NBA Power Rankings: Nuggets Surge to the Top As Timberwolves Falter

Denver is riding high after a win over the Celtics, while Minnesota needs to regroup following a pair of tough losses.

Minutes after the Minnesota Timberwolves’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday—and mere hours after Minnesota center Rudy Gobert was slapped with a $100,000 fine for his pointed criticism of officiating last week—Anthony Edwards put the referees in his crosshairs. Asked about the injury-riddled Timberwolves playing shorthanded, Edwards, sporting a sly smile, slugged an orange Gatorade and pinned the blame for the loss elsewhere.

“It’s tough every night when you don’t get to the free throw line as much as the other team,” Edwards said. “When one player shoots more free throws than your entire team, it’s tough. It’s tough to compete in the fourth quarter when you miss a shot and they are going to the free throw line every time down the floor.”

Edwards was slightly off. No Lakers player went to the line more than the Timberwolves, though Anthony Davis (13) shot exactly as many, part of a 29–13 edge Los Angeles had from the free throw line, including a 9–4 advantage in the fourth quarter, which Minnesota entered with a one-point lead and finished with an 11-point loss.

Edwards logged 25 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in Minnesota’s loss to the Lakers :: Kiyoshi Mio/USA TODAY Sports

There is, undoubtedly, increased tension between players and referees this season. While league officials are quick to point out that officiating errors are down, players don’t believe it, with many freely voicing their displeasure. Criticism of referees, once an infrequently used tactic by a coach, has become a regular part of the postgame conversation. Gobert needled the NBA’s nerve center by making the money sign after a call late in Minnesota’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, later suggesting that gambling had something to do with it.

The NBA leveled a hefty fine at Gobert for that. Or did they? There’s an argument to be made that today’s players are more willing to criticize officiating because they don’t fear the punishment. In November, Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George was fined $35,000 for criticizing officiating. George will make $45 million this season and has collected more than $250 million in career earnings. In January, Edwards was fined $40,000 for repeatedly criticizing officiating. Edwards will make $13.5 million this season before beginning a five-year contract next season that could be worth as much as $260 million.

In other words, in today’s NBA, the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. It’s why the NBA considered suspending Gobert for his comments and why the league could seek to make the penalties more proportionate in the years to come. Until then, expect the open season on referees to continue.

On to Sports Illustrated’s latest NBA power rankings.

1. Denver Nuggets

Last week: 2

It was only a matter of time before Denver seized the top spot. The Nuggets bested the Boston Celtics in a battle of conference contenders, sweeping the regular-season series against the Celtics. Peyton Watson continues to prove he’s playoff ready, scoring 11 points in 17 minutes against the Celtics. The Nuggets do need more from Reggie Jackson, whose shooting numbers have cratered over the last two months.

2. Boston Celtics

Last week: 1

Jayson Tatum’s MVP chances likely took a kill shot last week after three straight sub-40% shooting games on the current road trip, including a 15-point clunker against Denver. Tatum rebounded with a 26-point effort against the Portland Trail Blazers, and his selfless play this season is a big reason Boston has racked up terrific efficiency numbers across the board.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week: 3

Not to be lost in Oklahoma City’s embarrassment of young riches, Chet Holmgren has had an outstanding season. Holmgren has scored (16.9 points per game), defended (2.5 blocks), been efficient from the floor (53.8%) and the three-point line (38.5%) while proving durability (64 games) after missing all of last season with a foot injury. Fun fact: Holmgren is the first player in NBA history to reach 150+ blocks, 150+ assists and 100+ made threes in a season.

4. Milwaukee Bucks

Last week: 6

On Sunday I watched the Bucks run the Damian Lillard–Giannis Antetokounmpo again … and again … and again, racking up 124 points in a win over the Clippers. It was a rocky week—Milwaukee got rolled by the Golden State Warriors and lit up by D’Angelo Russell in a loss to the Lakers—but the Bucks’ defense has improved and the heavy pick-and-roll offense gets better by the game. More good news for Milwaukee: Khris Middleton’s return is just around the corner.

Lillard dropped 35 points while dishing out 11 assists in the Bucks’ win over the Clippers :: Kiyoshi Mio/USA TODAY Sports

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

Last week: 4

Two questions in Minnesota: How long will Karl-Anthony Towns be out and how far will the ‘Wolves fall in the standings while he is? Minnesota will lean into its defense, which continues to be outstanding. And when it is, the Timberwolves win: Minnesota is 35–4 this season when allowing fewer than 110 points and 16–2 when holding opponents to under 40% shooting.

6. Los Angeles Clippers

Last week: 5

What’s happened to the Clippers’ defense? L.A., 13th in defensive efficiency before the All-Star break, has fallen to 22nd since. Some good news: signs of life from Bones Hyland, who has picked up back-to-back efficient, double-digit scoring games coming off the bench.

7. New Orleans Pelicans

Last week: 12

Whatever was going on with Trey Murphy III in February (41.7% shooting; 34.5% from three) he has busted out of it this month, connecting on 56.1% of his shots from the floor and 52.2% of his threes. The Pelicans, meanwhile, have won four straight with showdowns against the Cavs and Clippers looming this week.

8. Phoenix Suns

Last week: 9

Frank Vogel offered an emphatic “Nope” when asked if the Suns’ turnover problems—Phoenix is 26th in the league in that category—were connected to a lack of a traditional point guard. But turnovers are a problem in the Valley, one magnified by the fact that with a month to go in the season, the Kevin Durant-Devin Booker-Bradley Beal trio has played just 480 minutes together. Booker returned from an ankle injury Monday.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last week: 7

The Cavs are in a funk. They have lost three of the last four and have won back-to-back games twice since the All-Star break. Injuries, particularly to Donovan Mitchell, have been a problem but the numbers are ugly: Cleveland is 18th in defensive efficiency since the break and 20th in offense. If not for Jarrett Allen, who is averaging 18.4 points and 12.9 rebounds this month, the Cavs would be worse.

10. Dallas Mavericks

Last week: 11

Inconsistency, thy name is Dallas. The Mavs followed three straight losses with three consecutive wins over the last week. Luka Dončić continues to post impressive numbers. Dončić’s triple double against Miami—the 71st of his career—was his fifth consecutive 30-point triple double, joining Russell Westbrook as the only two players to pull that off. Dallas will close the week with barometer-testing games against Golden State, Oklahoma City and Denver.

11. Sacramento Kings

Last week: 10

Houston, a woeful road team, marched into the Golden 1 Center on Sunday and held the Kings to 104 points in an ugly loss. Sacramento is running out of time to pull itself out of the play-in mix and with 12 of the Kings' next 19 games against teams with .500 records or better, the road won’t be easy.

12. Los Angeles Lakers

Last week: 18

Do you believe in D’Angelo Russell? The 28-year-old continues to give Lakers fans reason to with an electric, 44-point, nine-assist effort to beat Milwaukee over the weekend. Russell continues to put up elite three-point shooting numbers (48.8% this month) while keeping his turnovers low.

Russell continues to be a bright spot for the Lakers, helping the team move up the power rankings :: Kiyoshi Mio/USA TODAY Sports

13. Indiana Pacers

Last week: 17

The Pacers survived a brutal six-game stretch, going 3–3, a mark that should have been better if not for a bad loss in San Antonio. Bennedict Mathurin’s season-ending injury hurts; Indiana has the NBA’s top-scoring bench and Mathurin was a big part of it. Maintaining offensive balance will be key. Indy is 30–11 this season when six or more players score in double figures.

14. Miami Heat

Last week: 8

Bad week for the Heat, who dropped games to Dallas, Oklahoma City and … the Washington Wizards? The Wizards loss, Jimmy Butler said, was “humbling.” After winning 11 of its previous 14 games Miami has stumbled, sinking further into the play-in mix with some tough games ahead, beginning Wednesday against Denver. The Heat have struggled against the NBA’s best this season, going 14–20 against teams currently with a winning record including 0–10 against teams with a top-five record.

15. Philadelphia 76ers

Last week: 14

The Sixers submitted their best defensive performance of the season Sunday, holding the New York Knicks to 73 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. has helped keep Philly afloat through its injuries, averaging 22.8 points per game this month.

16. New York Knicks

Last week: 16

Even with Jalen Brunson back—and Knicks fans breathed a sigh of relief about that—the Knicks can’t seem to get their offense going. New York is 26th in offensive efficiency since the All-Star break, posting a very 20th-century 73 points in a loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. Still, more help is on the way: OG Anunoby, out since January with an elbow injury, is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday.

17. Orlando Magic

Last week: 13

A well-deserved contract extension for Jamahl Mosley came this week, with the Magic locking down its coach through the 2027–28 season. Mosley continues to oversee an elite defense in Orlando but the offense is a question. The Magic failed to crack 100 points in each of the last two games—both losses—and since the All-Star break are 26th in the NBA in points scored. As good as Orlando is defensively, it needs more offense in the playoffs.

18. Golden State Warriors

Last week: 15

Just when you were ready to believe in Golden State, the Warriors go and drop two straight to the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs. Stephen Curry’s ankle injury could cost him a couple more games, which the Warriors, parked in the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference, can ill afford.

19. Chicago Bulls

Last week: 19

I’ve been hard on the Bulls—I really don’t see the long-term strategy in an aging, midrange jump-shooting team battling for play-in spots year after year—but there’s no quit in them. Chicago went 3–1 on its recent road trip, picking up wins in Sacramento and Golden State. DeMar DeRozan is giving the Bulls plenty of reasons to want to bring him back next season, averaging 23 points on 47.2% shooting while playing an NBA-high 37.2 minutes per game.

20. Atlanta Hawks

Last week: 22

Saddiq Bey’s season-ending knee injury is a brutal blow for the Hawks, who have played well since the All-Star break. With Trae Young out Dejounte Murray has picked his play up: Murray is averaging 24.1 points and 8.6 assists since the break.

21. Houston Rockets

Last week: 20

No structural damage for Alperen Şengün after a nasty-looking fall this week. Whew.

22. Brooklyn Nets

Last week: 23

Cam Thomas continues to make a strong case for the NBA’s Most Improved Award, collecting 60 points in back-to-back games this past weekend. Thomas’s per-36-minute numbers are pretty similar to last season, but he has thrived in an increased role, connecting on 37.3% of his threes while handing out nearly three assists per game.

23. Toronto Raptors

Last week: 21

The Raptors have dropped six of the last seven, with just a win over the Charlotte Hornets during that stretch. The good news for Toronto is Immanuel Quickley has been outstanding, averaging 18 points on 41.5% in 29 games with the Raptors.

Quickley put up 29 points in Toronto’s OT loss to Portland :: Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

24. Utah Jazz

Last week: 24

Has Keyonte George established himself as Utah’s point guard of the future? George is averaging 21.3 points and 6.1 assists over his last seven full games. He is shooting .460 from three-point range during that stretch, having made 29 of his last 63 attempts from beyond the arc. As it rebuilds, Utah is looking for cornerstone players. It may have found one.

25. San Antonio Spurs

Last week: 25

The Spurs are 3–3 over the last six with wins over Oklahoma City, Indiana and Golden State. San Antonio continues to play unselfishly, ranking second in the NBA in assists per game. And, yes, Victor Wembanyama, who posted 27 points and 14 rebounds in a loss to the Warriors on Monday, continues to be awesome.

26. Portland Trail Blazers

Last week: 26

Sometimes it’s all about opportunity, or at least it is for Dalano Banton, a cap casualty in Boston who has thrived in a role with the Blazers. Banton scored 55 points in back-to-back games against the Rockets and Raptors and is averaging 13.5 points in 13 games with Portland.

27. Memphis Grizzlies

Last week: 26

Jaren Jackson Jr. continues to deliver on both ends. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is averaging a career-best 22.4 points per game in Memphis’s injury-ravaged season. Jackson is on pace to play at least 63 games for the third straight season, giving the Grizzlies more hope that a healthy roster can make a run next year.

28. Charlotte Hornets

Last week: 28

What will the market be like for Miles Bridges this summer? Bridges continues to be a steady, 20-plus point-per-game scorer with the kind of athleticism that makes him a natural fit alongside LaMelo Ball. Two years ago, before Bridges's domestic violence incident, the Hornets were ready to invest long-term in Bridges. Will Charlotte’s new front office feel the same?

29. Washington Wizards

Last week: 30

Tyus Jones continues to be a bright spot in D.C. Since returning from the All-Star break on Feb. 22, Jones’s 10 assists per game ranks third in the NBA. He has a dozen games with double-digit assists—the most in his career—and tallied 15-plus assists in five total games this season, the most recorded by a Wizards player since Russell Westbrook (14) in 2020–21

30. Detroit Pistons

Last week: 29

Is there hope for James Wiseman? The former No. 2 pick in the draft has scored double figures in three straight games, including a 17-point, 12-rebound effort against Dallas on Saturday. Wiseman is a sturdy screener who takes up a lot of space in the paint. I asked a veteran NBA assistant this week if Wiseman was salvageable as an NBA player. “He had a tough situation in Golden State,” said the assistant. “Coach gave up on him, poor development program, he was injured, and they went with guys they’ve won with. But he’s talented. He can be a rotation player on a winning team.”