Zach LaVine. Giddey, the No. 6 overall draft pick, has dished out double-digit assists in four of his past six games. — MacMahon

28. Houston Rockets
2021-22 record: 10-27
Previous ranking: 28

A lot has gone wrong recently for the Rockets, who have lost seven in a row and have had disciplinary issues with two core players, Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood. A bright spot: Rookie Jalen Green has scored prolifically and efficiently since returning from the hamstring strain that sidelined the No. 2 overall draft pick for a month. Green has averaged 22.3 points on .481/.515/.870 shooting splits in four games since returning to the lineup. — MacMahon

29. Orlando Magic
2021-22 record: 7-30
Previous ranking: 29

Orlando has dropped five in a row after an overtime loss to the Celtics on Sunday night. They have given up an average 116.4 points over their past five games and are just 2-13 at home on the season. Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac can’t come back soon enough, but even those two young players can’t cure what ails this young group. — Friedell

30. Detroit Pistons
2021-22 record: 6-28
Previous ranking: 30

One recent source of encouragement for Pistons fans: some improved play from Saddiq Bey. After getting off to a slow start in his sophomore season, he is averaging 20.6 points and 7.5 rebounds during his past 10 games and is starting to look much like the player from his strong rookie campaign. — Collier

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Jake McCabe’s Blackhawks tenure didn’t begin as planned.

Signed to a four-year contract during the summer to be the shutdown defenseman the Hawks have long coveted, he was one of the players who underwhelmed the most during the Hawks’ 1-9-2 start.

During his even-strength ice time in those 12 games, the Hawks conceded 15 goals — an average of 4.6 per 60 minutes. They also bled scoring chances, allowing an average of 33.4 per 60 minutes with him on the ice.

Even when you disregard the stats, he was invisible at best and a liability at worst during the opening month, frequently losing his man in defensive-zone coverage or losing inside position around the net.

But as the season has progressed, McCabe has found his footing.

“The first dozen games probably weren’t my best,” he said. “I started moving my feet a little better. I started getting a little bit more comfortable, a little bit more confident and started playing a little better.”

His increased comfort level has been evident; his strong innate defensive instincts have been, too. And he has looked more physically capable.

He has defended from the slot out and used his big, sturdy frame to not only accumulate hits (61 of them and counting) but also make an impact with them, using them to separate opposing forwards from the puck.

In his previous 16 games entering Sunday, the Hawks had conceded only 2.3 goals and 28.9 scoring chances per 60 minutes of McCabe’s even-strength ice time.

“The big thing is that he’s moving his feet, he’s skating,” interim coach Derek King said shortly before the holiday break. “He’s not standing still, waiting for things to happen — he’s making things happen. He’s a big part of our ‘D’ back there, and when he’s playing like that, it makes our game a lot easier.”

McCabe watches all of his shifts after each game to learn from his mistakes. He also has intensified his work with skills coach Brian Keane this season.

He acknowledged his “last few games” before the holiday break represented a step back for him. Indeed, he allowed 27 scoring chances and four goals between Dec. 15 and 17 against the Capitals and Predators.

But he played well — despite the ugly result — Saturday against the Predators, allowing only four scoring chances, then was reunited with his most frequent partner this season, Connor Murphy, on Sunday against the Flames. McCabe trails only Murphy on the Hawks’ hits and blocked-shots leaderboards.

“[I want to] be the player that’s expected of me: be harder to play against, be physical, a good puck-mover, keep the puck out of our net and contribute on the penalty kill the best I can,” he said. “Those are the main points of my game, and I need to continue to bring that every night and continue to work on improving that.”

Fleury activated

The Hawks activated Marc-Andre Fleury from COVID-19 protocol, surely prompting some sighs of relief after Saturday’s goaltending disaster. Collin Delia, meanwhile, was sent down to the AHL.

King opted to give Arvid Soderblom his first career start Sunday because Fleury — who operated as the backup — still hadn’t skated in a while. But Fleury should be good to go Tuesday against the Avalanche.

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OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder rookie guard Josh Giddey, back after missing three games while in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, became the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double during Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Giddey finished with 17 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds for his first triple-double in a 95-86 loss by the Thunder.

At 19 years and 84 days old, Giddey surpassed Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, who previously held the distinction at 19 years and 140 days old.

“It’s cool, as I said earlier in the year. The individual stats are good, you enjoy it for the night,” Giddey said. “But a win is always better than individual stats. If I have zero-zero-zero and we win, it’s always better than if I have a triple-double and lose.”

Giddey, the sixth overall pick in last year’s draft from Australia, shot 7-for-16 from the field and 3-for-5 from long distance against Dallas. He also led all players on both teams outright in points, rebounds and assists, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to do that.

The performance left Jason Kidd, the Mavericks coach who had 107 triple-doubles during his playing career, impressed.

“He’s unselfish. As a 19-year-old, he understands how to play the game,” Kidd said. “He’s comfortable with the ball, his teammates all know that if he has it, they’re gonna cut, because there’s a chance that they can get it. He’s comfortable shooting the 3. He has the total package.

“At 19, it’s just a matter of time of understanding how teams are going to play him. He’s as good as advertised.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Thunder rookie Josh Giddey on Sunday night became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double at 19 years and 84 days old. He surpassed Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, who previously held the distinction at 19 years, 140 days old.Read More

The Flames pulled away from the Blackhawks for a 5-1 win Sunday. | AP Photos

The Hawks followed up Saturday’s 6-1 loss to the Predators with a 5-1 defeat Sunday, extending a four-game losing streak dating to Dec. 17.

Long layoffs in hockey can have strange effects. It can be hard to tell whether the extra rest will or won’t outweigh the inevitable rust.

The Flames, who went 18 days between games before winning their first two back, evidently made the rest count. The Blackhawks, who enjoyed 13 days off to end 2021, evidently did not.

The Flames ran away for a 5-1 win Sunday at the United Center. The loss — although it was inflated by two late goals — bookended an objectively disastrous weekend for the Hawks, who were outscored by a combined 11-2 score by the Predators and Flames and have now lost four straight dating back to Dec. 17.

Interim coach Derek King was clearly disappointed, offering more criticism of his team Sunday than he has throughout his tenure.

“Half the guys were not ready to play [Saturday],” interim coach Derek King said. “We only had three or four guys who weren’t ready to play [tonight]. I’m not going to ever name names, but they know who they are. We’ll address it, talk within our doors, and we’ll figure this out.”

The Hawks played well in the first period, even taking a short-lived lead when Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat connected for another goal.

But the second period quickly became one of the Hawks’ worst in months. Aided by three consecutive power plays, the Flames tied a franchise record with 26 shots on goal in the frame, scoring twice on special teams (including once shorthanded) to build a 3-1 lead that the Hawks never really threatened.

Rookie goalie Arvid Soderblom was stellar despite making his first NHL start in a tough situation, finishing with 37 saves, but the team’s effort in front of him was so flat that his occasional heroics hardly mattered. The Flames finished with a 42-31 edge in shots on goal and an even-more-lopsided 40-22 advantage in scoring chances.

“Especially in the second [period], we just started forcing the issue,” King said. “We didn’t have to. But the next thing you know, the puck’s turned over or it’s a blocked shot and they’re gone.

“This is the thing I’m trying to explain to these guys that you don’t have to do. [If] you stick to the game plan, you play the game right, you do all the little things we’ve been talking about in our pre-scouting — and you just follow that — [it will work]. And if you follow that and that doesn’t work, then that’s my fault and I’ll take the blame on that. But I don’t know if it’s my fault because they haven’t done it for three periods.”

King made three lineup changes from Saturday, replacing MacKenzie Entwistle and Ryan Carpenter with Josiah Slavin and Kurtis Gabriel on the forward side and switching out Riley Stillman for Caleb Jones on defense.

He seemed to regret in retrospect using the blender as much as he did, however, particularly once Caleb Jones and Erik Gustafsson’s third pair struggled Sunday just as much as Stillman and Gustafsson had Saturday.

“You take a couple guys out of your lineup and think you’ll put a couple guys in there to help, maybe change it up a little bit, and sometimes that backfires on you,” King said. “And maybe it did on me tonight. Maybe I should have kept the lineup we had against Nashville.”

The brutal back-to-back performances are even more concerning because they followed a week of four supposedly sharp, helpful practices for the Hawks.

Just as the transition from training camp to the season’s opening week also showed, time off only seems to hurt this team.

“Obviously, losing 6-1 and 5-1 is not our best,” DeBrincat said. “We all have better and we know that in the locker room. We have to come back stronger, more mentally prepared.”

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Bears players celebrate after Deon Bush’s fourth-quarter interception. | Quinn Harris/Getty Images

And the countdown to the end of the Matt Nagy era is underway.

Patrick Finley and Jason Lieser break down the Bears’ 29-3 win against the Giants and set up what figures to be the last week of Matt Nagy’s tenure.

New episodes of “Halas Intrigue” will be published regularly with accompanying stories collected on the podcast’s hub page. You can also listen to “Halas Intrigue” wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Luminary, Spotify, and Stitcher.

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Superstar point guard Luka Doncic is among three Dallas Mavericks who cleared the NBA’s health and safety protocols.Read More

Becky Hammon is expected to be named Las Vegas’ new coach. What kind of coaching style will she bring to the Aces, who still seek their first title?Read More

Chicago veteran DeMar DeRozan hit a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer for the second consecutive night on Saturday, leading the Bulls to a victory over the Wizards in Washington, their seventh straight victory.Read More