NBA Power Rankings: Pelicans climb up West behind Trey Murphy III while SGA drives OKC

The playoff picture remains out of focus with about a month left in the 2023-24 NBA regular season, a testament to how competitive this season has been.

In the East, the Orlando Magic have made a surprising jump in the standings to the No. 5 seed, surging past the Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers and making a run toward the No. 4 New York Knicks, which they are only a game behind.

There was a Western Conference shakeup over the weekend, as the Minnesota Timberwolves lost their No. 1 spot to MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The New Orleans Pelicans have also been creeping up the standings as Zion Williamson looks to secure his first playoff appearance.

Where do other contenders land this week? Let’s look at the updated Power Rankings heading into another important night in the NBA.

Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Kendra Andrews, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball and which teams are looking most like title contenders.

Previous rankings: Post-Finals | Nov. 1 | Nov. 8 | Nov. 15 | Nov. 22 | Nov. 29 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 20 | Dec. 27 | Jan. 3 | Jan. 10 | Jan. 17 | Jan. 24 | Jan. 31 | Feb. 7 | Feb. 14 | Feb. 28 | Mar. 6

Jump to a team:

ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS

1. Boston Celtics
2023-24 record: 51-14

There was plenty of attention paid to Boston’s duds in Cleveland and Denver last week, but even after those performances Boston still entered Tuesday night’s game with a net rating above 11 points per 100 possessions, more than three points better than the second-place Thunder. Boston is projected for 65 wins to run away with the top overall seed in the playoffs, per ESPN’s Basketball Power Index — a reminder that Boston has nothing to prove before the playoffs. — Bontemps

2. Denver Nuggets
2023-24 record: 45-20

The Nuggets trailed by 22 points late in the first half Monday before storming back and beating Toronto at home to pull off their largest comeback win of the season — and their second from down 20 points or more. Nikola Jokic had a triple-double (35 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists to go with six steals) and Jamal Murray had 26 points and 12 assists in the win to become the fourth pair of teammates in NBA history with 25 points and 10 assists apiece in multiple games. Denver has won nine of its past 10 games heading into a Finals rematch Wednesday in Miami. — Youngmisuk

• Previous ranking: 2

• Next games: @ MIA (Mar. 13), vs. SA (Mar. 15), @ DAL (Mar. 17), @ MIN (Mar. 19)

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The Denver Nuggets top plays of the week

Denver Nuggets Top Plays of the Week

3. Oklahoma City Thunder
2023-24 record: 45-20

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points and a league-leading 2.1 steals while shooting 54.6% from the floor, putting him on pace to join Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry as the only players in NBA history to average at least 30 points and two steals while shooting 50% or better. Jordan did it five times, winning MVP in three of those seasons, and Curry did it during his second MVP campaign. — MacMahon

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Chet Holmgren highlights the best of OKC’s week

Check out the best plays from the Oklahoma City Thunder from the past week.

4. Milwaukee Bucks
2023-24 record: 42-24

The Bucks went 1-3 on their West Coast road trip, but one positive for Milwaukee was how it found ways for both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard to flourish on the floor together. They each recorded 10 assists in back-to-back games against the Lakers and Clippers and became just the seventh pair of teammates in NBA history with 30 points and 10 assists in the same game. The Bucks will be tested as they return home this week to host the Sixers and Suns. — Collier

5. LA Clippers
2023-24 record: 41-23

A brutal schedule in March might get a little more difficult for the Clippers after Kawhi Leonard left Crypto.com Arena in the first half with back spasms Tuesday against the Wolves. Leonard was experiencing trouble with his back earlier in the day and tried to play through it, according to a source. As of Tuesday night, Leonard’s status was uncertain for the Clippers’ upcoming back-to-back road games at Chicago on Thursday and at New Orleans on Friday. Leonard played 12 minutes in the first half, marking his 58th game, the most he has played in any season as a Clipper since joining the franchise in 2019-20. Without Leonard, the Clippers completely collapsed and blew a 22-point lead in a loss to Minnesota, dropping the season series to the Wolves as well. — Youngmisuk

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Brandon Boston Jr.’s dunk over Giannis tops Clippers’ best plays of the week

Brandon Boston Jr’s high-flying slam over Giannis Antetokounmpo headlines the LA Clippers’ top plays of the week.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves
2023-24 record: 45-21

The Wolves are already off to a tough start playing without All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, losing back-to-back games last week to fall a half-game behind the top seed in the West. They will need more performances from Anthony Edwards like he had Friday night, when he finished with 44 points without a turnover and a game-saving block against the Pacers. Minnesota has a light week with back-to-back games in Utah before hosting Denver next Tuesday. — Collier

7. New Orleans Pelicans
2023-24 record: 39-25

New Orleans has won 13 of its past 17 games, tied for the second-best mark in the NBA since Jan. 31. The Pelicans have a solid hold on the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference playoff race, thanks to their defense. Before the start of that stretch, the Pelicans were 10th in defensive rating (113.2). Since then, the Pelicans are allowing 107.4 points per 100 possessions, the second-best mark in the league. — Lopez

• Previous ranking: 8

• Next games: vs. CLE (Mar. 13), vs. LAC (Mar. 15), vs. POR (Mar. 16), @ BKN (Mar. 19)

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Brandon Ingram’s soaring dunk leads Pelicans’ top plays of the week

Brandon Ingram’s slam headlines the New Orleans Pelicans’ top plays this week.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers
2023-24 record: 41-24

It was a rough week for Cleveland, going 1-3 and losing to two sub-.500 teams in Brooklyn and Atlanta. Donovan Mitchell, out since March 1 with a bone bruise in his left knee, cannot return soon enough. The Cavs, whose hot streak to start the year moved them to No. 2 in the East, are now in No. 3 and have a three-game road trip this week through New Orleans, Houston and Indiana. — McMenamin

9. Phoenix Suns
2023-24 record: 38-27

Kevin Durant is primed to make history this week as he needs 53 points to pass Shaquille O’Neal for No. 8 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. To do it in his 17th season while he’s still near the top of his game should only make the feat more impressive. Durant, 35, is fourth in the league in scoring this season with 28.5 points per game — the seven other players in the top eight are in their 20s. — McMenamin

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Phoenix Suns Top Plays of the Week

Phoenix Suns Top Plays of the Week

10. New York Knicks
2023-24 record: 38-27

After New York had been missing its entire starting frontcourt for the past several weeks, OG Anunoby returned against the 76ers on Tuesday. While both Julius Randle (shoulder) and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) remain some distance from returning, Anunoby was a welcome sight for a Knicks team that has been thin due to a variety of absences, including Jalen Brunson (knee) and Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles). — Bontemps

11. Dallas Mavericks
2023-24 record: 37-28

Luka Doncic, who set the NBA record for longest streaks of 35- and 30-point triple-doubles and has a record-tying active streak of seven straight 20-point triple-doubles, isn’t the only Maverick in the midst of a historic run. Center Daniel Gafford has made 28 consecutive field goal attempts over the past four games, the longest such streak in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97) and seven shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record set in 1967. The Mavs are 3-0 since adding Gafford and Derrick Jones Jr. to the starting five. That lineup has outscored opponents by 24 points in 30 minutes in those games. — MacMahon

• Previous ranking: 13

• Next games: vs. GS (Mar. 13), @ OKC (Mar. 14), vs. DEN (Mar. 17), @ SA (Mar. 19)

12. Sacramento Kings
2023-24 record: 37-27

The Kings’ season seems to be getting rockier by the minute — after defeating the Lakers behind De’Aaron Fox‘s season-high 44 points, they barely hung on to a win against the Spurs without Victor Wembanyama and then lost to a struggling Rockets team. Currently the seventh seed in the West and one game behind the No. 6 Suns, they will be fighting to avoid the West play-in every game down the stretch. — Andrews

13. Orlando Magic
2023-24 record: 37-28

After overcoming a 21-point deficit against the Wizards, the Magic’s offense went cold, putting up just 74 points against the Knicks and 97 against the Pacers. But Orlando can potentially get a boost in the standings via the sixth easiest remaining schedule in the NBA. And, the Magic begin an eight-game homestand Sunday. — Lopez

• Previous ranking: 12

• Next games: vs. BKN (Mar. 13), @ TOR (Mar. 15), vs. TOR (Mar. 17), vs. CHA (Mar. 19)

14. Miami Heat
2023-24 record: 35-29

In his first 10 games after getting traded to the Heat, Terry Rozier has struggled, putting up 12.6 points while shooting 35.8% overall and 23.4% from 3. But after missing some time due to injury around the All-Star break, Rozier is starting to look like the scorer he was with Charlotte. Since returning in late February, he’s averaging 18.0 points and shooting 48.0% (38.9% from deep.) He had 27 points and 11 assists against Dallas last Wednesday, both highs since joining Miami. — Lopez

• Previous ranking: 10

• Next games: vs. DEN (Mar. 13), @ DET (Mar. 15), @ DET (Mar. 17), @ PHI (Mar. 18)

15. Los Angeles Lakers
2023-24 record: 36-30

Wins over the top two teams in the West (Oklahoma City and Minnesota) and the No. 2 team in the East (Milwaukee) last week were spoiled by a loss to the Kings, when L.A. failed to protect a 19-point first-half lead and kicked away what Anthony Davis called a “must-win game” against a team the Lakers are trying to leapfrog in the standings. L.A. gets a chance for some redemption in Sacramento on Wednesday to try to avoid a season sweep against the Kings. — McMenamin

16. Indiana Pacers
2023-24 record: 37-29

The Pacers are going to be without one of their best reserves for the rest of the season, losing Bennedict Mathurin to season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. Mathurin, the MVP of the Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend, had averaged 14.5 points and solidified himself as the leader of one of the league’s best bench units. Indiana currently sits in sixth in a tight race in the East between the Nos. 4 and 8 seeds. — Collier

17. Philadelphia 76ers
2023-24 record: 36-29

Philadelphia got Tyrese Maxey back from the NBA’s concussion protocol Tuesday against the Knicks, but there still remains no timetable for the return of reigning MVP Joel Embiid. The 76ers entered Tuesday’s action just 10-20 in games without Embiid, which only underscores how fundamentally different the team is with and without its superstar big man. — Bontemps

18. Golden State Warriors
2023-24 record: 34-30

The Warriors were two different teams last week — losing by 53 points to the Celtics one night, dominantly blowing out the Bucks another and then losing to a Wembanyama-less Spurs team the next. It’s all but certain the Warriors will be a play-in team, but it’s getting harder to tell if they’ll be able to rise above the 9 or 10 seed. Luckily, Curry won’t miss much more time after rolling his ankle against the Bulls last week. But just as it’s been all season, the margin for error for this team is tiny. They face the Mavericks on Wednesday and then the Lakers, who they are only one game behind, to wrap up the week. — Andrews

19. Chicago Bulls
2023-24 record: 31-34

The Bulls had a chance to get back to .500 for the first time since starting the season 2-2 but have instead dropped back-to-back games, including Monday’s blowout loss at home to the Mavericks. The Bulls have turned their season around with a 26-20 record since their 5-14 start, but remain No. 9 in the East and 4.5 games behind the No. 8 Heat. — Collier

• Previous ranking: 19

• Next games: @ IND (Mar. 13), vs. LAC (Mar. 14), vs. WAS (Mar. 16), vs. POR (Mar. 18)

20. Atlanta Hawks
2023-24 record: 29-35

Atlanta starts its second five-game road trip as it tries to catch Chicago in the East’s play-in race. Atlanta is 5-3 since losing Trae Young to injury mostly thanks to its defense. In that same span, the Hawks have held opponents under 101 points five times, something they only did once in their first 56 games. They’ll need that same defensive energy on this upcoming road trip if they want to climb out of the No.10 spot and secure a home game in the first play-in round. — Lopez

• Previous ranking: 22

• Next games: @ POR (Mar. 13), @ UTA (Mar. 15), @ LAC (Mar. 17), @ LAL (Mar. 18)

21. Houston Rockets
2023-24 record: 30-35

The Rockets breathed a sigh of relief when an MRI revealed that Alperen Sengun avoided a major injury after he landed awkwardly late in Sunday’s win in Sacramento, although a severely sprained ankle and bruised knee could sideline the big man for the final month of the season. Sengun has established himself as a franchise cornerstone, but that hasn’t been the case for Jalen Green, who was selected No. 2 overall in the 2021 draft, 14 picks ahead of Sengun. However, Green has been outstanding in March. He averaged 23.6 points in the first five games of the month entering Tuesday’s matchup with the Spurs, and the Rockets outscored opponents by 49 points with Green on the floor in those games. — MacMahon

22. Brooklyn Nets
2023-24 record: 26-39

Young’s extended injury absence for Atlanta was supposed to create an opening for Brooklyn to break into the play-in picture in the East. Instead, the team’s never-ending slide since tanking a game against the Bucks on Dec. 27 has continued, and Brooklyn is 3.5 games in the loss column behind the No. 10 Hawks — even after sweeping a recent pair of meetings between the two teams. Since its game against the Bucks, Brooklyn is 11-24 — the sixth-worst record in the league over that span. — Bontemps

• Previous ranking: 23

• Next games: @ ORL (Mar. 13), @ IND (Mar. 16), vs. SA (Mar. 17), vs. NO (Mar. 19)

23. Utah Jazz
2023-24 record: 28-37

Utah lost 10 of its first 12 games after the All-Star break to slip — or rise, depending on your perspective — to ninth in the draft lottery odds. That is of particular importance because the Jazz, who traded away multiple rotation players midseason for the second straight year, owe a top-10 protected pick to Oklahoma City. If the pick does not convey this year, it will be top-10 protected again next season and top-8-protected in 2026.— MacMahon

24. Toronto Raptors
2023-24 record: 23-42

Toronto signed Kelly Olynyk to a two-year extension last week, keeping the Canadian with the Raptors for what he said hopes is the rest of his career. But since his trade from Utah last month, the Raptors are being outscored by nearly 15 points per 100 possessions across the 304 minutes Olynyk has played. — Bontemps

25. Memphis Grizzlies
2023-24 record: 23-43

Rookie forward GG Jackson, a bright spot in a throwaway season for the Grizzlies, became the sixth-youngest player in NBA history with a 30-point performance during Sunday’s loss to the Thunder. Jackson, 19, has averaged 14.0 points in 25.1 minutes since becoming a rotation regular in mid-January. The No. 45 overall pick who was on a two-way deal until the trade deadline, ranks seventh in his draft class in points per game and 15th in total points. — MacMahon

26. Portland Trail Blazers
2023-24 record: 18-46

After a winless February, the Blazers’ March is not starting off any better with just one win last week against the Raptors. It’s becoming harder to tell what the Blazers’ rebuild will look like after this season as all of their young talent just isn’t showing the development they should be at this point of the season. — Andrews

• Previous ranking: 27

• Next games: vs. ATL (Mar. 13), vs. NY (Mar. 14), @ NO (Mar. 16), @ CHI (Mar. 18)

27. Charlotte Hornets
2023-24 record: 16-49

Jeff Peterson, Charlotte’s new executive VP of basketball operations, said he is using this final stretch of the season to evaluate everyone on the team. The Hornets have lost seven of their past eight games. “Losing is not going to be tolerated here,” Peterson told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski last Thursday on “The Woj Pod.” “Will we lose some games? Of course. It’s showing up every day, your approach, your work rate, your work ethic and having that goal in mind — we are going to show up every day, we are going to leave it all on the floor, we are going to create these habits and standards that we are all going to live up to … Ultimately, you are going to see who really wants to rise to the occasion.” — Youngmisuk

• Previous ranking: 28

• Next games: @ MEM (Mar. 13), vs. PHX (Mar. 15), @ PHI (Mar. 16), @ ORL (Mar. 19)

28. San Antonio Spurs
2023-24 record: 14-52

When Wembanyama sat out the last two games of the Spurs’ road trip last weekend, the rest of the team did something it hadn’t done in seven tries — win without him. After a heart-breaking two-point loss to the Kings on Thursday, the team bounced back and defeated the Warriors (without Wembanyama or Devin Vassell), 126-113. It was also the first time the team shot above 50% from 3 all season. — Lopez

29. Detroit Pistons
2023-24 record: 11-53

The Pistons have won two of their past three games, beating the Nets and Hornets last week thanks to contributions from James Wiseman, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Wiseman averaged 12.3 points and 8.0 rebounds off the bench on 72% shooting during that span and has emerged as a rotation player for Detroit, gaining more minutes since the All-Star break. — Collier

• Previous ranking: 29

• Next games: vs. TOR (Mar. 13), vs. MIA (Mar. 15), vs. MIA (Mar. 17), @ BOS (Mar. 18)

30. Washington Wizards
2023-24 record: 11-54

Washington won against Charlotte to halt a 16-game losing streak, avoiding setting a new franchise record. Not only did it taste victory for the first time in 39 days, but it beat the Heat at Miami before dropping a game to the Grizzlies on Tuesday night. Deni Avdija had a double-double in both wins and has three so far this month. — Youngmisuk

• Previous ranking: 30

• Next games: @ HOU (Mar. 14), @ CHI (Mar. 16), vs. BOS (Mar. 17), vs. HOU (Mar. 19)

Source: www.espn.com