NBA Power Rankings: Bucks hoping to maintain form after All-Star break
The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
This week, we're looking at where the teams stand after the All-Star break with the last third of the season set to resume Thursday.
1. Milwaukee Bucks (41-17)
Previous: 3
Winners of 12 straight, Milwaukee has caught fire at the right time. With a chance to set the longest winning streak of the season Thursday, the Bucks look like the team to beat.
2. Denver Nuggets (41-18)
Previous: 1
The top-seeded Nuggets had a relatively quiet trade deadline - effectively only swapping Bones Hyland for Thomas Bryant - but went 3-1 in their next four. They've tightened their grip on the West.
3. Boston Celtics (42-17)
Previous: 2
Joe Mazzulla has done a fantastic job in his first year as the Celtics' head coach. Boston is the only club ranked in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
4. Phoenix Suns (32-28)
Previous: 4
Arguably no team is more eager to restart than the Suns. Winners of 11 of their last 15, they must have Friday's matchup versus Oklahoma City circled for Kevin Durant's team debut.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (38-19)
Previous: 5
There has to be some concern about Joel Embiid as the 76ers enter the stretch run. The six-time All-Star has been playing through a foot injury and admitted he wasn't healthy entering All-Star Weekend.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (38-23)
Previous: 7
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Cavaliers boast far and away the NBA's best net rating in February, during which they've gone 7-1. They now have as many wins this season as the Sixers. No wonder they stood pat at the deadline.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (35-22)
Previous: 6
Instead of trading for a big name, the Grizzlies took the safe route by swapping Danny Green and second-round picks for Luke Kennard. Adding more shooting depth along the wings should prove fruitful.
8. Los Angeles Clippers (33-28)
Previous: 9
The Clippers revamped their bench at the deadline, striking deals for Bones Hyland, Eric Gordon, and Mason Plumlee. However, the biggest name headed to (or staying in) L.A. is Russell Westbrook, who reunites with Paul George.
9. Dallas Mavericks (31-29)
Previous: 8
Dallas finally gave Luka Doncic a co-star, adding Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets ahead of the trade deadline. However, is there enough time for the two to gel before the postseason?
10. Sacramento Kings (32-25)
Previous: 10
Twenty-five games - that's all that separates Sacramento from finally snapping the longest postseason drought in NBA history. Hopefully for Kings fans, they perform better down the stretch than Kevin Huerter did at the Three-Point Contest.
11. Miami Heat (32-27)
Previous: 12
Rotational big-man depth has been a source of concern for the Heat. Miami took two swings to lessen the load on Bam Adebayo - former All-Star Kevin Love and veteran center Cody Zeller.
12. New York Knicks (33-27)
Previous: 17
Jalen Brunson has been worth every penny so far. The Villanova product is on a torrid stretch, averaging 29.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.3 boards over his last 22 appearances.
13. Golden State Warriors (29-29)
Previous: 14
It seems as if we've been waiting the entire campaign for Golden State to make a run. The Warriors are in danger of falling out of the play-in tournament, and there's no timeline for Steph Curry's return.
14. New Orleans Pelicans (30-29)
Previous: 13
Just when it seemed like Zion Williamson was nearly back, the Pelicans star aggravated his hamstring issue, extending his absence. It's the very last thing a team that has dropped 12 of its last 16 needed.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (31-30)
Previous: 15
The Anthony Edwards takeover is underway. The Timberwolves wing is averaging career highs across the board, taking over as the first option with Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined. Edwards was rewarded by being LeBron's first reverse pick at the All-Star Game.
16. Brooklyn Nets (34-24)
Previous: 20
Mikal Bridges may have some untapped offensive potential. The superb wing defender exploded for a career-high 45 points on 17-of-24 shooting in the Nets' final game prior to the All-Star break.
17. Los Angeles Lakers (27-32)
Previous: 11
The Lakers' new pieces look good alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. D'Angelo Russell dropped seven dimes, Malik Beasley drilled two triples, and Jarred Vanderbilt played solid defense during last week's win over the Pelicans.
18. Atlanta Hawks (29-30)
Previous: 16
Atlanta made the boldest move coming out of the All-Star break in firing Nate McMillan. Whoever ends up behind the Hawks' bench has their work cut out in trying to take the team back to its peak.
19. Oklahoma City Thunder (28-29)
Previous: 22
Don't dismiss the Thunder's defense, which has proven highly effective in certain scenarios. For example, opponents have scored just 395 points on 477 isolation possessions this season, placing the Thunder in the 96th percentile, according to BBall Index.
20. Washington Wizards (28-30)
Previous: 25
Wizards big Kristaps Porzingis is in one of the best shooting forms of his career. He currently boasts a lucrative rolling 3-point percentage of 46.3% over his last 15 games, per BBall Index.
21. Utah Jazz (29-31)
Previous: 19
Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, and Collin Sexton combined to give Utah a feel-good win at home at the Skills Challenge on Saturday. Unfortunately, there may not be many of those in the Jazz's second half of the season.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (28-30)
Previous: 18
Damian Lillard put on a show during All-Star Weekend, winning the Three-Point Contest and dropping 26 in the All-Star Game. The Blazers will need his heroics to lift them back into the playoff race.
23. Toronto Raptors (28-31)
Previous: 21
It didn’t take long for Jakob Poeltl to make an impact. The Austrian center became the first player in franchise history to record 30 points on at least 85% field-goal shooting and six blocks.
24. Indiana Pacers (26-34)
Previous: 24
It's not too late for the Pacers to pivot to tanking. Going 2-8 over the last 10 games, Indiana holds the sixth-highest odds to land the top pick in the draft.
25. Orlando Magic (24-35)
Previous: 26
Orlando appears to be on the right track after a pair of sub-25-win campaigns. Over their last 15 games, the Magic have gone 8-7 and own the league's 10th-best defensive rating.
26. Chicago Bulls (26-33)
Previous: 23
Chicago owns the 24th-best offense despite having Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic on the roster. To make matters worse, LaVine says the team is still searching for an identity.
27. Charlotte Hornets (17-43)
Previous: 27
Sending Mason Plumlee and Jalen McDaniels to contending teams has opened up rotation spots. The Hornets' focus for the last third of the season should be determining the players that fit next to LaMelo Ball.
28. Detroit Pistons (15-44)
Previous: 28
For a squad with an abundance of big men, only the Spurs have surrendered more paint points than the Pistons this season. James Wiseman might help, but then where do Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart fit in the equation?
29. Houston Rockets (13-45)
Previous: 30
With the second-longest losing streak in the league, the Rockets are close to fully pivoting to the offseason. Roster upgrades via the draft and free agency are needed to even make the team watchable.
30. San Antonio Spurs (14-45)
Previous: 29
The Spurs have dropped 14 straight games and 19 of their last 20. Fortunately, the losses are putting the team in a prime position to land Victor Wembanyama.