NBA power rankings: Heat is rising while Suns and Timberwolves fall. Are Kings moving up?
The Western Conference playoff race remains incredibly competitive and remarkably close with two games separating eight teams for the fifth seed.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are well out in front in the Eastern Conference, but the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks are surging after slow starts. The Philadelphia 76ers have won four of their last five, but they still have to climb out of a big hole after going 3-14 to start the season.
The Kings have won three in a row and four of their last five. They haven’t moved up much, going from 12th to 11th in the West, but they are only 1 ½ games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 6 seed and a half game behind the Phoenix Suns for the final play-in spot.
Here’s a look at our latest NBA power rankings.
* Through games played 12/12
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (21-4)
Previous ranking: 1
2. Boston Celtics (20-5)
Previous ranking: 2
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (19-5)
Previous ranking: 3
4. Memphis Grizzlies (17-8)
Previous ranking: 5
5. Houston Rockets (17-8)
Previous ranking: 6
6. Dallas Mavericks (16-9)
Previous ranking: 4
7. Orlando Magic (17-10)
Previous ranking: 7
8. New York Knicks (15-10)
Previous ranking: 8
9. Golden State Warriors (14-10)
Previous ranking: 9
10. Miami Heat (13-10)
Previous ranking: 17
11. Los Angeles Clippers (14-11)
Previous ranking: 10
12. Denver Nuggets (12-10)
Previous ranking: 11
13. Milwaukee Bucks (13-11)
Previous ranking: 16
14. Los Angeles Lakers (13-11)
Previous ranking: 15
15. Atlanta Hawks (14-12)
Previous ranking: 14
16. Phoenix Suns (12-11)
Previous ranking: 12
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (12-11)
Previous ranking: 13
18. Sacramento Kings (13-13)
Previous ranking: 18
19. San Antonio Spurs (12-12)
Previous ranking: 19
20. Brooklyn Nets (10-14)
Previous ranking: 20
21. Indiana Pacers (10-15)
Previous ranking: 21
22. Chicago Bulls (10-15)
Previous ranking: 22
23. Detroit Pistons (10-16)
Previous ranking: 23
24. Portland Trail Blazers (8-16)
Previous ranking: 24
25. Philadelphia 76ers (7-15)
Previous ranking: 26
26. Charlotte Hornets (7-17)
Previous ranking: 27
27. Toronto Raptors (7-19)
Previous ranking: 25
28. Utah Jazz (5-18)
Previous ranking: 28
29. New Orleans Pelicans (5-21)
Previous ranking: 29
30. Washington Wizards (3-19)
Previous ranking: 30
