NBA power rankings: Jokic, Giannis, Embiid MVP debate; playoff races; Lakers play-in peril
* Through games played 4/1
1. Phoenix Suns (62-14)
Last week: 1
The Suns have already tied the franchise record with 62 wins, clinching the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and securing homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. They have won nine in a row behind Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul, who recently returned after missing 15 games with a right thumb avulsion fracture. The Suns will visit the Grizzlies on Friday night in a possible preview of the Western Conference finals.
2. Memphis Grizzlies (54-23)
Last week: 2
Ja Morant is expected to miss at least another week due to right knee soreness, but the Grizzlies have not been fazed by the absence of their young All-Star point guard. Morant has missed 20 games this season. The Grizzlies are 18-2 in those contests. They have won six in a row and 10 of their last 11, including recent wins over the Nets, Bucks and Warriors.
3. Miami Heat (49-28)
Last week: 4
Miami seems to be turning the page after a season-long four-game losing streak and a heated sideline exchange involving coach Erik Spoelstra, Jimmy Butler and Udonis Haslem. Butler scored 27 points in a win over the Kings. He had 24 in an impressive win over the Celtics on Wednesday. The Heat is clinging to a half-game lead over the Bucks going into Saturday’s showdown with the Bulls.
4. Milwaukee Bucks (48-28)
Last week: 5
Giannis Antetokounmpo is surging in the MVP debate after helping the Bucks win 12 of 15 to move within a half-game of the Heat for the No. 1 seed in the East. In the month of March, Antetokounmpo averaged 32.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals. He had the league buzzing Thursday after putting up 44 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in a 120-119 overtime victory over the Nets in a rematch of 2021 Eastern Conference finals.
5. Dallas Mavericks (48-29)
Last week: 9
The Mavericks have vaulted past the Warriors, Nuggets and Jazz to move into the No. 3 seed in the West going into a big showdown with the Bucks on Sunday. Luka Doncic is building a strong case for a top-five finish in MVP voting after averaging 29.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists in March.
6. Golden State Warriors (48-29)
Last week: 3
Steph Curry will be reevaluated this week after missing the past seven games with a sprained ligament in his left foot. The Warriors need him back in the worst way after losing four in a row and seven of their last eight to fall to fourth in the West, just two games ahead of the Nuggets.
7. Boston Celtics (47-30)
Last week: 6
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart helped the Celtics briefly move into a tie for first in the East, but they have fallen back to a tie for third with the 76ers after suffering back-to-back losses to the Raptors and Heat. They are two games behind the Heat for the No. 1 seed with five games remaining.
8. Philadelphia 76ers (46-30)
Last week: 7
Joel Embiid is a monster, but he might be losing ground in the MVP race as the 76ers lose ground in the Eastern Conference standings. They’ve lost three in a row to fall to fourth in the East, 2 ½ games behind Miami for the No. 1 seed. Embiid had 37 points and 15 rebounds Thursday, but the 76ers suffered a 102-94 loss to Pistons after losing to the Suns and Bucks earlier in the week.
9. Denver Nuggets (46-31)
Last week: 10
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic averaged 29.9 points, 12.7 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.4 blocks in March. He was No. 1 in ESPN’s latest NBA MVP straw poll, which was conducted March 24-26, but he will have to hold off Antetokounmpo and Embiid to win the award. The Nuggets are tied for fifth in the West after winning three in a row.
10. Utah Jazz (46-31)
Last week: 8
Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and Rudy Gobert grabbed 17 rebounds in a 122-109 win over the Lakers on Thursday, but Utah had lost five in a row to fall to fifth in the West, two games behind the Warriors for the No. 4 seed and homecourt advantage in the playoffs.
11. Toronto Raptors (44-32)
Last week: 13
Pascal Siakam had 40 points and 13 rebounds in an impressive overtime win over the Celtics on Monday. The Raptors have won four in a row and eight of 10 to give themselves a two-game lead over the Cavaliers for the No. 6 seed in the East.
12. Chicago Bulls (45-32)
Last week: 11
DeMar DeRozan scored 50 points in an overtime win against the Clippers on Thursday. The Bulls are 1 ½ games behind the 76ers for the No. 4 seed in the East and just a half-game ahead of the Raptors for the fifth seed.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (43-34)
Last week: 12
The Timberwolves probably won’t catch the Jazz for the No. 6 seed in the West after losing four of five, but they have locked up the seventh spot, assuring themselves of homecourt advantage in the play-in tournament.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers (42-35)
Last week: 14
The Cavaliers have lost five of six to fall 2 ½ games behind the Raptors for the No. 6 seed in the East. They are two games ahead of the Nets, Hornets and Hawks, but Rookie of the Year candidate Evan Mobley is out with an ankle injury and the schedule isn’t easy with remaining games against the Knicks, 76ers, Magic, Nets and Bucks.
15. Brooklyn Nets (40-37)
Last week: 15
Kevin Durant averaged 31.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.0 assists in March and Kyrie Irvin is working fulltime now, but the Nets find themselves in a three-way tie for eighth in the East after losing three of five, including Thursday’s overtime loss to the Bucks.
16. Charlotte Hornets (40-37)
Last week: 16
LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges helped the Hornets win eight of their last 10 games as they jockey for play-in position with the Nets and Hawks. Ball had 33 points in a win over the Nets on Sunday.
17. Atlanta Hawks (40-37)
Last week: 17
The Hawks are in a three-way tie with the Nets and Hornets for the No. 8 in the East after winning four in a row and nine of their last 12. Trae Young has put up some big numbers recently with 47 points against the Pacers, 46 against the Blazers and 45 against the Knicks.
18. Los Angeles Clippers (37-40)
Last week: 18
The Clippers have lost six of seven, but they have clinched their spot in the play-in tournament and now Paul George is back. He scored 34 points in his return in a 121-115 victory over the Jazz on Tuesday.
19. New York Knicks (34-43)
Last week: 19
Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley helped the Knicks win four in a row and six of eight, but they moved to the brink of playoff elimination with a 125-114 loss to the Hornets on Wednesday.
20. New Orleans Pelicans (33-43)
Last week: 21
CJ McCollum got a standing ovation and scored 25 points to beat the Blazers on Wednesday in his return to Portland. The Pelicans have won five of seven to strengthen their hold on the ninth spot in the West.
21. Washington Wizards (33-43)
Last week: 22
Kristaps Porzingis scored 35 points in a win over the Magic on Wednesday, but the Wizards are on the verge of playoff elimination after going 23-21 to start the season.
22. San Antonio Spurs (31-45)
Last week: 23
The Spurs won four in a row and five of six before losing a one-point game to the Grizzlies on Wednesday. The Spurs briefly overtook the Lakers for the final play-in spot in the West and they might do it again by season’s end.
23. Los Angeles Lakers (31-45)
Last week: 20
The Lakers are in danger of missing the play-in after losing four in a row and 14 of 18. Anthony Davis has missed 18 games with a right mid-foot sprain and LeBron James has missed two with a sprained left ankle, but the Lakers expect both to return Friday night against the Pelicans.
24. Sacramento Kings (28-49)
Last week: 25
Rookie Davion Mitchell has taken his game to another level with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis out due to injuries, but the Kings are on the cusp of the longest playoff drought in NBA history after 16 consecutive losing seasons.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (27-49)
Last week: 24
Damian Lillard will miss the rest of the season with an abdominal injury as the freefall continues in Portland, where the Blazers have lost five in a row and 15 of their last 17.
26. Indiana Pacers (25-52)
Last week: 26
The Pacers have lost five in a row and 10 of their last 13 despite some good games from Buddy Hield, who averaged 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists in March.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (22-54)
Last week: 27
Undrafted rookie two-way player Lindy Waters III made seven 3-pointers to finish with a career-high 25 points in Wednesday’s loss to the Hawks.
28. Detroit Pistons (21-56)
Last week: 28
Cade Cunningham scored 27 points to help the Pistons snap a three-game losing streak with a 102-94 victory over the 76ers on Thursday.
29. Houston Rockets (20-57)
Last week: 30
Rookie Jalen Green recorded back-to-back 30-point games against the Spurs and Kings, but the Rockets lost them both after rolling to a pair of wins over the Blazers.
30. Orlando Magic (20-57)
Last week: 29
Rookie Franz Wagner scored 28 points against the Wizards on Wednesday, but Orlando lost its fourth in a row to match the Rockets for the worst record in the league.
