NBA power rankings: Best and worst teams, top MVP candidates and Victor Wembanyama chase
* Through games played 11/7
1. Milwaukee Bucks (9-1)
Last week: 1
The Bucks won nine in a row before the Hawks handed them their first loss Monday. Giannis Antetokounmpo is building an early case for MVP, averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-2)
Last week: 3
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert helped the Cavs win eight in a row prior to Monday’s loss to the Clippers. Mitchell is averaging 31.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.0 assists.
3. Utah Jazz (9-3)
Last week: 5
Wait. Is Utah for real? The Jazz has won three in a row and five of six with victories over the Grizzlies (2), Lakers (2) and Clippers. Lauri Markkanen is healthy and thriving, averaging a career-high 21.9 points and 8.8 rebounds.
4. Phoenix Suns (7-3)
Last week: 2
The Suns have lost two of three with losses to the Blazers and 76ers. Chris Paul (heel) is questionable vs. the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Devin Booker is averaging 27.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists.
5. Boston Celtics (7-3)
Last week: 13
Jayson Tatum is another player who is establishing himself as an early candidate for MVP. Tatum scored 39 points against the Grizzlies on Monday to help the Celtics win their third in a row. He is averaging 30.1 ppg.
6. Atlanta Hawks (7-3)
Last week: 7
The Hawks have won three in a row going into Wednesday’s showdown with the Jazz. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are putting up big numbers. Murray had 36 points against the Knicks. Young had 34 against the Pelicans.
7. Denver Nuggets (7-3)
Last week: 12
The Nuggets have won three in a row and five of their last six. Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic is averaging 20.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 9.3 assists. Bones Hyland, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. have been big, too.
8. Portland Trail Blazers (7-3)
Last week: 4
The Blazers lost three of five before Damian Lillard returned from a calf injury to score 19 points in Monday’s win over the Heat. Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons put up big numbers in Lillard’s absence.
9. Dallas Mavericks (6-3)
Last week: 11
The Mavericks have won four in a row behind Luka Doncic, who has scored 30-plus points in nine consecutive games to start the season. He is averaging 36.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists, MVP-caliber numbers.
10. Toronto Raptors (6-5)
Last week: 6
The Raptors have lost two of three, but they could roll off a series of wins with upcoming games against the Rockets, Thunder, Pacers and Pistons. Pascal Siakam is averaging 24.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
11. Memphis Grizzlies (7-4)
Last week: 8
The Grizzlies’ three-game winning streak ended with a 109-106 loss to the Celtics on Monday. Ja Morant is averaging 28.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists.
12. Chicago Bulls (6-6)
Last week: 15
The Bulls suffered back-to-back losses to the Celtics and Raptors before bouncing back with a win over the Raptors on Monday. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 23.8 ppg. Zach LaVine is shooting 43.3% from 3-point range.
13. Los Angeles Clippers (6-5)
Last week: 18
Paul George helped the Clippers win four of their last five despite the absence of Kawhi Leonard (knee). Leonard is said to be “progressing well,” but there is no timetable for his return.
14. New Orleans Pelicans (5-5)
Last week: 10
The Pelicans have lost three of four with losses to the Lakers, Hawks and Pacers. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum are all averaging over 20 ppg.
15. New York Knicks (5-5)
Last week: 21
The Knicks posted recent wins over the 76ers and Timberwolves, but they’ve dropped four of six. They are scoring 115.0 ppg, but they are also giving up 115.0 ppg.
16. Indiana Pacers (5-5)
Last week: 22
The Pacers have won four of five, including back-to-back wins over the Heat and Pelicans. Myles Turner scored 37 in the win over New Orleans.
17. Philadelphia 76ers (5-6)
Last week: 20
The 76ers suffered back-to-back losses before Joel Embiid scored 33 points in a win over the Suns. James Harden (foot) is expected to be out another three weeks or so.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-6)
Last week: 16
The Timberwolves have stumbled since going 4-2 to start the season, losing four of their last five with the Suns, Grizzlies and Cavaliers up next on the schedule.
19. Washington Wizards (5-6)
Last week: 17
The Wizards lost five of six before beating the Hornets on Monday. They will be tested by the Mavericks, Jazz and Grizzlies in the days ahead.
20. San Antonio Spurs (5-6)
Last week: 9
The Spurs went 5-2 to start the season, but they drop 11 spots in this week’s rankings after losing four in a row to the Raptors, Clippers and Nuggets (2).
21. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-6)
Last week: 14
The Thunder has lost three in a row to the Nuggets, Bucks and Pistons despite some big games from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
22. Brooklyn Nets (4-7)
Last week: 27
Kyrie Irving’s fate remains uncertain. Kevin Durant is trying to keep the Nets afloat, averaging 31.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
23. Golden State Warriors (4-7)
Last week: 24
Stephen Curry scored a season-high 47 points in a dramatic win over the Kings, ending a five-game losing streak. The Warriors are allowing a league-worst 120.6 ppg.
24. Miami Heat (4-7)
Last week: 19
Miami had back-to-back wins over the Kings and Warriors, but the Heat has already lost back-to-back games three times this season.
25. Sacramento Kings (3-6)
Last week: 26
The Kings split their four-game road trip with two controversial losses to the Heat and Warriors. De’Aaron Fox is flourishing, averaging 26.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 55/37/86 shooting splits.
26. Charlotte Hornets (3-8)
Last week: 23
The Hornets have lost five in a row with LaMelo Ball (ankle), Gordon Hayward (shoulder) and Cody Martin (quad) all sidelined by injuries.
27. Detroit Pistons (3-8)
Last week: 29
Rookie Jaden Ivey had 15 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals in Monday’s win over the Thunder.
28. Los Angeles Lakers (2-8)
Last week: 25
The LeBron James-Anthony Davis-Russell Westbrook-led Lakers are giving up 116.3 ppg while scoring 108.4, ranking among the NBA’s worst in both areas.
29. Houston Rockets (2-9)
Last week: 30
Jalen Green went off for 34 points to help the Rockets snap a six-game losing streak with Monday’s win over Orlando.
30. Orlando Magic (2-9)
Last week: 28
Orlando already has a supersized squad with Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero Wendell Carter Jr. and Bol Bol. Imagine adding Victor Wembanyama.
This story was originally published November 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
