During the regular season, theScore's NBA Power Rankings will be published every two weeks. This edition was compiled by editors Andrew Joe Potter, Chicco Nacion, and John Chick .
1. Denver Nuggets (21-10)
Aside from a blemish against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Nuggets continue to roll without Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, Will Barton, and Isaiah Thomas. They've won four of their last five games, including victories over the league-leading Toronto Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder. Nikola Jokic is starting to enter the MVP conversation. - Nacion
2. Toronto Raptors (25-10)
The Raptors have hit a rough patch recently, with both Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka sidelined at some point. However, seven of Toronto's next 10 games come against teams with records currently below .500. - Chick
3. Milwaukee Bucks (22-10)
The Bucks' offense is cooling after a scorching start to the season, as it ranks just 21st in points per 100 possessions in December. Still, Milwaukee is 7-3 in its last 10, with two games coming up against the Knicks and another versus the Nets. - Chick
4. Golden State Warriors (23-11)
Save for a 20-point loss to the Kawhi Leonard-less Raptors on Dec. 12, it's been smooth sailing for the reigning champs. With Draymond Green back in the lineup and DeMarcus Cousins' return on the horizon, the Warriors' next huge winning streak could be right around the corner. - Potter
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (21-11)
The Thunder are surging behind the excellent play of Paul George, who's making a legitimate case for MVP. The 28-year-old is averaging a career-high 26.2 points per contest and has led the team in scoring in each of the last eight games, including back-to-back 43-point performances. - Nacion
6. Philadelphia 76ers (22-12)
Since commenting on Dec. 7 about how his role changed with Jimmy Butler's arrival, Joel Embiid has gone old-school big man. In his last seven outings, he's averaging 26.4 points and 12.4 boards. And, per his wishes, he hasn't taken a 3-point shot in two games. - Chick
7. Indiana Pacers (22-12)
The Pacers' last three losses have come by a combined five points. In the games surrounding those defeats, the team has nine wins, including seven in a row, mostly without All-Star Victor Oladipo. Domantas Sabonis has emerged as both a Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year candidate. - Potter
8. San Antonio Spurs (18-16)
Earlier this season, the Spurs became one of five teams in NBA history to lose three games by 30 or more points in the same week. Now, the club is rewriting the record books in a positive manner. San Antonio recently joined the 1971-72 Bucks as the only teams with five straight wins of 25 or more points. - Nacion
9. Los Angeles Lakers (19-14)
The Lakers appear to be treading water and awaiting the next mid-season roster move. That's par for the course when LeBron James is on the team. Still, it's impressive L.A. has put up the league's 10th-best defensive rating while it attempts to improve a very average offense. - Potter
10. Houston Rockets (17-15)
James Harden's elevated play has pushed the Rockets back into the playoff picture. Houston has won six of its last seven, with Harden averaging 38.1 points and 8.7 assists per contest over that span. - Nacion
11. Boston Celtics (19-13)
Boston remains one of this season's biggest underachievers. Another rough spot immediately followed an eight-game winning streak, and the team looks discombobulated without defensive anchor Al Horford. - Chick
12. Utah Jazz (16-18)
With wins over the Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers this past week, the Jazz are on the upswing. The club ranks second in defensive rating (100.2) and fourth in net rating (7.8) during December. - Nacion
13. Portland Trail Blazers (19-14)
The Blazers have been the definition of average this season. Portland has paired the league's 10th-best offensive rating with a subpar defense. It recently eked out a victory over the Raptors but was then blown out by the Jazz. - Potter
14. Sacramento Kings (18-15)
The Kings' early-season luck still hasn't completely run out. They haven't really beaten any major contenders of late, but a five-point loss to the Warriors is impressive. De'Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield make up a legitimately good NBA backcourt. - Potter
15. Miami Heat (16-16)
Here come the Heat. Miami has put together its best stretch of the season with Josh Richardson running the point in Goran Dragic's absence. It's now riding a five-game winning streak. - Chick
16. Dallas Mavericks (15-17)
Despite the Mavs being mired in a six-game slide, Luka Doncic can seemingly do no wrong. The 19-year-old forced overtime Sunday with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and is receiving compliments from his peers on a nightly basis. - Nacion
17. Charlotte Hornets (16-16)
The Hornets are up to nine losses by fewer than five points. Kemba Walker is averaging nearly four shot attempts in clutch situations (within five points with fewer than five minutes remaining in regulation or overtime), but he's converting just 36.7 percent of those looks. - Potter
18. Los Angeles Clippers (19-14)
The Clippers rebounded from a recent four-game skid with back-to-back wins against the Mavericks and Nuggets. There's been talk about the team clearing two max-contract slots for Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant, but perhaps Tobias Harris becomes a long-term option should the Clippers strike out on either player this offseason. - Nacion
19. Brooklyn Nets (16-19)
The Nets ended November on an eight-game losing streak but have since bounced back, stringing together seven straight wins in December. Brooklyn plays hard and can give any playoff contender a tough game if it isn't taken seriously on a given night. - Potter
20. Memphis Grizzlies (17-16)
The Grizzlies snapped a five-game losing streak with a huge road win over the Lakers on Sunday. The team also received some good news with Chandler Parsons reportedly cleared to play by the Grizzlies' medical staff. - Nacion
21. Detroit Pistons (15-16)
After a promising 13-7 start, the Pistons have dropped nine of their last 11 games. Six of those defeats came within single digits, the latest being a three-point loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Blake Griffin had a chance to put Detroit in front late but missed both free throws. - Nacion
22. New Orleans Pelicans (15-19)
The distraction of the Anthony Davis chatter is not coming at an ideal time for the Pelicans, who find themselves sitting 14th in the standings after four straight losses. - Chick
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-18)
The initial feel-good aura after the Butler trade has faded. The Timberwolves have just two wins dating back to Dec. 8. In a tough conference, their recent slide has them now sitting in 13th place, ahead of the aforementioned Pelicans and tank-happy Phoenix Suns. - Potter
24. Orlando Magic (14-18)
The Magic are knocking on the door of a postseason spot, but if their inconsistent play continues, they may finish the campaign on the outside looking in for a seventh straight season. - Nacion
25. Phoenix Suns (8-26)
Give the rebuilding Suns credit where it's due: this could go down as the most successful stretch in an otherwise atrocious season. Between their recent four-game winning streak and trading Trevor Ariza for a young player in Kelly Oubre Jr., there are reasons to be optimistic about the Suns' future. - Potter
26. Washington Wizards (13-21)
It took three overtime frames and a 40-point triple-double from Bradley Beal for the Wizards to beat the basement-dwelling Suns at home on Saturday, even though Phoenix was playing on the second half of a back-to-back. - Potter
27. Atlanta Hawks (9-23)
John Collins was flying high before a recent ankle injury forced him to miss Sunday's game against the Pistons. Over his last nine contests, the second-year forward is averaging 21.8 points and 12.9 boards. - Nacion
28. Chicago Bulls (9-25)
The Bulls' near-mutiny against coach Jim Boylen appears to have subsided. Lauri Markkanen is finding his groove after returning from injury, shooting 50 percent from three over his last five games. - Chick
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-26)
To paraphrase the late Dennis Green, the Cavs are who we thought they were. Still, amidst all the losing, the team has ample opportunity to determine which young talents will remain part of the team's future. Collin Sexton has been an early beneficiary of Cleveland's chaos. - Potter
30. New York Knicks (9-25)
The Knicks are speeding down to the NBA's cellar. The team has dropped four straight, including nine of its last 10 games. Emmanuel Mudiay has shined, though, averaging 25.4 points per contest on 54.1 percent shooting over the last five games. - Nacion
