NBA Power Rankings: Luka, red-hot Lakers catch fire
NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
This week, we're assessing matters as the tail end of the regular-season separates the contenders from the pretenders.
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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 (57-15)
Previous: 1
Oklahoma City is hitting its stride again after a bit of a speed bump in February. The Thunder have won 12 straight games, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's averaged 30.1 points, 7.4 assists, and 2 steals over that streak to solidify himself as the MVP favorite.
2. San Antonio Spurs (54-18)
Previous: 2
The Spurs have been relentless in their chase of the No. 1 seed. They've lost just two of 24 contests since the start of February, and during that span, they've reduced Oklahoma City's lead from six to three games.
3. Detroit Pistons (52-19)
Previous: 4
Detroit faces a big test with Cade Cunningham sidelined at least two weeks by a collapsed lung. Can the Pistons maintain their East lead over the surging Celtics with Cunningham potentially out for the rest of the regular season?
4. Los Angeles Lakers (46-26)
Previous: 9
Luka Doncic has been unguardable of late, averaging 39.2 points, 8.3 boards, 7.3 assists, and 2.6 steals over his last 10 appearances. He also had a 60-point outburst against the Heat and set a franchise single-season record for threes.
5. Boston Celtics (47-24)
Previous: 3
The Celtics are 6-2 with Jayson Tatum in the lineup, and he looks better than even the most optimistic observer could have imagined following an Achilles tear. A healthy Boston team is the biggest playoff threat to the Pistons.
6. New York Knicks (48-25)
Previous: 5
The Knicks have won seven straight. However, a pair of victories over the Pacers paired with results against the Jazz, Warriors, Nets, Wizards, and Pelicans will do little to convince naysayers that New York can return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (45-27)
Previous: 7
The emergence of Jaylon Tyson made De'Andre Hunter expendable, reducing the Cavs' tax bill from $164 million to $120 million. The second-year guard is averaging a career-high 13.1 points and ranks third in the NBA shooting at a 45.5% clip from deep.
8. Denver Nuggets (45-28)
Previous: 10
Peyton Watson's return in Sunday's win over the Blazers means the Nuggets finally have a fully healthy squad after months of absences. They don't have much time to get in sync if they intend to fight for the third seed.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (44-28)
Previous: 6
Chris Finch's men have gone 3-1 amid Anthony Edwards' absence with a knee issue, including key wins over the Suns and Celtics. Their defense has been impeccable over that brief stretch, highlighted by a league-leading 101 defensive rating since March 17.
10. Atlanta Hawks (40-32)
Previous: 15
Only two teams have more wins than the Hawks since the All-Star break thanks to their recent 11-game winning streak. But only two of those victories came against opponents above .500 (the 76ers and Magic), and Atlanta is 17-24 against that tier of competition all season.
11. Houston Rockets (43-28)
Previous: 8
The Rockets' 3-8 record in games decided by five points or fewer and 1-6 mark in overtime contests highlight an inability to close out games. The decision to stand pat at the deadline despite injuries to Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams is even more puzzling now.
12. Toronto Raptors (40-31)
Previous: 13
Jakob Poeltl is having a resurgence after missing 24 games with a back injury. The 7-foot center has been a stabilizing presence in the Raptors' frontcourt, averaging 10.9 points, 8.5 boards, and 1 block per contest over his last 11 appearances.
13. Phoenix Suns (40-33)
Previous: 12
Jordan Ott deserves plenty of praise for righting the ship in Phoenix. However, a recent five-game losing skid where the Suns were bottom 10 in both offensive (111) and defensive rating (118.9) indicates an expected regression to the mean.
14. Philadelphia 76ers (39-33)
Previous: 17
Paul George couldn't have returned from his suspension at a better time. The 76ers are battling for a top-six seed and could use all the help they can get with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Kelly Oubre Jr. sidelined due to injury.
15. Charlotte Hornets (38-34)
Previous: 16
Already assured of a play-in spot, the Hornets remain within striking distance of sixth place in the East and are eyeing a .500 or better record for just the eighth time this century. These are massive accomplishments for a franchise that's synonymous with losing.
16. Orlando Magic (38-34)
Previous: 11
Franz Wagner admits he may have rushed back from his ankle issue when he played in his hometown of Berlin in mid-January. He's played three games since, and the Magic are slipping into play-in range at the worst time.
17. Miami Heat (38-34)
Previous: 14
Miami's 1-4 with four straight losses since Bam Adebayo's historic 83-point night. The team can't pin it on Adebayo, though - he's averaging 25.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and two steals in his four games since.
18. Portland Trail Blazers (36-37)
Previous: 20
Portland's stringing together wins at the right time with the Suns only a few games clear of the Blazers for the top play-in berth. The Blazers' forgiving upcoming schedule will likely help them narrow the gap.
19. Los Angeles Clippers (36-36)
Previous: 18
The Clippers' labored ascension toward a play-in spot has mathematically reduced the chances that their first-round selection, which the Thunder own, will be a high lottery pick. That's a minor miracle after a 6-21 start to the campaign.
20. Golden State Warriors (34-38)
Previous: 19
Steve Kerr already has his eyes on the play-in tournament with the Warriors unlikely to move into the top six. Golden State's priority should be getting Stephen Curry and Co. healthy for the games that'll dictate whether or not they'll crack the playoff field.
21. Chicago Bulls (29-42)
Previous: 24
If Chicago's goal was to avoid the play-in tournament in hopes of securing a favorable pick, then the job's almost done in the Windy City. Though still mathematically alive, the Bulls are very likely to miss the competition after three straight appearances.
22. Milwaukee Bucks (29-42)
Previous: 21
Giannis Antetokounmpo's beef with the Bucks continues amid reports that the two parties are at odds over his status for the remainder of the campaign. He wants to play, they want him to sit, and nobody's happy. A messy divorce awaits.
23. New Orleans Pelicans (25-48)
Previous: 23
Dejounte Murray's return after a lengthy spell on the sidelines has sparked a Pelicans team that has no choice but to win after dealing its first-round pick. New Orleans is 8-4 since the former All-Star came back from a ruptured Achilles.
24. Memphis Grizzlies (24-47)
Previous: 22
Lost in the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade was the Grizzlies' acquisition of Taylor Hendricks. The former No. 9 overall pick has been a solid rotational piece for Memphis, averaging 11.4 points, 4.6 boards, and 1.5 steals across 20 appearances.
25. Dallas Mavericks (23-49)
Previous: 26
Dallas' scoring efficiency has been dire in March, ranking second last in the league with a 107.9 offensive rating. Cooper Flagg shooting 7-of-33 (21.2%) from deep this month only compounds the issue.
26. Utah Jazz (21-51)
Previous: 25
Utah is pulling out all the stops to ensure it keeps its first-round selection in this loaded draft. The Jazz recently signed undrafted forward Andersson Garcia to a 10-day contract and proceeded to play him all 48 minutes last Thursday against the Bucks.
27. Sacramento Kings (19-54)
Previous: 27
There's no sugarcoating how much of a disaster the Kings' season has been. However, there could be some reason for optimism about the future with rookies Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford capitalizing on extended minutes under Doug Christie.
28. Brooklyn Nets (17-55)
Previous: 29
We may have seen the last of Michael Porter Jr. this season, and the Nets' offense is an even tougher watch without him. Brooklyn failed to crack 100 points in any of its first five games after he went down with a hamstring injury.
29. Indiana Pacers (16-56)
Previous: 30
We're calling it now: The 2026-27 Pacers will threaten the 2007-08 Celtics' NBA-record 42-win improvement thanks to Tyrese Haliburton's return and the potential addition of a franchise-altering top-three pick.
30. Washington Wizards (16-55)
Previous: 28
The Wizards' 4-44 record against teams that are .500 or better is the league's worst by some margin. It's a masterful display of consistency from a team that's lost 16 straight games and owns the NBA's worst average points differential (minus-11.6).