NBA Power Rankings: Sky's the limit for soaring Pelicans
The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
This week, we're taking stock of some familiar forces leading the East and the fresh faces bossing things in the West.
1. Boston Celtics (22-7)
Previous: 1
The Celtics' high-powered offense oddly stuttered in their two losses this past week to the Warriors and Clippers and in Tuesday's narrow win over the Lakers. Only time will tell if it's just a blip in a dominant season.
2. New Orleans Pelicans (18-9)
Previous: 11
Zion Williamson and Co. are sending a fierce and unignorable message to the rest of the NBA as they rapidly ascend the West. They're now the only top-five team in both offensive and defensive rating.
3. Milwaukee Bucks (20-7)
Previous: 2
After wrist surgery delayed his season debut by over a month, an ankle sprain caused Khris Middleton to leave Sunday's loss to Houston. He seems to be OK, but Milwaukee needs him at 100% for the playoffs.
4. Memphis Grizzlies (18-9)
Previous: 5
Injuries to Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane haven't slowed the Grizzlies down. Taylor Jenkins' team is one of three ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
5. Denver Nuggets (16-10)
Previous: 4
Jamal Murray is starting to find his rhythm after missing the entire 2021-22 campaign. The Nuggets guard is averaging 22.3 points on 48.1% shooting, including a 37% clip from deep, over his last eight games.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-11)
Previous: 6
Cleveland is a force to be reckoned with. The Cavs already have a pair of wins against the league-leading Celtics and remain a stingy unit with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley anchoring their defense.
7. Brooklyn Nets (17-12)
Previous: 14
After a lackluster start, the Nets have turned course under Jacque Vaughn. Brooklyn's bench boss has led the team to a 15-7 record since his hiring, elevating the Nets to fourth in the Eastern Conference.
8. Phoenix Suns (16-12)
Previous: 3
What is happening in the desert? A nasty five-game slide has sent the Suns careening from first to fourth. That skid includes discouraging back-to-back defeats to the Pelicans and a loss to the Rockets.
9. Philadelphia 76ers (15-12)
Previous: 7
Give credit to Shake Milton for keeping the 76ers afloat without James Harden and Tyrese Maxey. The reserve guard averaged 21.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and six assists on 65% true shooting in eight games before Harden's recent return.
10. Sacramento Kings (14-12)
Previous: 15
De'Aaron Fox was struggling to keep up his hot start to the season even before going down with a foot injury, averaging just 16.1 points and four assists on 38% shooting over his last seven games.
11. Portland Trail Blazers (15-12)
Previous: 9
In games that Damian Lillard has started and finished, the Blazers are a sparkling 10-3. They're 5-9 otherwise. If the star point guard can stay healthy for the rest of the season, watch out for Portland.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (16-13)
Previous: 16
The Clippers are 6-1 when Kawhi Leonard starts, with the star wing a collective plus-57 in those contests. Yet somehow he's only averaged 13.3 points per game over that stretch.
13. Golden State Warriors (14-14)
Previous: 8
If they can forget Tuesday's loss to Milwaukee, the Warriors' 16-point home win over the league-leading Celtics - without key starter Andrew Wiggins - may be the spark needed to turn their season around.
14. New York Knicks (14-13)
Previous: 23
The Knicks' four-game win streak is in large part due to their stifling defense. They've allowed opponents to shoot 39.1% from the field over that stretch, pushing them to the league's second-best mark.
15. Atlanta Hawks (14-14)
Previous: 12
Atlanta is going through some adversity on and off the court. In addition to various injuries, the club has reportedly been managing issues between Nate McMillan and Trae Young.
16. Dallas Mavericks (14-13)
Previous: 21
Dallas has looked more like a contender as of late. Over the last 10 days, the Mavs have wins over the Suns and Nuggets to go along with a narrow one-point defeat to the Bucks.
17. Indiana Pacers (14-14)
Previous: 10
With a .500 record 28 games into the season, Indiana has played above expectations. However, a 3-7 record and a minus-6.7 net rating over the last 10 games could derail the Pacers' campaign.
18. Utah Jazz (16-14)
Previous: 17
Utah's shocking hot start fizzled out faster than you can say "regression toward the mean." Since Nov. 21 - their last day in first - the Jazz have been one of the league's worst defensive teams.
19. Miami Heat (13-15)
Previous: 18
Although the Heat have stayed competitive with a 3-4 record over the last seven games, scoring hasn't come easy. Miami holds the league's worst offensive rating of 108 over that stretch.
20. Los Angeles Lakers (11-16)
Previous: 22
Anthony Davis' monster performances sparked momentum for a Lakers side that desperately needed it, but L.A. can't hinge everything on the star forward. The Lakers are 4-11 when he scores 25 points or fewer.
21. Toronto Raptors (13-14)
Previous: 13
The Raptors have gone dry from deep. Over the last seven games, Toronto is 2-5 and shooting a league-worst 29.3% from three. Perimeter reinforcements are desperately needed.
22. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-14)
Previous: 19
Lost behind Anthony Edwards and the twin towers, D'Angelo Russell is quietly having the most efficient shooting season of his career. He's setting personal bests in true shooting and effective field-goal percentages.
23. Chicago Bulls (11-15)
Previous: 24
Zach LaVine has started the season slower than anticipated. The 27-year-old is averaging the lowest points per game (21.8), field-goal percentage (43.4%), and 3-point percentage (35.8%) over his five campaigns with Chicago.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder (11-16)
Previous: 25
A healthy Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has elevated a Thunder unit that finished last in offensive efficiency last season. The Canadian has dropped 30-plus points in 18 games and will surely earn his first All-Star nod.
25. Washington Wizards (11-17)
Previous: 20
Bradley Beal is back on the shelf with a hamstring injury. Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma have stepped up during the All-Star guard's absence, but the club is 0-4 during that span.
26. Orlando Magic (8-20)
Previous: 28
The Magic have pulled off three straight home wins - one against the Clippers and two versus the Raptors. Sophomore wing Franz Wagner showed up against Toronto, averaging 28.5 points in both games.
27. San Antonio Spurs (9-18)
Previous: 30
The Spurs have somehow rattled off three straight victories after 15 losses in 16 games, including at the Heat and against the Cavaliers. Good luck making sense of that.
28. Houston Rockets (9-18)
Previous: 26
Sharing the ball has been a huge challenge for Houston all season, but especially in December. The young squad ranks dead last in assist percentage (48.9%) and assist ratio (14) through six games this month.
29. Charlotte Hornets (7-20)
Previous: 27
LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward have made just 14 combined appearances this season. Fortunately, their extended absences could help the Hornets land a franchise-changing prospect in next year's draft.
30. Detroit Pistons (7-22)
Previous: 29
Losing 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham to a season-ending shin injury further cements the Pistons as basement dwellers. Detroit's focus turns to developing the rest of its young core.