NBA Power Rankings: T-Wolves surging early, Wizards struggling
The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore’s basketball editors.
This week, we’re assessing how teams stack up with everyone now at least a dozen contests into their 82-game schedule.
1. Boston Celtics (12-3)
Previous: 2
Coming off a six-game winning streak, the Celtics look like the team to beat thanks to the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Boston is one of three teams in the top 10 of both offensive and defensive rating.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-3)
Previous: 7
Don’t look now, but the Timberwolves are flying high in a stacked Western Conference. A key reason for Minnesota’s early-season surge has been its defense, which is the best in the West so far.
3. Denver Nuggets (10-5)
Previous: 1
Even without Nikola Jokic and coach Michael Malone for the entire second half, the Jamal Murray-less Nuggets fended off the Pistons on Monday – a good encapsulation of the reigning champs’ strength as a whole.
4. Milwaukee Bucks (10-5)
Previous: 6
Give Giannis a co-star, and he will perform. The Bucks’ franchise centerpiece is having a dominant season, averaging 29.6 points on career-high shooting from the field (60.1%) in his first campaign alongside Damian Lillard.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (10-5)
Previous: 3
The 76ers are doing just fine without James Harden. Fourth-year guard Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a bonafide No. 2 option alongside Joel Embiid and is the early favorite to win Most Improved Player honors.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder (11-4)
Previous: 9
The Thunder have come out of the gates strong thanks to exemplary play from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rookie phenom Chet Holmgren. Sitting second in the Western Conference this early bodes well for their chances to make the postseason.
7. Miami Heat (10-5)
Previous: 21
Duncan Robinson has looked like an entirely different player than the one who fell out of Miami’s rotation last year. In his last seven games as a starter, he’s averaging 18.1 points on 49/48/94 shooting splits.
8. Dallas Mavericks (10-5)
Previous: 5
Trailing just the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, the Mavericks are third in the league in offensive rating. Luka Doncic is one of four players to average more than 30 points per game and is sixth in assists per game (8.1).
9. Los Angeles Lakers (9-7)
Previous: 22
Cam Reddish has stepped up amid injuries to numerous rotation players. The Duke product’s secondary scoring and stellar defensive play has been a helpful addition to the Lakers’ starting lineup.
10. Orlando Magic (10-5)
Previous: 11
Orlando’s defensive improvement has been instrumental in the club’s early success. The re-emergence of Jonathan Isaac along with the active hands of Jalen Suggs have turned the Magic into one of the league’s toughest teams to score against.
11. Phoenix Suns (9-6)
Previous: 10
The Suns’ Big Three have yet to play a single game together. Bradley Beal’s back injury is taking away valuable time to build chemistry with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
12. Sacramento Kings (8-6)
Previous: 19
Getting De’Aaron Fox back was key to Sacramento’s success over this past fortnight. He was instrumental in double-digit wins over the Cavs, Lakers, and Mavs amid a six-game winning streak, averaging 32.3 points in that span.
13. Indiana Pacers (8-6)
Previous: 16
Tyrese Haliburton is the head of the snake for the NBA’s top-ranked offense. The fifth-year guard leads the Association in dimes (12.3 per game) and boasts an outstanding 4.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-7)
Previous: 14
Cleveland is turning things around with Darius Garland back in the lineup. The Cavs floor general is averaging 20.3 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.6 steals since returning on Nov. 3.
15. New York Knicks (8-6)
Previous: 17
Knicks fans may finally have the RJ Barrett they’ve been waiting for. Despite a migraine issue sidelining him for three games, the fifth-year wing is registering 20.8 points per contest and posting 45/49/83 shooting splits – all career-high marks.
16. Houston Rockets (7-6)
Previous: 23
The expensive additions of Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, plus new head coach Ime Udoka, are paying massive dividends for an otherwise young squad. Houston currently boasts the league’s fourth-best defensive rating (108.2) after ranking second-worst last season.
17. New Orleans Pelicans (8-7)
Previous: 13
Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have kept the Pelicans afloat amid an up-and-down start. Better days should be ahead, however: Jose Alvarado returned in Monday’s win over Sacramento, and Larry Nance Jr. is on his way back, too.
18. Golden State Warriors (7-9)
Previous: 4
Klay Thompson finally eclipsed the 20-point mark in a game this season with a solid shooting night against the Rockets. The Warriors desperately need him to get going in order to lighten the load on Stephen Curry.
19. Los Angeles Clippers (6-7)
Previous: 8
James Harden wasn’t lying about needing time to adjust. He looked like The Beard of old with a game-winning four-point play against the Rockets, then followed that with his first double-double of the season in a rout of the Spurs.
20. Brooklyn Nets (6-8)
Previous: 15
The injury report is getting lengthy in Brooklyn with Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, and Dennis Smith Jr sidelined. Cam Johnson and Nic Claxton returned earlier in November after they missed time to start the season.
21. Atlanta Hawks (7-7)
Previous: 12
Quin Snyder has the Hawks’ offense looking a lot like his previous Jazz clubs. Atlanta is constantly moving the rock and getting lots of production off cuts. Seven different players are averaging at least 10 points.
22. Toronto Raptors (7-8)
Previous: 20
Toronto struggles to put up points when its defense isn’t generating easy scoring opportunities in transition. The Raptors’ half-court offense remains abysmal and their second unit ranks 29th in field-goal percentage (40.5%).
23. Chicago Bulls (5-11)
Previous: 28
It’s becoming increasingly likely that Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic won’t be Bulls moving forward. Parting ways with the trio will be a tough, but necessary, pill to swallow.
24. Utah Jazz (4-10)
Previous: 27
Utah is off to a slow start following an impressive debut campaign under Will Hardy. The Jazz have struggled on the defensive end, ranking near the bottom in points allowed and opponent points off turnovers.
25. Charlotte Hornets (5-9)
Previous: 26
Mark Williams is off to a ridiculously efficient start, shooting 67.5% from the field and averaging a double-double. Wilt Chamberlain and Rudy Gobert are the only players in NBA history to shoot better than 70% and average a double-double over a full season.
26. Memphis Grizzlies (3-11)
Previous: 29
Desmond Bane has done an admirable job of taking over the scoring role with Ja Morant suspended. He’s averaging 25.6 points per game while knocking down 3.5 three-pointers on 37.4% shooting from deep.
27. San Antonio Spurs (3-12)
Previous: 18
The Spurs’ obvious goal this season is fully acclimatizing Victor Wembanyama to the NBA game. While that’s been going smoothly, coach Gregg Popovich’s experiment in molding Jeremy Sochan into a point guard has been anything but.
28. Portland Trail Blazers (3-11)
Previous: 24
Injuries have quickly derailed the Blazers’ season. Malcolm Brogdon and Scoot Henderson have each missed time, while Robert Williams III was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after just six appearances.
29. Washington Wizards (2-12)
Previous: 30
The Jordan Poole experience has been bumpy. The Wizards guard is averaging 17.1 points per game on 39.5% shooting from the field while leading the team in turnovers with nearly three per contest.
30. Detroit Pistons (2-13)
Previous: 25
Things can’t get any worse in Detroit. Losers of 12 straight, the Pistons are bringing up the rear of the Eastern Conference and the NBA-wide standings. Just over a month in, their season might be lost.
