NBA power rankings: Win streak ends, but are Suns still No. 1? Warriors, 76ers surging
* Through games played 02/03
1. Phoenix Suns (41-10)
Last week: 1
Phoenix’s 11-game winning streak ended with a 124-115 loss to the Hawks on Thursday despite 32 points from Devin Booker, but for now the Suns still have to be considered the top team in the league. They are 22-5 at home and 19-5 on the road with a point differential of +7.6. They are 40-7 since going 1-3 to start the season. Booker is averaging 25.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Chris Paul is averaging 14.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 10.4 assists.
2. Golden State Warriors (40-13)
Last week: 2
The Warriors have won eight in a row, the longest current winning streak in the NBA. They also have the best point differential in the league at +8.2. Stephen Curry scored 40 points in a win over the Thunder earlier this week. Klay Thompson made 7 of 9 from 3-point range to match his season high with 23 against the Kings on Thursday.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (36-18)
Last week: 3
The Grizzlies lost to the 76ers in overtime Monday despite 37 points from Ja Morant, but they bounced back with a win over the Knicks on Wednesday. Memphis is 17-4 over its last 21 games. Morant, who was voted into the All-Star Game as a starter, is averaging 26.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.9 assists.
4. Philadelphia 76ers (31-20)
Last week: 5
A 106-103 loss to the Wizards ended Philadelphia’s five-game winning streak, but the 76ers have been the hottest team in the Eastern Conference, winning 15 of their last 19 games. Joel Embiid continues to play at an MVP level, averaging 29.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
5. Miami Heat (33-20)
Last week: 4
Tyler Herro scored 24 points to help the Heat snap a three-game losing streak with a 112-95 victory over the Spurs on Thursday. Bam Adebayo had a season-high 32 points in a loss to the Raptors on Tuesday. Miami is in a virtual tie for the top spot in the East, percentage points behind the Bulls.
6. Chicago Bulls (32-19)
Last week: 6
The Bulls suffered an overtime loss to the Raptors on Thursday despite 30 points and 18 rebounds from Nikola Vucevic, but they had won four of their last five. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Vucevic have helped the Bulls rise to the top of the Eastern Conference.
7. Milwaukee Bucks (32-21)
Last week: 8
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists in a 112-98 victory over the Wizards on Tuesday. The Bucks have won five of seven. They are tied with the 76ers for third in the East, just one game behind the Bulls and Heat for the No. 1 seed.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (31-21)
Last week: 7
The Cavaliers won four of five before suffering a 115-104 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday. Darius Garland was named an All-Star on Thursday and Evan Mobley continues to make his case for Rookie of the Year, averaging 15.2 points and 8.2 rebounds.
9. Utah Jazz (31-21)
Last week: 9
Donovan Mitchell will return against the Nets on Friday after being sidelined for 17 days due to concussion protocol. Rudy Gobert is expected to return from a calf injury next week. The Jazz snapped a season-long five-game losing streak Wednesday, beating the Nuggets 108-104 with Nikola Jokic out of the lineup.
10. Brooklyn Nets (29-22)
Last week: 10
The Nets have struggled with Kevin Durant out due to a sprained MCL, losing six in a row and seven of nine to fall to sixth in the East. James Harden was held to four points in Wednesday’s loss to the Kings.
11. Dallas Mavericks (29-23)
Last week: 11
The Mavericks are coming off back-to-back losses to the Magic and Thunder, but they are still fifth in the west, two games behind the Jazz for the No. 4 seed.
12. Denver Nuggets (28-23)
Last week: 12
The Nuggets had won five in a row before suffering back-to-back losses to the Timberwolves and Jazz. Nikola Jokic missed the Utah game with a toe injury, but he is expected to play against the Pelicans on Friday.
13. Charlotte Hornets (28-24)
Last week: 13
LaMelo Ball scored a career-high 38 points against the Celtics on Wednesday, but it wasn’t enough for the Hornets, who have lost four of their last six.
14. Boston Celtics (28-25)
Last week: 14
The Celtics have won three in a row and five of their last six behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They are tied for ninth in the East with upcoming games against the Pistons and Magic.
15. Toronto Raptors (27-23)
Last week: 17
The Raptors have moved into a tie for seventh in the East after winning four in a row with impressive victories over the Heat (2), Hawks and Bulls.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves (27-25)
Last week: 18
Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards helped the Timberwolves win three in a row over the Jazz, Nuggets and Pistons to move within 1 ½ games of Denver for the sixth seed in the West.
17. Los Angeles Clippers (27-27)
Last week: 15
Rookie second-round draft pick Brandon Boston Jr. scored 19 points in a win over the Hornets on Sunday and Marcus Morris Sr. had 29 in Thursday’s 111-110 victory over the Lakers.
18. Atlanta Hawks (25-26)
Last week: 21
Atlanta’s seven-game winning streak ended with a loss to the Raptors, but Trae Young scored 43 to help the Hawks bounce back with a 124-115 victory over the Suns on Thursday.
19. Los Angeles Lakers (25-28)
Last week: 16
Anthony Davis had 30 points and 17 rebounds against the Clippers on Thursday, but that wasn’t enough for the Lakers, who have lost four of their last five without LeBron James.
20. Washington Wizards (24-27)
Last week: 19
Kyle Kuzma scored 24 points to help the Wizards snap a season-long six-game losing streak with an impressive 106-103 road win over the 76ers on Wednesday. The Suns, Heat and Nets are up next.
21. New York Knicks (24-28)
Last week: 20
Julius Randle had 18 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in a loss to the Grizzlies on Wednesday. The Knicks have lost four of five and seven of their last nine.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (21-31)
Last week: 22
The Blazers have lost five of six without Damian Lillard, but they’re still holding onto the final play-in spot the West going into Friday’s game against the Thunder.
23. New Orleans Pelicans (19-32)
Last week: 23
Brandon Ingram helped New Orleans snap a four-game losing streak with a win over the Pistons while the Pelicans explore trade possibilities.
24. San Antonio Spurs (19-34)
Last week: 24
Dejounte Murray had 29 points and 12 assists in a win over the Bulls before the Spurs suffered close losses to the Suns and Warriors and a blowout loss to the Heat.
25. Indiana Pacers (19-34)
Last week: 25
The Pacers have lost five of seven, but Domantas Sabonis and Isaiah Jackson helped them pick up a couple of wins over the Thunder and Clippers.
26. Sacramento Kings (19-34)
Last week: 26
The Kings snapped a seven-game losing streak with a surprising 112-101 victory over the Nets on Wednesday despite the absence of De’Aaron Fox, who missed his sixth consecutive game due to left ankle soreness. Davion Mitchell had a career-high 25 points in Thursday’s loss to the Warriors.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (16-34)
Last week: 28
Luguentz Dort led Oklahoma City to back-to-back wins over the Blazers and Mavericks. He scored 30 points in Wednesday’s overtime victory in Dallas.
28. Houston Rockets (15-36)
Last week: 27
Christian Wood scored 21 points to help the Rockets snap a four-game losing streak with a 115-104 victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday.
29. Orlando Magic (12-41)
Last week: 30
Rookie Franz Wagner, Chuma Okeke, Wendell Carter Jr. and Gary Harris helped Orlando win three of its last four with victories over the Pistons, Mavericks and Pacers.
30. Detroit Pistons (12-39)
Last week: 29
Saddiq Bey scored 31 points in a win over the Cavaliers on Sunday, but the Pistons have lost six of seven, including a 128-117 loss to the Timberwolves on Thursday.
This story was originally published February 4, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
