NBA Power Rankings: What to watch for all 30 teams as season's end nears

Less than two weeks to go in the NBA regular season but there's plenty still to play for. Teams are snapping up postseason spots but the race to avoid the play-in tournament is changing by the day. Things remain especially tough in the Western Conference, where the teams between third and eighth place are all separated by at least two games.

At the bottom end of the standings, several teams are straddling the fine line between a strong finish and improving their lottery chances for the No. 1 draft pick in a stacked class of prospects led by Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg.

With only a handful of games left, players are trying to meet the criteria for postseason honors while also making their case for the top awards such as MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year.

Our NBA insiders give their takes on where things stand in our latest Power Rankings and what to watch in the few remaining weeks of the season.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk and Chris Herring) think teams belong this season.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 30 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 20 | Nov. 27 | Dec. 4 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 18 | Dec. 25 | Jan. 1 | Jan. 8 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 22 | Jan. 29 | Feb. 5 | Feb. 12 | Feb. 26 | Mar. 5 | Mar. 12 | Mar. 19 | Mar. 26

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. Oklahoma City Thunder

• 2024-25 record: 63-12

• Previous ranking: 1

• Next games: vs. DET (Apr. 2), @ HOU (Apr. 4), vs. LAL (Apr. 6), vs. LAL (Apr. 8)

The Thunder's blowout of the Bulls on Monday meant that Oklahoma City has clinched the best cross-conference record in NBA history. The Thunder are 28-1 against Eastern Conference teams this season, the lone blemish coming in their visit to Cleveland. The previous best cross-conference record was 27-3, achieved by the 2015-16 Warriors, 2006-07 Mavericks and 1999-2000 Lakers. -- Tim MacMahon

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

• 2024-25 record: 60-15

• Previous ranking: 2

• Next games: vs. NYK (Apr. 2), @ SA (Apr. 4), vs. SAC (Apr. 6), vs. CHI (Apr. 8)

The Cavs already secured the third 60-win season in franchise history and can tie the team record for wins by going 6-1 down the stretch. That's secondary, of course, to making sure they hold on to the No. 1 seed in the East, up four games on the Celtics, who have won 14 of their past 15. And only one of Cleveland's last seven games is against a team out of the postseason picture (San Antonio). -- Dave McMenamin

3. Boston Celtics

• 2024-25 record: 56-19

• Previous ranking: 3

• Next games: vs. MIA (Apr. 2), vs. PHX (Apr. 4), vs. WAS (Apr. 6), @ NYK (Apr. 8)

If the Celtics win out, there's a small chance they could catch the Cavaliers for the top spot in the East. But what is by far more important for the Celtics over the next couple of weeks is whether they can get into the playoffs healthy. Boston is more than confident in its chances of going toe-to-toe with any team if it has its full complement of talent. -- Tim Bontemps

4. Houston Rockets

• 2024-25 record: 49-27

• Previous ranking: 4

• Next games: vs. UTAH (Apr. 2), vs. OKC (Apr. 4), @ GS (Apr. 6)

Despite Houston missing a chance to become the second team in the West to clinch a postseason spot, coach Ime Udoka is more concerned with the Rockets staying healthy, consistent and leaning into their physicality to routinely turn defense into offense. Houston is also looking at ways to improve its half-court offense ahead of the playoffs and can lean on its league-leading offensive rebounding. The upcoming schedule should serve as strong preparation for the postseason with Houston set to close against five expected West playoff participants. -- Michael Wright

5. Denver Nuggets

• 2024-25 record: 47-29

• Previous ranking: 5

• Next games: vs. SA (Apr. 2), @ GS (Apr. 4), vs. IND (Apr. 6)

The Nuggets have a lot on the line in their final six games as they aim to finish among the top-four teams in the West. Nikola Jokic is still in a two-man race for MVP with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and will probably need a big finish to overcome the recent five-game stretch he missed due to injury. But perhaps the most important thing for the Nuggets is their health and making sure Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are ready for the playoffs. No matter the seeding, Denver has a shot to come out of the West as long as those three remain healthy. It's worth noting the last team to beat the West-leading Thunder (currently on a 10-game win streak) were the Nuggets. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

6. Los Angeles Lakers

• 2024-25 record: 46-29

• Previous ranking: 7

• Next games: vs. GS (Apr. 3), vs. NO (Apr. 4), @ OKC (Apr. 6), @ OKC (Apr. 8)

The Lakers have qualified for the postseason through the play-in tournament in three of the past four seasons. With L.A. in the No. 4 spot in the West with seven games remaining in the regular season, LeBron James and the Lakers are dead set on holding their positioning and making the playoffs outright. "Our mission is to lock in a playoff spot," James said. "We don't want to have to play in the play-in, so we understand what's at stake." -- McMenamin

7. Golden State Warriors

• 2024-25 record: 44-31

• Previous ranking: 9

• Next games: @ LAL (Apr. 3), vs. DEN (Apr. 4), vs. HOU (Apr. 6), @ PHX (Apr. 8)

Since acquiring Jimmy Butler III before the trade deadline, the Warriors' goal has been clear -- get the sixth seed or higher and stay out of the play-in. The Warriors don't want to risk an improved second half of the season in a potential single-elimination predicament and would rather have an invaluable week off before a first-round seven-game series. Curry told ESPN earlier this season that he feels the Warriors can beat anyone in a series because of their championship experience. Add Butler to the mix and they're confident they can make a run. -- Youngmisuk

8. Indiana Pacers

• 2024-25 record: 44-31

• Previous ranking: 11

• Next games: vs. CHA (Apr. 2), vs. UTAH (Apr. 4), @ DEN (Apr. 6), vs. WAS (Apr. 8)

Can the Pacers hold the No. 4 seed? The Pacers have stayed hot while the injury-riddled Bucks dropped from fourth to sixth in the standings, setting Indiana up for potential home-court advantage in their first-round series. The Pacers also have a two-game lead over No. 5 Detroit and will have five of their final seven games at home entering the playoffs, giving them an edge as a top-four seed. -- Jamal Collier

9. Memphis Grizzlies

• 2024-25 record: 44-32

• Previous ranking: 8

• Next games: @ MIA (Apr. 3), @ DET (Apr. 5), @ CHA (Apr. 8)

The Grizzlies sent shock waves through the NBA when they fired head coach Taylor Jenkins so close to the end of the regular season. Now, let's see how Memphis plays under interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, a former Finnish professional player and coach of Paris Basketball in 2023-24, where he won the EuroCup on the way to being named coach of the year. After utilizing an offense built mostly by recently fired assistant Noah LaRoche, Memphis will try to incorporate more of Iisalo's pick-and-roll tactics to optimize guard Ja Morant. Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman said he expects "clarity of direction" down the stretch, but the team is 0-3 since Jenkins' dismissal. -- Wright

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

• 2024-25 record: 44-32

• Previous ranking: 10

• Next games: @ BKN (Apr. 3), @ PHI (Apr. 5), @ MIL (Apr. 8)

Can the Wolves get out of the play-in? Minnesota, like every other team surrounding them in the standings, wants to avoid the play-in tournament and grab a top-six seed. The Wolves, on a three-game winning streak, sit at No. 7 in the standings but are tied with the No. 6 Grizzlies in games back (19.5). However, they sit only half a game ahead of the No. 8 Clippers. After a double-overtime win versus Denver on Tuesday night, the road gets easier for Minnesota, with a road trip against Brooklyn and Philadelphia to close out the week. -- Collier

11. New York Knicks

• 2024-25 record: 48-27

• Previous ranking: 6

• Next games: @ CLE (Apr. 2), @ ATL (Apr. 5), vs PHX (Apr. 6), vs. BOS (Apr. 8)

The biggest thing the Knicks are focused on over these final two weeks is star guard Jalen Brunson's health as he recovers from an ankle sprain sustained last month. The team is also hoping backups Deuce McBride and Cam Payne can return soon after missing some time, and for Mitchell Robinson to get back into form after his prolonged absence. But Brunson getting back in time for a handful of regular-season games to feel comfortable heading into the postseason -- something he said he's hoping to do -- would be ideal. -- Chris Herring

12. LA Clippers

• 2024-25 record: 43-32

• Previous ranking: 12

• Next games: vs. NO (Apr. 2), vs. DAL (Apr. 4), vs. DAL (Apr. 5), vs. SA (Apr. 8)

The Clippers are fighting to get to the sixth seed and avoid the play-in. But the most important thing for the Clippers is once again making sure Kawhi Leonard is healthy entering the playoffs. When Leonard missed the first part of the season, he and the Clippers said they wanted to do everything they could to ensure the superstar doesn't get hurt in the playoffs like he has the past two occasions. They've been holding Leonard out of back-to-backs, but luckily, they have only one back-to-back remaining, consecutive home games against Dallas. -- Youngmisuk

13. Detroit Pistons

• 2024-25 record: 42-33

• Previous ranking: 14

• Next games: @ OKC (Apr. 2), @ TOR (Apr. 4), vs. MEM (Apr. 5), vs. SAC (Apr. 7)

Having almost clinched a top-six spot in the East and a direct return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019, the Pistons are focused on seeding over the remainder of the regular season. Catching the Pacers for home-court advantage in the first round could be difficult since Indiana has a two-game lead in the standings and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, but Detroit will want to stay ahead of the reeling Bucks for fifth. That tiebreaker won't be decided until the season's final weekend when the teams play a home-and-home set. -- Kevin Pelton

14. Milwaukee Bucks

• 2024-25 record: 41-34

• Previous ranking: 13

• Next games: @ PHI (Apr. 3), @ MIA (Apr. 5), @ NO (Apr. 6), vs. MIN (Apr. 8)

Damian Lillard's health is the biggest thing to watch in Milwaukee, which dropped four straight games before their win against the Suns on Tuesday night and has fallen to No. 6 in the standings since the superstar's absence. Any chance of the Bucks making a deep postseason run hangs on whether Lillard can return this season. The emerging chemistry between Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the highest-scoring duo in the league, is something the Bucks will sorely need in the postseason. -- Collier

15. Atlanta Hawks

• 2024-25 record: 36-39

• Previous ranking: 16

• Next games: @ DAL (Apr. 2), vs. NYK (Apr. 5), vs. UTAH (Apr. 6), @ ORL (Apr. 8)

Atlanta will want to prioritize not overworking Trae Young, who's been day-to-day lately with right Achilles tendonitis. Beyond that, the Hawks are also focusing on getting backup big Clint Capela (left hand injury) back soon should they reach the playoffs. The Hawks will be circling their two remaining games with the Magic, whom Atlanta is incredibly likely to face in the play-in matchup for the No. 7 seed. The two teams, who have been swapping spots in the standings all season, are neck-and-neck in games back. -- Herring

16. Dallas Mavericks

• 2024-25 record: 37-39

• Previous ranking: 19

• Next games: vs. ATL (Apr. 2), @ LAC (Apr. 4), @ LAC (Apr. 5)

The Mavs will at least get a glimpse of general manager Nico Harrison's vision of the NBA's biggest and most dynamic frontcourt down the stretch. Anthony Davis (adductor strain) and Daniel Gafford (knee sprain) recently returned from extended injury absences, and Dereck Lively II (ankle stress fracture) is on the verge of doing so. Davis has averaged 14.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in four games since returning, chipping off rust while dealing with a minutes restriction. Gafford had 17 points and 7 rebounds in 19 minutes during Monday's loss to the Nets, his first game back. -- MacMahon

17. Sacramento Kings

• 2024-25 record: 36-39

• Previous ranking: 15

• Next games: @ WAS (Apr. 2), @ CHA (Apr. 4), @ CLE (Apr. 6), @ DET (Apr. 7)

Despite losing six of their past seven games, the Kings are still clinging to the 10th and final play-in spot in the West. Durant's injury improves Sacramento's chances at postseason play as they are 1 games ahead of the Suns. But the head-to-head tiebreaker is up for grabs on the last day of the regular season as they face off in Sacramento. Between now and then, the Kings' more favorable schedule makes them BPI's favorites to reach the play-in in 85% of simulations. -- Pelton

18. Orlando Magic

• 2024-25 record: 37-40

• Previous ranking: 18

• Next games: @ WAS (Apr. 3), vs. ATL (Apr. 8)

The Magic are locked in a battle for seeding in the play-in tournament as they've slipped behind the Hawks for seventh. If they fall any lower, advancing with a single play-in win would be off the table. Orlando and Atlanta will play twice in the season's final five games, starting Tuesday at Amway Arena. The Magic have gone 5-2 in their past seven games but haven't made up any ground on the Hawks. -- Pelton

19. Chicago Bulls

• 2024-25 record: 34-42

• Previous ranking: 21

• Next games: vs. POR (Apr. 4), @ CHA (Apr. 6), @ CLE (Apr. 8)

Keep your eyes on Josh Giddey entering free agency. The Bulls' recent surge allowed them to briefly set their sights on moving up in the standings for the East play-in tournament before settling back to No. 10 this week, but the most important thing to watch down the stretch will be how Giddey finishes the season. His numbers have been impressive since the All-Star break and, along with Coby White, he's given the Bulls a backcourt to build around. However, Giddey's finish, including during any postseason, will be key to proving he is a different player than the one who got benched in Oklahoma City in last season's playoffs. -- Collier

20. Phoenix Suns

• 2024-25 record: 35-41

• Previous ranking: 17

• Next games: @ BOS (Apr. 4), @ NYK (Apr. 6), vs. GS (Apr. 8)

Will Kevin Durant's sprained ankle dash any hopes of the Suns making at least the play-in tournament? Before Durant got hurt in a blowout loss to the Rockets, handing them their third loss in a row, Phoenix had won five out of six. They're only 1 games behind the No. 10 Kings, whom they face on the last day of the season. But with Durant sidelined at least a week and with upcoming games against the Celtics, Knicks, Warriors and Thunder it seems as though the sun is beginning to set on Phoenix's season. -- McMenamin

21. Miami Heat

• 2024-25 record: 34-41

• Previous ranking: 23

• Next games: @ BOS (Apr. 2), vs. MEM (Apr. 3), vs. MIL (Apr. 5), vs. PHI (Apr. 7)

After following up a 10-game losing streak with a five-game winning streak, Miami has given itself a chance to get back into the 7-8 play-in game. For Miami, getting into the playoffs means avoiding having two unprotected picks out in the future -- something the Heat would very much like to avoid. -- Bontemps

22. Portland Trail Blazers

• 2024-25 record: 33-43

• Previous ranking: 20

• Next games: @ TOR (Apr. 3), @ CHI (Apr. 4), vs. SA (Apr. 6)

A four-game losing streak has probably taken the possibility of the Blazers reaching the play-in tournament off the table. They're 3.5 games back from the Kings, and would also have to pass the Suns to finish at No.10 in the standings. At some point soon, Portland's focus may shift to finishing as high in the lottery as possible. The Blazers and Spurs will most likely enter the lottery eighth and ninth, with that order to be determined. The two teams play Sunday in Portland. -- Pelton

23. New Orleans Pelicans

• 2024-25 record: 21-54

• Previous ranking: 27

• Next games: @ LAC (Apr. 2), @ LAL (Apr. 4), vs. MIL (Apr. 6), @ BKN (Apr. 8)

Bad news on the injury front continues for New Orleans, which announced Monday that star forward Zion Williamson (backbone contusion) and guard CJ McCollum (right foot bone contusion) would miss the remainder of the season due to injury. There's also a chance that three other players -- Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, and Herbert Jones -- could miss at least part of next season recovering from injuries that ended their 2024-25 campaign. With injuries derailing this team's season early, the Pelicans need to finish 2024-25 with an eye on the draft and roster construction to fill in expected gaps they'll have to start next season. -- Wright

24. San Antonio Spurs

• 2024-25 record: 31-44

• Previous ranking: 22

• Next games: @ DEN (Apr. 2), vs. CLE (Apr. 6), @ POR (Apr. 6), @ LAC (Apr. 8)

San Antonio will need a miracle to nudge its way into the play-in tournament, but that doesn't mean the Spurs won't close out the season fighting hard to make that goal a reality. The problem is that four of San Antonio's eight opponents down the stretch own records of .500 or better, and the Spurs close the regular season with five road outings. Despite playing without Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox, the Spurs still have several young players auditioning for future roles. It's worth watching whether Stephon Castle will cement what appears to be a Rookie of the Year season. -- Wright

25. Toronto Raptors

• 2024-25 record: 28-48

• Previous ranking: 25

• Next games: vs. POR (Apr. 3), vs. DET (Apr. 4), @ BKN (Apr. 6)

While Toronto won't get to see what Brandon Ingram looks like with this group before the end of the season, the Raptors are getting chances to see Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley together, after the two of them have rarely shared any court time due to injuries since Quickley arrived last season. After being eliminated from the postseason on Tuesday night, the Raptors' hopes now lie in the next few games which will at least continue to provide some evidence of what that duo could look like moving forward. -- Bontemps

26. Brooklyn Nets

• 2024-25 record: 25-51

• Previous ranking: 24

• Next games: vs. MIN (Apr. 3), vs. TOR (Apr. 6), vs. NO (Apr. 8)

Even as Brooklyn remains in striking distance of the tanking Sixers for the NBA's fifth-worst mark -- and the 10.5% chance at the top pick in the lottery -- it's clear that first-year Nets coach Jordi Fernandez is trying to squeeze whatever he can out of this group. The Nets won back-to-back games this week for the first time since the All-Star break against the Wizards and Mavericks. -- Herring

27. Philadelphia 76ers

• 2024-25 record: 23-53

• Previous ranking: 26

• Next games: vs. MIL (Apr. 3), vs. MIN (Apr. 5), @ MIA (Apr. 7)

After Brooklyn pulled off back-to-back victories, Philadelphia now holds a "lead" over the Nets for fifth place in the NBA's Draft Lottery standings -- a massively important position for the 76ers to be in, given their pick needs to fall inside the top 6 spots to avoid sending it to the Thunder. Finishing fifth, rather than sixth, will give Philadelphia a nearly two-thirds chance of keeping the pick. This is the main focus for Philadelphia over the next week and a half. -- Bontemps

28. Charlotte Hornets

• 2024-25 record: 19-56

• Previous ranking: 28

• Next games: @ IND (Apr. 2), vs. SAC (Apr. 4), vs. CHI (Apr. 6), vs. MEM (Apr. 8)

More than anything, Charlotte -- even after its Monday win over Utah -- will want to stay positioned in the bottom three of the league's standings to grab the top lottery odds along with the Jazz and Wizards. With LaMelo Ball (ankle and wrist) ruled out for the rest of the season, and the club sitting two games worse than the Pelicans in the overall standings, the Hornets seem increasingly likely to finish where they want to be -- at the bottom. -- Herring

29. Washington Wizards

• 2024-25 record: 16-59

• Previous ranking: 30

• Next games: vs. SAC (Apr. 2), vs. ORL (Apr. 3), @ BOS (Apr. 6), @ IND (Apr. 8)