Category: News

Vladimir Putin’s troops are fighting a god-awful, dismal war, and things are about to grow even more potentially disastrous. Yes, even more disastrous than Russian soldiers threatening to blow up their general, and even more cataclysmic than new recruits being told to bring a tampon supply to plug bullet holes. We’ve already heard that Ukraine’s show of force in cities has led to Russian troops abandoning tanks and heavy artillery, which has only been a further boon to Ukrainian President Zelensky’s army. Now, a senior U.S. military official has revealed some telling intel, which has been summed up on the U.S. Department of Defense website.

Since everything is running short in Russia (which apparently doesn’t even have paper these days), the report is an intriguing and frightening one. The U.S. military official (whose name has been redacted, possibly as a life-protecting measure) revealed how “new ammunition” will soon be a thing of the past for the Russian army, and Putin’s troops will be “forced” to use ammo that’s been preserved in “degraded conditions.” This will bring higher “failure rates” and “unpredictable performance,” and the briefing then goes into a rather remarkable discussion of how 40-year-old ammunition is very bad and could “explode in your face.” Yikes:

Q: All right, in layman’s language, does degraded mean dud rates? And you’re finding — the Ukrainians are finding a number of unexploded ordnances, i.e. degraded ordnance?

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: That’s correct. That’s correct. So, in other words, you load the ammunition, and you cross your fingers and hope it’s going to fire. Or, when it lands that it’s going to explode.

Q: Or not — Okay, thank you. Or not explode in your face. Okay.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Yes, exactly. All right, thank you.

Q: Thank you.

There’s been no word on whether Putin has heard about would even care to listen to coverage of this briefing. After all, he’s possibly/reportedly in the bunker as we speak. Yet it’s quite something that he’s been toasting with champagne while Russia cannot even replenish its new ammunition stocks.

(Via Defense.gov)

There’s a recent red carpet interview when Harrison Ford was asked, in relation to Indiana Jones, if he’s finally ready to “hang up his hat” and hand off the character to another actor. Ford was polite and basically said to just wait for the movie, then wandered off. What’s weird is he’s been asked some form of this question for decades now. And he’s been pretty clear the answer is, “no.” A few years ago he literally went on the Today show and told us when he’s gone, Indy is gone.

And as an actor, this is one of Ford’s most prolific time periods. He obviously has Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny coming in 2023. He has a new Apple series, Shrinking. He has signed on to play Thunderbolt Ross in Captain America 4. Oh yeah, and he’s also starring in his own Yellowstone spinoff series, 1923. You know, that series which are the most watched shows on television? This does not sound like a guy who is hanging up his hat for anything anytime soon.

In 1923, Ford plays Jacob Dutton, patriarch of the Yellowstone ranch, which he runs with his wife, Cara, played by Helen Mirren. This is a reunion between the two legendary actors, having co-starred in the excellent The Mosquito Coast back in 1986. It’s actually surprising it took this long for these two to reunite. In fact, a few years ago I interviewed Mirran and brought up The Mosquito Coast and it’s immediately obvious how much she loves that movie and working with Ford. I read to Ford what Mirren said and he had a big smile on his face the entire time.

And then there’s Ford’s former Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom co-star Ke Huy Quan, who is getting rave reviews and picking up awards along the way for his performance in Everything Everywhere all at Once. He and Ford made some headlines for appearing in a pretty joyful photo together back at D23. I asked Ford about that photo and he did that Harrison Ford thing where he stopped me in my tracks to tell me he has seen Everything Everywhere all at Once and gushed as he talked about his former sidekick. When I mentioned he might get nominated for an Oscar, Ford did that thing only Ford can do where he takes a pause, his eyes light up, leans forward then forcefully enunciates, “Well deserved!”

Harrison Ford: Nice to see you.

Oh nice to see you. I’ve always wanted an excuse to start getting into Yellowstone. Talking to you was my excuse. And I watched this first episode of 1923, yep, I’m in.

Great! Glad to hear it.

I knew I was in when I saw that old-timey photo of you and Helen Mirren in the opening credits, that’s a great photo of you two.

Yeah, and it’s great to work with her again. As you probably know, we worked together 40 years ago on a movie…

Yeah, The Mosquito Coast is one of my favorite movies. We literally just watched it a couple of days ago.

Oh, really? Great.

It’s funny, last time I talked to you, I made a Mosquito Coast reference and you interrupted me and you’re like, “I think Allie Fox is Nuts!” So I’m glad you and Helen get to do a project now where you’re not, using your word, playing a nut.

[Laughs] No, listen, that was a glib characterization of something that was … a glib reference to a character in the past. I think the writing in this is extraordinary, and Taylor Sheridan has given me a character that he spent some quality time with. This script, the architecture, the development of the character is really clear and interesting to me, so it’s easy to know what to do.

You get to basically play a cowboy in this. Is that something you’ve wanted to do? I know you’ve dabbled. I’ve seen The Frisco Kid. I’ve seen obviously Cowboys & Aliens.

“Cowboy” is a … I don’t know what a “cowboy” is!

I don’t either, to be honest.

The guys who work on ranches are “cowboys.” They work with cows.

Yeah, they do.

And many of them are boys! But he’s a rancher, and a rancher is financially responsible as well as everything else for the outcomes. The pressures on Jacob Dutton at this point are considerable. The economic pressures. Banks are not loaning to cattle ranchers, having suffered losses. The business has not become as efficient as it needs to be just to generate consistent profits. The railhead is not close enough, so cattle still have to be driven. They lose weight, and they suffer casualties on the way to the market.

There are a lot of things coming that are unknown. There’s electrification. There’s cars in the street instead of horses. Jacob Dutton looks around and he’s seeing the threat to his way of life, to the simplicity. He’s challenged by all of it. All of it becomes his responsibility to extend the opportunities he’s had to his family for generations to come. You want that ranch, you got to keep that ranch in the family. You got to hold onto it, and there’s a lot of pressure on it.

Does it surprise you how long it took for you and Helen to do something together again? Because I’m under the impression you two both admire each other’s work quite a bit.

No, I think each had different paths and different opportunities. Her work has been incredible. She’s had a very different career than I’ve had. And yet we’re very, very comfortable with each other, I think. I enjoy the opportunity to work together.

I mention that because a few years ago I brought up The Mosquito Coast to her. She just lit up and had a lot to say about it, but this part struck me, “Harrison was trying to do something different. They couldn’t see their beloved Harrison Ford being this dark, conflicted, problematic character. They just couldn’t handle it. They couldn’t handle it. It’s interesting,” as she gives this big defense of you. At that moment I was like, well they will work together again.

[Laughing] I’ve never heard that! That’s very sweet.

Do you agree with that though? That people couldn’t handle dark Harrison Ford at the time? You’re awesome in that movie and you know that.

Well, thank you very much. Allie Fox was a wonderful character to play, and his questionable sanity is one of the … a process that Peter and I had to work through together. That’s a very supportive and generous thing to say, and that’s Helen.

When people bring up your most famous scenes, like the swordsman in Raiders, for my money to some little kid and you can’t hear what he’s saying should be on that list. High comedy.

[Laughs] Good. Good!

That picture you took with Ke Huy Quana a few months ago, that made a lot of people happy. The Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom reunion…

Oh yeah. Yeah, it was great to see him. I mean … I’ve had the opportunity to see the film. He is really terrific in his movie. And I’m so glad to see him … and what he has become. I’m so happy for him. He’s such a happy guy, too.

Yeah, he just got a best supporting actor award win from the New York Film Critic Circle, and he’s probably going to get an Oscar nomination.

And well deserved! Well deserved.

I’m out of time, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that the Indy 5 trailer looks great.

[Laughs] Thanks, man. Hope to see you for that.

Ha, yeah, me too. It was good to see you.

Take care.

You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

Maluma was a special guest on the live finale of The Voice last night (December 13). The Colombian superstar performed his FIFA World Cup anthem “Tukoh Taka.” He also brought Colombia to the stage with his performance of “Junio.” Maluma was the sole Latin act last night among special guests that included Adam Lambert, OneRepublic, Breland, and Girl Named Tom.

Maluma proudly represented Colombia during his performance of the soaring love song. As he belted out the song, the stage lights were lit up in the colors of the Colombian flag. The single’s lyrics include “qué chimba,” which is slang from Colombia for “how amazing.” Judges Camila Cabello and Gwen Stefani were dancing along to the performance.

For the second half of his performance, Maluma performed his part of “Tukoh Taka,” his FIFA World Cup anthem. Last month, he released the song as a duet with Nicki Minaj and Lebanese singer Myriam Fares. The stage turned into a futuristic club with Maluma leading the party. Bryce Leatherwood emerged as the winner of The Voice last night. That marked the ninth overall win for Blake Shelton’s team.

Back in September, he released the music video for “Junio,” which highlighted his hometown of Medellín, Colombia.

Watch his performance on The Voice above.

Sure, you’ve been doom-scrolling through your share of year-end Best Albums lists, but there are some deep cuts out there that might not be getting the shine they deserve. While we stand by the diverse offering of the year’s best on Uproxx’s Best Albums of 2022’s round-up, these picks represent the ones you may have missed. From post-punk and global sounds to West Coast hip-hop and IDM, check out the best albums of 2022 that you might have missed below.

Khruangbin and Vieux Farka Touré – Ali

Much like how Khruangbin’s Texas Sun/Moon collaboration with Leon Bridges wonderfully melds together each artist’s sound while aiming for the essence of Texas, Ali is a sonic journey into West Africa with Vieux Farka Touré. The son of the great Malian desert blues guitarist Ali Farka Touré, Vieux joins forces with Khruangbin to honor his late father on the album. The Texan trio elevates Touré as a vocalist and guitarist, and together they tap in deeply to the spirit of West African blues and folk. One that can finally be felt in widespread fashion well outside of the continent.

Greentea Peng – Greenzone 108

The British rapper’s latest mixtape sees her spitting metaphysical rhymes over jazzy psychedelic soul beats and dancehall riddims. “Stuck In The Middle” showcases her sly wordsmithery over a groovy twang, while “Your Mind” lays down lush strings and funky horns for Peng to flow over with impeccable cadence: “I see you still, cower at your power. I see you still, doubt the world is ours / But I’m here to shower you, with messages from higher you, in spite of you, inside of you, there’s light in you, and fight in you.”

Widowspeak – The Jacket

On their sixth album, Brooklyn’s Widowspeak have found their highest form. Straddling shoegaze and cowboy pop, The Jacket is a calming, extremely pleasant, and flat-out gorgeous display from a band that’s aging gently and gracefully. Through standout tracks like the kaleidoscopic “While You Wait,” the balmy “Everything Is Simple” and the brilliantly arranged “The Drive,” singer Molly Hamilton’s vocals are a salve throughout one of the best evening companion albums of the year.

Ela Minus & DJ Python – Corazón

Before the arresting dance music pulse of Ela Minus’ breakthrough 2020 album, Acts Of Rebellion, the 2017 Adapt EP was a more playful, vocal IDM essay on synth mastery from the Colombian artist. Corazón harkens back to that early release through the earthy tonalities of New York-based producer DJ Python. As its title suggests, Corazón is a collection of love songs — only three of them to be exact — that leave a lasting feeling of sweet longing, tinged with palpable hope and nostalgia for sweet moments of romance. None do it better than “Pajaros en Verano,” one of the best songs of the year which brims with starry-eyed adoration wrapped in Ela and Python’s warm embrace of synths.

Thee Sacred Souls – Thee Sacred Souls

In the spirit of retro-soul-minded acts like Durand Jones & The Indications and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, the self-titled debut from SoCal’s Thee Sacred Souls is a display of lowrider soul tunes. Singer Josh Lane, drummer Alex Garcia, and bassist Sal Samano channel vintage ’60s soul and ’70s R&B vibes on the twelve-track Daptone Records release. But it’s in their full seven-piece setup where you get transported to a scene right out of that sock hop in Back To The Future, only this time, it’s the full Thee Sacred Souls touring ensemble commanding the stage for [radio DJ voice] alllll the lovers out there.

George Fitzgerald – Stellar Drifting

Domino Records really had their finger on the pulse of melodic IDM this year and George Fitzgerald’s Stellar Drifting was it’s most accessible offering. Breakneck soundscapes bloom everywhere, often making way for lasting vocal collabs like the glorious “Passed Tense” with Panda Bear and the magic carpet ride that is “Rainbow And Dreams” featuring Soak. For the album, Fitzgerald synthesized the literal sound of the cosmos and moments like “Cold” — featuring a pitched-down (and uncredited) Ellie Goulding — are downright interstellar.

Tim Bernardes – Mil Coisas Invisíveis

Brazilian singer-songwriter Tim Bernardes opened for Fleet Foxes on tour this year and recently collaborated with them on the track “A Sky Like I’ve Never Seen.” He even recorded a version of “Baby” with Brazilian legend Gal Costa before she passed this year. His trajectory is certainly on the rise and his solo album, Mil Coisas Invisíveis, is one of the finest modern Brazilian folk albums released in recent memory. Look no further than “BB (Garupa De Moto Amarela)” for a prime example of how Bernardes presents his elegant and poetic Portuguese-language lyricism, alongside bohemian arrangements that feel inspired by the flower child era of the Summer of Love.

Larry June & Jay Worthy – 2 P’z In A Pod

While San Francisco’s Larry June Spaceships On The Blade drew considerable attention this year (including from Uproxx’s Best Albums of 2022), June’s collaboration with Compton rapper Jay Worthy was likewise a standout. 2 P’z In A Pod is nothing short of a titanic West Coast rap release, bringing together two distinct voices from NorCal and SoCal. The record is produced entirely by Sean House and “Leave It Up To Me” doesn’t just show two rappers complementing each other with a distinct symbiosis, it might just be the best track June put out this year. There are even features from a slew of OGs in The Diplomats’ Jim Jones, West Coast rap fixture Suga Free, and then NYC’s Roc Marciano on the cognac-soaked “Leave It Up To Me.”

A.O. Gerber – Meet Me At The Gloaming

There’s a lot more than meets the eye on Los Angeles singer-songwriter A.O. Gerber’s latest album. If meticulously constructed and impassioned tunes like “You Got It Right” and “Walk In The Dark” remind you of Wye Oak, perhaps it’s because Gerber co-produced the album with Wye Oak collaborator Madeline Kenney. Out on the workhorse Father/Daughter Records label, melancholy strings permeate this beautiful album about staying optimistic in difficult emotional standstills. And even experimental jazz saxophonist Sam Gendel pops up at a couple turns, flashing ambitious layouts from Gerber and company that leave you wanting more.

Cola – Deep In View

While Montreal post-punk trio Ought disbanded recently, Cola immediately arose from the ashes. Most importantly, deep-voiced singer Tim Darcy is still at the helm lyrically on an album that easily slotted among the best post-punk releases of the year. Album opener “Blank Curtain” sets the stage with Darcy’s perfectly-paced vocals, sleek riffs, and a devious bass line from Ben Stidworthy. “Water Table” brings back Darcy’s signature callouts of our growing technocratic state, over drums from Ben Cartwright that thump like a tell-tale heart. And for a moment, it feels like Ought never left, they only got better.

Archibald Slim – Worldly Ways

While Archibald Slim is still rubbing elbows with Atlanta’s left-of-center Awful Records crew that he first came up with (including on Father’s “Let’s Kick His Ass!” along with Zack Fox this year), he’s found new life with LA’s P.O.W Recordings after a lengthy hiatus. Now Worldly Ways immediately slots him among the upper crust of the label’s eclectic roster of emerging rappers. The Boldy James comparisons are inescapable as Slim weaves stories with the hard-earned wisdom of a man who’s traversed many roads, but with the South as his recognizable point of origin. And he puts it down on the standout title track over a breezy thump, rapping: “I ain’t proud of some of the things that I had done. But my folks proud I stand my ground and I don’t run unless there’s time on the line.”

Reality competition show, The Voice wrapped up its 22nd season last night, NBC is moving full steam ahead to iron out the details for season 23. Although viewers enjoy seeing some of the biggest names in music, including Snoop Dogg, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran, appear as mentors, along with host Nick Jonas’ entertaining commentary, the essential part of the show is the judging panel.

In an exclusive report by EW, season 23’s judging panel will be a mix of returns, exits, and debuts. According to EW, the new season’s panel will feature Blake Shelton, Niall Horan, Kelly Clarkson, and Chance The Rapper.

Although fans of the show might be sad to learn this will be country music singer Blake Shelton’s final season on the show, a fan favorite, Kelly Clarkson, is returning to the judges’ panel. The final two judges are former One Direction member Niall Horan and Chance The Rapper. Horan and Chance are new to the show. However, Horan brings a unique experience with him: As a former reality music show competitor, Horan, is sure to provide a rich level of insight to the contestant, especially since Camila Cabello’s departure.

Season 23 of The Voice is set to premiere on March 6 at 8 pm EST, exclusively on NBC.

Over the years, the Tom Cruise holiday cake has become the stuff of legends. When pressed by reporters and talk show hosts, celebrities have confessed to being on the exclusive list for the infamous baked good whose origins surprisingly trace back to Cruise’s marriage to Katie Holmes. While filming the 2008 film Mad Money, Holmes’ co-star, Diane Keaton, introduced Cruise to the white chocolate coconut bundt cake from Doan’s Bakery in Woodland Hills, California. The Mission: Impossible star reportedly loved the desert so much that he made it the centerpiece of a massive cake-shipping operation.

To this day, Cruise’s famous friends and co-workers have been the lucky recipients of the bundt cake. As for which celebs make the cut, well, that’s a little harder to track down. Here are the recipients that we’ve been able to confirm:

• Kirsten Dunst
• Renée Zellweger
• Miles Teller
• Jon Hamm
• Angela Bassett
• James Corden
• Graham Norton
• Henry Cavill
• Cobie Smulders
• Jimmy Fallon
• Rosie O’Donnell
• Justin Theroux

We also know that Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick co-star Glen Powell is on the list, to the envy of his friends. Michael Bay also shared that he’s a recipient, but via some tragic circumstances. The Transformers director revealed in an Instagram video that FedEx dropped the ball on protecting the Cruise cake. Like Bay’s movies, it was a disaster.

As for whether Cruise’s holiday cake is really that good. Delish.com writer Gabby Romero got her hands on the legendary baked good from Doan’s Bakery, and it lived up to the hype.

“For us, the best thing about the cake were the chunks of white chocolate mixed into the batter,” Romero wrote. “They added a nice crunch to an otherwise soft cake. In the words of one of our editors, ‘This cake makes me want to jump on a couch.’”

(Via E! News, The Things)

Last night (December 13), Muni Long stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a killer performance of her song, “Time Machine.”

On the Fallon stage, Long arrived dressed in a shimmery, metallic, robot suit, as she sang about regret and still missing her ex.

“Wish I had a time machine / Baby, if I had a time machine / I would hop inside my time machine / And rearrange history / Get rid of some of these memories / Anything that ain’t servin’ me / I wish I had a time machine / Go back to when you lied to me,” Long sings on the song’s chorus.

It’s been a big year for Long, who, after over a decade of working behind the scenes as a songwriter under the moniker Priscilla Renea, had a breakthrough moment after her song “Hrs And Hrs” went viral on TikTok. Long is nominated for three Grammys at next year’s ceremony, including Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for “Hrs And Hrs,” as well as the coveted Best New Artist award.

Long has been nominated in the past as a songwriter, but her current slate of nominations marks the first time she’s been nominated for work that she’s performed herself. In an interview with Billboard, Long revealed how she reacted to the news of her nominations.

“…I definitely cried for a couple of minutes because it was a relief,” Long said. “I feel really good. I feel very grateful. And it’s historic. My age [Long is 34], spending my own money, coming from my background — it was unheard-of stuff. I’m super grateful that the conversation is happening and that people are watching me and then the messages I get about people being inspired and they really do have stars in their eyes watching me, and that feels amazing.”

Check out the performance of “Time Machine” above.

In support of their 2020 album, Shore, Fleet Foxes released a new concert film today. Live On Boston Harbor is a two-hour performance that has captivated fans. The original show took place on August 10 and was eventually live-streamed for $15 in September for the Autumnal Equinox and album’s second anniversary.

“We’ve had such an incredible time on the Shore tour so far — seeing so many of you along the way has buoyed our spirits and filled hearts,” Fleet Foxes said in a statement via Boston.com. “On the second anniversary of the album’s release, join us to celebrate and experience the Shore tour one more time.”

Before the concert film, the group has had a busy year, between a major world tour and dropping their book, Tin House For Wading In Waist-High Water: The Lyrics Of Fleet Foxes, in November. Recently, Fleet Foxes also shared a new song, “A Sky Like I’ve Never Seen,” for the soundtrack of the upcoming Amazon Prime documentary, Wildcat.

“I was inspired by how the film employed unconventional means to arrive at something universally moving and was struck by all the collisions inherent in the film’s conceit — between species, between hemispheres, between individuals, between the psychological and the natural,” Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold shared about the song.

Watch Fleet Foxes’ Live On Boston Harbor above.

One of Lil Wayne‘s signature hits has become his first song to be certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A Diamond certification denotes over 10 million units sold. Wayne’s 2008 hit “Lollipop” featuring Static Major reached that milestone today, thanks in large part to a digital resurgence in the past two years. It was actually certified both Gold and Platinum (8x) on January 23, 2020 (Certification is not automatic; for an award to be made, the record label must first request certification, which Cash Money and Republic Records did, 12 years after the song’s release).

“Lollipop” recently became the subject of some controversy when it was falsely reported that Wayne denied a request to sample the hit by Atlanta rapper Latto. The report — which came from a parody account — likely arose as a result of Latto’s ongoing feud with Lil Wayne labelmate Nicki Minaj. However, Latto herself debunked the rumor on Twitter, joking, “POV: u don’t even have a song sampling lollipop.”

Meanwhile, another Wayne smash from the same album (Tha Carter III) popped up earlier this week in a cringe-worthy TikTok posted by a Florida Police department. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office used “A Milli” to soundtrack a drug bust video on the app, leading to ridicule on Twitter.

It’s been a … let’s call it interesting few months for the Brooklyn Nets. In late June, Kevin Durant requested a trade from Brooklyn and, along the way, he reportedly pushed for the firing of both the team’s head coach and general manager. Durant eventually withdrew his trade demand, and a few weeks into the season, that head coach, Steve Nash, parted ways with the team. There’s the Kyrie Irving suspension, the ongoing saga of Ben Simmons, and all of the twisting winds in Brooklyn. There was an overall lack of faith in Brooklyn as an on-court threat as well, and the Nets started the season at 1-5 and heading into Thanksgiving with a record below .500 in the suddenly deep Eastern Conference.

Then, the Nets started winning.

Brooklyn is 8-1 in the last nine games, landing in the top-4 of the Eastern Conference as a result. It isn’t as if the Nets have a huge cushion above the rest of the pack in the East, and Brooklyn did have a soft schedule in stretch, including a seven-game homestand against less than stellar competition. Still, it’s hard to fake eight wins over nine games, and the Nets still have Durant and Irving to make things easier on the offensive end of the floor.

Broadly speaking, the Nets aren’t completely lighting up the scoreboard, scoring 113.5 points per 100 possessions for the season. That falls below the elite tier, but Brooklyn does have the bones of a fantastic offense and, for all of his other challenges, Irving is a tremendously effective player to go along with an MVP-caliber start from Durant. In the last nine games, Brooklyn is scoring 1.16 points per possession, even with a game in which the Nets punted from a roster perspective in Indiana. Despite horrific rebounding numbers, the Nets remain competitive on the defensive end.

It is far too early to suggest that Brooklyn is jumping back into the contender category, especially with Simmons still working his way back into form. Having Durant and, to a lesser extent, Irving around does give you a puncher’s chance, though, and neither star is even approaching career-norm levels from three-point distance this season.

How good are the Nets? We’ll see, and we’ll also see where they slot in this week’s DIME power rankings. Let’s go.

1. Boston Celtics (22-7, Last week — 1st)

Boston lost two games in a row for the first time all season, but that wasn’t enough to shift the top spot. The Celtics bookended those losses with a dominant road win in Phoenix and a wild one in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. In simple terms, Boston still has the best overall profile in the league this season.

2. Milwaukee Bucks (20-7, Last week — 2nd)

As we’ll touch on later, the Bucks strangely lost to Houston this week, and that isn’t a fantastic datapoint. Milwaukee is still 8-2 in the last ten games with a road win over Dallas and a very decisive home win over Golden State on Tuesday. Considering Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton have played only 69 total minutes this season, the Bucks should be feeling good.

3. Memphis Grizzlies (18-9, Last week — 5th)

Memphis has the longest active winning streak in the league and have hammered opponents by 13.8 points per 100 possessions in those wins. Most of the damage came during an extended homestand, but Desmond Bane is out and Memphis continues to roll.

4. New Orleans Pelicans (18-9, Last week — 3rd)

A week after we touched on the Pelicans’ leap, New Orleans swept Phoenix in impressive fashion. The Pelicans technically drop in the rankings after a weird loss to Utah on Tuesday, but New Orleans is playing at a contender level.

5. Brooklyn Nets (17-12, Last week — 10th)

Can the Nets keep rolling? Brooklyn is off until Friday before road games in Toronto and Detroit. That seems manageable.

6. Denver Nuggets (16-10, Last week — 12th)

Denver had only two games between last week’s rankings and this week’s rankings. The Nuggets won both and defeated Portland on the road and Utah at home. Nikola Jokic scored 64 points, grabbed 22 rebounds, and generated 23 assists in those two games. He’s pretty good.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-11, Last week — 6th)

There is no reason to panic, but the Cavs had a couple of not-so-great losses this week. Cleveland lost at home to Sacramento and then dropped a game to the previously scuffling Spurs. The Cavs do have an intriguing road test against Dallas on Wednesday.

8. Philadelphia 76ers (15-12, Last week — 13th)

After a three-game losing streak to end the previous week, the Sixers won three straight. All three wins came in favorable situations at home, but the wins still count. Also, Joel Embiid is on a heck of a run, averaging 37.9 points per game in his last ten appearances.

9. L.A. Clippers (16-13, Last week — 9th)

The Clippers were on track to dip a little bit in the rankings until Monday. L.A. then beat Boston by 20 points and, more importantly, Kawhi Leonard looked like Kawhi Leonard. He had 25 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in 29 minutes, and everything changes for the Clippers if he’s right.

10. Golden State Warriors (14-14, Last week — 8th)

It’s fairly weird that Golden State dropped this week after the Warriors beat the Celtics by double figures. The rest of the week wasn’t good for the Warriors, though, and Golden State is just 2-12 on the road. That is a staggering figure.

11. Dallas Mavericks (14-13, Last week — 11th)

If you needed a reminder that the Mavericks are built entirely around Luka Doncic, look no further than what happened on Saturday. Dallas gave up 144 (!) points to the Bulls and lost by a million without Doncic. We can safely ignore that result, but the Mavericks are on the knife’s edge sometimes.

12. Phoenix Suns (16-12, Last week — 4th)

Phoenix is suddenly 1-6 in the last seven games and the only win came against San Antonio. Granted, Devin Booker missed the last two games, but the Suns looked awful in a loss to Houston on Tuesday and things are in flux.

13. New York Knicks (14-13, Last week — 20th)

It’s been a very nice 10-day period for the Knicks. That includes a four-game winning streak and Julius Randle getting right with at least 27 points in the last three games. New York benefitted from extremely poor opponent shooting (22.1 percent from three), but the Knicks have a 94.4 defensive rating in those four contests. That’ll work.

14. Portland Trail Blazers (15-12, Last week — 16th)

The Blazers were only one point away from a five-game winning streak. Portland suffered a one-point loss to Denver, but the Blazers bounced back with a two-game sweep of Minnesota. Damian Lillard has 36-plus points in three straight games and the team still boasts a top-10 offense.

15. Sacramento Kings (14-12, Last week — 7th)

The Kings reached lofty heights a week ago and had a bit of a reckoning at 1-3 this week. The three losses were all on the road against solid-or-better teams, but Sacramento has two more games to finish the lengthy, six-game trip.

16. Los Angeles Lakers (11-16, Last week — 15th)

Los Angeles might be too high here when looking at win-loss record and recent play. After all, the Lakers are 1-4 in the last five games. Those losses came exclusively against quality opponents, with two in overtime, and it is easy to be more encouraged by the Lakers now than in previous weeks.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-14, Last week — 21st)

On the bright side, D’Angelo Russell seems to be finding some rhythm with 26.4 points on nearly 58 percent shooting in December. He needs to be rolling for Minnesota to be what it can be on offense, but Karl-Anthony Towns is out for a few more weeks and Minnesota just got mini-swept by Portland.

18. Utah Jazz (16-14, Last week — 19th)

Trying to figure out what Utah is right now is exceptionally difficult. The Jazz have clearly flattened out after the hot start, but Utah beat up on New Orleans on Tuesday and beat Golden State earlier in the week. The trouble is that Utah is giving up more than 1.16 points per possession in the last 17 games while going just 6-11.

19. Toronto Raptors (13-14, Last week — 14th)

Even when it comes on the road in a baseball-style miniseries, there has to be some punishment for losing twice in a row to Orlando. The Raptors are now 1-9 in their last 10 games on the road, which is gross, and Toronto’s offense is thoroughly uninspiring (to be kind) in half-court settings. They are weird enough to overcome those issues, but the vibes are not immaculate.

20. Miami Heat (13-15, Last week — 23rd)

Jimmy Butler is back and playing, but the Heat only rise in the rankings this week because of the struggles of other teams. Miami lost at home to San Antonio (yikes) this week and it’s one step forward and one step back for the Heat right now. They did manage to win despite scoring 87 points in Indianapolis on Monday, but that was another result that doesn’t inspire a ton of joy.

21. Atlanta Hawks (14-14, Last week — 22nd)

Atlanta’s recent numbers look worse than they probably after a 25-point beatdown at the hands of the Grizzlies on Monday. The Hawks were without their top five players in that game, so it’s one to write off, but Atlanta is still just 3-7 in the last ten games amid mounting injury concerns. John Collins and Dejounte Murray should be back in the relatively near future, but the Hawks also need to take advantage of a soft upcoming schedule between now and Christmas.

22. Indiana Pacers (14-14, Last week — 18th)

It’s not a huge shock that the Pacers have leveled off, but they’ve leveled off. Indiana is 4-8 in the last 12 games and, over that sample, the Pacers are dead-last in the NBA in defensive rebound rate and total rebound rate. That doesn’t explain everything, as Indiana is also scoring only 1.08 points per possession, but it would be helpful to avoid being bludgeoned in the possession battle.

23. Chicago Bulls (11-15, Last week — 25th)

Chicago’s loss in Atlanta was wild on Sunday, and that’s a game that just happens sometimes. Still, the Bulls have been horrific in the clutch this season, and that explains what is essentially a dead-even point differential compared to an 11-15 record. DeMar DeRozan is holding up his end of the bargain, but he hasn’t been able to carry the offense to even league-average levels.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder (11-16, Last week — 17th)

OKC jumped up the rankings last week with good reason, and this is a bit of a course correction. There is nothing wrong with the Thunder losing road games to the Grizzlies, Cavaliers, and Mavericks. It’s still a three-game losing streak and an 11-16 record, but it’s fine. Really, it is.

25. Houston Rockets (9-18, Last week — 26th)

The Rockets just beat the Bucks and Suns in consecutive games. Yes, Khris Middleton left the game early for Milwaukee and Devin Booker didn’t play for Phoenix. But, I mean, the Rockets just beat the Bucks and Suns in consecutive games.

26. Orlando Magic (8-20, Last week — 29th)

After nine straight defeats, Orlando shot the heck out of the ball this week and picked up three wins in a row. The Magic have a chance to keep that going against the scuffling Hawks on Wednesday, but it was the best stretch in recent vintage for Orlando.

27. San Antonio Spurs (9-18, Last week — 30th)

It was truly dire for the Spurs a week ago after 11 straight losses. Then, San Antonio had three full days off to regroup and came out and won three games in a row. That doesn’t mean everything is great for the Spurs now, but it’s a much better feeling despite the NBA’s worst point differential.

28. Washington Wizards (11-17, Last week — 24th)

Only four weeks after it seemed like Washington could be enjoying a fun season, the wheels have come off. The Wizards have lost seven in a row and 10 of the last 11 games, posting the worst record in the NBA since Nov. 23. Washington shouldn’t be this bad, just as the Wizards shouldn’t be as good as they were early on, but the harsh dip leads to a big drop here.

29. Charlotte Hornets (7-20, Last week — 27th)

Charlotte does have an excuse with LaMelo Ball appearing in only three games. With that said, the Hornets have been brutally hideous. Charlotte has the worst offensive rating (107.0) in the NBA, and the Hornets are on an ugly, five-game losing streak.

30. Detroit Pistons (7-22, Last week — 28th)

Cade Cunningham is officially out for the season and the Pistons have the worst record in the NBA. Detroit seems destined for a premium share of ping-pong balls, but perhaps the most interesting part of the calculus is whether the Pistons will trade the red-hot Bojan Bogdanovic, who is averaging 21 points per game on 65.8 percent true shooting this season.