NBA Power Rankings: Lakers surge, Mavs plummet after chaotic deadline
NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
This week, we're taking stock of where things stand after one of the wildest lead-ups to the trade deadline in NBA history.
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ATL | BKN | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR | SAC | SAS | TOR | UTA | WAS
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (43-9)
Previous: 1
Keeping Chet Holmgren healthy needs to be OKC's top priority. Without him, the Thunder's defense lacks some beef - or in this case, length - in the middle. In his first two games back, Holmgren has an impressive 9 blocks.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (43-10)
Previous: 2
De'Andre Hunter went 3-of-4 from deep in his first Cavs game while the rest of the team was 14-of-39 (35.8%). Once he acclimates defensively, Cleveland's shortened playoff rotation could be a nightmare for opponents.
3. Boston Celtics (38-16)
Previous: 4
The Celtics didn't make any trades at the deadline, instead signing veteran free-agent forward Torrey Craig for more depth. Boston seems to believe they have enough to repeat as champions.
4. Denver Nuggets (35-19)
Previous: 7
The Nuggets will have to rely on the buyout market to improve their roster but, as a first-apron team, they can't add a player who was making more than the mid-level exception before they were bought out.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (36-17)
Previous: 6
Memphis burned a first-rounder Thursday to dump Marcus Smart on the Wizards - after trading two for him in June - and shipped Jake LaRavia to Sacramento for essentially nothing. The Grizzlies whittled their depth for supposed offseason flexibility.
6. Los Angeles Lakers (32-19)
Previous: 9
Defense wins championships - at least that's what Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison wants us to believe. If that's true, the Lakers need to figure things out quickly, as four of their key players are turnstiles on that end.
7. New York Knicks (35-18)
Previous: 5
New York's ambitions to enter the league's upper tier took a hit Saturday with another lopsided loss to the Celtics, who have now shot a combined 48-of-100 from deep in two victories over the Knicks this season. Boston also put up 130-plus points in each win.
8. Houston Rockets (33-20)
Previous: 3
The Rockets tumbled from second in the West courtesy of a six-game losing skid. That stretch was epitomized by some comical decision-making late in an appalling loss to the Brooklyn Nets. This team needs the All-Star break to reset.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (30-24)
Previous: 12
The absence of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo has forced Anthony Edwards to carry the offensive load in Minnesota. The 23-year-old has scored a Timberwolves-record 40 or more in his last three starts.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (28-24)
Previous: 8
Kyle Kuzma and Khris Middleton might be similar players, but it's unlikely Kuzma will see the same success Middleton did in Milwaukee. Parting ways with the distinguished veteran was a tough pill to swallow for the Bucks.
11. Los Angeles Clippers (29-23)
Previous: 10
Will the second-unit additions of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Ben Simmons, brought in to replace Kevin Porter Jr. and Terance Mann, help improve the Clippers' sometimes lousy offense? Probably not, but at least Kawhi Leonard is healthy.
12. Indiana Pacers (29-23)
Previous: 11
In just six February games, Indiana has already surpassed its loss count for January, when it had the league's best winning percentage (83.3%). May as well call them the Can't Keep Up The Pacers.
13. Golden State Warriors (27-26)
Previous: 19
Jimmy Butler is fitting in well, averaging 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and five assists in two double-digit wins over the Bulls and Bucks. His play can guide the Warriors out of the play-in tournament.
14. Phoenix Suns (26-27)
Previous: 13
Credit to Bradley Beal's resolve. While enforcing his no-trade clause, he averaged 18.6 points and shot 48.3% from deep in seven pre-deadline games. Since then, though, he's missed three straight with a sprained toe.
15. Sacramento Kings (27-26)
Previous: 16
DeMar DeRozan has been thriving as the top offensive option since De'Aaron Fox was shipped to San Antonio. The six-time All-Star is averaging 25.4 points while shooting a whopping 44.4% from deep. The Kings are 3-2 since Fox's departure.
16. Detroit Pistons (28-26)
Previous: 15
Only nine teams have won 14 or more games in 2025, and the Pistons are among them. Forget the play-in: Detroit is suddenly within touching distance of home-court advantage in the first round.
17. Miami Heat (25-26)
Previous: 18
The Butler trade saga is finally over, as the Heat acquired Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and Davion Mitchell from the Warriors for the disgruntled veteran. Miami can now focus on its current roster and play out the season.
18. Orlando Magic (26-29)
Previous: 17
An injury-plagued campaign paired with a do-nothing deadline day speaks to a team on the rise but still stuck in the middle. Orlando will simultaneously shift focus to the future while harboring visions of slaying giants in this season's playoffs.
19. Atlanta Hawks (26-28)
Previous: 21
Atlanta folded its hand at the deadline, instead opting to move forward with a core of Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels around Trae Young. Despite the future-oriented outlook, they've won three straight.
20. San Antonio Spurs (23-28)
Previous: 20
The Spurs have played three games in four nights, and they were each decided by a single point. Back-to-back one-point losses to the Charlotte Hornets and Magic will do little to inspire hope.
21. Portland Trail Blazers (23-31)
Previous: 25
The Blazers have arguably been the league's hottest team for a month, winning 11 of their last 13 contests. Portland has seven players averaging 10 or more points since the winning streak began.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (20-33)
Previous: 22
The Sixers shouldn't risk injuring Joel Embiid further just to make the play-in. If they commit to the tank, they won't have to send OKC their first-rounder if it's inside the top six - Philadelphia currently has the seventh-worst record.
23. Dallas Mavericks (28-26)
Previous: 14
Anthony Davis put up a first-half double-double in his Mavs debut before promptly straining his adductor. Dallas' jewel in the Luka trade is expected to miss multiple weeks, and there's no official timeline for his return.
24. Chicago Bulls (22-32)
Previous: 23
Arturas Karnisovas seems content to languish in the middle and just contend for a play-in tournament spot. The Bulls should have ripped the Band-Aid off completely and sold everything at the deadline.
25. Toronto Raptors (17-37)
Previous: 24
The addition of Brandon Ingram has sent Toronto's alleged rebuild in a drastically different direction. Raptors president Masai Ujiri's tinkering with the roster makes us think of the 'have one's cake and eat it too' idiom.
26. Brooklyn Nets (19-34)
Previous: 27
Buying out Simmons was the Nets' best possible long-term move. The 28-year-old didn't fit the team's future timeline, so dealing him allowed Brooklyn to pivot to younger players who could develop into mainstays.
27. Utah Jazz (12-40)
Previous: 29
How many inefficient, score-first guards can one team accumulate? The Jazz are trying their best to find the answer to this mathematical mystery. At least 21-year-old Brice Sensabaugh has made strides as a creator.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (12-41)
Previous: 28
The Brandon Ingram era ended in New Orleans with two first-round playoff exits, including a sweep last season at the hands of the Thunder. Ideally, Zion Williamson and Co. can lead the Pelicans to more success.
29. Charlotte Hornets (13-38)
Previous: 26
One of the NBA's biggest storylines is finding out which team will end up with Mark Williams. Charlotte is reportedly disputing the center's failed physical which nixed a trade with the Lakers.
30. Washington Wizards (9-44)
Previous: 30
It's always been about the big picture. Turning actual players into draft capital and giving the young core - which is leading the league in rookie minutes - more responsibility is refreshingly avant-garde for this franchise.