NBA power rankings: How high can Lakers, Cavaliers climb? How low will Trail Blazers go?
* Through games played 12/16
1. Phoenix Suns (22-5)
Last week: 1
The Suns suffered a loss to the Clippers earlier this week, but they hold on to the top spot in this week’s rankings after winning four of five and 22 of their last 24. Devin Booker has been out since Nov. 30 with a hamstring injury, but he could be ready to return when the Suns visit the Lakers on Tuesday. A Christmas Day showdown with the Warriors awaits.
2. Golden State Warriors (23-5)
Last week: 2
Stephen Curry surpassed Ray Allen as the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-point goals during an unforgettable moment at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Curry is now No. 1, but the Warriors are still No. 2. They are 5-3 in their last eight games after going 18-2 to start the season. They will play the Celtics, Raptors, Kings and Grizzlies before facing the Suns for the third time on Christmas Day.
3. Utah Jazz (20-7)
Last week: 3
Utah has won eight in a row and 12 of 14 behind Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Mitchell is averaging 29.1 ppg during the Jazz’s winning streak. Gobert is cleaning the glass. He had 20 rebounds in a win over the Cavaliers, 21 rebounds in a win over the 76ers and 17 rebounds in a win over the Clippers. New CEO Danny Ainge has to like that.
4. Brooklyn Nets (20-8)
Last week: 4
Kyrie Irving hasn’t suited up for a game all season and now James Harden is out due to NBA health and safety protocols, but Kevin Durant continues to prove he is one of the best players on the planet. Durant is averaging 37.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists during his team’s current four-game winning streak.
5. Milwaukee Bucks (19-11)
Last week: 6
The Bucks went 6-8 to start the season, but they’ve gone 13-3 since then. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.0 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists. Khris Middleton’s scoring and shooting percentages are down, but he had seven consecutive 20-point games before leaving Monday’s game against the Celtics with a knee injury.
6. Chicago Bulls (17-10)
Last week: 5
The Bulls suffered a 23-point loss to the Cavaliers and a 26-point loss to the Heat before their next two games against the Pistons and Raptors were postponed because Chicago had 10 players in NBA health and safety protocols. The Bulls aren’t schedule to play again until they face the Lakers on Sunday.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (18-11)
Last week: 8
The Grizzlies have gone 9-1 since losing Ja Morant, who is out due to a sprained left knee and NBA health and safety protocols. They’ve had some relatively easy ones against the Kings, Raptors, Thunder, Rockets and Blazers, but they’ve also earned some good wins over the Mavericks, Heat, Lakers and 76ers.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-12)
Last week: 12
The Cavs are one of the hottest teams in the league going into Saturday’s showdown with the Bucks. They’ve won five in a row and nine of 11, including some good wins over the Mavericks, Heat (2), Wizards and Bulls. Rookie center Evan Mobley has been impressive, averaging 13.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 blocks.
9. Miami Heat (17-12)
Last week: 7
Miami had lost five of eight before Gabe Vincent scored 26 points to help the Heat beat the 76ers 101-96 on Wednesday despite the absences of Bam Adebayo (thumb), Jimmy Butler (tailbone), Tyler Herro (quad), Markieff Morris (neck) and Victor Oladipo (knee).
10. Atlanta Hawks (14-14)
Last week: 9
Trae Young scored 28 points to help the Hawks pick up a win over the Magic on Wednesday, but they had lost four of their last five games. Three of those losses came against the 76ers, Hornets and Nets, but there was also a 132-126 loss to the Rockets despite a 41-point performance from Young.
11. Los Angeles Lakers (16-13)
Last week: 14
The Lakers have gotten on a little bit of a roll since LeBron James returned. They’ve won three in a row and six of their last eight. The schedule has been pretty soft with games against the Pacers, Kings (2), Pistons, Thunder, Magic and the Luka-less Mavericks, but a showdown with the Suns awaits on Tuesday.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (16-13)
Last week: 13
Paul George (elbow) has missed the past four games, but the Clippers had won four in a row and five of six before suffering a 21-point loss to the Jazz on Wednesday. The Clippers will have a chance to string together a few more wins against the Thunder, Spurs, Kings and Nuggets before they face the Nets on Dec. 27.
13. Washington Wizards (15-14)
Last week: 10
The Wizards went 14-8 to start the season, the now they’ve gone into a tailspin with no end in sight. They’ve lost four in a row and seven of their last eight. Their next nine games are against the Suns, Jazz, Nets, Knicks, 76ers, Heat, Cavaliers, Bulls and Hornets.
14. Philadelphia 76ers (15-14)
Last week: 11
The 76ers have lost three in a row and four of their last five, including a 114-105 loss to the Nets on Thursday. Joel Embiid scored 32 points, but with Tyrese Maxey out due to a quad contusion, Philadelphia didn’t have enough firepower for the Nets despite the absence of James Harden, who is out due to NBA health and safety protocols.
15. Boston Celtics (14-14)
Last week: 15
The Celtics lost four of five during a difficult stretch against the Jazz, Blazers, Lakers, Clippers and Suns, but Jayson Tatum scored 42 points to help them bounce back with a 117-103 victory over the Bucks on Monday. The Celtics will play host to the Warriors on Friday, Knicks on Saturday and 76ers on Monday.
16. Charlotte Hornets (16-14)
Last week: 16
Gordon Hayward erupted for 41 points in a 131-115 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday. The Hornets are getting healthy again after being extremely shorthanded last week, but 2021 Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball is still questionable for Friday’s game against the Blazers after clearing NBA health and safety protocols.
17. Denver Nuggets (14-14)
Last week: 17
Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, but that wasn’t enough in a 124-107 loss to the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Jokic had 35 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists in Saturday’s win over the Spurs. He had 28 points, 19 rebounds and nine assists in Monday’s win over the Wizards.
18. Dallas Mavericks (14-14)
Last week: 18
The Mavericks had won three of four with wins over the Grizzlies, Thunder and Hornets before suffering an overtime loss to the Lakers on Wednesday. Luka Doncic has missed the past three games with an ankle injury and is not expected to return in time for Sunday’s game against the Timberwolves.
19. New York Knicks (13-16)
Last week: 19
The Knicks had lost four in a row and seven of eight before beating the Rockets on Thursday. Julius Randle was held to 6-of-18 shooting and 21 points, but Immanuel Quickley came off the bench to score 24 points in the win, going 7 of 10 from 3-point range.
20. Sacramento Kings (12-17)
Last week: 20
The Kings snapped a three-game losing streak with a 119-105 win over the Wizards on Wednesday, but now they have other problems with interim coach Alvin Gentry, De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley III, Terence Davis, Alex Len and Louis King all entering NBA health and safety protocols due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Sacramento.
21. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-15)
Last week: 22
The Timberwolves lost five in a row in early December, but now they are coming off back-to-back wins over the Trail Blazers and Nuggets. Anthony Edwards scored 38 points against Denver, making 14 of 21 from the field and 10 of 14 from 3-point range.
22. Toronto Raptors (13-15)
Last week: 23
The Raptors had won four of five before losing to the Nets in overtime Tuesday. Fred VanVleet had 31 points in the loss. Thursday’s game against the Bulls was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Chicago. Rookie Scottie Barnes is averaging 15.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
23. Indiana Pacers (13-18)
Last week: 24
The Pacers lost back-to-back games to the Warriors and Bucks before beating the Pistons 122-113 on Thursday behind 31 points from Caris LeVert, who is reportedly available for trade discussions along with Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.
24. Portland Trail Blazers (11-18)
Last week: 21
Damian Lillard has returned from an abdominal injury, but the Blazers are in a freefall. They have lost seven in a row and 10 of their last 11 dating back to Nov. 24. Lillard had 21 points on 6-of-21 shooting in Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies. CJ McCollum has been out since Dec. 4 with a collapsed lung.
25. San Antonio Spurs (10-17)
Last week: 26
The Spurs are coming off a 131-115 loss to the Hornets as they head out on a tough four-game road trip to face the Jazz, Kings, Clippers and Lakers. Dejounte Murray (17.7 ppg) had a total of 26 points on 12-of-33 shooting over the past three games.
26. Houston Rockets (9-20)
Last week: 25
The Rockets have come back down to Earth, losing four of their last five games after winning seven in a row in late November and early December. Rookie Alperen Sengun had his best game yet in a blowout loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday, finishing with 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one blocked shot.
27. New Orleans Pelicans (9-21)
Last week: 28
Amid mounting concern over Zion Williamson (foot), the Pelicans have won two of their last three with a couple of tough games coming up against the Bucks and 76ers. Brandon Ingram scored 34 points in Wednesday’s win over the Thunder.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-19)
Last week: 27
The Thunder dropped its third in a row Wednesday, falling 1130-110 to the Pelicans despite 33 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored. OKC has now lost 11 of its last 13 games.
29. Orlando Magic (5-24)
Orlando snapped a seven-game losing streak with a win over the Nuggets on Dec. 1, but now the Magic has lost six in a row. One bright spot has been rookie Franz Wagner, who is averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 38% from 3-point range.
Last week: 29
30. Detroit Pistons (4-23)
Last week: 30
The Pistons have lost 13 in a row since picking up their last win on Nov. 17. Rookie Cade Cunningham is averaging 15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists, but he’s still shooting just 38.2% from the field and 32.2% from 3-point range.
