NBA Power Rankings: Everybody but the Thunder and Cavs is jockeying for position

March comes in like a lion — which is not the big cat I would choose to be king of the jungle — and, therefore, it is basically playoff time for all those NBA teams that will be happy just to make it there!

That’s right, my friends: March is the one month of full NBA basketball where we know exactly where everyone is. The league is divided into three parts: the teams that know they’re making the playoffs, those that hope to make the playoffs and the squads that aren’t going to the playoffs. If you aren’t sure which of those categories your team is in, pick the lower one. There’s no room at the top.

As we approach the stretch run, I’ll share the remaining games on the calendar worth getting your popcorn ready for. There are only six weeks left, so I’ll be limiting the games to a maximum of five. Let’s be real: For some of these teams, all of these games are must-wins.

A reminder: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We will retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers every week:

• Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league.
• In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams.
• The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack.
• Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do.
• Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear.

And we’re now roaring into Week 19 of The Athletic’s NBA Power Rankings. Win/loss records and statistics are through Monday’s games.

Tier 1: Top Contenders

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-10)

Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W at ORL, W at BOS, W vs. POR
Offensive rating: 122.3 (first)
Defensive rating: 111.1 (seventh)

Biggest games left: April 2 vs. NY, April 11 at NY

The Cavaliers are the first team to reach 50 wins and the first team to clinch a playoff spot, and they are now running away with the Eastern Conference while on a 10-game win streak. They were down 25-3 in Boston and lived to tell about it, putting eight games in the loss column between them and the Celtics. The only thing left for the Cavaliers to do is to beat up on the New York Knicks again while seeking home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (50-11)

Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W at BKN, W at ATL, W at SA, W vs. HOU
Offensive rating: 118.5 (fifth)
Defensive rating: 106.0 (first)

Biggest games left: March 12 at BOS

Like the Cavaliers, the Thunder aren’t being challenged in the Western Conference; they’re going to be the No. 1 seed. Unlike last season, when there was a three-team race at the top with the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves that wasn’t decided until the final day of the season, the Thunder are running away from the rest of the West, similar to the 2023 Nuggets. They can sweep the Celtics next week; other than that, the Thunder should be chasing the Cavaliers and trying to find rest for the rotation.

3. Los Angeles Lakers (38-21)

Last ranking: 6
In the last week: W vs. DAL, W vs. MIN, W vs. LAC, W vs. LAC
Offensive rating: 114.2 (10th)
Defensive rating: 112.6 (13th)

Biggest games left: March 14 at DEN, March 19 vs. DEN, March 29 at MEM, March 31 vs. HOU, April 11 vs. HOU

Last week, I wrote how the Luka Dončić heist allowed the Lakers to approximate last year’s Dallas Mavericks roster that won the West. They’re the best team in basketball since Jan. 20 and have been led by a defense that refuses to allow points in the paint. They’re not going to catch the Thunder in the regular season, but the Lakers should be considered the biggest threat to Oklahoma City while adopting to their new role as the hunted team for home-court advantage in the Western Conference semifinals.

4. Boston Celtics (43-18)

Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W at TOR, L at DET, L vs. CLE, W vs. DEN
Offensive rating: 118.7 (third)
Defensive rating: 110.0 (fifth)

Biggest games left: Saturday vs. LAL, March 12 vs. OKC, April 8 at NY

The Celtics aren’t playing as well as the teams ahead of them, and they already lost once to the Lakers this season, so I’m fine putting them here. Getting blown out in Detroit and blowing a 22-point lead to the Cavaliers were terrible looks. Boston is unlikely to catch the Cavaliers and is closer to needing to hold off the Knicks.

5. New York Knicks (40-20)

Last ranking: 4
In the last week: W vs. PHI, W at MEM, W at MIA
Offensive rating: 118.7 (fourth)
Defensive rating: 114.1 (18th)

Biggest games left: March 28 at MIL, April 8 vs. BOS

Mitchell Robinson is back, so we don’t have to keep wondering about that anymore. Jalen Brunson just earned East Player of the Week honors, and OG Anunoby’s game-winner at Memphis capped off one of the Knicks’ best road performances of the season. They haven’t played well against the Celtics, but they have a chance at passing them in the standings.

Tier 2: In a Good Place

6. Denver Nuggets (39-22)

Last ranking: 7
In the last week: L at MIL, W at DET, L at BOS
Offensive rating: 119.1 (second)
Defensive rating: 113.9 (17th)

Biggest games left: Wednesday vs. SAC, March 14 vs. LAL, March 17 at GS, March 19 at LAL, April 13 at HOU

The Nuggets started playing teams in their weight class and proceeded to look average again. I give Denver credit for putting up points in Indiana and Detroit, so it’s not all bad, but I have resisted putting the Nuggets above this spot all season. Now, they get passed in the standings by a Lakers team that was 10th in the West 11 weeks ago. As you can see, the Nuggets will have plenty of chances to reassert their dominance against the Lakers and other revamped West teams in the coming weeks.

7. Houston Rockets (37-24)

Last ranking: 8
In the last week: W vs. MIL, W vs. SA, L vs. SAC, L at OKC
Offensive rating: 113.5 (15th)
Defensive rating: 109.6 (fourth)

Biggest games left: March 14 vs. DAL, March 23 vs. DEN, March 31 at LAL, April 6 at GS, April 13 vs. DEN

The biggest development for the Rockets was the return of point guard Fred VanVleet after he failed to finish a game in February. VanVleet’s return led to coach Ime Udoka’s declaration that Amen Thompson will remain a starter in place of previously injured Jabari Smith Jr.. The Rockets are behind the Grizzlies in the standings, but they also own a head-to-head tiebreaker against them and are a bit more stable at the moment.

8. Memphis Grizzlies (38-23)

Last ranking: 5
In the last week: W vs. PHO, L vs. NY, L vs. SA, L vs. ATL
Offensive rating: 118.0 (sixth)
Defensive rating: 112.1 (11th)

Biggest games left: March 17 at SAC, March 21 at LAC, March 29 vs. LAL, April 1 vs. GS, April 11 at DEN

The Grizzlies are in the nadir period of their season, losing seven of 10 games, including their first three-game losing streak of the season. Ja Morant’s surgically-repaired right shoulder needs to be managed, Jaren Jackson Jr. left the loss against the Atlanta Hawks with an ankle sprain and the defense has given up more than 120 points seven times since February began. Memphis should be considered a target in the West quarterfinals — a team you want to see.

9. Milwaukee Bucks (34-25)

Last ranking: 10
In the last week: L at HOU, W vs. DEN, W at DAL
Offensive rating: 113.7 (13th)
Defensive rating: 111.9 (10th)

Biggest games left: March 11 at IND, March 15 vs. IND, March 28 vs. NY, April 11 at DET, April 13 vs. DET

If the Bucks are going to have any chance of running down the Knicks, they need to outplay them each week leading up to their game in Milwaukee at the end of the month. The more likely race will be to hold onto home-court advantage in the quarterfinals against Central Division rivals Indiana and Detroit; Milwaukee has four games against those teams that will go a long way toward determining who gets Game 1 on their floor.

10. Indiana Pacers (34-25)

Last ranking: 9
In the last week: W vs. TOR, L at MIA, W vs. CHI
Offensive rating: 115.1 (eighth)
Defensive rating: 114.1 (19th)

Biggest games left: March 11 vs. MIL, March 15 at MIL

Bennedict Mathurin sprained his left wrist, which is going to cost him some more games. But that’s better than the season-ending injury he suffered around this time last year. The Pacers are about to play six of seven on the road, and they need to show that they can beat the Bucks, who hope to be healthier than they were last spring when the Pacers upset them in the quarterfinals.

11. Detroit Pistons (35-27)

Last ranking: 11
In the last week: W vs. BOS, L vs. DEN, W vs. BKN, W at UTA
Offensive rating: 113.7 (12th)
Defensive rating: 111.9 (ninth)

Biggest games left: March 19 at MIA, April 11 vs. MIL, April 13 at MIL

Break up the Pistons! Detroit capped its dominant win streak by destroying the defending champions at Little Caesars Arena and then went right back to spanking foes following a night off defensively against the Nuggets. JB Bickerstaff earned East Coach of the Month honors, and, though the Pistons have already lost the regular-season series against the Pacers, they can still set themselves up to potentially steal home court from the Bucks in April. Detroit has a rather comfortable lead on the No. 6 seed in the East, which is not at all what it’s like in the West …

Tier 3: The Bubble

12. Golden State Warriors (33-28)

Last ranking: 14
In the last week: W vs. CHA, W at ORL, L at PHI, W at CHA
Offensive rating: 113.3 (16th)
Defensive rating: 111.4 (eighth)

Biggest games left: March 10 vs. POR, March 13 vs. SAC, March 17 vs. DEN, March 30 at SA, April 13 vs. LAC

Jimmy Butler didn’t play in Philadelphia, denying the Warriors their opportunity to get back into the top six in the West. But the door was still open when they arrived in Charlotte on Monday night, and Butler’s return to the lineup ensured that the Warriors would reach the coveted sixth spot. Golden State has lost only one game with Butler, and it’s about to start a seven-game homestand this weekend.

13. Sacramento Kings (32-28)

Last ranking: 15
In the last week: W at UTA, W at HOU, W at DAL
Offensive rating: 115.9 (seventh)
Defensive rating: 113.8 (15th)

Biggest games left: Wednesday at DEN, Friday vs. SA, Sunday at LAC, March 13 at GS, April 13 vs. PHO

Whatever Doug Christie told these guys worked; the Kings are on their second winning streak of at least four games this season, with the first extending to seven after Christie lost his first game at Los Angeles in December. It’s all about defending better — after giving up 132 points to the Warriors on Feb. 21, the Kings have not allowed 110 points during the current win streak.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves (33-29)

Last ranking: 12
In the last week: L at LAL, L at UTA, W at PHO
Offensive rating: 113.6 (14th)
Defensive rating: 110.6 (sixth)

Biggest games left: Sunday vs. SA, March 28 vs. PHO, April 10 at MEM

The most important things that happened to the Timberwolves this week are that they got healthy, young players have emerged as contributors and Anthony Edwards got his technical foul suspension out of the way. The only things left are to get Rudy Gobert back on the floor and to win consecutive games for the first time in nearly a month. Minnesota is in the middle of a six-game stretch where it plays only teams with losing records.

15. LA Clippers (32-28)

Last ranking: 13
In the last week: W at CHI, L at LAL, L at LAL
Offensive rating: 111.4 (21st)
Defensive rating: 109.2 (third)

Biggest games left: Tuesday at PHO, Sunday vs. SAC, March 21 vs. MEM, April 5 vs. DAL, April 13 at GS

The Clippers have lost five of six games since the All-Star break, and their putrid performance has them squarely in the Play-In realm after hanging onto a top-six seed for most of February. LA hasn’t been below seventh in the West since Christmas, but it is staring at that possibility considering how poorly it has played without shooting guard Norman Powell, who exchanged knee soreness for a bad hamstring almost immediately upon his return to the lineup over the weekend. Kawhi Leonard seems ready to ascend towards hero ball with his minute restriction mostly gone, but James Harden’s strong performances are becoming increasingly infrequent.

16. Dallas Mavericks (32-30)

Last ranking: 16
In the last week: L at LAL, W vs. CHA, L vs. MIL, L vs. SAC
Offensive rating: 114.4 (ninth)
Defensive rating: 113.5 (14th)

Biggest games left: Sunday vs. PHO, March 10 at SA, March 12 at SA, March 14 at HOU, April 5 at LAC

The Greek tragedy that is the 2025 Dallas Mavericks continues, with All-Star Kyrie Irving injuring his knee in the middle of Dallas’ fourth loss in five games and eliciting online concern from former teammates Luka Dončić, James Harden and LeBron James. The only win the Mavericks have in the last five games came against the lowly Charlotte Hornets. With Irving out for the rest of the season, the Mavericks will have the worst ballhandling of any team with a winning record, another twist of the knife for a team that voluntarily traded supreme ballhandler Dončić for injured power forward Anthony Davis.

Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear

17. Miami Heat (29-31)

Last ranking: 19
In the last week: W vs. ATL, W vs. IND, L vs. NY, W vs. WAS
Offensive rating: 111.8 (19th)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (12th)

Biggest games left: Saturday vs. CHI, March 19 vs. DET, March 27 vs. ATL, April 5 vs. MIL, April 9 at CHI

Miami is in the middle of a stretch where it plays nine of 10 games at home, and the Heat need it after taking the entire month of February to win consecutive games. Miami is the best of the bad teams in the East, and, even after its best week in a while, Erik Spoelstra had to use a different starting lineup each of the last four games.

18. Atlanta Hawks (28-33)

Last ranking: 18
In the last week: L at MIA, L vs. OKC, W at MEM
Offensive rating: 111.6 (20th)
Defensive rating: 114.3 (20th)

Biggest games left: March 10 vs. PHI, March 16 at BKN, March 23 vs. PHI, March 27 at MIA, April 13 vs. ORL

The Hawks had lost five of six games before Caris LeVert’s game-winner at Memphis, the first time the Hawks beat a winning team in nearly a month. There’s almost no chance of the Hawks climbing out of Play-In purgatory, especially since they lost the regular-season series to the Pistons. If any team is comfortable in the Play-In Tournament, though, it’s Atlanta. The Hawks have lived in the Play-In Tournament since getting to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals.

CARIS LEVERT SCORES OFF THE DYSON DANIELS STEAL 😤😤

Hawks get the victory as time expires! #TissotBuzzerBeater #YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness pic.twitter.com/OyD1WdfBZP

— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2025

19. Orlando Magic (29-33)

Last ranking: 17
In the last week: L vs. CLE, L vs. GS, L vs. TOR
Offensive rating: 107.3 (28th)
Defensive rating: 109.1 (second)

Biggest games left: Thursday vs. CHI, April 8 vs. ATL, April 13 vs. ORL

I haven’t heard the term “trochlea” in the NBA since Ben Simmons and Gilbert Arenas had season-ending knee injuries in their primes. I do not like how that sounds for Jalen Suggs, who had his knee scoped and faces an indefinite timeline to recover. Just last week, I was mentioning in this space how the Magic need Suggs back, and Orlando now might have to finish the season without him. It’s a devastating blow for a team that simply doesn’t have enough to go with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

20. Portland Trail Blazers (28-34)

Last ranking: 23
In the last week: W at WAS, W at BRK, L at CLE, W at PHI
Offensive rating: 111.1 (23rd)
Defensive rating: 114.4 (21st)

Biggest games left: March 10 at GS, March 27 at SAC, April 6 vs. SA, April 11 vs. GS

I am so used to the Portland Trail Blazers coming back from All-Star break and getting pasted by 30 points as they hurdle towards the lottery. But not this year! The Trail Blazers began this season 13-28 and are 15-6 since then. Only the Lakers and Thunder have more wins in that span, and only the Lakers have defended at a higher level. Portland might be in the wrong conference to make this belated push, especially since the free-falling Mavericks own the head-to-head tiebreaker, but these are relevant upcoming games for the Trail Blazers.

21. San Antonio Spurs (25-34)

Last ranking: 20
In the last week: L at NO, L at HOU, W at MEM, L vs. OKC
Offensive rating: 112.3 (17th)
Defensive rating: 114.7 (22nd)

Biggest games left: Friday at SAC, March 9 at MIN, March 10 vs. DAL, March 12 vs. DAL, April 11 at PHO

The Spurs have won only two games since the All-Star break, but the first of those wins came against the Phoenix Suns, and they tagged 130 points on the Grizzlies on the front end of a back-to-back. Speaking of back-to-back, the next time the Spurs win consecutive games will be the first time since Jan. 3. They look like they’re a couple of weeks away from the tank, so these games against the West will reveal a lot.

22. Phoenix Suns (28-33)

Last ranking: 21
In the last week: L at MEM, L vs. NO, W vs. NO, L vs. MIN
Offensive rating: 114.0 (11th)
Defensive rating: 116.2 (27th)

Biggest games left: Tuesday vs. LAC, March 9 at DAL, March 14 vs. SAC, March 28 at MIN, April 13 at SAC

Bad performance and bottom-five vibes. Phoenix loses games, then loses press conferences as well. This is another team that failed to win consecutive games for the entire month of February, and it also failed to beat a team with a current winning record in February. The Clippers have brought out the best in the Suns all season, but after Tuesday’s game, Phoenix spends the rest of the week on the road against four desperate West teams. Daylight Savings is this weekend, but it’s getting late early in Phoenix.

23. Chicago Bulls (24-37)

Last ranking: 24
In the last week: L vs. LAC, W vs. TOR, L at IND
Offensive rating: 112.0 (18th)
Defensive rating: 116.0 (26th)

Biggest games left: Thursday at ORL, Saturday at MIA, March 13 vs. BKN, April 1 vs. TOR, April 13 at PHI

Yes, another team that is allergic to winning streaks. The Bulls haven’t won back-to-back games in two months and have lost eight of their last 10, the worst of any team that isn’t in the bottom five of their conference. They did beat the Raptors this week, and before that, the 76ers. This season is looking like yet another invitation to the Play-In Tournament, where they’ll meekly bow out for the third straight season.

24. Brooklyn Nets (21-39)

Last ranking: 22
In the last week: L vs. OKC, L vs. POR, L at DET
Offensive rating: 108.1 (27th)
Defensive rating: 114.7 (23rd)

Biggest games left: March 13 at CHI, March 16 at vs. ATL, March 26 vs. TOR, April 6 vs. TOR, April 10 vs. ATL

The Nets are on a four-game losing streak. Things are about to get interesting, though, as Cam Thomas recently returned to play for the first time in nearly two months. D’Angelo Russell is also set to return after missing nearly two weeks, while Cameron Johnson has played in every game since Feb. 5. It’s not all-out tank yet for the Nets, but we’ll see if that remains the case.

25. Toronto Raptors (19-42)

Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L vs. BOS, L at IND, L at CHI, W at ORL
Offensive rating: 109.6 (26th)
Defensive rating: 115.4 (24th)

Biggest games left: March 12 vs. PHI, March 26 at BKN, March 28 vs. CHA, March 30 at PHI, April 9 at CHA

The Raptors started the season 8-31. They then won eight of 10 games. But they’re now back down to losing nine of 12. Most notably, the Raptors are 0-3 against the Bulls this season, which should go a long way in ensuring that the Raptors will load up the tank shortly.

Tier 5: Basement Floor

26. Philadelphia 76ers (21-39)

Last ranking: 26
In the last week: L at NY, W vs. GS, L vs. POR
Offensive rating: 111.1 (24th)
Defensive rating: 115.7 (25th)

Biggest games left: March 10 at ATL, March 12 at TOR, March 23 at ATL, March 30 vs. TOR, April 13 vs. CHI

Paul George went from leaving Kawhi Leonard to joining Joel Embiid. Well, Leonard is set to play in his 20th game of the season despite missing out on the Summer Olympics and not starting the season until January. Embiid’s season is over after 19 games, and it seems like the only star who is safe in Philadelphia is the exhausted Tyrese Maxey.

27. New Orleans Pelicans (17-44)

Last ranking: 28
In the last week: W vs. SA, W at PHO, L at PHO, W at UTA
Offensive rating: 110.3 (25th)
Defensive rating: 118.0 (29th)

Biggest game left: March 30 vs. CHA

Zion Williamson has won the last four games he played in, scoring 22.8 points to go with 7.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks. The Pelicans had an injury-ruined year. Changes are likely in store, but Williamson is still a potent basketball player.

28. Utah Jazz (15-46)

Last ranking: 29
In the last week: L vs. SAC, W vs. MIN, L vs. NO, L vs. DET
Offensive rating: 111.2 (22nd)
Defensive rating: 118.5 (30th)

Biggest games left: Wednesday at WAS, Friday at TOR, March 14 vs. TOR, March 19 vs. WAS, March 31 at CHA

If tank basketball is what you like, then the Utah Jazz are for you! There are a lot of teams left for the Jazz to play that are in similar tank territory, and the lineups and execution (for lack of a better word) will be very interesting for the rest of the season, especially in those games.

29. Washington Wizards (11-49)

Last ranking: 30
In the last week: L vs. POR, W at CHA, L at MIA
Offensive rating: 105.5 (30th)
Defensive rating: 117.7 (28th)

Biggest games left: Wednesday vs. UTA, March 19 at UTA

The Wizards won only 15 games last season. I doubt they get to that this season, but there’s a chance with 22 games left and Washington rolling out Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart for a stretch.

30. Charlotte Hornets (14-46)

Last ranking: 27
In the last week: L at GS, L at DAL, L vs. WAS, L vs. GS
Offensive rating: 106.2 (29th)
Defensive rating: 113.9 (16th)

Biggest games left: March 30 at NO, March 31 vs. UTA, April 9 at TOR

The Hornets got swept by the Washington Wizards. And that was after three straight losses of at least 35 points. How did this team beat the Lakers?!

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(Top photo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)