NBA Power Rankings: Sizing up field midway through season

NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.

In this edition, we assess matters as the 2024-25 campaign hits the halfway point.

Jump to:
ATL | BKN | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR | SAC | SAS | TOR | UTA | WAS

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (34-5)

Previous: 2

In the battle of multi-game winning streaks, it was Cleveland ending Oklahoma City's run of 15 straight victories. Nearly 80% of the Cavs' wins have come during their two winning streaks, a sign of complete dominance.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (33-6)

Previous: 1

Despite the loss to the Cavs, OKC still beat two of the East's best teams last week and boasts the league's best defensive rating with an absurd 102.9 mark. And the Thunder are still missing Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso.

3. Boston Celtics (28-11)

Previous: 4

Joe Mazzulla's men may have left their 3-point shooting in 2024. In six games in the new year, the Celtics are attempting the most threes (43.7) but hitting only 32.8% - the fifth-worst mark in January.

4. Houston Rockets (26-12)

Previous: 6

Houston has gone 5-1 in 2025 and jumped into second place in the West. Jalen Green has also caught fire, contributing a team-high 30 points per game on 51.2/45.6/92.3 shooting splits since the calendar flipped.

5. New York Knicks (26-15)

Previous: 3

The Knicks' dirty little secret is that they struggle to beat good teams. New York is 1-6 against the NBA's top eight squads and only 12-12 versus clubs with a winning record.

6. Memphis Grizzlies (25-15)

Previous: 5

Even with Ja Morant's 16 missed games, the Grizzlies' depth and two-way play have them keeping pace in the conference. Memphis deserves to stay together to see how deep it can go in the playoffs.

7. Denver Nuggets (24-15)

Previous: 12

Russell Westbrook has settled into his role with the Nuggets. The former MVP is averaging 16.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 7.5 rebounds since Jan. 1 - Denver is 6-2 in those contests.

8. Milwaukee Bucks (21-17)

Previous: 10

The Bucks have found their scoring touch. Three of Milwaukee's rotation players have been shooting above 40% from deep since Dec. 1: Gary Trent Jr. (42.5%), A.J. Green (44.3%), and Taurean Prince (45.7%)

9. Dallas Mavericks (22-18)

Previous: 7

Dallas shot just 44.4% in the five games they were without both Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic this month. That was the NBA's ninth-worst percentage over that stretch. Before then, the Mavs were fifth with a 48.2% mark. At least Irving's back now.

10. Orlando Magic (23-18)

Previous: 8

Paulo Banchero showed no signs of rust Friday against the Bucks in his return from a 33-game absence due to a torn oblique, scoring 34 points on 5-of-8 shooting from deep. Do you believe in Magic?

11. Los Angeles Clippers (21-17)

Previous: 11

Kawhi Leonard is back. So, too, is Terance Mann. The returns immediately give Ty Lue's roster much-needed depth. Since Dec. 21, the Clippers bench has been tied for the seventh-worst in the league with a minus-2.1 net rating.

12. Indiana Pacers (22-19)

Previous: 20

Tyrese Haliburton's troublesome hamstring issue couldn't have resurfaced at a worse time. The Pacers guard averaged 24.8 points and 10.8 assists while shooting 48.7% from distance in five straight Pacers wins before his early exit Sunday.

13. Sacramento Kings (20-20)

Previous: 25

Doug Christie seems to be the key to Sacramento's success. Since the interim coach took over, the Kings have gone 7-1 and are on a seven-game win streak, including impressive wins over the Grizzlies and Celtics.

14. Miami Heat (20-18)

Previous: 16

The Heat continue to find ways to win. Even with Jimmy Butler halfway out the door, Tyler Herro has blossomed into an All-Star-caliber player. The 24-year-old is averaging a career-high 24 points on 46.9% shooting.

15. Detroit Pistons (21-19)

Previous: 21

The rebuild may finally be over in Detroit. The Pistons are sitting at 21-19 through 40 games, whereas they were at 3-36 last season. This is their first time being .500 or better after Jan. 1 since 2019.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (21-18)

Previous: 14

Monday's win over the Wizards meant the Timberwolves wouldn't alternate between three-game streaks of wins and losses for the first time since mid-December. That's obscure, sure, but it's an indicator of Minnesota's consistently inconsistent play this season.

17. Los Angeles Lakers (20-17)

Previous: 9

The Lakers have been relatively mediocre this campaign but can always rely on Anthony Davis and LeBron James. At 40 years old, LeBron recently erupted for 68 points over two games, leading L.A. to consecutive wins on a back-to-back.

18. Atlanta Hawks (20-19)

Previous: 13

A New Year's Day loss in Denver started the Hawks' nightmare five-game road trip out West. Atlanta went 1-4 to open 2025, and its minus-13.2 net rating through Monday was only better than the Nets' and Wizards'.

19. San Antonio Spurs (19-19)

Previous: 17

San Antonio desperately needs a boost, ranking 18th in offensive rating. A player like Zach LaVine could be nice to pair with Victor Wembanyama to challenge for the Spurs' first playoff berth since 2019.

20. Phoenix Suns (19-20)

Previous: 20

Phoenix is reportedly looking to part ways with Jusuf Nurkic and is interested in Hornets big man Nick Richards. Adding the 27-year-old center would give the league's ninth-worst defense some much-needed rim protection.

21. Golden State Warriors (19-20)

Previous: 15

Steve Kerr blamed himself Monday after the Warriors fell below .500 for the first time this season. Overly self-critical or not, Golden State will need to answer some tough questions if a trade-deadline addition can't save its campaign.

22. Chicago Bulls (18-22)

Previous: 22

Perpetual mediocrity plagues this Bulls team, but at least LaVine is enjoying an All-Star-caliber campaign with career highs in field goal (52%) and three-point percentage (44%). The trade deadline beckons for Arturas Karnisovas.

23. Philadelphia 76ers (15-23)

Previous: 19

Perhaps being the third option on a Joel Embiid-led team is draining. Paul George is having his worst year since his sophomore season in 2011-12, averaging 16.8 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 42.1% from the field.

24. Portland Trail Blazers (13-26)

Previous: 23

Signing Jerami Grant has been a disaster for Portland. Grant averages just 15 points on 38.2/38.2/82 shooting splits and is a team-low minus-9.3 per 100 possessions, arguably hindering the development of the Blazers' young guards.

25. Brooklyn Nets (14-26)

Previous: 24

The tanks are back in Brooklyn. Since trading Dennis Schroder to the Warriors, the Nets have lost 11 of their 15 contests in hopes of landing their next star in June's draft.

26. Utah Jazz (10-28)

Previous: 26

Despite blowing a 13-point fourth-quarter lead, the Jazz snapped a nine-game home losing skid against the Nets to improve their record at the Delta Center to 3-14, the worst mark in the Association. Is that good?

27. Charlotte Hornets (8-28)

Previous: 27

Charlotte needs to rein in LaMelo a bit. While the youngest Ball brother has impressive counting stats, he also owns the sixth-highest usage in NBA history (38.3). Meanwhile, the Hornets possess the league's second-worst offensive rating (107.2).

28. New Orleans Pelicans (9-32)

Previous: 30

The Pelicans just can't figure things out, as they sit 29th in the NBA. Zion Williamson's suspension for being late to team activities quickly overshadowed his recent return to action.

29. Toronto Raptors (9-31)

Previous: 29

The Raptors aren't very good, even when the team's starting lineup is healthy. The five-player unit has a net rating of minus-21.8 over 132 possessions played. Toronto needs this crew to show something positive.

30. Washington Wizards (6-32)

Previous: 28

It's not all doom and gloom in D.C. Sure, the Wizards have lost every game but one in the new year, but Alex Sarr has begun to find his footing after a rough start. Washington also has nine picks in the next two drafts.