NBA Power Rankings Entering Final Week of 2024-25 Regular Season
With just two weeks to go till the NBA playoffs, it's time for another look at all 30 teams through our power rankings lens.
Even in early April, it shows us a fair bit of movement throughout the league.
Based on our typical criteria of team and individual numbers, recent performance, championship chances and plenty of subjectivity, here's how everyone stacks up.
30. Utah Jazz (16-61)
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Previous Rank: 30
Net Rating: -8.8
Prior to this season, the Utah Jazz had never lost more than 59 games in a season. And that happened way back in 1975, when the team was still in New Orleans.
As you can see, this year's team blew by that mark. And it won't be favored in any of its final five games.
Of course, plenty of Utah fans are likely thrilled with the outcome of this campaign. For much of the two seasons prior to this one, it almost felt like the Jazz didn't chase losses as aggressively as they should have.
Now, they're guaranteed a bottom-three record and as good a shot at the No. 1 pick (and Cooper Flagg) as a team can possibly get.
If they land that pick for the first time in franchise history, Utah's rebuild will suddenly feel worth it. A core with Flagg's all-around game and superstar upside, Isaiah Collier's playmaking and Walker Kessler's rim protection is, at the very least, interesting.
29. Charlotte Hornets (19-57)
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Previous Rank: 29
Net Rating: -8.0
This week, the Charlotte Hornets shut LaMelo Ball down for the season. And to no one's surprise, they went 1-3 in their first four games without him. The lone win was against their fellow tankers, the Utah Jazz.
Three of their final six games are against sub-.500 teams, but one of those is the surging Chicago Bulls. And they close things out with three road games against the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics (twice).
Losing out is very much on the table, which would keep Charlotte in the bottom three. Or, from more of a glass-half-full perspective, it would secure them one of the three records that gives them a 14 percent chance at 2025's No. 1 pick.
28. Washington Wizards (17-60)
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Previous Rank: 28
Net Rating: -11.8
Thanks in part to veteran additions such as Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart, the Washington Wizards have been more competitive since the trade deadline.
But it's the various members of the young core who are most intriguing for this team. And the Kyle Kuzma deal gave them another addition to that group.
This week alone, 20-year-old AJ Johnson had 20 points in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets and 19 in a win over the Sacramento Kings. Over his last 10 games, he's averaging 12.1 points and 3.4 assists in 31.2 minutes.
Adding a guard with his size (6'4" with a 6'9" wingspan) and smooth athleticism to Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and whoever comes from this summer's loaded draft class gives Washington its most exciting future in years.
27. Philadelphia 76ers (23-54)
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Previous Rank: 27
Net Rating: -6.3
Given the miserable experience it could have been, Philadelphia 76ers fans should actually be feeling pretty good about the 2024-25 campaign.
Yeah, it's rough that Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey were all shut down for the season, but the losing that followed gave Philly a much better chance of keeping its 2025 first-round pick. If it falls outside the top six, it goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder. And right now, if the lottery goes chalk, the Sixers would get the fifth pick.
On top of that, Quentin Grimes is averaging 22.1 points, 4.5 assists and 2.9 threes since coming over from the Dallas Mavericks. And while this run is certainly making his restricted free agency more expensive, if he's recalibrated to a fourth option alongside those stars next season, he could be one of the best fourth options in the NBA.
26. New Orleans Pelicans (21-55)
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Previous Rank: 25
Net Rating: -8.6
With Zion Williamson (857 minutes) and CJ McCollum (1,832) both shut down for the season, it looks like the New Orleans Pelicans may only have one player top the 2,000-minute threshold this season. The Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz are the only other teams that don't already have at least one player there.
With six games to go, rookie big man Yves Missi is 120 minutes shy of that benchmark. Him being the team leader in minutes is a solid indication of how thoroughly the Pelicans have been ravaged by injuries this season.
That larger-than-expected role could pay off in the long run, though. In just 26.9 minutes per game, Missi is averaging 8.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
While his lack of an outside shot may make him a tough fit alongside Zion long-term, New Orleans at least seemingly found a legitimate rotation big with the No. 21 overall pick last summer.
25. Brooklyn Nets (25-52)
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Previous Rank: 26
Net Rating: -6.9
The Brooklyn Nets are 4-17 in their last 21 games, cruising toward a bottom-six record and looking at a decent chance for 2025's top pick.
And they're suddenly in the middle of one of the most fun things about a season like this: the random breakout.
Drew Timme, who spent four years at Gonzaga, was called up from the G League this week. He had a double-double in his first game and 19 points in his second.
And while there still may be plenty to prove before the 24-year-old big man is an NBA regular, he's in a good spot to prove it.
24. Toronto Raptors (28-49)
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Previous Rank: 24
Net Rating: -4.4
Even with 23-year-old Scottie Barnes four years removed from a Rookie of the Year win and one year removed from an All-Star appearance, this Toronto Raptors season suggests the organization doesn't have a true, franchise cornerstone-level talent.
Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and even Brandon Ingram (who still hasn't appeared in a Raptors game) all feel more like the second- or third-best player on a solid team than they do a bona fide No. 1.
If all of the above can stay healthy, this team is certainly better than its current record. But Toronto needs to get lucky in the lottery to raise its ceiling beyond mediocrity.
23. San Antonio Spurs (32-44)
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Previous Rank: 23
Net Rating: -2.7
The San Antonio Spurs' chance to make the play-in tournament ended right around the time Victor Wembanyama went down for the season, but his absence may have also supercharged Stephon Castle's Rookie of the Year case.
Castle, who's now the overwhelming betting favorite for the award, has averaged 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in his 24 appearances since Wemby was ruled out.
The confidence this stretch should generate for him should also serve the team well heading into next season.
Regardless of what draft pick San Antonio winds up with this summer, it has one of the league's most intriguing, most dynamic and youngest one-two punches with Castle and Wemby.
22. Phoenix Suns (35-41)
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Previous Rank: 18
Net Rating: -2.2
After winning four straight in mid-March and maybe giving their fans the slightest hint of hope, the Phoenix Suns had a gigantic "yikes" of a week and change that might have knocked them out of contention for a play-in spot.
Yes, after losing four straight, the most expensive team in the NBA might not even finish in the top 10 in its conference.
And it's not just that they lost those games. They lost them by an average of 23.5 points. One of them was against the reeling and Damian Lillard-less Milwaukee Bucks.
And most concerning of all, Kevin Durant went down in Sunday's blowout loss to the Houston Rockets with a sprained ankle.
Given how little time is left in the season and how disappointing Phoenix has been, it feels like we may have seen KD's last game in a Suns uniform.
21. Portland Trail Blazers (34-43)
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Previous Rank: 22
Net Rating: -3.1
Deni Avdija, who's averaged 25.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.3 threes over his last 12 games, is undoubtedly the biggest breakout from the over-under-smashing Portland Trail Blazers, but he's not alone.
Shaedon Sharpe had 36 points in Thursday's win over the Toronto Raptors (Portland is now 7-0 when he scores at least 27). Donovan Clingan has looked like a real deterrent at the rim of late. And even Scoot Henderson has revived some of the optimism that surrounded him before his career started, thanks to his playmaking.
If the basketball gods smile upon this team and move it up in the draft lottery, it could be pushing for a play-in spot as early as next season.
20. Chicago Bulls (34-42)
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Previous Rank: 19
Net Rating: -2.4
The Chicago Bulls cooled off a bit this week, losing at home to the Dallas Mavericks and on the road to the Oklahoma City Thunder (nothing wrong with that second one, of course), but Coby White remains on an absolute heater.
Over his last 17 games, the 25-year-old has averaged 27.5 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 threes, while shooting 37.1 percent from deep. Most importantly, the Bulls have won his minutes during that stretch and secured their berth in the play-in tournament.
The rest of the season will be about trying to ensure they're at home for the 9-10 game or maybe even squeezing into the 7-8 matchup.
Chicago is only two losses back of seventh place in the loss column and has one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NBA, so moving up is in play.
19. Atlanta Hawks (36-40)
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Previous Rank: 16
Net Rating: -1.7
The Atlanta Hawks have dropped four of their last five games, including a road game against the Miami Heat last week.
That slide in concert with Miami's recent surge has Atlanta's once-comfy spot in the play-in's 7-8 matchup suddenly looking very much in doubt.
On the bright side, five of Atlanta's last six games are against sub-.500 teams, three of which (the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers) are clearly tanking.
18. Sacramento Kings (36-40)
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Previous Rank: 15
Net Rating: 0.1
It suddenly feels like the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns are in an ongoing battle to see who can finish out of the play-in tournament.
Wednesday, Sacramento lost to the lowly Washington Wizards. And it's now 3-11 in its last 14 games.
The Suns somehow seeming more out of sync may be the biggest reason the Kings are still in 10th place.
And for anyone who paid much attention to the Chicago Bulls for the three seasons prior to this one, this slide probably isn't all that surprising.
DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, both of whom need plenty of touches and shots to be effective, struggled to coexist in Chicago. Reuniting them, especially on a team with a playmaking big who also needs the ball, didn't have a great chance of succeeding.
17. Dallas Mavericks (38-39)
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Previous Rank: 21
Net Rating: -0.4
Anthony Davis had a breakout performance in the Dallas Mavericks' 120-118 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday when he totaled 34 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks.
Though his shooting struggles still show up in his aggregate numbers for Dallas (he's at 46.1 percent from the field as a Maverick), having him back in the rotation has stabilized the team.
While the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings are spiraling, AD has appeared in five of Dallas' past six games, and the Mavs have won four of those appearances.
They still may feel like a long shot to win two play-in games and earn a spot in the playoffs, but they at least have a chance with Davis.
16. Miami Heat (35-42)
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Previous Rank: 20
Net Rating: -0.1
The Miami Heat ended their week with a loss, but that came against a desperate Memphis Grizzlies squad that needed a buzzer-beater to win.
And prior to that night, Miami had a six-game winning streak that included victories over the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat.
After adjusting to life without Jimmy Butler, it again looks like the Heat might be the most dangerous team in the East's play-in range, with a dynamic leading scorer in Tyler Herro, one of the game's better defensive anchors in Bam Adebayo and young players such as Kel'el Ware and Pelle Larsson starting to break out.
15. Orlando Magic (38-40)
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Previous Rank: 17
Net Rating: -0.5
It's been an injury-ravaged and often disappointing campaign for the Orlando Magic. But with just four games to play, it feels like they're starting to stabilize a bit.
They're 6-2 in their last eight games and in good shape to be in the play-in's 7-8 game. And if Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner keep scoring like they have during this stretch, they should have a good chance to get into the playoffs.
Over these eight games, Banchero is putting up 29.3 points and 4.8 assists, while Wagner is adding 24.0 points and 5.1 assists.
14. Milwaukee Bucks (42-34)
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Previous Rank: 14
Net Rating: 1.8
With Damian Lillard out, Giannis Antetokounmpo has had to take on more playmaking responsibility. And that led to one of the absolute best individual games of his career on Thursday.
Granted, it came against the injury-depleted Philadelphia 76ers, but Giannis totaled an eye-popping 35 points, 20 assists and 17 rebounds.
His 46.0 game score was the sixth-highest in his career, and the Milwaukee Bucks are now 7-2 when the nine-time All-Star gets to at least 10 assists this season.
Whether Lillard is back for the playoffs or not, Giannis' shot creation could be the key to Milwaukee scoring a first-round upset (they're pretty much locked out of the top four at this point).
13. Detroit Pistons (42-34)
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Previous Rank: 13
Net Rating: 2.3
The Detroit Pistons have already tripled their win total from last season and have virtually locked up a top-six finish in the East.
With Cade Cunningham missing their last five games, it's become increasingly clear that Detroit's veteran acquisitions from this past summer were clear wins.
The Pistons are 3-2 in this stretch without Cade. Tim Hardaway Jr., Malik Beasley and Tobias Harris are all averaging double figures during it.
12. Memphis Grizzlies (45-32)
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Previous Rank: 12
Net Rating: 4.5
The Memphis Grizzlies fired the franchise's winningest coach on Friday, with just nine games to play and a fighting chance at a 50-win season.
And immediately thereafter, interim coach Tuomas Iisalo had to face the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors. Memphis lost all three contests, bringing it to 2-7 over a stretch that dated back to mid-March.
Thursday, the Grizzlies needed a win in the worst way, and Ja Morant delivered against the win-streaking Miami Heat.
Things still feel anything but stable for this organization, but getting Iisalo off the schneid is important. And if the Grizzlies can keep their stars on the floor, they should still be a tough out in the playoffs.
When Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. are all on the floor, Memphis is plus-11.3 points per 100 possessions.
11. Denver Nuggets (47-30)
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Previous Rank: 11
Net Rating: 3.9
The Denver Nuggets have been underwhelming at best since the All-Star break. With their seed in the Western Conference still very much hanging in the balance, they had a dreadful close to this week.
On Tuesday, they lost a double-overtime thriller in which Nikola Jokić had a 61-point triple-double, in large part because Russell Westbrook:
- Decided to take a layup on the break rather than run out some clock and get fouled on Denver's final possession
- Missed that layup attempt
- Didn't get back on defense right away
- Fouled a three-point shooter with 0.1 left on the clock and his team only up by one.
Denver has now dropped its last six games against the Minnesota Timberwolves (when you include the playoffs) and could find itself matched up with them in the first round. That's more likely after the Nuggets almost certainly took themselves out of the race for the second seed on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.
Following Tuesday's marathon, Denver sat its entire starting lineup against the Victor Wembanyama-less Spurs. It lost that game, too.
Suddenly, surpassing their preseason over-under of 51.5—or even getting to 50 wins—seems unlikely for the Nuggets. And regardless of injuries, that makes this regular season a disappointment for Denver.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves (45-32)
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Previous Rank: 10
Net Rating: 4.6
There was definitely a learning curve for the Minnesota Timberwolves after the blockbuster trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, but it's starting to look like they're all the way through it.
This week, they lost a double-overtime thriller against the Denver Nuggets (in Denver) and blew out each of the Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets. They're now 13-3 in their last 16 games.
And during that stretch, what differentiates Julius Randle from KAT has been on display. Over the last 16 games, the 30-year-old is averaging a team-high 5.4 assists. And his ability to create off the bounce and from the perimeter has taken a lot of pressure off of both Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley.
9. Indiana Pacers (45-31)
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Previous Rank: 9
Net Rating: 1.8
The Indiana Pacers are 8-2 in their last 10, almost locked into home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs and getting a serious All-NBA push from Tyrese Haliburton.
And I'm not talking third-team.
Over his last 16 games, the 25-year-old is averaging 21.3 points, 11.3 assists and 3.4 threes, while shooting 47.4 percent from deep.
And this stretch has the league's most prominent and accessible advanced numbers suggesting Haliburton has been one of this season's 5-10 best players.
8. New York Knicks (48-28)
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Previous Rank: 6
Net Rating: 4.1
The New York Knicks were blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. And much of the recent media coverage of the team has felt negative.
Tom Thibodeau's rotations (and the heavy minutes load he's put on players like Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart), an uninspiring defense and each individual loss has gotten plenty of attention.
On balance, though, New York has actually been pretty solid without arguably its best player, Jalen Brunson.
If any team went 8-6 without its primary creator, as the Knicks have, it'd likely be pretty satisfied. Add in Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns generally rising to the challenge of replacing Brunson's scoring, and it's not hard to sell the last few weeks as a success.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (46-30)
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Previous Rank: 7
Net Rating: 0.7
The Los Angeles Lakers ended their week with a down-to-the-wire loss to the Golden State Warriors, but things are still generally looking up for LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves' squad.
Prior to Thursday's result, L.A. had won three of four. The wins came against the Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies (both on the road) and Houston Rockets. And the lone loss was to the Chicago Bulls and required a half-court heave from Josh Giddey to decide the game.
For a team that's still sort of jelling on the fly, the Lakers are fine. And even while they're still on a learning curve with each other, they still have perhaps the most dynamic one-two-three punch in the league with Luka, LeBron and Reaves.
All three can create for themselves and others at an All-Star level. And if that's backed up by even average defense in the playoffs, L.A. could go on a run.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (44-32)
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Previous Rank: 8
Net Rating: 4.2
With Kawhi Leonard back in the rotation, the Los Angeles Clippers are surging up the Western Conference standings.
After going 12-3 in their last 15 games, they suddenly have a slim chance at a top-four finish in the West.
When their top four players are on the floor, they look like a contender. L.A. is plus-14.1 points per 100 possessions when Leonard, James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac play together.
5. Houston Rockets (50-27)
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Previous Rank: 4
Net Rating: 5.4
The Houston Rockets are 13-2 in their last 15 games, securing their first 50-win season since 2018-19.
Given the youth throughout their rotation, a breakout from Amen Thompson and their preseason over-under of 43.5, there's no way to look at this season as anything but a smashing success.
But this recent stretch also highlights why many are hesitant to predict a deep playoff run for the Rockets. Those two losses came to the veteran-laden rosters of the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. All 13 wins were against sub-.500 teams.
The young Rockets deserve credit for taking care of the opponents placed in front of them, but a more experienced team might take advantage of their lack of playoff testing as early as the first round.
4. Golden State Warriors (45-31)
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Previous Rank: 5
Net Rating: 2.9
The Golden State Warriors still aren't on quite the same tier as the three teams still to come, but it's time to start talking about them on the next one.
Behind 37 points from Stephen Curry, Golden State beat the Los Angeles Lakers (in L.A.) on Thursday. Two days earlier, Curry had 52 in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
With Jimmy Butler now on the team as some kind of supercharged hybrid of Draymond Green and Andre Wiggins, the game is significantly easier for Curry. Butler and Green are creating plenty of open looks for the greatest shooter of all time.
And a youthful supporting cast that includes Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and Quinten Post is pulling its weight alongside those three.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (61-15)
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Previous Rank: 3
Net Rating: 9.8
Since their mid-March four-game losing streak, the Cleveland Cavaliers have course-corrected with a 5-1 stretch that ended with a blowout win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
And perhaps the most encouraging sign from this recent upswing is Donovan Mitchell's production.
When the team was struggling, he almost looked worn down. He'd spent several months building a first-team All-NBA case, and it may have taken a toll.
But after missing last week's win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Mitchell has returned with a vengeance.
In the four games since returning, the 28-year-old has averaged 28.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks.
And if Mitchell can carry this momentum into the playoffs, the East's top-seeded Cavs are going to be a nightmare.
2. Boston Celtics (56-20)
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Previous Rank: 2
Net Rating: 9.1
The Boston Celtics suffered a surprising loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday. But even with that result, they're still 14-2 since the calendar flipped to March.
And over that stretch, their odds to win the championship have nearly pulled even with the Oklahoma City Thunder's, while seemingly everyone is contributing to the surge. Since March 1, eight Celtics are averaging double figures (with Luke Kornet adding 7.7).
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown understandably get the bulk of the attention and credit, but the strength of this team may well be its depth. Both the starting lineup and the bench are loaded with shooting, playmaking and defensive versatility.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-12)
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Previous Rank: 1
Net Rating: 13.2
The Oklahoma City Thunder won't top the NBA-record 73 wins, but 70 is still within reach. Several other records will likely fall along the way there.
After beating the Detroit Pistons by 16 on Wednesday, OKC's plus-13.4 average point differential is more than a full point clear of the current all-time high (the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers' plus-12.3).
The latest victory was also their 50th by at least 10 points. That ties them for the record with the '72 Lakers as well.
As if that wasn't enough to demonstrate just how dominant the Thunder have been in 2024-25, their 37 wins by at least 15 points is tied with the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks' record.
OKC isn't just the best team this season. It's quite possibly the best regular-season team in NBA history.
Stat of the Week
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Tyrese Haliburton just turned 25 in February. He likely has 10-plus years left in the NBA, but he's already breaking all-time records.
After totaling 22 points and 10 assists on Wednesday, he now has 14 career games with at least 20 points, at least 10 assists and exactly zero turnovers.
"Point God" Chris Paul previously held the record with 13 such games.
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