NBA Power Rankings: Taking stock with 1 month left in regular season
The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
This week, we're taking stock of where everything stands with one month to play in the regular season.
1. Phoenix Suns (51-13)
Previous: 1
Phoenix is finding ways to win without Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Last Friday, the Suns rode Cam Johnson's hot hand to a dramatic victory at the buzzer over the New York Knicks.
2. Miami Heat (43-22)
Previous: 4
Miami sits atop the Eastern Conference despite injuries to several key players. Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, and Tyler Herro have shared the court for only 74 minutes over 16 appearances this season.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (44-22)
Previous: 3
Ja Morant is simply not human, averaging 35.3 points over his last seven games, including a franchise-best 52 earlier this week. When he's cooking like that, Memphis' ceiling is untapped.
4. Philadelphia 76ers (39-24)
Previous: 7
Everything you knew about the 76ers is out the window. Philly's outscored opponents by 23.4 points per 100 possessions with James Harden on the floor. The team is clearly better than the previous version.
5. Utah Jazz (40-23)
Previous: 11
The return of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert has snapped Utah out of its mid-season slump. Mitchell's offense has picked up where it left off, while Gobert continues to shut down opponents on the defensive end.
6. Milwaukee Bucks (40-25)
Previous: 8
Flying under the radar all season long, the defending champions recently pulled out impressive wins over the Heat, Bulls, and Suns, cementing their place among the NBA's best as the playoffs roll around.
7. Golden State Warriors (43-21)
Previous: 2
The Warriors have dropped five of their last six games, but nearly all of their losses have come against teams in the top half of these rankings. Another difficult two-week stretch ahead will test their resolve.
8. Dallas Mavericks (39-25)
Previous: 9
Winners of four straight games, and 10 of 12 overall, the Mavericks are finding their stride at the right time. The Spencer Dinwiddie-Kristaps Porzingis swap has worked wonders in Dallas.
9. Boston Celtics (39-27)
Previous: 6
Once three games below .500 as late as Jan. 6, the Celtics have completely turned their season around, riding the league's second-best defense right into the heart of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
10. Chicago Bulls (39-25)
Previous: 5
Zach LaVine's problematic knee isn't 100% and it will likely require further observation in the offseason. Temporary remedies are allowing him to play down the stretch, but it's a cause for concern for Bulls fans.
11. Denver Nuggets (38-26)
Previous: 10
Michael Malone is getting the most from his injury-plagued roster. The Nuggets are a dangerous first-round playoff opponent, especially with Michael Porter and Jamal Murray reportedly on track to return for the postseason.
12. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-27)
Previous: 12
Dropping a pair of games to the surging 76ers is excusable, but losing contests to teams like the Pistons shows Cleveland's inexperience as each game starts to become more important.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (36-29)
Previous: 14
Don't look now, but the Timberwolves have been humming along since the All-Star break. It's a small sample size, sure, but they own the best offensive rating so far in the second half.
14. Los Angeles Clippers (34-32)
Previous: 16
Tyronn Lue deserves a ton of credit for the team's current position. The Clippers haven't had Kawhi Leonard for the entire season and are a respectable 17-17 since Paul George came out of the lineup on Dec. 26.
15. Atlanta Hawks (31-32)
Previous: 17
John Collins' return Friday after seven games out was timely for the Hawks, who can still mathematically avoid the play-in. It helps they have the easiest remaining schedule in the East, per Basketball Reference.
16. Toronto Raptors (34-30)
Previous: 13
Toronto remains in the hunt for the East's No. 6 seed, but they can't afford to drop games against the cellar-dwelling Pistons and Magic.
17. Brooklyn Nets (32-33)
Previous: 15
Despite a tight loss to the Celtics, the Nets should be encouraged after seeing both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant on the floor together for the first time since Jan. 12
18. Charlotte Hornets (32-33)
Previous: 18
The trade-deadline acquisition of Montrezl Harrell filled the Hornets' longstanding need at the five. The reserve center is averaging 14.2 points and 7.1 boards over nine appearances with the club.
19. New Orleans Pelicans (27-37)
Previous: 22
Sparked by a victory over the league-leading Suns, the Pelicans' recent hot streak has kept them alive in the play-in race, even if it's unlikely Zion Williamson will join them this season.
20. Washington Wizards (29-34)
Previous: 23
The Wizards haven't won or lost more than two straight games in over a month. Consistency is key as they make their way back into the play-in picture, but they'll need a big run eventually.
21. Los Angeles Lakers (28-35)
Previous: 19
The Lakers need Anthony Davis back ASAP. LeBron James' 56-point outburst against Golden State came at the perfect time, but he may need to average that alone from now on to keep the Lakers in play-in range.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (25-38)
Previous: 20
A four-game losing streak has dropped the Blazers from the West's final play-in spot. Portland has allowed 127.8 points on 52.2% shooting - including a 37.1% mark from deep - during that span.
23. San Antonio Spurs (24-40)
Previous: 21
San Antonio's been stuck in a rut with Gregg Popovich so close to history. With 17 games left - and barring an unfathomable skid - we should see coach Pop surpass Don Nelson by season's end.
24. Sacramento Kings (24-42)
Previous: 25
Sacramento's costly trade for Domantas Sabonis hasn't invigorated the squad. Since his first game on Feb. 9, the Kings have gone 4-6 and haven't gained ground in the play-in race.
25. New York Knicks (26-38)
Previous: 24
New York's cold stretch has turned into a full-blown disaster, with the Knicks dropping 16 of their last 20 games. It's clear some major changes are needed in the Big Apple.
26. Indiana Pacers (22-44)
Previous: 27
It'll be interesting to see how newcomers Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield mesh with a healthy Pacers core. Rick Carlisle will likely use the rest of the season as a trial run for 2022-23.
27. Detroit Pistons (17-47)
Previous: 28
Could Cade Cunningham still force his way into the Rookie of the Year conversation? It's late, but he leads first-year players with 16.3 points per game, ranks second in assists (5.1), and sits third in total steals (61).
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (20-44)
Previous: 26
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been masterful for the Thunder since coming back from an ankle injury, averaging 33.3 points per game over that stretch.
29. Orlando Magic (16-49)
Previous: 30
Markelle Fultz recently returned after tearing his ACL a year ago. If the former No. 1 overall pick can get back to his pre-injury form, he adds another wrinkle to Orlando's young, talented backcourt.
30. Houston Rockets (16-48)
Previous: 29
Jalen Green is beginning to show some consistency after an up-and-down start to the year. The rookie guard is averaging 18.4 points on 47.5% shooting over his last 12 appearances.