NBA power rankings: Suns, Grizzlies, Cavaliers, Bucks surging as All-Star break approaches
* Through games played 02/11
1. Phoenix Suns (45-10)
Last week: 1
The Suns didn’t make any major moves at the NBA trade deadline, but there was no reason to do anything drastic. They’ve won 15 of their last 16 games and their current four-game wining streak includes victories over the Bulls, 76ers and Bucks. The Suns added a little depth on the wing, trading for Torrey Craig for the second year in a row in a deal that sent Jalen Smith to the Pacers. Craig appeared in 32 games during Phoenix’s run to the NBA Finals last season, averaging 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds. The Suns will play the Magic, Clippers and Rockets leading up to the All-Star break.
2. Golden State Warriors (41-15)
Last week: 2
The Warriors won nine in a row before suffering back-to-back losses to the Jazz and Knicks, falling 111-85 in Salt Lake City on Wednesday and 116-114 the next night at home against New York. Stephen Curry scored 35 in the loss to the Knicks, but he went 11 of 25 from the field and 5 of 16 from 3-point range. The Warriors will play the Lakers in a primetime game on ABC on Saturday before facing the Clippers and Nuggets leading into the All-Star break.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (39-18)
Last week: 3
The Grizzlies went 19-14 to start the season, but they have rolled to a 20-4 record since Dec. 26 to catapult themselves to third in the West, 2 ½ games behind the Warriors. They’ve won four in a row and seven of their last eight. Memphis will play the struggling Hornets, Pelicans and Blazers before going into the All-Star break. Ja Morant, who is averaging 26.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists, will start in the All-Star for the first time.
4. Miami Heat (36-20)
Last week: 5
Miami has the best record in the Eastern Conference after winning four in a row and seven of its last 10. The Heat rolled to double-digit victories over the Spurs, Hornets, Wizards and Pelicans, winning by an average of 17.8 points per game. Bam Adebayo had 29 points in the win over New Orleans. The Heat will play the Nets and Mavericks at home before going on the road to face the Hornets and Knicks.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (35-21)
Last week: 8
Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert helped the Cavaliers overcome a 21-point deficit to beat the Pacers on Friday night. Cleveland has won four in a row and eight of 10 to move into a tie for second in the East, just one game back of the Heat for the No. 1 seed. The Cavaliers will visit the 76ers on Saturday, Hawks on Tuesday and Pistons on Thursday.
6. Milwaukee Bucks (35-22)
Last week: 7
The Bucks had won four in a row and eight of 10 before ending a four-game road trip with a blowout loss to the Suns on Thursday. Giannis Antetokounmpo was held to 18 points on 5-of-14 shooting after putting up 44 points and 14 rebounds against the Lakers on Tuesday. The Bucks are 1 ½ games behind the Miami Heat for the No. 1 seed in the East. They added some much-needed frontcourt depth with the acquisition of Serge Ibaka.
7. Chicago Bulls (35-21)
Last week: 6
The Bulls had lost three of four before beating the Hornets on Wednesday, but those losses came against the red-hot Raptors, 76ers and Suns. DeMar DeRozan has been unstoppable lately. He had 36 points against the Hornets, 38 against the Suns and 45 against the 76ers. The Bulls didn’t make any trades at the deadline, choosing instead to ride with the core of DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball.
8. Utah Jazz (35-21)
Last week: 9
Donovan Mitchell has returned from concussion protocols and Utah has won five in a row with victories over the Nuggets, Nets, Knicks, Warriors and Magic. Rudy Gobert has been out with a calf injury since Jan. 23, but he could be back Monday against the Rockets.
9. Philadelphia 76ers (33-22)
Last week: 4
The 76ers drop five spots this week after losing three of four, but things are about to change after Daryl Morey managed to trade Ben Simmons for James Harden. Coach Doc Rivers famously said he wasn’t sure if the 76ers could win a championship with Simmons. Now, they’ll find out if they can win one with Harden and Joel Embiid.
10. Dallas Mavericks (33-23)
Last week: 11
The Mavericks are fifth in the West after winning four in a row and seven of their last 10. Luka Doncic poured in 51 points in Thursday’s victory over the Clippers. They will look different down the stretch after sending Kristaps Porzingis to the Wizards in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.
11. Toronto Raptors (31-23)
Last week: 15
Gary Trent Jr. scored 42 points against the Rockets on Thursday, helping the Raptors win their eighth in a row. Toronto has moved up to the No. 6 spot in the East, one game ahead of the Celtics.
12. Boston Celtics (31-25)
Last week: 14
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have helped the Celtics win six in a row and eight of nine to get to seventh in the East, one game behind the Raptors for the No. 6 seed. The addition of defensive-minded guard Derrick White will pay dividends down the stretch.
13. Denver Nuggets (30-25)
Last week: 12
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic put up a triple-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over the Nets on Sunday. He had another triple-double in a loss to the Celtics o Friday. The Nuggets are still holding onto the No. 6 seed in the West after winning seven of 11, but they have tough games coming up against the Raptors and Warriors.
14. Brooklyn Nets (29-26)
Last week: 10
The Nets have been a mess with Kevin Durant out and Kyrie Irving only working parttime. They’ve lost 10 in a row to fall to eighth in the East, but maybe they’ll get back to their winning ways after making a blockbuster move to acquire Ben Simmons in exchange for James Harden.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (29-27)
Last week: 16
A five-game winning streak ended with a loss to the Kings on Wednesday and another to the Bulls on Friday, but the Timberwolves have been hot, winning nine of 13 recently to vault to seventh in the West, just 1 ½ games behind the Nuggets for the No. 6 seed.
16. Charlotte Hornets (29-28)
Last week: 13
LaMelo Ball poured in 33 points against the Bulls on Wednesday, but the Hornets lost their sixth in a row to fall to ninth in the East. They beat the Pistons on Friday, but there are tough games coming up against the Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Heat, Raptors, Bucks and Cavaliers.
17. Atlanta Hawks (26-29)
Last week: 18
Trae Young scored 34 points in a blowout win over the Pacers on Tuesday, but the Hawks had lost three of four to fall to 10th in the East, just one game ahead of the Wizards for the final play-in spot.
18. Los Angeles Clippers (27-30)
Last week: 17
With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George out due to injuries, the Clippers have lost four of five to fall three games under .500, dropping to eighth in the West. The move to acquire Norman Powell should help now and in the future.
19. Los Angeles Lakers (26-30)
Last week: 19
The Lakers couldn’t find any takers for Russell Westbrook. Now, they are faced with the reality that this LeBron James-Anthony Davis led group has lost six of eight to fall to ninth in the West with tough games coming up against the Warriors, Jazz, Clippers, Pelicans, Mavericks, Clippers and Warriors.
20. Washington Wizards (25-29)
Last week: 20
Bradley Beal underwent season-ending wrist surgery and the Wizards are in a tailspin, losing eight of 10 to fall to 11th in the East. They made a big move to acquire Kristaps Porzingis, but that might not be enough to salvage their once-promising playoff hopes.
21. New York Knicks (25-31)
Last week: 21
The Knicks have lost seven of their last nine, but Julius Randle, the subject of so much trade speculation leading up to the deadline, had 28 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in a 116-114 victory over the Warriors on Thursday.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (22-34)
Last week: 22
Anfernee Simons scored 29 points to help the Blazers snap a six-game losing streak with a win over the Lakers. They will have a new look after sending CJ McCollum to the Pelicans in exchange for Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
23. New Orleans Pelicans (22-33)
Last week: 23
The Pelicans have won four of five to move into 10th in the West. Now, they have CJ McCollum, who will help Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas try to solidify their spot in the play-in tournament.
24. Sacramento Kings (21-36)
Last week: 26
The Kings made a big move at the trade deadline in hopes of changing the franchise’s fortunes, acquiring two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis. Giving up Tyrese Haliburton was painful for players, coaches, executives and fans, but Sacramento landed one of the best players on the market without giving up draft picks.
25. San Antonio Spurs (21-35)
Last week: 24
The Spurs made three trades at the deadline. They sent out Derrick White, Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks and Goran Dragic to acquire Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, Tomas Satoransky, two first-round picks and a future first-round pick swap.
26. Indiana Pacers (19-38)
Last week: 25
The Pacers have lost five in a row and nine of 11, but they will have a new look after acquiring gifted young point guard Tyrese Haliburton and 3-point bomber Buddy Hield from Sacramento in the Domantas Sabonis trade.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-38)
Last week: 27
Oklahoma City has gotten big games from Josh Giddey, Luguentz Dort and Aleksej Pokusevski, but the Thunder has lost four in a row with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out due to a sprained ankle.
28. Orlando Magic (13-44)
Last week: 29
Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs have helped Orlando go 5-5 over its last 10 games, including wins over the Bulls and Mavericks.
29. Houston Rockets (15-40)
Last week: 28
Kevin Porter Jr. had a couple of big games against the Pelicans and Raptors, but the Rockets have lost eight of nine going into a tough stretch against the Jazz, Suns and Clippers.
30. Detroit Pistons (12-44)
Last week: 30
The trade deadline passed and Jerami Grant is still with the Pistons, who have lost seven in a row and 11 of their last 12.
This story was originally published February 12, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
