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NBA Power Rankings: Raptors dig claws into top spot

Ron Turenne / National Basketball Association / Getty

During the regular season, theScore's NBA Power Rankings will be published every two weeks. This edition is the second of 2018-19. It was compiled by editors Chicco Nacion, Andrew Joe Potter, and Wael Saghir.

1. Toronto Raptors (17-4)

The Raptors responded with five straight wins following three consecutive defeats. The team is getting healthier - OG Anunoby and C.J. Miles both returned to the lineup on Friday against the Wizards - and its three-point shooting promptly took a step in the right direction with a 17-for-39 performance. - Nacion

2. Milwaukee Bucks (14-5)

The Bucks have established a trend of winning big and losing close. They boast the league's top average point differential (11.8) and only one loss has come by more than four points. - Potter

3. Golden State Warriors (14-7)

Before reeling off two consecutive wins, the Warriors lost four straight games for the first time under Steve Kerr. Kevin Durant might be the team's best player, but the star-heavy roster will likely need a healthy Stephen Curry to three-peat. - Saghir

4. Los Angeles Clippers (13-6)

There's a lot to like about the Clippers' second unit. Lou Williams continues to score at will, Montrezl Harrell provides great energy, and rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's two-way skill set makes you wonder how he was available with the 11th overall pick. - Nacion

5. Oklahoma City Thunder (12-7)

After an 0-4 start to the season, the Thunder are suddenly among the NBA's elite and own the league's No. 1 defensive rating. Meanwhile, the acquisition of Dennis Schroder is paying dividends, as the roster finally has a strong replacement for whenever Russell Westbrook sits. - Saghir

6. Memphis Grizzlies (12-7)

Mark Sobhani / National Basketball Association / Getty

With a healthy Mike Conley back alongside Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies look like a playoff team once again. Rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. has impressed in the starting lineup with his energy and ability to protect the rim. - Nacion

7. Philadelphia 76ers (14-8)

Philly's lone blemish in their last six games was an upset loss to the lowly Cavaliers. Jimmy Butler's taken on the closer role - something the team desperately needed - with two game-winning 3-pointers since his recent trade from Minnesota. - Saghir

8. Denver Nuggets (13-7)

The Nuggets boast all the markers of a successful team - a top-10 offense, a top-five defense, and a top-five average point differential - but have fallen short against elite opponents since their 9-1 start. - Potter

9. Los Angeles Lakers (11-8)

After early struggles, the Lakers have won seven of nine games. LeBron James remains an unstoppable force, dropping 51 points in his latest return to Miami, while JaVale McGee continues to be a welcome surprise for a team that desperately needed size. - Saghir

10. Portland Trail Blazers (12-8)

The Trail Blazers are right in the thick of things in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. Stars Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are playing more minutes together, while shooters Seth Curry and Nik Stauskas are helping Evan Turner thrive in the second unit. - Nacion

11. Indiana Pacers (11-8)

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

A light schedule over the past two weeks (five games and nine days off) didn't give the Pacers many opportunities to state their case. And while a recent 18-point loss to the Hornets didn't help, it occurred with Victor Oladipo on the shelf. - Potter

12. Dallas Mavericks (9-9)

Improbably, the Mavericks own the second-best net rating (10.4 points per 100 possessions) in the league over the last two weeks. And six of their nine victories have come against teams that made the playoffs last season. - Potter

13. Detroit Pistons (10-7)

The Pistons seem to be finding consistency after an up-and-down nine games to begin the campaign. Andre Drummond's leading the league in rebounding by a significant margin and Blake Griffin's become a reliable player in the clutch. - Nacion

14. New Orleans Pelicans (10-10)

The Pelicans feature four players averaging at least 18.1 points per game, which doesn't even include E'Twaun Moore chipping in 16.3 during his breakout season. That top-heavy approach allows New Orleans to hang with any opponent, but depth's still a major issue, particularly on the wings. - Potter

15. Houston Rockets (9-9)

James Harden's caught fire, averaging 33.2 points during the Rockets' five-game winning streak following a 4-7 start. However, the team's defense remains atrocious after ranking seventh overall last year. - Saghir

16. Charlotte Hornets (9-10)

Kent Smith / National Basketball Association / Getty

No team relies on a single player more than the Hornets and Kemba Walker, who dropped 60 and 43 points against the 76ers and Celtics, respectively. - Saghir

17. Boston Celtics (10-10)

Frustration's building up in the locker room as the Celtics search for consistency. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are mired in sophomore slumps, and the team as a whole is having trouble getting to the rim. - Nacion

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (9-11)

Finally trading Jimmy Butler seems to have allowed everyone in Minnesota to loosen up a bit, as the team is 5-2 since the move. It'll be interesting to see how long the Derrick Rose renaissance lasts. - Potter

19. Orlando Magic (10-10)

Nikola Vucevic is playing at an All-Star level through 20 games, averaging 20.4 points, 11.3 boards, and 3.6 assists while hitting 40 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc for the overachieving Magic. - Saghir

20. Sacramento Kings (10-10)

After reports surfaced that coach Dave Joerger's job was in jeopardy, the Kings appeared to rally around their head coach. De'Aaron Fox continues to torch defenses with his combination of speed and playmaking while Harry Giles saw meaningful minutes down the stretch in a spirited one-point loss to the Warriors on Saturday. - Nacion

21. San Antonio Spurs (9-10)

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

San Antonio's lost eight of 11 after starting the year 6-2, and the defense has struggled without Dejounte Murray. It doesn't help that LaMarcus Aldridge is playing the worst basketball of his career. - Saghir

22. Utah Jazz (9-11)

With the Jazz sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference, one has to wonder if their second-half surge last season was a mirage. And things will get tougher in the short term now that star guard Donovan Mitchell is sidelined with a rib contusion. - Nacion

23. Brooklyn Nets (8-13)

The Nets are ... fine. Caris LeVert's ankle injury, though not as severe as initially expected, has taken away a lot of the team's offensive punch. Overall, the roster has yet to transcend the sum of its parts. - Potter

24. Miami Heat (7-12)

Erik Spoelstra can't settle on a rotation, with several players in and out of the lineup due to injuries. There's also no steady point guard outside of an aging Goran Dragic, which is taking away from Josh Richardson's emergence and Dwyane Wade's farewell tour. - Saghir

25. Washington Wizards (7-12)

The Wiz won't recover from their 1-7 start by playing just slightly above .500 basketball. The organization can't be far away from a complete fire sale. - Potter

26. New York Knicks (7-14)

Brian Babineau / National Basketball Association / Getty

Tim Hardaway Jr. and Enes Kanter continue to fill the box scores while rookies (Allonzo Trier, Mitchell Robinson) and reclamation projects (Emmanuel Mudiay, Noah Vonleh) battle for inclusion in the team's future plans. - Potter

27. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-14)

The Cavs snapped the 76ers' 10-game home winning streak on Friday as Tristan Thompson continued his dominance on the offensive glass. Rookie Collin Sexton then posted a career-high 29 points the following night in a victory over the Rockets. - Nacion

28. Chicago Bulls (5-15)

Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, and Bobby Portis are injured, but the Bulls' 2018-19 fortunes probably wouldn't have been much different anyway. This franchise has already booked a one-way ticket to the next draft lottery. - Potter

29. Phoenix Suns (4-15)

There's been little to celebrate for the Suns, who rank among the worst teams at both offense (28th) and defense (29th). On a positive note, Deandre Ayton continues to make his Rookie of the Year case and Devin Booker's averaging a career-high 7.3 assists. - Saghir

30. Atlanta Hawks (4-16)

After a 2-2 start to the season, the Hawks have dropped 14 of 16 games. Vince Carter's milestone night - reaching 25,000 career points with a dunk against the Raptors - might just end up being one of the season's top highlights. - Nacion

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