NBA · 1 month ago

NBA Stock Report: 5 Teams Surging And 5 In Free Fall Right Now

Sportsgrid Staff

Host · Writer

Stock Down - 5. Washington Wizards
Stock Down (1-4 in last 5)

The Washington Wizards are 1-4 in their last five with a three-game losing streak, and the margins are getting uglier. They're being outscored by 18.4 points per game in the last five, a steep drop from their season differential (minus-10.9). Bub Carrington is slightly up at 11.6 points per game in his last five versus 10.2 on the season, but Kyshawn George has slid to 10.4 from 15.1, and Washington needs that scoring. The recent results are blowout city: lost 138-113 at Cleveland, lost 132-101 to Miami, and lost 132-101 to the New York Knicks. They did steal one at Detroit 126-117, but it hasn't carried over.

Data from Blitz. Stats as of February 16.
Stock Up - 1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Stock Up (5-0 in last 5)

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 5-0 in their last five with a nasty plus-17.0 point differential. That's a rocket jump from their season baseline (plus-4.1), and the offense is blazing at a 127.6 offensive rating in this stretch. Donovan Mitchell is still the engine, averaging 28.0 points per game in his last five with 7.4 assists, basically matching his 29.0 points per game season level. Evan Mobley has been steady at 18.4 points and 10.0 rebounds in the last five, and Cleveland has stacked real wins, including at Denver 119-117 and a 138-113 demolition of the Washington Wizards. With James Harden just getting acclimated with the team, the Cavs are looking to make a push for a top-2 seed in the East post all-star break.
Stock Up - 2. San Antonio Spurs
Stock Up (5-0 in last 5)

The San Antonio Spurs are 5-0 in their last five and on a six-game winning streak. The scoring has spiked to 130.2 points per game with a 125.0 offensive rating, and they're still winning the math with a plus-15.2 point differential. Harrison Barnes has popped lately at 11.6 points per game in his last five versus 10.6 on the season. Julian Champagnie has cooled to 7.0 over the last five after 11.1 on the year, and it hasn't mattered. Victor Wembanyama has been doing Wemby things during this hot streak, including a 40-point performance in just 26 minutes against the Lakers. The Spurs have hammered quality opponents, including at Golden State 126-113, at the Los Angeles Lakers 136-108, and vs Oklahoma City 116-106, plus they're 5-0 against the spread in the last five.
Stock Up - 4. Charlotte Hornets
Stock Up (4-1 in last 5)

The Charlotte Hornets are 4-1 in their last five and an eye-popping 9-1 in their last ten. The defense is the story, holding opponents to 106.0 points per game in the last five after allowing 113.8 for the season. Kon Knueppel has been the heater, up to 20.4 points per game in his last five compared to 18.9 on the season, with 64.6% true shooting on the year. Miles Bridges has dipped to 14.6 points per game over the last five from 18.2 season-long, which tells you this run isn't a one-man act. Charlotte's best quality wins in the last ten include Houston, San Antonio, and Philadelphia, and they just edged the Atlanta Hawks 110-107 in their most recent result.
Stock Up - 5. Boston Celtics
Stock Up (4-1 in last 5)

The Boston Celtics are 4-1 in their last five, but it's been a different flavor than their season profile. They're winning with defense, giving up just 101.0 points per game in the last five, and posting a 108.6 defensive rating over that span. Payton Pritchard is the spark, exploding for 21.8 points per game in his last five versus 17.2 on the season, and he's kept the playmaking at 6.0 assists. Derrick White has been steady at 17.6 points per game in the last five, basically matching his 17.2 season mark. Boston has quality wins over Miami (98-96) and at Houston (114-93), even with the ugly 111-89 loss to the New York Knicks mixed in.
Stock Down - 1. Chicago Bulls
Stock Down (0-5 in last 5)

The Chicago Bulls are 0-5 in their last five and on a six-game losing streak. It's a full collapse on both ends, getting outscored by 15.0 points per game with a brutal 127.5 defensive rating in the last five. Matas Buzelis is at least competing, up to 18.8 points per game in his last five from 15.2 on the season, but it's empty when the team can't guard. Isaac Okoro has ticked up to 10.2 points per game from 8.9. The recent results are a horror reel: lost 124-105 at Boston, gave up 136 at home to the Denver Nuggets, and lost 131-115 at Milwaukee.
Stock Down - 2. Dallas Mavericks
Stock Down (0-5 in last 5)

The Dallas Mavericks are 0-5 in their last five and on a nine-game losing streak. The defense has cratered to a 123.2 defensive rating in the last five, and they're losing by 12.8 points per game on average in that span. Cooper Flagg is doing everything he can, erupting for 28.6 points per game in his last five compared to 20.4 on the season, and it still hasn't moved the needle. Naji Marshall has also surged to 19.4 points per game from 15.1, but Dallas keeps getting buried anyway. Two straight losses to the San Antonio Spurs - 138-125 and 135-123 - basically sum up where they're at.
Stock Down - 3. Sacramento Kings
Stock Down (0-5 in last 5)

The Sacramento Kings are 0-5 in their last five and on a 14-game losing streak. They're allowing 123.2 points per game in the last five with a 123.3 defensive rating, and nothing about it looks fixable short-term. DeMar DeRozan has gone the wrong way, down to 13.2 points per game in his last five from 18.7 on the season. Russell Westbrook is also below his norm at 14.2 points per game versus 15.3, and Sacramento has zero quality wins in the last ten. Getting drilled 121-93 at Utah and 120-94 at New Orleans is the kind of stretch that breaks a team.
Stock Down - 4. Memphis Grizzlies
Stock Down (1-4 in last 5)

The Memphis Grizzlies are 1-4 in their last five and on a four-game losing streak. The defense is getting shredded nightly, allowing 123.6 points per game over the last five games with a 122.1 defensive rating, well below their season average (115.7). Jaylen Wells has been a bright spot at 15.2 points per game in his last five, versus 12.1 on the season. Cedric Coward has fallen off hard to 8.0 points per game in his last five from 13.3 on the year, and Memphis has dropped two straight at Portland, including a 135-115 loss. Even the close ones sting, like the 114-113 loss at Golden State.
Stock Down - 5. Washington Wizards
Stock Down (1-4 in last 5)

The Washington Wizards are 1-4 in their last five with a three-game losing streak, and the margins are getting uglier. They're being outscored by 18.4 points per game in the last five, a steep drop from their season differential (minus-10.9). Bub Carrington is slightly up at 11.6 points per game in his last five versus 10.2 on the season, but Kyshawn George has slid to 10.4 from 15.1, and Washington needs that scoring. The recent results are blowout city: lost 138-113 at Cleveland, lost 132-101 to Miami, and lost 132-101 to the New York Knicks. They did steal one at Detroit 126-117, but it hasn't carried over.

Data from Blitz. Stats as of February 16.
Stock Up - 1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Stock Up (5-0 in last 5)

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 5-0 in their last five with a nasty plus-17.0 point differential. That's a rocket jump from their season baseline (plus-4.1), and the offense is blazing at a 127.6 offensive rating in this stretch. Donovan Mitchell is still the engine, averaging 28.0 points per game in his last five with 7.4 assists, basically matching his 29.0 points per game season level. Evan Mobley has been steady at 18.4 points and 10.0 rebounds in the last five, and Cleveland has stacked real wins, including at Denver 119-117 and a 138-113 demolition of the Washington Wizards. With James Harden just getting acclimated with the team, the Cavs are looking to make a push for a top-2 seed in the East post all-star break.