NBA power rankings: Suns, Warriors rule out West; Heat, Cavaliers, 76ers rise in the East
* Through games played 1/27
1. Phoenix Suns (38-9)
Last week: 1
The Suns won’t have a starter in the 71st NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 20 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, but they have the best team in the league. Phoenix has won eight in a row and 11 of 12. The Suns are coming off back-to-back wins over the Jazz. Devin Booker had 33 points in a 115-109 victory over the Jazz in Phoenix. He had 43 points and 12 rebounds in Wednesday’s 105-97 victory in Salt Lake City. Chris Paul was sensational in the first game, posting 27 points, nine rebounds and 13 assists. Deandre Ayton is considered day-to-day after missing the past five games with a sprained ankle. Ayton has missed a total of 19 games this season. He is averaging 16.8 points and 10.6 rebounds.
2. Golden State Warriors (36-13)
Last week: 3
The Warriors have won four in a row and six of eight with victories over the Bulls, Pistons, Rockets, Jazz, Mavericks and Timberwolves. Stephen Curry looked more like himself against Minnesota, making 10 of 20 from the field and 6 of 10 from 3-point range to finish with 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Klay Thompson had his best game yet since his return, posting 23 points, five rebounds and four assists while making 9 of 16 from the field and 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. We felt Rudy Gobert deserved the nod as an All-Star Game starter over Andrew Wiggins, but Wiggins has been terrific, too, averaging 18.1 points while shooting a career-high 40.4% from 3-point range.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (33-17)
Last week: 2
Ja Morant was selected as a starter for the NBA All-Star Game on Thursday after scoring 41 points in a win over the Spurs on Wednesday night. The Grizzlies have won 14 of 17 to climb to third in the Western Conference, surging past the likes of the Jazz, Mavericks, Nuggets, Lakers and Clippers. Memphis is sixth in the NBA in scoring at 111.8 points per game and seventh in scoring differential (+3.4).
4. Miami Heat (31-17)
Last week: 4
Erik Spoelstra was the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month in December and he might be named Coach of the Year at the end of the season. Miami stays steady no matter who’s in or out of the lineup. The Heat has won four of five since Bam Adebayo returned and 13 of 17 dating back to Dec. 21.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (29-19)
Last week: 6
Philadelphia has won three in a row and 13 of 16 behind the MVP-caliber play of Joel Embiid. There’s no question the 76ers are on a roll, but how far can they go? TNT analyst Charles Barkley says they won’t win the NBA championship unless they trade Ben Simmons to put additional weapons around their 7-foot center.
6. Chicago Bulls (30-17)
Last week: 7
Zach LaVine returned from a knee injury, but now Alex Caruso is out with a broken wrist as a result of a flagrant foul by Grayson Allen. The Bulls lost six of seven before newly named All-Star Game starter DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic helped them earn back-to-back wins over the Thunder and Raptors.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (30-19)
Last week: 11
The Cavaliers have been one of the hottest teams in the league in recent weeks behind Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Lauri Markkanen and Kevin Love. They’ve won three in a row and eight of their last nine. Mobley continues to lead Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes in the Rookie of the Year race.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (30-20)
Last week: 9
The Bucks had won three in a row with wins over the Grizzlies, Bulls and Kings before suffering a loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was again selected as a starter for the All-Star Game. He is averaging 28.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists.
9. Utah Jazz (30-19)
Last week: 8
Utah has lost three in a row and nine of 11 to fall to fourth in the West. Donovan Mitchell has missed the past five games with a concussion. Rudy Gobert will miss his third game due to a calf injury when the Jazz visit the Grizzlies on Friday.
10. Brooklyn Nets (29-19)
Last week: 5
The Nets have lost three in a row and 10 of their last 16 to fall to fourth in the East. James Harden is frustrated, Kyrie Irving can only play in road games and All-Star Game captain Kevin Durant isn’t expected to return for weeks after suffering a sprained MCL.
11. Dallas Mavericks (28-21)
Last week: 10
The Mavericks have played pretty well lately to win 12 of their last 15, but Luka Doncic was held to 7-of-17 shooting in a 38-point loss to the Warriors on Tuesday.
12. Denver Nuggets (26-21)
Last week: 13
The Nuggets have won three in a row and eight of 11 behind reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who has averaged 32.6 points, 13.0 rebounds and 9.4 assists over the past five games.
13. Charlotte Hornets (27-22)
Last week: 12
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 39 points and LaMelo Ball posted a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists in a 158-126 win over the Pacers after double-digit losses to the Hawks and Raptors.
14. Boston Celtics (25-24)
Last week: 19
Jayson Tatum scored 51 points in a win over the Wizards and followed that with a 36-point performance in a 53-point win over the Kings, the second-largest margin of victory in team history.
15. Los Angeles Clippers (25-25)
Last week: 18
The Clippers are starting to find ways to win games without Paul George. Amir Coffey, Reggie Jackson, Ivica Zubac and Nicolas Batum have helped them win four of their last six.
16. Los Angeles Lakers (24-25)
Last week: 16
Anthony Davis is back after missing nearly six weeks with a sprained MCL. He had 31 points and 12 rebounds against the 76ers on Thursday, but the Lakers lost 105-87 after LeBron James was held out with left knee soreness.
17. Toronto Raptors (23-23)
Last week: 17
Gary Trent Jr. had 32 points in a win over the Hornets on Tuesday. He had another 32-point game the next night in Chicago, but it wasn’t enough in a 111-105 loss to the Bulls.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (24-24)
Last week: 20
Anthony Edwards scored 40 points in Tuesday’s victory over the Blazers. The Timberwolves had won four of five to move above .500 before suffering a 124-115 loss to the Warriors on Thursday.
19. Washington Wizards (23-25)
Last week: 14
Kyle Kuzma got hot to help the Wizards go two games over .500 with a win over the 76ers on Jan. 17, but now they’ve lost four in a row to fall to 10th in the Eastern Conference.
20. New York Knicks (23-26)
Last week: 15
The Knicks are reportedly open to trading Julius Randle after losing five of six to fall to 11th in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the Wizards for the final play-in spot.
21. Atlanta Hawks (22-25)
Last week: 21
Trae Young was selected as a starter for the NBA All-Star Game after helping the streaky Hawks win five in a row with victories over the Bucks, Timberwolves, Heat, Hornets and Kings.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (20-28)
Last week: 22
The Blazers are 8-8 over the last 16 games despite the loss of Damian Lillard. Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum led them to wins over the Celtics and Raptors, but they’re coming off losses to the Timberwolves and Mavericks.
23. New Orleans Pelicans (18-29)
Last week: 26
Jonas Valanciunas and Devonte’ Graham led back-to-back wins over the Knicks and Pacers, but a 31-point performance from Nickeil Alexander-Walker wasn’t enough in a loss to the 76ers.
24. San Antonio Spurs (18-31)
Last week: 23
Dejounte Murray had 19 points and 10 assists in a 31-point win over the Rockets, but the Spurs have dropped three of four and nine of their last 12.
25. Indiana Pacers (17-32)
Last week: 24
Caris LeVert and rookie Chris Duarte led Indiana to back-to-back wins over the Lakers and Warriors, but the Pacers have lost three in a row and seven of nine.
26. Sacramento Kings (18-32)
Last week: 25
Ankle soreness caused De’Aaron Fox to miss the past three games for the Kings, who have lost five in a row and 10 of 12 with tough games coming up against the 76ers, Knicks, Nets and Warriors. Harrison Barnes said the locker room is full of frustration, anger and embarrassment.
27. Houston Rockets (14-34)
Last week: 27
Eric Gordon, Christian Wood, Garrison Mathews and Kevin Porter Jr. helped the Rockets go 3-3 in their last six games with wins over the Spurs, Kings and Jazz.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (14-33)
Last week: 28
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points against the Bulls on Monday, but the Thunder lost again. OKC has dropped six in a row and 11 of its last 12.
29. Detroit Pistons (11-36)
Last week: 29
The Pistons have lost three in a row and five of their last six. Rookie Cade Cunningham had a career-high 34 points, eight rebounds and eight assists against the Nuggets on Tuesday.
30. Orlando Magic (9-40)
Last week: 30
Orlando’s struggles continue, but Moritz and Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs led the Magic to a rare and surprising 114-95 victory over the Bulls.
