NBA power rankings: Now who’s No. 1? Heat falls while Warriors, Wizards and Suns rise
* Through games played 11/10
1. Golden State Warriors (10-1)
Last week: 4
Golden State has won six in a row and 10 of 11 to start the season, but are the Warriors for real? The schedule has been incredibly favorable so far. The Warriors have played eight games at home, 10 in the state of California, and the combined record of their opponents is 46-77. They have a big game against the Bulls on Friday before embarking on a five-game road trip. Stephen Curry scored 50 in Monday’s win over the Hawks. There was more good news regarding Klay Thompson, who has reportedly looked good in workouts and could be ready to return by Christmas.
2. Chicago Bulls (8-3)
Last week: 3
The Bulls are coming off impressive victories over the Nets and Mavericks after suffering two tough losses to the 76ers. They will open a five-game road trip against the Warriors on Friday before visiting the Clippers, Lakers, Blazers and Nuggets. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 26.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Zach LaVine is averaging 26.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
3. Utah Jazz (8-3)
Last week: 2
The Jazz bounced back with a 110-98 victory over the Hawks on Tuesday after suffering back-to-back road losses to the Heat and Magic. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 25.9 ppg, but he’s still shooting a career-low 31.5% from 3-point range. On the plus side, Mike Conley is shooting 44.3% from long distance and Rudy Gobert is dominating the paint, averaging 14.6 points and 15.9 rebounds.
4. Washington Wizards (8-3)
Last week: 13
The Wizards vault nine spots this week after winning three in a row against the Grizzlies, Bucks and Cavaliers. Bradley Beal is averaging 24.2 points, 5.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds. The additions of Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have been big for this team. Harrell is averaging 17.7 points and 9.1 rebounds. Kuzma is averaging 14.1 points and 9.5 rebounds.
5. Miami Heat (7-3)
Last week: 1
Miami drops four spots this week after losing two in a row and three of its last four. The Heat went 6-1 to begin the season before suffering 17-point losses to the Celtics and Nuggets and an overtime loss to the Lakers. There was additional concern Wednesday when Jimmy Butler left the game with a sprained right ankle, although it was not immediately clear how serious the injury might be.
6. Brooklyn Nets (8-4)
Last week: 9
The Nets stumbled out of the blocks with a 2-3 record, but they’ve won six of their last seven. Kevin Durant has led the team in scoring in each of the last six games. He had 38 in a loss to the Bulls. Durant is averaging 29.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 56.7% from the field and 38.2% from 3-point range. James Harden is averaging 18.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.5 assists.
7. Phoenix Suns (7-3)
Last week: 18
The Suns went 1-3 to start the season. They’ve won six in a row since then despite the absence of Deandre Ayton, who has missed the last three games with a right lower leg contusion. Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Payne and Jae Crowder are doing most of the heavy lifting, but Frank Kaminsky got in on the act Wednesday, scoring a career-high 31 points against the Blazers.
8. Philadelphia 76ers (8-4)
Last week: 8
The 76ers went 8-2 to start the season despite the ongoing absence of Ben Simmons, but they are coming off back-to-back losses to the Knicks and Bucks after Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid and Matisse Thybulle tested positive for COVID-19. Seth Curry joined the injury list Tuesday due to a left foot contusion.
9. Denver Nuggets (7-4)
Last week: 15
The Nuggets jump six spots this week after winning three in a row. They picked up an impressive win over the Heat on Monday and held off the Pacers on Wednesday despite the absence of reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who was suspended for one game following an altercation with Miami’s Markieff Morris.
10. Los Angeles Lakers (7-5)
Last week: 5
The Lakers showed some resiliency with overtime wins over the Hornets and Heat, but only after losing back-to-back games against the Thunder and Blazers. LeBron James missed all four of those games with an abdominal injury. He is not expected to be out for an extended period of time, but the Lakers won’t be at full strength until he returns.
11. Los Angeles Clippers (6-4)
Last week: 20
Paul George is starting to rise to the occasion in the absence of Kawhi Leonard, helping the Clippers win five in a row. George has led the team in scoring in each of the last six games, including a 42-point game against the Blazers and 32-point games against the Thunder and Timberwolves. George is averaging 26.7 points and career highs of 8.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.5 steals.
12. Dallas Mavericks (7-4)
Last week: 12
The Mavericks won three in a row and four out of five before losing to the Bulls on Wednesday. Luka Doncic was held to 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting in the loss to Chicago. He is averaging 24.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists while shooting 44.2% from the field and 29.5% from 3-point range. Those numbers are down considerably from last season.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers (7-5)
Last week: 17
The Cavaliers won four in a row with victories over the Hornets, Blazers, Raptors and Knicks before suffering a 97-94 loss to the Wizards on Wednesday. Ricky Rubio has been a huge addition for the Cavs. He exploded for a career-high 37 points in Sunday’s 17-point win over the Knicks.
14. Milwaukee Bucks (6-6)
Last week: 7
Here’s how inconsistent the Bucks have been: They lost to the Knicks by 15 at home on Friday and beat them by 12 on the road Wednesday. Khris Middleton has missed the last six games after testing positive for COVID-19. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging team highs of 27.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals.
15. New York Knicks (7-5)
Last week: 6
The Knicks went 5-1 to start the season, but they’ve gone 2-4 since then, averaging just 104.5 points per game over that stretch. Julius Randle led New York to impressive victories over the Bucks and 76ers, but the Knicks suffered a nine-point loss to the Raptors and double-digit losses to the Pacers, Cavaliers and Bucks.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (6-5)
Last week: 10
The Grizzlies have lost two of their last three. Ja Morant posted back-to-back 30-point games after being held to 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting in a loss to the Wizards. Morant is averaging a career-high 26.0 points, 7.2 assists and 5.6 rebounds while shooting career bests of 48.5% from the field and 36.7% from 3-point range.
17. Boston Celtics (5-6)
Last week: 24
The Celtics climb eight spots this week after winning three of their last four. Jaylen Brown led them to wins over the Magic and Heat. He’s out now with a right hamstring strain, but Jayson Tatum and Dennis Schroder provided enough firepower in a 104-88 victory over the Raptors on Wednesday.
18. Toronto Raptors (6-6)
Last week: 16
The Raptors have lost three in a row since putting together a five-game winning streak. The road ahead could be unkind. They will visit the 76ers on Thursday and come home to play the Pistons on Saturday before going back on the road to face the Blazers, Jazz, Kings, Warriors, Grizzlies and Pacers.
19. Charlotte Hornets (6-7)
Last week: 11
The Hornets lost five in a row before picking up a much-needed 118-108 victory over the Grizzlies on Wednesday. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored a season-high 37 points in the win over Memphis, setting a franchise record for points off the bench.
20. San Antonio Spurs (4-7)
Last week: 26
The Spurs lost three of four and seven of nine before putting up a season-high 136 points in Wednesday’s victory over the Kings. Dejounte Murray is averaging career highs of 18.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.9 rebounds. He had 26 points in the win over Sacramento.
21. Sacramento Kings (5-7)
Last week: 19
The Kings have lost three in a row, dropping home games against the Pacers and Suns before losing to the Spurs in the first game of a four-game road trip Wednesday. De’Aaron Fox broke out of his shooting slump with 37 points against the Spurs, but the Kings missed Tyrese Haliburton, who was held out of the last two games due to lower back tightness.
22. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-6)
Last week: 27
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to surprising back-to-back wins over the Lakers and Spurs. Rookie Josh Giddey isn’t shooting well, but he’s averaging 10.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.4 steals.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (5-7)
Last week: 23
The Blazers picked up a couple of wins over the Pacers and Lakers, but what they really need is the real Damian Lillard. Lillard scored a total of 52 points on 20-of-42 shooting against the Lakers and Clippers after being held to four points on 2-of-13 shooting in the win over Indiana.
24. Indiana Pacers (4-8)
Last week: 22
The Pacers picked up a 94-91 win over the Kings on Sunday, but they have lost two of their last three after suffering a 101-98 loss to the Nuggets on Wednesday. They will wrap up a four-game road trip against the Jazz on Thursday before going home to face the 76ers on Saturday.
25. Atlanta Hawks (4-8)
Last week: 14
The Hawks haven’t looked anything like the team that made a run to the Eastern Conference finals last season. They have lost five in a row and seven of their last eight. Atlanta is scoring 107.4 ppg — down from 113.7 last season — with Trae Young, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic all averaging fewer points.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-7)
Last week: 21
Anthony Edwards, a finalist for Rookie of the Year last season, poured in a career-high 48 points Wednesday, but the Timberwolves lost their sixth in a row, falling 123-110 to the Warriors. They will visit the Lakers and Clippers before opening a four-game homestand against the Suns on Monday.
27. Orlando Magic (3-9)
Last week: 25
Cole Anthony scored 33 points in a surprising win over the Jazz, but rookie Jalen Suggs has struggled, shooting 30.6% over the first 12 games. Franz Wagner has been better, averaging 13.4 points while shooting 46% from the field and 36.2% from 3-point range.
28. Detroit Pistons (2-8)
Last week: 28
Jerami Grant scored 35 points Wednesday to help Detroit snap a four-game losing streak with a win over the Rockets. No. 1 draft pick Cade Cunningham scored 18 points against the 76ers, 17 against the Nets and 20 against the Rockets, but he shot 28.4% from the field and 22.2% from 3-point range in his first five games.
29. Houston Rockets (1-10)
Last week: 29
Rookies Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun have had their moments, but the Rockets have lost nine in a row following Wednesday’s 112-104 loss to the Pistons. They’re averaging just 103.8 ppg while giving up 111.3.
30. New Orleans Pelicans (1-11)
Last week: 30
The Pelicans are a mess without Zion Williamson and, more recently, Brandon Ingram, who has missed several games with a right hip contusion. They lost their eighth in a row Wednesday, falling 108-100 to the Thunder despite 33 points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
