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NBA Power Rankings: All-Star break edition

Sam Forencich / National Basketball Association / Getty

During the regular season, theScore's NBA Power Rankings will be published every two weeks. This edition was compiled by editors John Chick, Bryan Meler, Chicco Nacion, Andrew Joe Potter, and Wael Saghir.

1. Golden State Warriors (41-16)

For the fourth time in the last five years, the Warriors went into the All-Star break atop the Western Conference. Since DeMarcus Cousins joined the lineup on Jan. 11, Golden State leads the NBA in offensive (117.6) and net rating (9.7). - Chick

2. Milwaukee Bucks (43-14)

The Bucks boast the best record in the league and are on pace to win 60-plus games for the first time since 1980-81. Milwaukee owns the NBA's best net rating with an astounding 9.6 points per 100 possessions. - Saghir

3. Toronto Raptors (43-16)

The Raptors rolled into the All-Star break on a six-game winning streak. Marc Gasol gives the club another wrinkle with his playmaking ability while fellow newcomer Jeremy Lin should stabilize the second unit in the absence of backup point guard Fred VanVleet. - Nacion

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (37-20)

The Thunder's No. 13 offense can certainly improve, but a third-ranked defense plus the star presence of Paul George and Russell Westbrook gives OKC a real shot at a conference finals run. - Potter

5. Denver Nuggets (39-18)

The Nuggets have the best home record (25-4) in the league. They'll need that advantage in the thin air if they hope to take down the Warriors in the playoffs. - Chick

6. Boston Celtics (37-21)

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The Celtics, accustomed to dealing with injuries over the last few years, had trouble integrating all of their talent early this season. They seem to be figuring it out, as Gordon Hayward averaged 21 points on 69 percent 3-point shooting in three games before the break. - Chick

7. Philadelphia 76ers (37-21)

The 76ers are 1-7 against the Raptors, Bucks, and Celtics, including a loss against Boston after adding Tobias Harris. But the new starting five has incredible potential to dominate down the stretch. - Meler

8. Houston Rockets (33-24)

James Harden's 36.6 points per game are the most since Michael Jordan in 1986-87. He's scored 30-plus in 31 consecutive games and single-handedly saved the Rockets from their early injury woes. - Saghir

9. Indiana Pacers (38-20)

The Pacers have managed a 13-9 record without Victor Oladipo this campaign, including 6-5 since his season-ending injury. They can lock up a playoff spot with 12 more wins. - Potter

10. Portland Trail Blazers (34-23)

The Trail Blazers have pulled off impressive victories (Warriors, Spurs) in February but have also suffered some questionable losses (Heat, Mavericks). Portland sits fourth in the Western Conference and it remains to be seen whether it's ready to take that jump into the top tier. - Meler

11. Utah Jazz (32-25)

Melissa Majchrzak / National Basketball Association / Getty

Rudy Gobert wasn't in Charlotte this past weekend but he's certainly playing like an All-Star. The Frenchman is averaging 17 points on 71.1 percent shooting and 13.4 boards per contest since the reserves were announced. - Nacion

12. San Antonio Spurs (33-26)

The Spurs boast the league's best shooting percentage from downtown (40.9 percent) and are tied for fifth with an offensive rating of 112.4. DeMar DeRozan's return to Toronto comes immediately after the All-Star break. - Nacion

13. Sacramento Kings (30-27)

The Kings continue to hover just outside of what would be their first playoff appearance since 2006. Only one player over the age of 26 is playing meaningful minutes in their steady rotation. - Saghir

14. Brooklyn Nets (30-29)

The Nets sport a winning record at the All-Star break for the first time since 2013 thanks to a 22-11 run since early December. D'Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, and Jarrett Allen are proving to be a great core of young players. - Potter

15. Los Angeles Clippers (32-27)

The Clippers seem to have fixated their attention on the free-agent market after trading Harris. They still sit eighth in the West, but the Kings, Lakers, Timberwolves, and maybe even the Mavericks are biting at their heels. - Chick

16. Charlotte Hornets (27-30)

Brock Williams-Smith / National Basketball Association / Getty

The Hornets were reportedly in strong talks to acquire Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies but ultimately fell short. The team failed to provide Kemba Walker with any support and will now be forced to fight for one of the final postseason spots. - Nacion

17. Los Angeles Lakers (28-29)

LeBron James is in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Lakers' fall from the postseason picture may have happened while the King was injured, but the team hasn't looked especially impressive since his return. - Meler

18. Dallas Mavericks (26-31)

Luka Doncic has been on a tear since Jan. 1, as he's recorded 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. However, the Mavericks are 9-12 in that stretch and sit five games out of the eighth seed. - Meler

19. Detroit Pistons (26-30)

The Pistons are barely holding on to eighth in the East after a 6-4 stretch heading into the break. - Meler

20. Minnesota Timberwolves (27-30)

The Wolves posted mediocre results before and after trading Jimmy Butler in November, and before and after Tom Thibodeau's dismissal in early January. The current iteration of this team may never transcend mediocrity. - Potter

21. Orlando Magic (27-32)

Bill Baptist / National Basketball Association / Getty

The Magic didn't trade Nikola Vucevic at the deadline, won five straight going into the break, and now sit a half-game out of eighth. "If we don't make the playoffs this year, this is probably it for us," veteran guard Evan Fournier said last month. - Chick

22. Miami Heat (26-30)

The Heat are suddenly sitting outside of the playoff picture after dropping six of their last eight. Two remaining games against each the Pistons and Hornets may determine where Miami lands by the end of the season. - Saghir

23. Washington Wizards (24-34)

The Wizards are unlikely to pose any threat to the playoff picture, will be without John Wall for approximately one year, and appear to have no interest in letting Bradley Beal leave for greener pastures. - Saghir

24. Memphis Grizzlies (23-36)

The team has officially committed to the post-Gasol era and can now look ahead to this summer's draft, but the Celtics will receive the Grizzlies' 2019 pick if it falls outside the top eight. - Potter

25. New Orleans Pelicans (26-33)

New Orleans decided to hold on to Anthony Davis through the trade deadline. The Pelicans superstar responded by criticizing his teammates for their lack of effort in Tuesday's loss to the Magic. - Nacion

26. Atlanta Hawks (19-39)

Rocky Widner / National Basketball Association / Getty

It's the dog days of winter for Hawks fans, who can at least watch Trae Young and John Collins further develop from State Farm Arena's courtside bar. - Chick

27. Chicago Bulls (14-44)

Taking on Otto Porter's hefty contract is looking like a reasonable risk through four games, especially after the 3-and-D forward dropped a career-high 37 points on Wednesday. - Saghir

28. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-46)

Kevin Love's return from a 50-game absence could buy the Cavaliers a couple more wins and slightly decrease their draft lottery odds. - Nacion

29. New York Knicks (11-47)

The Knicks appear fully committed to the tank, as they've won just twice since Dec. 14. But their win over the Hawks before the break bumped them behind the Suns in the race for last place. - Potter

30. Phoenix Suns (11-48)

Despite adding No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton, who's averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, the Suns are on pace to post a worse record than last year. They've lost 15 straight games, with five of those losses coming by more than 25 points. - Meler

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