NBA Standings 2018-2019: Lakers, Thunder Still Winless, Celtics, Rockets Struggling To Start Season

Some of the teams that started the 2018-2019 season with very high expectations are near the bottom of the NBA standings a week after the year’s first game. Four teams are still searching for their first victory, and the overwhelming Eastern Conference favorite already has two losses.

LeBron James is still searching for his first win with the Los Angeles Lakers (0-3), who blew a six-point lead in the final minute of overtime against the San Antonio Spurs (2-1) Monday night. Playing in a difficult Western Conference for the first time, James has lost the first three games of the season for the third time in his career. James’ teams missed the playoffs the previous two times in which they failed to win one of their first three games.

Without the NBA’s best player, the Cleveland Cavaliers (0-3) are also searching for their first victory. The same goes for the Chicago Bulls (0-3), though neither team was expected to do much this season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (0-3) are tied with the Lakers at the bottom of the West. Russell Westbrook missed the team’s first two games following knee surgery. His 32 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists weren’t enough against the Sacramento Kings (1-2) in his season debut. Paul George is averaging 25.3 points per game on just 38.2 percent shooting.

The Houston Rockets’ (1-2) only victory came against the Lakers. James Harden leads the league with 30.4 points per game. Only five teams have given up more points per possession than the team that led the NBA in wins last season.

The Boston Celtics (2-2) don’t have a losing record, though they are off to somewhat of a slow start. They are considered to be the biggest threat to the defending champion Golden State Warriors (3-1). Gordon Hayward doesn’t look to be completely recovered from his broken ankle, averaging just 11.7 points per game and sitting out an entire contest. Kyrie Irving is scoring 16.5 points per game on 39.1 percent shooting.

One of the teams to beat Boston was the Toronto Raptors (4-0), who are the league’s only four-win team. The Kawhi Leonard trade has paid early dividends. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year leads last year’s No.1 seed with 25.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

The Denver Nuggets (3-0) handed Golden State their only loss. Nikola Jokic is performing like a superstar, averaging 26.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

The New Orleans Pelicans (2-0) are the West’s other undefeated team. The Milwaukee Bucks (3-0) and Detroit Pistons (2-1) are also undefeated.