NBA power rankings: Suns still No. 1 going into All-Star break; Bulls rising with DeRozan
* Through games played 02/17
1. Phoenix Suns (48-10)
Last week: 1
The Suns went into the All-Star break with a seven-game winning streak that included victories over the Bulls, 76ers and Bucks. Phoenix has won 18 of 19 dating back to Jan. 11 to open up a 6 ½-game lead over the Warriors for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. The Suns are tied for third in the NBA in points per game (.113.7), sixth in opponent points per game (105.6) and No. 1 in point differential (+8.1). There was one bit of troubling news going into the break after Chris Paul, who has not missed a game this season, left Wednesday’s game against the Rockets with a thumb injury. Paul was scheduled to undergo an MRI Thursday.
2. Golden State Warriors (42-17)
Last week: 2
The All-Star break came at a good time for the Warriors, who have lost four of their last five after suffering back-to-back losses to the Clippers and Nuggets earlier this week. Stephen Curry is shooting 42.7% from the field this season, down from 48.2% last season, although he seems to be finding his range in February after shooting just 32.9% from 3-point range in January. Klay Thompson scored a season-high 33 points in a win over the Lakers, but he went 8 of 29 from the field and 4 of 15 from 3-point range in the last two games.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (41-19)
Last week: 3
Ja Morant scored a season-high 44 points, but the Grizzlies’ six-game winning streak ended with a 123-119 loss to the Trail Blazers on Wednesday. It was the fourth 40-point game of the season for Morant, who was selected as a starter in the All-Star Game. The 22-year-old point guard is averaging 26.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists. The Grizzlies are second in the league in scoring at 113.8 points per game. They are 22-5 since Dec. 26.
4. Chicago Bulls (38-21)
Last week: 7
DeMar DeRozan is going to the All-Star game as a first-time starter and the man knows how to make an entrance. He entered the break with a streak of eight consecutive 30-point games. He averaged 37.6 ppg over that stretch, including three 38-point games, a 40-point game and a season-high 45-point game against the 76ers on Feb. 6. The Bulls have won five in a row to move into a tie for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
5. Miami Heat (38-21)
Last week: 4
Miami took a loss against the Mavericks on Tuesday, but the Heat came back to beat the Hornets 111-107 in double overtime Thursday to match the Bulls for the best record in the East. Kyle Lowry had one of his biggest games of the season, finishing with 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Jimmy Butler, who is shooting 20% from 3-point range this season, knocked down a clutch 3-pointer with 31.6 seconds remaining.
6. Milwaukee Bucks (36-24)
Last week: 6
The Bucks have lost three of their last four, but two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is turning in MVP-like performances. He had 44 points and 14 rebounds in a win over the Lakers last week. He had 50 points and 14 rebounds in a win over the Pacers earlier this week, but a near triple-double wasn’t quite good enough in a 123-120 loss to the 76ers on Thursday.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (35-23)
Last week: 5
The Cavaliers are coming off back-to-back losses to the 76ers and Hawks, but that won’t spoil the mood this weekend in Cleveland, where Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen will make their All-Star debuts on their home floor. The Cavaliers have been one of the most surprising stories in the NBA this season, vaulting to fourth in the Eastern Conference after winning 22 games last season.
8. Utah Jazz (36-22)
Last week: 8
Utah’s six-game winning streak ended with a 106-101 loss to the Lakers on Wednesday despite 37 points from Donovan Mitchell, who had his biggest game since missing three weeks due to concussion protocol. The Jazz is fourth in the West going into the All-Star break.
9. Dallas Mavericks (35-24)
Last week: 10
The Mavericks are fifth in the West after winning six of their last seven. Luka Doncic led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists in each of those games, averaging 35.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists during that stretch.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (35-23)
Last week: 9
James Harden has yet to suit up for the 76ers, but they’ve won three of their last four. Joel Embiid had 42 points and 14 rebounds in a 123-120 victory over the Bucks on Thursday.
11. Boston Celtics (34-26)
Last week: 12
The Celtics had won nine in a row and 11 of 12 before suffering a 112-111 loss to the Pistons on Wednesday. They are a half-game ahead of the Raptors for the No. 6 seed in the East.
12. Denver Nuggets (33-25)
Last week: 13
Denver is sixth in the West after winning five of six with victories over the Nets, Knicks, Raptors, Magic and Warriors. Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists in the win over the Warriors.
13. Toronto Raptors (32-25)
Last week: 11
The Raptors suffered back-to-back losses to the Nuggets and Pelicans, but they have won nine of 11. They were seventh in the East going into the break, a half-game behind the Celtics for the No. 6 seed.
14. Minnesota Timberwolves (31-28)
Last week: 15
The Timberwolves lost three of five going into the break despite some big games from Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. They are seventh in the West, 2 ½ games behind the Nuggets for the No. 6 seed.
15. Brooklyn Nets (31-28)
Last week: 14
The Nets were 23-9 on Dec. 27. They’ve gone 8-19 since then to fall to eighth in the East and traded James Harden along the way. Kevin Durant should return from an MCL injury sometime after the All-Star break and eventually Ben Simmons will make his Brooklyn debut.
16. Atlanta Hawks (28-30)
Last week: 17
Trae Young had 41 points and nine rebounds to lead the Hawks to a 124-116 victory in their showdown with the Cavaliers on Tuesday. The Hawks are tied for ninth in the East, five games out of the No. 6 seed.
17. Los Angeles Clippers (30-31)
Last week: 18
The Clippers haven’t had Kawhi Leonard all season. Then Paul George got hurt. Then they traded for Norman Powell and he got hurt, too. This team keeps scrapping no matter what, winning three of four with victories over the Mavericks, Warriors and Rockets.
18. Charlotte Hornets (29-31)
Last week: 16
The Hornets have really struggled in recent weeks. They’ve lost three in a row, nine out of 10 and 11 of 14 dating back to Jan. 23 despite some big games from Lonzo Ball, Terry Rozier and Miles Bridges.
19. Los Angeles Lakers (27-31)
Last week: 19
LeBron James scored 33 points to help the Lakers pick up a win over the Jazz on Wednesday, but they lost Anthony Davis, who is expected to miss at least four weeks with a right mid-foot sprain. The Lakers have lost seven of 10 to fall to ninth in the West.
20. Washington Wizards (27-31)
Last week: 20
Bradley Beal had season-ending surgery and the Wizards have lost 10 of their last 14 games. They’re 3-2 over their last five, but they beat the struggling Nets (2) and Pistons while losing to the Kings and Pacers.
21. Portland Trail Blazers (25-34)
Last week: 22
Damian Lillard is still out after undergoing abdominal surgery and CJ McCollum is in New Orleans now, but Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic have helped the Blazers win three in a row to reclaim the 10th spot in the West.
22. New York Knicks (25-34)
Last week: 21
Julius Randle is producing some monster games after the Knicks chose to keep him beyond the trade deadline, but they’ve lost three in a row and seven of eight to fall to 12th in the East, four games behind the Hawks for the final play-in spot.
23. San Antonio Spurs (23-36)
Last week: 25
Dejounte Murray posted back-to-back 30-point games to help the Spurs win three of their last four games. They are 12th in the West at the break, two games behind the Blazers for the final play-in spot.
24. New Orleans Pelicans (23-36)
Last week: 23
The Pelicans have lost four of their last five despite the acquisition of CJ McCollum, who scored 38 in a 125-118 loss to the Mavericks on Thursday. McCollum scored 30-plus in three of the past four games, but the Pelicans lost all three.
25. Sacramento Kings (22-38)
Last week: 24
The Kings still hope their new “Fox and the Ox” duo of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis can lead them to the play-in tournament, but they are 3 ½ games out with 22 remaining. That will be no easy task with tough games remaining against the Nuggets (3), Mavericks, Jazz, Bulls, Bucks, Celtics, Suns (2), Heat and Warriors.
26. Indiana Pacers (20-40)
Last week: 26
Trading for Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield has brought new energy to the Pacers, who snapped a seven-game losing streak with a win over the Wizards on Wednesday. Haliburton averaged 20.8 points and 11.0 assists in his first four games. Hield had 36 points and eight 3-pointers in a loss to the Bucks.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (18-40)
Last week: 27
Josh Giddey is moving up in the Rookie of the Year race and will be one of the top young prospects in the Rising Stars Challenge. The 6-foot-8 point guard is averaging 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists.
28. Houston Rockets (15-43)
Last week: 29
One night the Rockets lose to the Suns by three and the next night they lose to the Clippers by 31. Just as long as they lose. This team is careening toward another top draft pick after taking Jalen Green at No. 2 last season.
29. Detroit Pistons (13-45)
Last week: 30
The Pistons snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 112-111 victory over the Celtics on Wednesday. Jerami Grant had 24 points. Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey combined for 40 points, 19 rebounds and 12 assists.
30. Orlando Magic (13-47)
Last week: 28
Orlando lost four in a row and six of seven going into the All-Star break, all by double digits, including a 33-point loss to the Celtics and a 27-point loss to the Suns.
This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
