NBA Power Rankings: T-Wolves climb, Kings' descent continues
NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
In this edition, we're assessing the league as it approaches the festive period, determining who's been naughty and who's been nice.
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ATL | BKN | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR | SAC | SAS | TOR | UTA | WAS
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (24-2)
Previous: 1
Despite suffering their second loss of the campaign in the NBA Cup semifinals against the Spurs, the Thunder currently have no equals: Their .923 win percentage is still ahead of the record-breaking 73-win Warriors' mark from 2015-16 (.890).
2. Denver Nuggets (19-6)
Previous: 5
Denver's reeled off 12 straight road wins since dropping its first two of the season. With today's NBA faster and more cardio-intensive than it's ever been, does the Nuggets' acclimation to the Mile High City now benefit them the most on the road?
3. Detroit Pistons (21-5)
Previous: 2
Detroit's balanced attack features six different players averaging at least double digits in scoring. However, the Pistons rank 28th in made threes (11.3 per game) following the offseason departures of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley.
4. Houston Rockets (16-7)
Previous: 4
The Rockets tend to outmuscle opponents with a league-high 16.2 offensive boards. You'd think that would result in more attempts from deep, but they're last in 3-point attempts despite owning the third-best 3-point shooting percentage (39.9%).
5. New York Knicks (18-7)
Previous: 6
The Knicks are officially 9-1 with Josh Hart in the starting five (10-1 with the NBA Cup final win), but just 8-6 when the hard-working wing comes off the bench. Top billing in the Eastern Conference is within reach for Mike Brown's in-form Knicks.
6. San Antonio Spurs (18-7)
Previous: 8
Victor Wembanyama boldly claimed he'd be the NBA's best player once he returned from injury, then helped the Spurs topple the Thunder to take them to the NBA Cup final. Their back-to-back rematches later this month will be a Christmas spectacle.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (18-7)
Previous: 3
Imagine ever telling a Lakers fan the team will need four-time MVP and 21-time All-Star LeBron James to step up and assume a bigger role amid the absence of the team's second-leading scorer, Austin Reaves. Welcome to the twilight zone.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (17-9)
Previous: 13
Rudy Gobert is in a festive mood, averaging 15.2 points, 11 boards, two assists, 0.8 blocks and 0.7 steals while shooting a ridiculous 80% from the floor in December, missing only nine of his 45 field-goal attempts this month.
9. Boston Celtics (15-11)
Previous: 17
After going 7-3 over its last 10, Boston's suddenly just a handful of games off the East's peak. Jordan Walsh is further cementing himself in the rotation; he's averaging 27 minutes over his last seven games with shooting splits of 76.6/64.7/88.2.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (14-11)
Previous: 15
Philadelphia has to be pleased with its record considering the limited availability of Joel Embiid and Paul George. Tyrese Maxey has taken his game to another level in Year 6, averaging career highs in scoring (31.5), assists (7.2), and rebounds (4.7).
11. Orlando Magic (15-11)
Previous: 11
For a second straight season, Orlando lost Franz Wagner for several weeks after Paolo Banchero's own multi-week injury absence. Ideally, the Magic's more balanced roster this season will help them manage while Wagner recovers.
12. Phoenix Suns (14-12)
Previous: 14
After a hot November stretch, Phoenix has now dropped six of its last nine, including this season's NBA-worst 49-point defeat to the Thunder. Devin Booker's return gave them hope against the Lakers, but Dillon Brooks' late ejection spoiled that.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers (15-12)
Previous: 12
The hits keep on coming for Kenny Atkinson's squad. Evan Mobley, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, is sidelined for two-to-four weeks on top of injuries to Larry Nance Jr., Max Strus, and Sam Merrill. The best ability remains availability for the Cavs.
14. Atlanta Hawks (15-12)
Previous: 9
Jalen Johnson has blossomed during Trae Young's absence. The versatile 6-foot-8 forward already owns the Hawks' single-season record for triple-doubles (six), and only Nikola Jokic has registered more triple-doubles this season.
15. Toronto Raptors (16-11)
Previous: 7
The Raptors have dropped six of eight games since rattling off nine straight wins. RJ Barrett's knee injury has factored into the club's recent struggles as Toronto's offense is missing his 3-point shooting and ability to get to the free-throw line.
16. Miami Heat (14-12)
Previous: 10
The Heat have dropped six of seven, and while the defense remains one of the league's best, their 15th-ranked offensive rating (114.3) is inflated by the Association's fastest pace (105.08). The cracks are starting to show.
17. Golden State Warriors (13-14)
Previous: 16
Jonathan Kuminga is eligible to be traded Jan. 15 after signing a two-year, $48.5-million contract in September, and three consecutive DNPs aren't doing much to boost the polarizing forward's value. This entire situation has been mismanaged.
18. Memphis Grizzlies (12-14)
Previous: 19
The Grizzlies went 7-3 during Ja Morant's spell on the sidelines, and Zach Edey deserves a lot of the credit, having improved nearly every facet of his game. Now, it's up to Morant and Co. to weather the storm in Edey's absence.
19. Dallas Mavericks (10-17)
Previous: 24
The Mavs are turning things around with Anthony Davis back in the lineup. It's unclear if Davis will remain in Dallas for the long haul amid trade rumors, but he's given the team a boost with his low-post scoring, rim protection, and secondary playmaking.
20. Milwaukee Bucks (11-16)
Previous: 20
Giannis Antetokounmpo may have played his last game as a Buck, but he reportedly doesn't want his teammates to think about it. It's hard to think of much else in Milwaukee, which has won three games over the last month.
21. Chicago Bulls (10-15)
Previous: 18
Chicago's 6-1 start is nothing but a memory now. It's been clear for a while that this team isn't a contender as currently constructed. The Bulls' front office needs to be shopping Nikola Vucevic's expiring deal, especially after his recent benching.
22. Utah Jazz (10-15)
Previous: 23
Only two teams roster multiple scorers averaging over 26 points in December: The Nuggets have Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, and the Jazz have Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George. The latter is on a tear this month and has dropped 39 and 37 points in back-to-back games.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (10-16)
Previous: 21
Portland's acquisition of Deni Avdija from the Washington Wizards in July 2024 has been a home run. The 24-year-old forward is one of only four players in the Association averaging at least 25 points, seven boards, and six assists.
24. Charlotte Hornets (8-18)
Previous: 22
While it hasn't translated into many wins, the Hornets can relish a savvy draft that resulted in the recruitment of Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Sion James, and Liam McNeeley. Small victories are still victories.
25. Brooklyn Nets (7-18)
Previous: 30
Michael Porter Jr. has been terrific in his first season with the Nets, ranking 16th in the NBA with 25.6 points per contest. However, he's had little offensive support, especially with Cam Thomas still sidelined with a hamstring strain.
26. Indiana Pacers (6-20)
Previous: 26
It's fitting that Tyrese Haliburton was in attendance for John Cena's final WWE match Saturday as the man who never gives up tapped out. The undermanned Pacers have fought this season but, like Cena, it may be time to tap out.
27. Sacramento Kings (6-20)
Previous: 25
It's incredible to think that ex-Kings general manager Monte McNair saw the flaws of the DeMar DeRozan-Zach LaVine tandem in Chicago and decided it would somehow work in Sacramento. Spoiler alert: It hasn't, and now it's Scott Perry's mess to clean up.
28. Los Angeles Clippers (6-20)
Previous: 27
The fallout from their sudden split with Chris Paul was the last thing the Clippers needed. But don't let that distract you from the team's defensive struggles. Los Angeles is allowing the third-most fast-break points per game (17.5) this season.
29. New Orleans Pelicans (5-22)
Previous: 29
Zion Williamson is back after the Pelicans went 1-5 without him. They're now 3-13 when he doesn't play but also just 2-9 when he does. Trading Trey Murphy III to recoup draft assets for 2026 and beyond is arguably New Orleans' only recourse.
30. Washington Wizards (4-20)
Previous: 28
The Wizards own the league's worst defensive rating (123) and are also dead last in net rating (minus-13.8), but at least they're mildly entertaining to watch with the fifth-best pace of play (102.3). Washington's engrossing tank remains on track.