NBA Power Rankings: Final regular season ranks
The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore’s basketball editors.
This week, we’re bidding farewell to the regular season with our final rankings before postseason matters get underway.
1. Boston Celtics (54-25)
Previous: 3
With an eye on bettering last season’s runners-up finish, Joe Mazzulla has steered the Celtics to the NBA’s second-best record on a league-high 6.6 net rating. Their bench also deserves plaudits, ranking as last month’s best defensive reserves.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (57-22)
Previous: 1
While there’s no doubt the Bucks are built for a deep playoff run, a 41-point loss to a potential conference finals foe in the Celtics can’t be a preferred outcome in Milwaukee.
3. Denver Nuggets (52-27)
Previous: 4
Denver is on the cusp of securing the West’s No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history. It’s time to see what Jokic and the Nuggets can do with all their weapons at full health.
4. Phoenix Suns (44-35)
Previous: 9
Kevin Durant has played only seven games for the Suns but has changed the franchise’s outlook in the Western Conference. He’s averaging 25.6 points with Phoenix and has formed a trio with Booker and Paul that can challenge all competition for a championship.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (50-29)
Previous: 7
Memphis’ hopes for a deep playoff run could hinge on Steven Adams’ health. Despite their continued success, the Grizzlies have missed the veteran’s rim protection, screening, and rebounding.
6. Philadelphia 76ers (52-27)
Previous: 2
Joel Embiid’s MVP chase is the main story, but the 76ers as a whole are heating up at just the right time. No team had more wins in March, with Philadelphia posting a league-best 123.5 offensive rating in the month.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-30)
Previous: 6
The Cavs have been steady all season, holding the league’s sixth-best record and second-best net rating. However, it’s hard to believe this young squad will make a deep playoff run given its 21-24 record against teams .500 or better.
8. New York Knicks (46-33)
Previous: 8
Julius Randle’s ankle injury overshadowed the Knicks clinching a second playoff appearance in three seasons under Tom Thibodeau. New York needs Randle healthy to have a legitimate chance to win a series for the first time since 2013.
9. Sacramento Kings (48-31)
Previous: 5
Postseason basketball is back in Sacramento for the first time in 17 years. From here on out, everything else is gravy. But don’t expect the Kings to be an easy first-round matchup.
10. Los Angeles Lakers (41-38)
Previous: 17
Holding their first positive record late in the campaign, the Lakers have put it together at the last possible moment. Los Angeles has gone 14-6 since adding depth around LeBron James and Anthony Davis at the trade deadline.
11. Golden State Warriors (42-38)
Previous: 11
The story of the defending champion Warriors this season is their contrasting play at home and on the road. Golden State holds a 33-8 record at Chase Center but has lost the third-most away games in the West.
12. New Orleans Pelicans (40-39)
Previous: 23
Brandon Ingram’s strong play over the last few months has kept the Pelicans in the mix for a top-six seed. If Zion Williamson returns for the playoffs, this is a team nobody wants to face.
13. Miami Heat (42-37)
Previous: 10
The Heat continue to tread water and look poised for the East’s top play-in spot. Jimmy Butler is more dangerous in the playoffs than almost anyone, but it’s hard to see the league’s 25th-ranked offense making much noise.
14. Los Angeles Clippers (41-38)
Previous: 12
Paul George is out for the rest of the regular season and possibly more. Injuries may derail the Clippers yet again, a consistent theme over the four seasons since acquiring George and Kawhi Leonard.
15. Brooklyn Nets (43-36)
Previous: 15
Now 24 games into his Nets tenure, Mikal Bridges has proven his drastic upsurge is no fluke with scorching shooting splits of 49.0/41.1/90.3. He’s the primary reason why Brooklyn’s arguably the low seed that no East heavyweight wants.
16. Atlanta Hawks (40-39)
Previous: 16
One of the most incredulous streaks of the season belongs to Atlanta, which hasn’t been more than one game off .500 since Jan. 20 – a stellar run of mediocrity spanning 34 straight contests.
17. Toronto Raptors (40-39)
Previous: 19
A top-two seed probably won’t want to play this Raptors squad in the first round – if Toronto can get there. A strong finish to secure the No. 8 seed would help tremendously for play-in positioning.
18. Chicago Bulls (38-41)
Previous: 21
As a relatively disappointing regular season winds down, the Bulls have shown encouraging signs of life recently, beating the Grizzlies, 76ers, Heat, and Nuggets since March 8. That could provide timely confidence for a team eyeing the play-in.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-40)
Previous: 13
The Timberwolves won three straight following Karl-Anthony Towns’ long-awaited return on March 22. But that momentum immediately dissipated, as Minnesota then lost three consecutive contests.
20. Oklahoma City Thunder (38-42)
Previous: 18
Being a competitive team in April wasn’t in the plans for the Thunder after losing prized rookie Chet Holmgren before the season. With two games remaining, OKC is pushing for a play-in spot.
21. Dallas Mavericks (37-42)
Previous: 14
Disaster is the only way to describe what’s going down in Dallas. Once the West’s No. 3 seed, the Mavericks are unlikely to even squeak into the play-in tournament despite a career-best campaign from Luka Doncic.
22. Orlando Magic (34-45)
Previous: 25
Paolo Banchero had an excellent rookie season, the Magic’s core looks promising, and Orlando exceeded expectations in a season most people thought it wouldn’t crack 30 wins. There’s a lot to be excited about.
23. Washington Wizards (34-45)
Previous: 24
Washington likely should’ve begun a rebuild this campaign instead of striving for mediocrity. But Kristaps Porzingis’s play was a bright spot. He averaged a career-high 23.2 points and played 65 games for the first time since 2016-17.
24. Utah Jazz (36-43)
Previous: 20
Utah started the season strong, looking like a formidable team despite adding a plethora of new players. Since trading Mike Conley, the Jazz have stumbled to a 9-15 record and look to miss the playoffs.
25. Indiana Pacers (34-45)
Previous: 22
The Pacers are 6-17 when Tyrese Haliburton sits versus 28-28 when he plays. That certainly bodes well for Indiana’s potential playoff push next season with the continued growth of Haliburton and backcourt partner Bennedict Mathurin.
26. Portland Trail Blazers (33-46)
Previous: 26
Another year of Damian Lillard’s prime has gone to waste. The Blazers’ roster could see a major overhaul this summer, but they appear to have a foundational piece in rookie Shaedon Sharpe.
27. Charlotte Hornets (26-54)
Previous: 29
It’s been a completely lost season for LaMelo Ball and the Hornets. But last year’s lottery pick, James Bouknight, is finally showing life, averaging 16.3 points and making 12 of 25 threes over his previous three games.
28. San Antonio Spurs (20-59)
Previous: 28
A miserable season is just about over for the Spurs. Holding the league’s worst defensive and net ratings, San Antonio desperately needs to pick a bona fide talent in June’s draft to return to relevance.
29. Houston Rockets (20-60)
Previous: 27
It may be time for a new voice in Houston’s locker room. The Rockets have shown minimal improvement under Stephen Silas and are on pace for their third straight last-place finish in the West.
30. Detroit Pistons (16-63)
Previous: 30
You deserve an award if you’re still consistently watching Pistons basketball. The team lost 21 of its last 22 games and is clearly ready for the season to end.
