Updated NBA Power Rankings: Thunder, Cavaliers, and Celtics in Their Own Tier

We’ve built our latest NBA Power Rankings with a data-driven approach, minimizing subjectivity by relying on key advanced metrics. Our ranking process is guided by research-backed indicators of success, weighted accordingly. 

Teams are evaluated based on efficiency on both ends of the floor, versatility, and other important factors as we rank all 30 teams for the rest of the 2024-25 season.

NBA Power Rankings

1) Oklahoma City Thunder (59-12)

There’s no debating that the Oklahoma City Thunder are the cream of the crop in the Western Conference. It’s been that way all season. They own the best defensive rating (106.2) and net rating (12.7) in the NBA on the year. 

OKC has been dominant defensively for the year. They’re giving up just 106.8 points per game, and that number is down to 102.3 in their last three games. The Thunder are also allowing the lowest opponent true shooting percentage (109.2%) and effective field goal percentage (51.4%).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a bonafide MVP candidate. He currently has career highs in usage (36.4%) and points per game (32.8). Jalen Williams has missed some time recently, but OKC has a strong supporting cast that also includes Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Joe, and Isaiah Hartenstein.

The Thunder swept the season series with the Celtics. They’ve also had a recent tough stretch of games but came away with wins over the Rockets, Grizzlies, Pistons, and Bucks, plus a split with the Nuggets.

2) Cleveland Cavaliers (57-14)

The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped four straight before getting off the snide against the Jazz. Outside of that uncharacteristic stretch, they’ve been dominant. They had previously been on a 16-game winning streak, with victories over the Celtics, Timberwolves, Knicks, Bucks, and Grizzlies. 

The Cavaliers have the highest offensive rating (121.5). They’ve been super efficient, with the best true shooting percentage (121.1%) and effective field goal percentage (58.4%) in the league. The trio of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley has led the charge offensively. Mobley’s 21.9% usage rate is the highest of his career. 

The addition of DeAndre Hunter at the trade deadline has paid off in a big way. The Cavs are scoring 6.6 points per 100 possessions more when the former Hawks forward is on the court, according to Cleaning the Glass.

Cleveland has a stronghold on the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. If they continue to play at this level, they’ll be a tough out come playoff time.

3) Boston Celtics (52-19)

Boston could eventually overtake Cleveland, but they land at No. 3 here. Joe Mazzulla’s squad has already clinched no worse than the sixth seed in the East. They seem to be hitting their stride, winning 10 of their last 11 games. 

Boston has gotten it done on both ends of the floor. They rank 3rd in points per 100 possessions (120.9) and 6th in opponent points per 100 possessions (111.7) this season. Jayson Tatum is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league, and his season-long numbers show it. He has a 32.2% usage rate on the year and a 26.2% assist percentage, both the highest of his career. 

The Celtics are just as talented as any team in the league. Not to mention, they’re the defending champions until someone knocks them off. They haven’t been able to sustain full team health for extended stretches, though. We’ll see if they can get on track down the stretch.

4) Minnesota Timberwolves (41-31)

The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped two of their last three games, but before that, they won eight consecutive games to begin the month of March. Granted, most of those wins came against average and below-average squads. However, they did secure a double-digit victory over the Nuggets – improving to 3-0 against Denver this season.

So far in March, the Timberwolves have the 4th-best offensive rating (122.9) and the 2nd-best defensive rating (109.4). They’re led by Anthony Edwards, who is averaging a career-high 27.5 points per game. While he’s been inefficient at times, he’s shooting 40% from deep, the highest mark of his young career. Naz Reid has developed into a really good player for Minnesota. The team has a +7.8 efficiency differential when’s he’s on the floor.

We knew the Wolves hadn’t been playing up to their potential for much of the season, but they are starting to find their rhythm at the right time as they battle for playoff positioning.

5) Houston Rockets (46-26)

The Houston Rockets have been somewhat up and down since the All-Star break, but they’ve been on a tear as of late. Ime Udoka’s squad had reeled off nine straight wins with an average margin of victory of 13.3 before a close loss to Denver. To be fair, it was a soft schedule, with the Suns being their highest-ranked opponent. Still, Houston’s play has helped them reclaim the No. 2 seed in the West.

Wins are wins, and Udoka hopes that positive momentum will propel his young team down the stretch. The Rockets have been a strong defensive team over the course of the season, with a 109.7 defensive rating (4th-best in the NBA). They’re also allowing the 3rd-best opponent true shooting percentage (110.6%).

The young core of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson has led the charge. The latter has enjoyed a huge leap from his rookie season. His 1.9% block rate leads the league, and he’s accounted for 7.9% of Houston’s offensive rebounds.

The Rockets went 41-41 last year, so they’ve already surpassed that mark this season. It remains to be seen how far they can go in a playoff series, but this team certainly has legs.

6) Golden State Warriors (41-30)

The Golden State Warriors are a real problem right now. They are rolling, with an 9-3 record in March. They’ve picked up two wins over the Knicks and victories against the Bucks, Kings, and Pistons during that stretch.

The move to acquire Jimmy Butler came with questions, but it has paid dividends for Golden State. Butler has an assist-to-usage rate of 1.28, which is good for third on the team. The Warriors have enjoyed a boost offensively and defensively since Butler arrived. They have the league’s 3rd-best net rating over the last 15 games, thanks to the 2nd-best defensive rating during that stretch (108.9).

Steph Curry and Draymond Green aren’t the players they once were, but when you factor in Butler, Steve Kerr still has a strong veteran core. The supporting cast is a question mark, though, when considering how far the Warriors can advance in the playoffs.

7) Los Angeles Clippers (40-31)

The Los Angeles Clippers are playing well right now, winning eight of their last 10 games as they fight for positioning near the bottom of the Western Conference playoff picture. It would’ve been six in a row if not for a two-point loss to the Thunder. 

The Clippers have been a strong defensive team this season, boasting the 3rd-best defensive rating in the league (109.5). They are giving up just 108.6 points per game, and they have a forced turnover rate of 15.3%. They have a legitimate big man in Ivica Zubac, who gets it done on both ends of the floor and is having a career year.

Los Angeles hasn’t been nearly as consistent offensively, and that’s really the story of this team. The duo of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard can be as good as they want to be, but can this entire team be healthy for the rest of the season, let alone a deep playoff run? 

8) Milwaukee Bucks (40-30)

The Milwaukee Bucks are currently battling with the Pacers and Pistons for the 4-seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage for a playoff series. Every game is of utmost importance, but Milwaukee has had a tough stretch of games. They’ve faced the Lakers and Pacers twice, the Cavaliers, Thunder, and Warriors – coming out with a 3-4 record.

The Bucks have been solid defensively, with a 110.6 defensive rating over the last 15 games (4th in the NBA). However, they’ve been highly inconsistent on the offensive end of the floor. They’re 16th in offensive rating during that span (116.1).

It’s clear that Doc Rivers’ squad misses Bobby Portis’ presence after he was suspended for 25 games. This team is heavily reliant on their stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. While those two are capable of carrying a team in the East, it’ll be challenging without more consistent help from their role players, including trade deadline acquisition Kyle Kuzma.

9) Detroit Pistons (40-32)

The Detroit Pistons’ turnaround has been nothing short of amazing. They won 30% or less of their games in each of the past five seasons. Now, they’re eight games above .500 and fighting for potential home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. 

Detroit went on an impressive 8-game winning streak in February, notching victories over the Celtics and Clippers. Yes, they’ve since cooled off, but this is still a team safely in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. 

Cade Cunningham has blossomed into a bonafide star. The 23-year-old has the highest usage rate in the league (36.5%) and an assist rate of 41%. This team goes as he goes, and he’s been going. The Pistons have a +7.7 net rating over the last 15 games, which is 4th in the NBA.

10) Los Angeles Lakers (43-27)

When the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Luka Doncic, many believed it was simply a move for the future. However, this team appears ready to contend for a title this season. They’re currently holding onto the No. 4 seed in the West despite mostly playing without LeBron James, who suffered a groin injury in early March.

Doncic has found his stride since the blockbuster trade that landed him in LA. He has a  +16.2 efficiency differential when he’s on the court since joining the Lakers, which is second on the team only to Dorian Finney-Smith. Austin Reaves has also stepped up in a major way this season, posting career highs in usage (24.9%), points (19.7 PPG), and assists (6.0 APG). 

Reaves has emerged as arguably the best third option in the league. If LeBron can stay healthy, this trio alone makes the Lakers very dangerous. The Thunder may be in their own tier in the West, but this team isn’t one the rest of field wants to draw.

11) Memphis Grizzlies (43-28)

The Western Conference is a logjam behind the Thunder right now. While the Memphis Grizzlies have been inconsistent lately, they are right in the thick of things. Ja Morant has been in and out of the lineup, but they are hanging in there behind the duo of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. 

The Grizzlies are the fastest team in the league in terms of pace this season, averaging 107.1 possessions per game. They’ve also been efficient throughout the season, with an offensive rating of 117.3 (sixth in the NBA).

If Memphis wants to have a legitimate shot at making it out of the West, Morant will need to be healthy, and Jackson must be more consistent and play like an All-Star every night.

12) New York Knicks (44-26)

The New York Knicks have been holding on in the absence of their point guard and leader, Jalen Brunson. The two-time All-Star suffered an ankle injury in early March, and the team is 4-4 since he went down – two of the losses coming against the Warriors and Clippers.

The Knicks have been a strong offensive unit for much of the season. However, their numbers have faded over the last 15 games. They are 26th in offensive rating during that stretch (109.7), but they still own a 117.4 rating on the season, good for fifth in the NBA. Some of the struggles can be attributed to not having Brunson on the floor. He has a 32.6% usage rate this season.

Karl-Anthony Towns is having a strong first season in New York, averaging a double-double for the first time since 2020. The Knicks have scored 6.6 points per 100 possessions more with Towns on the court than when he’s off.

New York is sitting firmly as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. They’ll need Brunson to be fully healthy to make a deep playoff run, though.

13) Denver Nuggets (45-27)

The Denver Nuggets are two seasons removed from winning the NBA Finals. Even though Michael Malone’s squad isn’t the best team in the conference on paper, their championship experience could prove invaluable in the playoffs, especially against the younger teams at the top.

The Nuggets also have a 3-time MVP in Nikola Jokic, who is a frontrunner for the award yet again. Jokic is averaging a triple-double for the first time in his career. He also has the best player efficiency rating in the league (32.0), as well as the highest box score plus-minus (+13.2).

Denver has been a statistically lopsided team. On one hand, they’ve been an elite offensive squad behind Jokic. They have the 3rd-best offensive rating at 118.9 on the season. Their 57.9% effective field goal percentage ranks second in the NBA. On the other hand, the Nuggets haven’t been nearly as efficient defensively. The defense has been barbecue chicken, giving up 116.8 points per game (24th). They recently allowed 126 points to the Wizards and the Lakers without LeBron James and Luka Doncic. 

The Nuggets’ defensive woes are concerning, but you can never count them out with the Joker playing the way he has this season.

14) Indiana Pacers (41-29)

The Indiana Pacers are battling with the Bucks and Pistons for playoff positioning in the East. They played well without Tyrese Haliburton, winning three straight games with their All-Star guard out of the lineup, including a victory over the Timberwolves.

Indiana’s season-long numbers are decent. They have a top-10 offensive rating on the year (114.9), and they’re in the middle of the pack defensively (113.8). The team hasn’t been as efficient as they were a season ago, though, dropping five points per 100 possessions from the 121.6 mark they posted in the 2023-24 season.

Are the Pacers a real threat in the East? There’s no clear answer here. There’s not a lot of star power, but the supporting cast has exceeded expectations. Aaron Nesmith, Bennedict Mathurin, and Andrew Nembhard all have positive efficiency differentials when on the floor.

15) Sacramento Kings (35-35)

There were questions about the state of the Sacramento Kings after firing Mike Brown and trading away DeAaron Fox. Quite frankly, those questions are still unanswered, but this team is hanging in there. After a tough four-game losing streak, the Kings pulled off back-to-back wins against the Grizzlies and Cavaliers.

Sacramento is in play-in tournament territory (currently the 9-seed in the West). Their advanced numbers show a team struggling to put it together on both ends of the floor. They have the 9th-best offensive rating over the last 15 games (118.6). On the flip side, their 118.5 defensive rating ranks 23rd over that span.

Domantas Sabonis is averaging a career-high 13.9 rebounds per game, and he’s having one of his more efficient seasons shooting the ball. With DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine, this isn’t a team devoid of talent, but the Kings’ inconsistency doesn’t inspire confidence moving forward.

16) Phoenix Suns (34-37)

It’s been a disappointing season for the Phoenix Suns, to say the least. They’re neck and neck with the depleted Mavericks for the 10th seed in the West, which is a shame given the level of talent on this roster.

Phoenix greatly benefited from a soft two-game stretch and the Mavericks’ fall from grace. However, they’ve begun a brutal stretch of games, with 10 straight contests against teams that are top-10 in our rankings. With their backs against the wall, will they be able to fight back?

It’s no surprise that the Suns have been a top-10 offensive team this season, considering they have Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. However, they’ve been picked apart defensively. Their 116.4 defensive rating is 5th-worst in the league. The Bradley Beal experiment hasn’t worked either. The Suns are scoring 10.4 points per 100 possessions less when he’s been on the court.

17) Atlanta Hawks (35-36)

The Atlanta Hawks appear to be headed for a berth in the play-in tournament, as there’s some distance between them and the 6-seed in the East. Even though they’re in the mix, the Hawks don’t appear to be a serious threat.

Atlanta ranks in the bottom half of the NBA in most efficiency categories. Their -2.0 net rating ranks 20th overall. Defensively, they’ve allowed the third-best true shooting percentage (118.0%).

The Hawks lost a bright young star in Jalen Johnson earlier in the season. However, they’ve had some other youngsters come on down the stretch. Dyson Daniels leads the league with 202 steals this season. Zaccharie Risacher has scored 15+ points in five of his last seven games, and he’s improved from deep as the season progresses. 

18) Chicago Bulls (31-40)

The Chicago Bulls are another likely play-in tournament-bound team with plenty of question marks. With the team moving on from Zach Lavine, it’s clear that this roster doesn’t have enough talent to compete with the best teams in the East for a full series.

Chicago had a nice four-game winning streak in early March, including a win over the Pacers, but they haven’t been able to sustain that level of play. The Bulls haven’t been particularly good in many categories this season, but they have allowed an offensive rebound rate of 26.6%, which is sixth-best in the league.

Matas Buzelis, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Giddey have each shown flashes this season, but they’ve been unable to put it together for extended stretches. Chicago has a few pieces, but they likely won’t have much to hang their hats on by season’s end.

19) Portland Trail Blazers (32-40)

The Portland Trail Blazers have enjoyed a solid turnaround this season after posting 21-61 record last year. It hasn’t always been pretty, but Chauncey Billups and company at least have a fighting chance to reach the play-in tournament. 

After losing five straight games during a tough stretch against some of the best teams in the league, Portland reeled off three straight wins, including a double-digit victory over the Grizzlies. The Blazers have been decent defensively on the year, with a 114.3 defensive rating (16th). 

Deni Avdija and Anfernee Simons have been playing really well, each with at least three 30-point outings in the last 10 games. If nothing else, this season has been a success for the Blazers, and the stock is trending up for next year.

20) San Antonio Spurs (31-39)

There was a certain level of excitement around the San Antonio Spurs when they traded for All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox. The thought of pairing Fox and Victor Wembanyama was so tantalizing, but we didn’t get to see much of them together. Both players are now out for the remainder of the season.

From a season-long perspective, the Spurs have been below-average statistically. Their -1.7 net rating ranks 21st among all teams. Even though the Spurs could continue to slide down the rankings, they’ve already surpassed their win total from a season ago.

Though the season hasn’t ended how they wanted, a few bright spots have emerged for the Spurs. Rookie Stephon Castle has averaged 20.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in March. Additionally, big man Sandro Mamukelashvili put together a 34-point, 9-rebound performance against the Knicks. 

21) Orlando Magic (33-38)

The Orlando Magic appeared poised to have another strong campaign this season after finishing with a 47-35 record just a season ago. Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero have missed a combined 54 games this season, but 2024 has still been disappointing. 

You never know which Magic team is going to show up on a nightly basis. They recently notched wins against the Bucks and the Cavaliers. Then, they’ve also had losses to bad teams like the Raptors and Bulls. Orlando has been a strong defensive team for much of the season, with the second-best defensive rating in the NBA (109.4). The offense has been a different story, though. They’re scoring just 108.1 points per 100 possessions (28th) and have an effective field goal percentage of 50.9% (29th).

The Magic should be play-in tournament-bound, so anything is possible. With Banchero and Wagner on the floor, they have two guys who can create matchup problems for opponents. Still, the poor efficiency numbers make it hard to be optimistic.

22) Miami Heat (30-41)

It’s been an extremely rough stretch of basketball for the Miami Heat, who have dropped 10 of their last 11 games. The play-in tournament is likely in their future, as they are sitting at the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference. Luckily for them, the teams behind them are so bad, it’ll be difficult for them to make up ground in the standings.

Miami has not played up to expectations this season. Many of their struggles have come on the offensive end. Their 111.1 offensive rating ranks 23rd in the NBA, and they’ve been even worse over the last 10 games, with a rating of 106.7 (29th) during that span.

Tyler Herro has career-highs in points and assists, and he’s scoring 120.6 points per 100 shot attempts, also the best mark of his career. The rest of the roster leaves much to be desired offensively, and it’s difficult to imagine Miami making any real noise in the play-in tourney.

23) Dallas Mavericks (34-37)

The Dallas Mavericks have had a rough go of it over the past couple of months. Fans denounced the team after trading away Luka Doncic. Anthony Davis played in just one game before getting injured. Now, Kyrie Irving is out for the season to throw salt in the wound. 

Dallas has lost nine of their last 11 games. This team is heading nowhere fast, but their season-long numbers have kept them from completely plummeting down these rankings. On the year, the Mavs have a net rating of -0.5 (16th in the NBA). They’re scoring 115.8 points per 100 possessions (12th). However, that mark has dropped dramatically to 110.8 (24th) over the last 15 games.

The Mavericks likely won’t be favored in many games for the remainder of the season. A year removed from an NBA Finals appearance, this is a much different team than the one that began the season.

24) Toronto Raptors (24-47)

The Toronto Raptors have been an up-and-down team for much of the season – with more lows than highs. They followed up a nice three-game winning streak with a three-game losing streak to match. This team also managed to reel off an 11-game losing streak earlier in the season.

If you’re in the business of moral victories, Toronto is at least close to matching or surpassing its win total from a season ago. The Raptors have been serviceable at times on the defensive end, but they’ve been bad offensively, scoring just 110.6 points per 100 possessions (26th).

The Raptors’ chances of making the play-in tournament get slimmer by the day. However, they do have a relatively soft schedule the rest of the way, so maybe they can at least have a strong finish to an otherwise lackluster season.

25) Philadelphia 76ers (23-48)

When talking about the most disappointing teams in the NBA this season, the Philadelphia 76ers have to be near the top of the list. Nick Nurse’s squad is seated firmly as a bottom-five team in the Eastern Conference. 

After finishing with at least 43 wins in each of the last seven seasons, Philadelphia may not even win many more games this season. Two of the three big names on the roster, Joel Embiid and Paul George, are out for the rest of the season. Neither guy played more than half of the team’s games. Tyrese Maxey hasn’t played since the beginning of March.

The 76ers shutting down their stars is a clear signal that preparing for the 2025 NBA Draft is their priority – putting a bow on a season to forget.

26) Brooklyn Nets (23-48)

At one point, the Brooklyn Nets seemed to be in contention for a spot in the play-in tournament, but things have unraveled. They’ve gone on a few losing streaks, dropping 13 of their last 15 games.

On the bright side, Cameron Johnson is enjoying the best season of his career. His 21.7% usage rate is also a career-high, but that could be attributed to Cam Thomas missing the majority of the season. Thomas has played in just 25 games, and now he’s out for the remainder of the season.

As a unit, the Nets don’t have much to hang their hats on. They’ve been inefficient on both ends of the floor (-6.2 net rating this season), and they have not shown progress over last season.

27) Utah Jazz (16-56)

The Utah Jazz are in bad shape right now. They were recently fined for violating the NBA’s player participation policy. The Jazz are in last place in the West and eliminated from playoff contention, so it’s clear their attention has shifted to the upcoming draft.

The losses continue to pile up for Utah, as they have dropped 12 of their last 13 games. This roster is not exactly built to compete with the league’s best on a nightly basis, and the numbers show it. The Jazz have a -7.7 net rating on the season (27th in the NBA). They’ve given up points in bunches, allowing opponents to score 119.8 points per game (29th).

There aren’t many positive takeaways from this season for the Jazz. They’ve seen a dramatic drop in win percentage from their 31-51 record from last year.

28) New Orleans Pelicans (19-53)

The 2024-25 season has been rough for the New Orleans Pelicans. After two straight seasons with 40-plus wins, they are the second-worst team in the Western Conference. They’re eliminated from playoff contention, and to make matters worse, Trey Murphy III is done for the season.

Murphy was enjoying a full-on breakout campaign in Year 4, averaging career highs in points (21.2 PPG) and rebounds (5.1 RPG). Despite Murphy’s emergence, the biggest story continues to be Zion Williamson and his inability to play for a full season.

With Murphy, Williamson, and Dejounte Murray, there’s plenty of talent to build around. However, the Pelicans were consistently one of the worst teams in basketball, so this team has many more problems than solutions. 

29) Charlotte Hornets (18-53)

There’s no denying that the Charlotte Hornets have some solid young players to build around, but this just has not been their year. They’re not far off from their 21-61 record a season ago, if that’s any consolation.

The Hornets have been inconsistent and inefficient on both ends of the court. Their -8.1 net rating is the 3rd-worst in the NBA. This is not a team that has improved year-over-year, but their young core offers hope for the future. 

LaMelo Ball is averaging a career-high 25.2 points per game. Miles Bridges has the highest usage rate of his career (26.9%). Brandon Miller’s sophomore season got cut short but he improved in Year 2. 

30) Washington Wizards (15-55)

Will the Washington Wizards win the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes? Time will tell, but they’ve certainly put themselves in prime position as far as the lottery is concerned. Washington has the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the entire NBA, at least for now.

The Wizards have by far the worst net rating in the league (-11.7). They have only scored 106.7 points per 100 possessions (30th), and they’re giving up 119.1 points per 100 possessions (29th). Washington hasn’t been quite as bad over the past 10 games, posting a -8.9 net rating (25th). They’ve also logged wins over the Nuggets and Pistons.

The trade deadline acquisitions of veterans Marcus Smart and Khris Middleton have helped. Rookie Alexandre Sarr has also come on as of late, with two double-doubles and four games with at least 20 points in the last 10.