NBA power rankings: New No. 1 as Heat, Bulls, Lakers and 76ers rise; Bucks, Hornets fall
* Through games played 11/3
1. Miami Heat (6-1)
Last week: 4
Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are balling for a Heat team that has won five in a row since suffering an overtime loss to the Pacers on Oct. 23. Now, Kyle Lowry seems to be finding his way in Miami after nine years in Toronto. He had 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting with nine assists in Tuesday’s win over the Mavericks. Miami is No. 1 in the NBA in scoring at 115.6 points per game and No. 1 in scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 98.9 points per game.
2. Utah Jazz (6-1)
Last week: 1
Donovan Mitchell’s numbers are down a little from a year ago, but Rudy Gobert is averaging more rebounds than any man since Dennis Rodman in 1993-94 and Mike Conley is still a master in the pick-and-roll. Utah is unbeaten at home with road wins over the Kings, Rockets and Bucks.
3. Chicago Bulls (6-2)
Last week: 5
The Bulls won six of their first seven games, including a 107-99 victory over the Jazz, before losing to the 76ers on Wednesday. DeMar DeRozan put up back-to-back-to-back 30-point games, including consecutive 37-point performances against the Celtics and 76ers. The Bulls are also getting strong contributions from Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso.
4. Golden State Warriors (6-1)
Last week: 2
The Warriors took their first loss of the season last week, falling in overtime to the Grizzlies despite 36 points from Stephen Curry. The two-time MVP is averaging 28.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 38.8% from 3-point range.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (5-3)
Last week: 10
The Lakers have won three in a row after going 2-3 to start the season. LeBron James is averaging 24.8 points, 7.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds, down from 25.8 points, 7.8 assists and 7.7 rebounds last season.
6. New York Knicks (5-3)
Last week: 6
The Knicks fell flat in losses to the Raptors and Pacers after posting impressive back-to-back wins over the 76ers and Bulls last week. They have a series of tough games coming up against the Bucks, Cavaliers, 76ers, Bucks and Hornets.
7. Milwaukee Bucks (4-4)
Last week: 3
The defending NBA champions lost three in a row to the Timberwolves, Spurs and Jazz before beating the Pistons by 28. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo looks good, but Khris Middleton was placed in NBA health and safety protocols Tuesday due to a positive COVID-19 test.
8. Philadelphia 76ers (6-2)
Last week: 12
The 76ers have managed to win four in a row, but they lost Tobias Harris, who entered NBA health and safety protocols after contracting COVID-19. Harris could miss extended time for a team that is already without the services of Ben Simmons.
9. Brooklyn Nets (5-3)
Last week: 9
The Nets have won three in a row and four of their last five behind Kevin Durant and James Harden. Durant has been tremendous, averaging 27.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 58.3% from the field.
10. Memphis Grizzlies (5-3)
Last week: 11
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. helped the Grizzlies win back-to-back games against the Nuggets on Monday and Wednesday. Morant has been sensational, averaging 28.3 points, 7.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds.
11. Charlotte Hornets (5-4)
Last week: 7
The Hornets drop four spots this week after losing two in a row and three of their last four. Miles Bridges leads the team in scoring at 23.1 points per game. LaMelo Ball is averaging 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists while shooting 44.1% from 3-point range.
12. Dallas Mavericks (5-3)
Last week: 13
The Mavericks have won two of three with victories over the Kings and Spurs, but they were blown out by the Heat despite 33 points from Luka Doncic.
13. Washington Wizards (5-3)
Last week: 14
The Wizards are coming off back-to-back losses to the Hawks and Raptors after going 5-1 to start the season. Bradley Beal is averaging 24.3 points per game, but he’s shooting 37.9% from the field and 22.9% from long distance.
14. Atlanta Hawks (4-4)
Last week: 8
The Hawks have lost three of their last four during a difficult stretch, falling to the Wizards, 76ers and Nets. The upcoming schedule is brutal, too: vs. Utah, at Phoenix, at Golden State, at Utah, at Denver, vs. Milwaukee.
15. Denver Nuggets (4-4)
Last week: 16
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic had 34 points and 11 rebounds on Wednesday, but the Nuggets suffered their second consecutive loss to the Grizzlies, falling 108-106. Jokic is averaging 23.9 points, 13.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists, but he needs more help from Will Barton, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr.
16. Toronto Raptors (6-3)
Last week: 24
The Raptors are on a roll, winning five in a row after going 1-3 to start the season. Rookie Scottie Barnes has been even better than expected, averaging 18.1 points and 8.9 rebounds while converting on 55.1% of his field-goal attempts.
17. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-4)
Last week: 15
The Cavaliers took a couple of losses to the Lakers and Suns, but they bounced back with wins over the Hornets and Trail Blazers. Jarrett Allen was huge in both wins, scoring 24 points in each contest with 16 rebounds in one game and 17 in the other.
18. Phoenix Suns (3-3)
Last week: 20
The Suns picked up wins over the Cavaliers and Pelicans after suffering surprising losses to the Blazers and Kings. Devin Booker hasn’t looked quite right, averaging 21.8 points on 40.5% shooting from the field and 27.8% shooting from 3-point range.
19. Sacramento Kings (4-4)
Last week: 21
The Kings have the NBA’s toughest schedule to date. They’ve managed to go .500 despite the struggles of De’Aaron Fox, who was shooting career lows of 36.4% from the field, 15.4% from 3-point range at 63.2% at the free-throw line prior to Wednesday’s win over the Pelicans.
20. Los Angeles Clippers (3-4)
Last week: 19
Paul George posted two 32-point games in wins over the Thunder and Timberwolves after scoring 42 in a loss to the Blazers. George is averaging a career-high 28.3 points per game while shooting a career-best 49.2% from the field and 41.1% from beyond the arc.
21. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-4)
Last week: 18
The Timberwolves went 3-1 to start the season, but they’ve lost three in a row since then, falling to the Nuggets, Magic and Clippers. Anthony Edwards, the runner up for Rookie of the Year last season, is shooting 40.5% from the field and 30.9% from 3-point range.
22. Indiana Pacers (3-6)
Last week: 23
The Pacers won back-to-back games against the Spurs and Knicks. Domantas Sabonis had 24 points and 13 rebounds against San Antonio. Myles Turner had 25 points and 13 rebounds against New York.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (3-5)
Last week: 22
The Blazers are reeling after losing three in a row to the Hornets, 76ers and Cavaliers. CJ McCollum is averaging 23.7 points, but Damian Lillard has struggled, averaging just 18.6 points per game while shooting 34.9% from the field and 23.1% from 3-point range.
24. Boston Celtics (3-5)
Last week: 17
The Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over the Magic on Wednesday, but a players-only meeting following Marcus Smart’s comments about Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was described as “emotional” and “unproductive.”
25. Orlando Magic (2-7)
Last week: 25
The Magic managed to pick up a win over the Timberwolves on Monday behind 31 points from Cole Anthony, who leads the team in scoring at 19.4 points per game. Rookie Franz Wagner has been impressive, averaging 15.6 points while shooting 46.3% from 3-point range.
26. San Antonio Spurs (2-6)
Last week: 26
The Spurs picked up a big win over the Bucks on Saturday, but they’ve lost two in a row and six of their last seven. Dejounte Murray is having a career year so far, averaging 17.6 points, 8.4 assists, 7.6 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-6)
Last week: 30
OKC managed to knock off the Lakers last week in Los Angeles, but that’s the only game the Thunder has won. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been pretty good, averaging 22.9 points per game, but he isn’t shooting as well as he did last season.
28. Detroit Pistons (1-6)
Last week: 29
Rookie Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, has only appeared in two games, averaging 4.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He is shooting 13.6% from the field and has gone 0 of 14 from 3-point range.
29. Houston Rockets (1-6)
Last week: 28
Christian Wood has been outstanding, averaging 20.1 points and 12.1 rebounds, but the Rockets have lost five in a row and six of seven to start the season. Their only win came against the Thunder.
30. New Orleans Pelicans (1-8)
Last week: 27
The Pelicans have lost five in a row. Zion Williamson has yet to suit up this season as he recovers from offseason foot surgery, and now Brandon Ingram has missed the last three games with a hip injury.
This story was originally published November 4, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
