NBA Power Rankings: Timberwolves Stay at the Top While Clippers Surge Ahead

Los Angeles made a big leap, thanks in no small part to dominant performances from both Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

Let’s examine the Ja Morant effect, shall we?

In Memphis’s 115-113 win over New Orleans on Wednesday, the Grizzlies scored 115 points, nine above their average this season. Morant, who was playing for the first time since his 25-game suspension ended, scored 34 of them—including the game winner. Memphis’s offensive rating was 118.6, more than 12 points above its season average. Its net rating jumped from -6.8 in the 25 games without Morant, per NBA.com, to +0.8 in the one game with him.

So, yes, Morant does make the Grizzlies better. A lot better.

Playoffs better?

Look at it this way: Last year, Oklahoma City had the worst record of the play-in teams at 40-42. I think this year it is going to take at least 42 wins—or an above .500 record—to make it in. That means Memphis, 7-19 after beating the Pelicans, would have to go 35-21 (a 62.5% winning percentage) the rest of the way.

Doable? Certainly. The Grizz have won at around that percentage (or better) in each of the last two seasons. But while Morant is back, Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams are not, making Memphis’s climb back into contention much more difficult.

Regardless of how the Grizzlies finish, one thing is clear: The NBA is better with Morant in it.

Let’s jump into Sports Illustrated’s latest NBA power rankings …

1. Minnesota Timberwolves

Last week: 1

That makes four straight weeks for the ‘Wolves atop SI’s rankings; they maintain that ranking following a run through Dallas, Indiana and Miami. Karl-Anthony Towns continues to be steady. Towns’ numbers in November: 23.1 points on 53.3% shooting and 45.2% from three. His numbers so far in December: 23.1 points on 55.1% shooting and 46.4% from three. He also made a bucket and pulled down a key rebound to seal a win over the Heat. It’s been a solid stretch for Towns.

Towns scored 18 points in Minnesota’s 112–108 win over Miami :: Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports

2. Boston Celtics

Last week: 2

It’s nitpicky to criticize Boston … but let’s nitpick, shall we? Do the Celtics shoot too many threes? Boston missed a franchise record 41 threes in a loss to Golden State and are jacking up more triples than any team in the NBA. If Boston bows out early in the postseason, it’s likely that erratic shooting from beyond the three-point line will be the reason why.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

Last week: 5

I’m casting my quarter-season MVP ballot for the reigning MVP. Joel Embiid has been awesome. His scoring, rebounds and assists are all up from last season, with his three-point percentage jumping nearly four points. Who’s ready for Wednesday’s matchup with Minnesota?

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week: 3

Chet Holmgren, Rookie of the Year? Fine. But what about Chet Holmgren … Defensive Player of the Year? Holmgren racked up 15—15—blocks in back-to-back wins over Denver and Memphis. Inside six feet, opponents are making 50% of their shots against Holmgren, an excellent number for a rim protector. Oh, and the Thunder have the NBA’s sixth-ranked defense. 

5. Denver Nuggets

Last week: 5

The Nuggets righted the ship in the last week, taking three out of four following a three-game losing streak. Weird stat: Last season, the Nuggets ranked in the top five in fast break points (16.2 per game). This season they are 21st with 12.9.

6. Los Angeles Clippers

Last week: 14

Yeah, I’m going there. The Clippers are on fire. They have won eight straight after dropping 151 points on Indiana on Monday. Kawhi Leonard is playing like an MVP, James Harden is a monster in isolation and L.A.’s top-ten defense has been throttling. The Clippers are for real.

Leonard—who put up 28 points against the Indiana Pacers—is playing like an MVP candidate :: Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports

7. Milwaukee Bucks

Last week: 7

Giannis Antetokounmpo is shooting 61.1% this season. No player in NBA history has averaged 30 points while also shooting more than 60%—Antetokounmpo (30.6 points per game) has a shot. This MVP race is going to be outstanding.

8. Sacramento Kings

Last week: 11

Who’s joining me in the Keegan Murray fan club? Murray dropped 47 on Utah last week and another 25 in a win over Washington. In his last five games, he is averaging 25.6 points (58.7% from the floor, 60.6% from three), 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

9. New Orleans Pelicans

Last week: 10

Brandon Ingram, already connecting on a career-best 50.1% of his shots, is beginning to find this three-point stroke, connecting on 38.7% of his threes this month. Meanwhile, Jonas Valančiūnas has collected at least 13 rebounds in each of his last five games. 

10. Orlando Magic

Last week: 6

It’s time for a bit of a reality check for the Magic, who dropped back-to-back double-digit games to Boston over the weekend and have lost four of their last six. The schedule doesn’t get much easier, with back-to-back contests against Miami and Milwaukee before a trip to Indiana to close out the week. 

11. New York Knicks

Last week: 12

I covered the Knicks’ good-but-not-great status in a column earlier this week, but I’d add this: If the Julius Randle we’ve seen over the last ten games shows up in the playoffs, look out. Randle’s stats over the last ten: 27.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists. He’s shooting 58.2% from the floor and 36.6% from three. Those are All-Star numbers.

12. Dallas Mavericks

Last week: 13

As if Luka Dončić wasn’t already a handful, the Mavs guard has increased his number of threes (a career-high 10.2 per game) and been more efficient with them (career-best 38.4%). Again, the MVP race is already outstanding.

Dončić is another player putting up MVP-worthy numbers. In the Mavericks’ latest win, he scored 38 points and secured 11 rebounds :: Isaiah J. Downing/USA TODAY Sports

13. Indiana Pacers

Last week: 9

An in-season tournament hangover? Really? The Pacers are 1-5 since losing the IST Final. Indy’s defense is truly awful, surrendering at least 123 points in each of the five losses. It goes without saying—or at least it should—but a team with the 29th-ranked defense isn’t winning anything. 

14. Los Angeles Lakers

Last week: 8

Another IST hangover? L.A. has dropped three of its last four since winning the in-season tournament, including a loss to the Knicks on (ehem) banner night. The good news is Anthony Davis scored 30-plus in three of those games and is starting to really assert himself on the offensive end. 

15. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last week: 16

Wins over Atlanta and Houston briefly stopped the bleeding, but the Cavs are still in trouble. Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Cleveland may soon face a decision on what to do with Donovan Mitchell, who can be a free agent in 2025. Executives I spoke to expect Mitchell to remain with Cleveland past the deadline, but if the Cavs don’t show some life in the postseason, his time in Ohio could be brief. 

16. Houston Rockets

Last week: 15

Tari Eason is having a nice stretch. He is averaging 15.8 points over the last five games, with head coach Ime Udoka steadily increasing the minutes for the sturdy sixth man. A home-heavy upcoming schedule—Houston is 11-1 in the Toyota Center—should help the Rockets regain some momentum.

17. Chicago Bulls

Last week: 21

Signs of life in the Windy City? The Bulls split games in Miami before stunning the 76ers in Philadelphia on Monday. Coby White has been on a tear as of late: Over the last nine games, White is averaging 25.4 points, 6.8 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 48.2% from three-point range.

18. Phoenix Suns

Last week: 17

Not even Kevin Durant’s continued brilliance—the Slim Reaper is shooting 46.7% from three— can save the Suns these days. Bradley Beal is out (again), Devin Booker is struggling and Phoenix’s defense isn’t stopping anybody. It’s still early … but pretty soon it won’t be.

19. Golden State Warriors

Last week: 20

The Warriors have won three out of four, including Monday’s electric overtime win over the Celtics, since swapping Brandin Podziemski for Andrew Wiggins in the starting lineup. Golden State will have some ups and downs until Draymond Green returns, but Stephen Curry is still Stephen Curry (33 against Boston) and Klay Thompson is shooting 44.4% from three over the last five games.

Thompson scored six three-pointers in a 132–126 overtime win over the Boston Celtics :: John Hefti/USA TODAY Sports

20. Miami Heat

Last week: 19

I loved Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s response to a since-ended run over double-figure scoring games, which briefly closed in on Dwyane Wade’s rookie run. “Oh, s---!” Jaquez said. “I mean, I don’t even know. That is just a crazy statistic. Just to be mentioned in the same sentence as a name like that is just an honor.” Miami is getting what it needs from Jaquez, who is averaging 13 points on 38% shooting.

21. Atlanta Hawks

Last week: 21

The Hawks picked up a pair of wins over Toronto and Detroit in the last week, but it’s still hard to see this team building any kind of momentum. Jalen Johnson remains out with a wrist injury, the Trae Young-Dejounte Murray backcourt pairing is still meh and the Hawks 27th ranked defense isn’t stopping anybody.

22. Brooklyn Nets

Last week: 18

I’m starting to wonder if we have seen the last of Ben Simmons this season. 

23. Toronto Raptors

Last week: 24

One solution to the Raptors’ season-long struggles: Play its group of 20-something stars for more minutes. Tip of the hat to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange on this one: Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby are both playing less minutes this season. In 14 of his 21 appearances this season, Anunoby, 26, played less than 36 minutes. Through his first 21 games last season, he played less than 36 minutes six times. If you want to win, maybe play your best guys more?

24. Utah Jazz

Last week: 26

Welcome back, Collin Sexton! With the Jazz backcourt banged up, Sexton is averaging 27 points, 4.5 assists and is shooting 38.4% from three in his last four games as a starter—and Utah has won three of them. Sexton’s energy has been infectious, breathing life into what’s been a disappointing Jazz season.

25. Portland TrailBlazers

Last week: 25

Credit to the Blazers—they aren’t quitting. During a recent seven game losing streak, only two of the games were decided by double figures. And Portland showed plenty of fight in a win over Phoenix on Tuesday. Chauncey Billups has this group competing. 

26. Memphis Grizzlies

Last week: 27

This will likely be the last time we have Memphis this low. The Grizz, predictably, looked like a different team with Ja Morant and will resume the season with a legitimate fourth-quarter closer. The question is, did Memphis fall too far behind with Morant out for it to matter? 

27. Charlotte Hornets

Last week: 23

The Hornets have lost the last two games by 68 points. Steve Clifford should get hazard pay.

28. San Antonio Spurs

Last week: 29

It is over! San Antonio ended its 18-game losing streak with a win over the Lakers last week, with Devin Vassell cracking 30 points for the first time. If the Spurs are going to win any more games, they need an aggressive Vassell: In wins, he is averaging 24 points per game. In losses, that number dips to 16.8.

Vassell scored 36 points in a win over the Lakers, which shattered San Antonio’s losing streak :: Scott Wachter/USA TODAY Sports

29. Washington Wizards

Last week: 28

I’m dropping the Wizards a spot simply due to Jordan Poole’s shot selection. Because there were about a dozen things wrong with this attempt in the closing seconds of Sunday’s loss to Phoenix. Sheesh.

30. Detroit Pistons

Last week: 30

I’m just going to use this space to plug this week’s The Crossover podcast, where I go deep with Pistons beat writer Omari Sankofa on how we have gotten to this near historic 24-game losing streak.