{"id":21167,"date":"2025-05-09T13:28:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T13:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/21167\/"},"modified":"2025-05-09T13:28:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T13:28:28","slug":"power-rankings-week-24-rockets-on-the-rise-with-2-weeks-left","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/21167\/","title":{"rendered":"Power Rankings, Week 24: Rockets on the rise with 2 weeks left"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1682158\" class=\"wp-image-1682158\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2203485683-scaled-e1743429720814-1568x883.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1082\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1682158\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Rockets enter Week 24 two games ahead of the 3rd-place Nuggets in the West.<\/p>\n<p>The Oklahoma City Thunder have just 12 losses, 14 fewer than every other team in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re a young team, but the Thunder have been so dominant (still holding the best point differential in NBA history) that it would be a huge surprise if they didn\u2019t reach the Western Conference Finals.<\/p>\n<p>Who they could face there is anybody\u2019s guess. With two weeks left in the season, six games in the loss column separate the second-place Houston Rockets from the eighth-place LA Clippers. There\u2019s no telling what the first-round matchups will be or which teams will end up on the opposite side of the bracket from Oklahoma City, and there\u2019s reason to believe in any of the other seven teams as the one that could win (at least) two series.<\/p>\n<p>Every team between the Rockets and Clippers could go up or down in the next two weeks, especially because there are still 12 games to be played between teams 2-8 in the West. The Rockets and sixth-place Golden State Warriors will each play in five of those games, while the Denver Nuggets will have four. Those games will go a long way in determining who plays who in the first round (and which two teams will have to go through the Play-In), but they\u2019ll also be potential playoff previews.<\/p>\n<p>Note: With their results not mattering much, we continue to recap the season for the bottom five teams in the East and the bottom four in the West. This week\u2019s notes for those teams will focus on their defense, with offensive notes having come <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/power-rankings-2024-25-week-23\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">last week<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Plus-Minus Players of the Week<\/p>\n<p>Teams of the Week<\/p>\n<p>Make It Last Forever: Miami (3-0) \u2014 Never count out the Heat.<br \/>\nSomething Just Ain\u2019t Right: Milwaukee (0-4) \u2014 The good news is that the Bucks probably can\u2019t slide any further.<\/p>\n<p>* * *<\/p>\n<p>East vs. West<\/p>\n<p>The West is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/traditional?Conference=West&amp;Season=2024-25&amp;SeasonType=Regular+Season&amp;VsConference=East&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=W_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">232-184<\/a> (.558) against the East in interconference games, clinching a winning record (for the 23rd time in the last 26 seasons) on Thursday, though the East was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/traditional?Conference=East&amp;DateFrom=03%2F24%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F30%2F2025&amp;Season=2024-25&amp;SeasonType=Regular+Season&amp;VsConference=West&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=W\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">15-13<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n<p>Schedule strength through Week 23<\/p>\n<p>Toughest: 1. Utah, 2. New Orleans, 3. Minnesota<br \/>\nEasiest: 1. Cleveland, 2. New York, 3. Orlando<br \/>\nSchedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record.<\/p>\n<p>* * *<\/p>\n<p>Movement in the Rankings<\/p>\n<p>High jumps of the week: Houston (+4), Dallas (+3), Orlando (+3)<br \/>\nFree falls of the week: Phoenix (-4), Milwaukee (-3), Philadelphia (-3), Portland (-3)<\/p>\n<p>* * *<\/p>\n<p>Week 24 Team to Watch<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/rockets?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Houston<\/a> \u2014 The Rockets have won 12 of their last 13 games and sit in second place in the West. But none of those 12 wins have come against teams that have winning records, so they\u2019ll be tested as they face the Lakers (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/game\/hou-vs-lal-0022401096\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Monday, 10 p.m. ET on TNT<\/a>), Thunder and Warriors this week.<\/p>\n<p>* * *<\/p>\n<p>Previously\u2026<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced\/?sort=OFF_RATING&amp;dir=-1\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">OffRtg<\/a>: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced\/?sort=DEF_RATING&amp;dir=-1\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">DefRtg<\/a>: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced\/?sort=NET_RATING&amp;dir=-1\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">NetRtg<\/a>: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced\/?sort=PACE&amp;dir=-1\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Pace<\/a>: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)<\/p>\n<p>The league has averaged 113.7 points scored per 100 possessions and 99.6 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes this season.<\/p>\n<p>NBA.com\u2019s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man\u2019s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/johnschuhmann.bsky.social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">contact him via Bluesky<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>#1<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633172_49_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/thunder\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>Last Week:1<\/p>\n<p>Record: 62-12<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 119.1 (4) DefRtg: 106.1 (1) NetRtg: +13.0 (1) Pace: 100.7 (8)<\/p>\n<p>The Thunder aren\u2019t slowing down and now lead the Cavs by three games in the loss column for the league\u2019s best record overall. They\u2019ve won nine straight, with six of the nine wins having come against teams with winning records.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Thunder have the best record (24-8) in games played between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/traditional?CF=W_PCT*GE*.565\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the 12 teams<\/a> that are at least 10 games over .500 and are now 20-5 against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?CF=OFF_RATING_RANK*LE*10&amp;Season=2024-25&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the other nine teams<\/a> that rank in the top 10 offensively, having allowed just 108.1 points per 100 possessions over those 25 games. Those nine teams have scored 117.8 per 100 otherwise.<\/p>\n<p>Jalen Williams returned from a seven-game absence on Thursday, when the Thunder started their big lineup \u2013 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein \u2013 against the Grizzlies. Relative to the Thunder\u2019s overall numbers, that lineup has been better offensively (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612760\/lineups-advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*Holmgren:GROUP_NAME*E*Hartenstein&amp;GroupQuantity=5&amp;Season=2024-25\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">125.1 points scored per 100 possessions<\/a>) than defensively, though it\u2019s still played just 116 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>With their win over the Pacers on Saturday (in which they held a great offense to just 111 points on 105 possessions), the Thunder are 27-1 (13-0 at home) against the Eastern Conference, clinching no worse than a tie for the best interconference record in NBA history (three teams hold it at 27-3). They\u2019ll complete their interconference schedule with visits from the Bulls and Pistons early this week.<\/p>\n<p>After that, they\u2019ll play their fifth and final meeting with the second-place Rockets, with Gilgeous-Alexander having averaged <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612760\/players-traditional?OpponentTeamID=1610612745&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PTS\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">36 points<\/a> as the Thunder have won three of the first four.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/thunder?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. CHI, vs. DET, @ HOU, vs. LAL<\/p>\n<p>#2<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633170_374_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/cavaliers\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>Last Week:2<\/p>\n<p>Record: 60-15<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 121.5 (1) DefRtg: 111.9 (8) NetRtg: +9.7 (2) Pace: 100.4 (9)<\/p>\n<p>The Cavs suffered another road loss on Friday, getting beaten by the Pistons on the break and at the basket. But they got a quality win at home two days later to maintain a four-game lead over the Celtics for the No. 1 seed in the East.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>Their win over the Clippers on Sunday gave the Cavs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612739\/seasons?dir=D&amp;sort=WINS\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">their third 60-win season<\/a> in franchise history. They\u2019ve seen the league\u2019s third biggest jump in both winning percentage and point differential per 100 possessions from last season, with the much bigger improvement having come on offense. They\u2019ve now scored 7.9 more points per 100 possessions than the league average, which would be the fourth best differential for any team in the 29 seasons of play-by-play data.<\/p>\n<p>Rebounding has been an issue. The win over the Clippers also ended a streak of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612739\/boxscores-advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">eight straight games<\/a> in which the Cavs grabbed less than 70% of available defensive rebounds. For the season, they\u2019ve seen the league\u2019s fourth biggest drop in defensive rebounding percentage (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612739\/advanced?Split=yoy\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">-2.2%<\/a>), a reminder that they\u2019ve had serious rebounding issues <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612739\/advanced?SeasonType=Playoffs&amp;Split=yoy&amp;Season=2023-24\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">in the playoffs<\/a> each of the last two years.<\/p>\n<p>The Cavs have had their full starting lineup in just four of their last 11 games, but it did eclipse the 200-minute mark on Sunday. It\u2019s outscored opponents by 12.0 points per 100 possessions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/lineups\/advanced?CF=MIN*GE*200&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=NET_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the third best mark<\/a> among the 24 lineups that have played at least 200 total minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Four of the Cavs\u2019 seven remaining games are against New York and Indiana, and they\u2019ll have a rest advantage (after two days off) when the Knicks visit Cleveland on Wednesday. The Cavs (6-0) are one of three undefeated teams \u2013 Boston and Denver are the others \u2013 in rest-advantage games this season.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/cavaliers?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. NYK, @ SAS, vs. SAC<\/p>\n<p>#3<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/celtics\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Boston Celtics<\/a>Last Week:3<\/p>\n<p>Record: 55-19<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 119.7 (2) DefRtg: 110.3 (5) NetRtg: +9.4 (3) Pace: 97.0 (27)<\/p>\n<p>With an eight-game winning streak, the Celtics have clinched no worse than the 2 seed in the East and have the Cavs still needing to keep their foot on the gas.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Celtics won 12 straight quarters before getting outscored (30-27) in the fourth in San Antonio on Saturday. The three best teams in the league have all been at their best (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?Period=1&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=NET_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">plus-15.5 per 100 possessions or better<\/a>) in the first quarter, when Boston has allowed just 105.4 points per 100 possessions.<\/p>\n<p>The first-quarter offense was also kind of ridiculous (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612738\/advanced?Split=ingame&amp;DateFrom=03%2F21%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F29%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">141.6 points scored per 100<\/a>) over their five-game trip out West. Overall, it was the Celtics\u2019 best stretch of offense since early January, even though Derrick White was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612738\/players-traditional?DateFrom=03\/21\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/29\/2025&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=GP\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the only one<\/a> of their top eight guys who played in all five games. They\u2019ve taken an incredible <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/scoring?DateFrom=03\/10\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=PCT_FGA_3PT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">56.8% of their shots<\/a> from 3-point range over the last three weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Seven of the eight games on this winning streak have been on the road, but all eight wins have come against teams that are currently below .500. The Celtics have won their last 15 games, scoring 123.5 points per 100 possessions, against that currently-below-.500 group. They\u2019re a league-best 22-2 (with 13 straight wins) against that group on the road.<\/p>\n<p>Six of the Celtics\u2019 eight remaining games will come against that currently-below-.500 group, with the two exceptions both coming on the road. The first of the two is Monday in Memphis, with the Grizzlies having won <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/game\/0022400345\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the first meeting<\/a> in December.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/celtics?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ MEM, vs. MIA, vs. PHX, vs. WAS<\/p>\n<p>#4<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633174_559_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/rockets\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Houston Rockets<\/a>Last Week:8\u2191<\/p>\n<p>Record: 49-26<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 114.9 (11) DefRtg: 109.7 (4) NetRtg: +5.2 (4) Pace: 98.9 (19)<\/p>\n<p>The Rockets have won 12 of their last 13 games and are two games ahead of the third-place Nuggets in the West.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Rockets rank in the top five on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?CF=OFF_RATING_RANK*LE*5:DEF_RATING_RANK*LE*5&amp;DateFrom=03\/06\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">both ends of the floor<\/a> over the 12-1 stretch, with the bigger improvement obviously coming on offense. The improvement has been mostly about shooting (both in the paint and outside it), but the Rockets have also somehow been a better offensive rebounding team over these last 13 games (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/four-factors?DateFrom=03\/06\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OREB_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">offensive rebounding percentage of 38.4%<\/a>) than they were prior (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/four-factors?DateTo=03\/05\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OREB_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">36.2%<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>The Rockets (46.1%) shot worse than the Jazz (54.4%) on Thursday, but had seven fewer turnovers and 15 more offensive rebounds. It was their 20th win (they\u2019re 20-23) in games in which they had a lower field goal percentage than their opponents, with that total tied (with two Raptors teams that also employed Fred VanVleet) for the most for any team in the last six seasons.<\/p>\n<p>All 12 of the wins in this stretch have come against teams with losing records, and the Rockets\u2019 last win over a team that\u2019s currently over .500 was Feb. 25 vs. Milwaukee. They still have some work to do to secure the 2 seed, with six of their remaining seven games within the top eight in the West. They\u2019re 12-10 (third best) within the top eight, but have lost five of their last six games against the group, having allowed more than 121 points per 100 possessions over those five losses.<\/p>\n<p>Two of their last seven games are at Crypto.com Arena, where the Rockets will be at a rest disadvantage on Monday. Their only meeting against the Lakers (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/game\/lal-vs-hou-0022400491\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">a four-point win<\/a>) was Jan. 5, when the Lakers were a much different team.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/rockets?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ LAL, vs. UTA, vs. OKC, @ GSW<\/p>\n<p>#5<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633173_545_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/warriors\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Golden State Warriors<\/a>Last Week:4\u2193<\/p>\n<p>Record: 43-31<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 113.8 (16) DefRtg: 111.0 (7) NetRtg: +2.7 (10) Pace: 99.6 (16)<\/p>\n<p>The Warriors began a six-game trip by losing two straight for the first time since the trade deadline, getting clobbered in Jimmy Butler\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/jimmy-butler-makes-miami-return\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">return to Miami<\/a>. But they then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/curry-returns-to-warriors-lineup\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">got Stephen Curry back<\/a> and took care of business in New Orleans and San Antonio over the weekend, climbing back into sixth place in the West.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>In only three of Stephen Curry\u2019s first 15 seasons did the Warriors average more shooting opportunities than their opponents, and all three came with very small differentials: +0.1 in 2010-11, +0.1 in \u201919-20 and +0.2 last season. But this year, the Warriors have averaged 3.7 more shooting opportunities than their opponents, the league\u2019s fourth best differential. And that\u2019s been plus-5.8 per game (best in the league) over the 23 games since Butler first suited up.<\/p>\n<p>That differential starts with the Warriors continuing to win the turnover battle almost every night. They\u2019ve committed fewer turnovers than their opponent in 20 of their last 25 games, with a differential of 29 (65-94) over their last five. Butler\u2019s assist\/turnover ratio with Golden State (3.73) is down from his 25 games with Miami (4.00), but would still be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/202710\/advanced?Split=yoy\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the highest mark<\/a> of his career.<\/p>\n<p>Rebounds also help, and the Warriors are one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?CF=OREB_PCT_RANK*LE*10:DREB_PCT_RANK*LE*10&amp;Season=2024-25&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OREB_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">two teams<\/a> \u2013 the Pistons are the other \u2013 that rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage. They\u2019ve outscored their opponents by 43 points on second chances over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612744\/boxscores-misc\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">their last three games<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The last game of the Warriors\u2019 six-game trip (Thursday in L.A.) is the start of a stretch of five games in seven days. They\u2019ll be at a rest disadvantage the following night against the Nuggets, one of three undefeated teams in rest-advantage games.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/warriors?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ MEM, @ LAL, vs. DEN, vs. HOU<\/p>\n<p>#6<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633172_701_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/nuggets\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Denver Nuggets<\/a>Last Week:6<\/p>\n<p>Record: 47-28<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 119.1 (3) DefRtg: 115.0 (20) NetRtg: +4.1 (8) Pace: 100.8 (5)<\/p>\n<p>After going 2-3 over Nikola Joki\u0107\u2019s five-game absence, the Nuggets got the reigning MVP back on Wednesday and got two straight wins for the first time in three weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Nuggets scored more than 125 points per 100 possessions in the wins over Milwaukee and Utah, including 76 on 57 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612743\/onoffcourt-summary?DateFrom=03\/26\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/28\/2025&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=OFF_OFF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">1.33 per<\/a>) in Joki\u0107\u2019s 26 minutes off the floor. After a 1-for-10 performance in Chicago on Monday, Michael Porter Jr. shot 10-for-15 from 3-point range over the two games. He continues to have a huge effective field goal percentage differential in wins (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/1629008\/advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">63.9%<\/a>) vs. losses (52.5%).<\/p>\n<p>With Jamal Murray out against the Jazz on Friday, Peyton Watson was in the starting lineup instead of Russell Westbrook, with Christian Braun the nominal point guard. The starting lineup outscored Utah by 20 points in less than 20 minutes and Watson blocked at least three shots for the third straight game. He continues to be a pretty reticent 3-point shooter (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/1631212?PerMode=Per36\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">just 3.0 attempts per 36 minutes<\/a>), but has shot <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/shooting?CF=PLAYER_NAME*E*Peyton%20Watson&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;PerMode=Totals\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">32-for-70<\/a> (45.7%) from the corners, up from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/shooting?CF=PLAYER_NAME*E*Peyton%20Watson&amp;DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Season=2023-24\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">29% last season<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Nuggets\u2019 continue to flourish on the break, now averaging 20.0 fast break points per game, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612743\/misc?Split=yoy\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">up from 14.3 last season<\/a> and the most for any team in the last six seasons. They\u2019ve outscored their opponents on fast breaks in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612743\/boxscores-misc\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">11 of their last 13 games<\/a>, with double-digit advantages in each of their last three wins.<\/p>\n<p>The Nuggets have scored just a point per possession as they\u2019ve lost their last five games against the Wolves, going back to Game 6 of the Western Conference finals last year. They\u2019ll look to avoid the season sweep on Tuesday, with another potential playoff preview coming at Golden State three nights later.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/nuggets?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. MIN, vs. SAS, @ GSW, vs. IND<\/p>\n<p>#7<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633173_843_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"http:\/\/nba.com\/lakers\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>Last Week:5\u2193<\/p>\n<p>Record: 45-29<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 114.5 (13) DefRtg: 113.8 (15) NetRtg: +0.7 (14) Pace: 98.6 (20)<\/p>\n<p>The Lakers split a pair of thrillers last week before getting a huge win in Memphis to remain in the top four in the West.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>LeBron James <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/events?CFID=&amp;CFPARAMS=&amp;GameEventID=634&amp;GameID=0022401055&amp;Season=2024-25&amp;flag=1&amp;title=James%20Tip%20Layup%20Shot%20(13%20PTS)\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">beat the Pacers at the buzzer<\/a> on Wednesday and then committed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/events?CFID=&amp;CFPARAMS=&amp;GameEventID=661&amp;GameID=0022401063&amp;Season=2024-25&amp;flag=1&amp;title=White%2026%27%203PT%20Jump%20Shot%20(26%20PTS)%20(Giddey%2011%20AST)\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the brutal turnover<\/a> that allowed the Bulls to come back from five points down with less than 12 seconds left two nights later. While the Lakers have a point differential (that of a 39-35 team) that belies their actual record, they have nearly the same record in clutch games (22-14, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/clutch-traditional?PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=W_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">fifth best<\/a>) as they do otherwise (23-15).<\/p>\n<p>They were efficient enough on the other end of the floor to beat the Grizzlies on Saturday, when James, Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and Austin Reaves combined for 85 points and 25 assists. L.A. has still been outscored by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612747\/lineups-advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*Don%C4%8Di%C4%87:GROUP_NAME*E*Reaves:GROUP_NAME*E*James&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;Season=2024-25\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">7.0 points per 100 possessions<\/a> (with sub-par offensive numbers) in 270 total minutes with all three on the floor.<\/p>\n<p>The win in Memphis improved the Lakers to 13-8 (second best) in games played between the top eight teams in the West. They\u2019ve got five more games against that group and their game against the Warriors on Thursday is the start of a stretch of five games in seven days.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/lakers?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. HOU, vs. GSW, vs. NOP, @ OKC<\/p>\n<p>#8<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633172_429_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/timberwolves\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a>Last Week:7\u2193<\/p>\n<p>Record: 43-32<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 115.2 (9) DefRtg: 110.7 (6) NetRtg: +4.5 (6) Pace: 98.2 (24)<\/p>\n<p>The Wolves remain in a tight battle for a top-six spot in the West. After losing to the Pacers for the second time in eight days, they came home and picked up important weekend wins over Phoenix and Detroit.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>Through their first 71 games, the Wolves had outscored their opponents 32 total points in the restricted area. Over their last four games, they\u2019re a plus-102 at the basket, with the much bigger difference coming on offense, where Rudy Gobert has averaged 16.8 points over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/203497\/boxscores-traditional\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the four games<\/a>. His 16 field goal attempts against Detroit on Sunday were tied for the second most in 892 career games (including postseason).<\/p>\n<p>The Wolves\u2019 best frontcourt continues to be Gobert and Naz Reid, with Minnesota having outscored opponents by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612750\/lineups-advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*Reid:GROUP_NAME*E*Gobert&amp;GroupQuantity=2\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">11.0 points per 100 possessions<\/a> in their 862 minutes together. That includes a mark of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612750\/lineups-advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*Reid%3AGROUP_NAME*E*Gobert&amp;GroupQuantity=2&amp;SeasonSegment=Post+All-Star\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">plus-32.8 per 100<\/a> in 120 minutes since the All-Star break.<\/p>\n<p>We seemingly have four teams \u2013 Memphis, Golden State, Minnesota and the LA Clippers \u2013 fighting for the the final two guaranteed playoffs spots in the West. Of that group, the Clippers have the most games remaining (6) against teams currently under .500, though the Wolves have the easiest remaining schedule in regard to cumulative opponent winning percentage, because four of their seven games are against the Nets (x 2), Sixers and Jazz.<\/p>\n<p>There are just two weeks left in the season, but the Wolves have yet to have their longest road trip. It\u2019s five games over 10 days, begins Tuesday in Denver, and includes visits to Brooklyn and Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/timberwolves?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ DEN, @ BKN, @ PHI<\/p>\n<p>#9<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633173_112_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/clippers\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">LA Clippers<\/a>Last Week:9<\/p>\n<p>Record: 42-32<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 113.6 (18) DefRtg: 109.6 (3) NetRtg: +4.0 (9) Pace: 98.5 (22)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612746\/boxscores-advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">A 10-2 stretch<\/a> took the Clippers into sixth place in the West, but they dropped back down to eighth with a loss in Cleveland on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>With that, they\u2019re another solid offensive game or two from being a better-than-average offensive team. The Clippers have scored <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612746\/lineups-advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*Harden:GROUP_NAME*E*Powell:GROUP_NAME*E*Leonard&amp;GroupQuantity=4\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">120.3 per 100<\/a> in 381 total minutes with James Harden, Norman Powell, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac on the floor together, though what would seemingly be their best offensive lineup (with Bogdan Bogdanovi\u0107 as the fifth guy) has played just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612746\/lineups-advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*ogdanovi%C4%87:GROUP_NAME*E*Powell\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">14 total minutes<\/a> over five games.<\/p>\n<p>After averaging just 11.8 points on 40% shooting over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/1626181\/boxscores-traditional\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">his first six games back<\/a> from an extended absence, Powell busted out (34 points on 13-for-24) in the loss in Cleveland. But the Clips were outscored by 14 points in his 8:37 on the bench.<\/p>\n<p>Their loss in Cleveland was the start of the Clippers\u2019 second (and final) stretch of five games in seven days. But Leonard sat that game out, so he should be available for their visit to Orlando on Monday, the start of a stretch of five straight games against teams with losing records. The Clips have won their last four games against that group by an average of 26.3 points.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/clippers?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ ORL, vs. NOP, vs. DAL, vs. DAL<\/p>\n<p>#10<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633169_607_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/knicks\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New York Knicks<\/a>Last Week:10<\/p>\n<p>Record: 47-27<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 117.6 (5) DefRtg: 113.4 (13) NetRtg: +4.2 (7) Pace: 97.9 (26)<\/p>\n<p>Cameron Payne was added to the list of injured Knicks guards last week, but they\u2019ve won four of their last five games to maintain a firm grip on the 3 seed in the East.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>Overall, the Knicks offense has been worse over Jalen Brunson\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/jalen-brunson-realistically-hoping-to-play-for-knicks-before-playoffs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">12-game absence<\/a> (114.6 points scored per 100 possessions) than it was through their first 62 games (118.2 per 100). But their four games last week (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612752\/advanced?DateFrom=03%2F25%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F30%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">121.6 per 100<\/a>) were their best stretch on that end of the floor since the All-Star break. And two of those games came against teams \u2013 the Clippers and Bucks \u2013 that rank in the top 11 defensively.<\/p>\n<p>The Knicks have averaged 332 passes per 24 minutes of possession and recorded assists on 68.2% of their field goals (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?DateFrom=03\/07\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=AST_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">seventh in the league<\/a>) over Brunson\u2019s 12-game absence, up from 303 per 24 and 62.2% (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?DateTo=03\/06\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=AST_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">20th<\/a>) through their first 62 games.<\/p>\n<p>OG Anunoby appears to like the new offense, averaging <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612752\/players-traditional?PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=03%2F20%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F30%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">28.3 points<\/a> on 56\/41\/97 shooting splits over the last six games, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/1628384\/shooting?DateFrom=03%2F20%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F30%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">74% of his field goals<\/a> having been assisted. That shooting includes 10-for-15 on corner 3-pointers, with Anunoby now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/shooting?DistanceRange=By%20Zone&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=Corner%203%20FGM\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">fourth<\/a> in total corner 3s for the season, trailing league-leader Mikal Bridges by 14.<\/p>\n<p>The Knicks are one of three teams \u2013 the Hawks and Clippers are the others \u2013 with three back-to-backs still left on their schedule. Two of their three are this week and they\u2019ll be at rest disadvantages in Cleveland on Wednesday and again against the Suns over the weekend.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/knicks?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. PHI, @ CLE, @ ATL, vs. PHX<\/p>\n<p>#11<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633171_307_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/pacers\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Indiana Pacers<\/a>Last Week:12\u2191<\/p>\n<p>Record: 43-31<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 115.4 (8) DefRtg: 113.8 (16) NetRtg: +1.6 (13) Pace: 100.7 (7)<\/p>\n<p>The Pacers are still in fourth place in the East, though their defense struggled in losses to top-four teams in the West last week.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Pacers scored 162 points on 102 possessions (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/boxscores-advanced?dir=D&amp;sort=OFF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">158.8 per 100<\/a>) in their win in Washington on Thursday, voluntarily taking shot-clock violations on their last three possessions. It was still the second most efficient performance for any team in any game in the 29 seasons for which we have play-by-play data, with the only performance that tops it (the Clippers\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/boxscores-advanced?Season=1997-98&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=OFF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">152 on 94<\/a> against Toronto in 1998) having come <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/johnschuhmann.bsky.social\/post\/3llfp5vqklk2c\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">more than 27 years ago<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But Indiana allowed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612754\/advanced?Split=general&amp;DateFrom=03%2F26%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F29%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">126 per 100<\/a> over their losses to the Lakers and Thunder last week, with the opponents combining to shoot 34-for-74 (46%) from 3-point range. The Pacers still have the league\u2019s fifth lowest opponent 3-point rate (40.4% of their opponents\u2019 shots), but have seen the biggest jump from last season (32.7%, lowest by a wide margin).<\/p>\n<p>The Pacers are still one of six teams with winning records (16-15) in games played between the 14 teams that are currently over .500, having picked up an impressive win (and completing a season sweep) over the Wolves last Monday. Tyrese Haliburton had 11 assists and just one turnover in that one and now has an assist\/turnover ratio of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/1630169\/advanced?Split=yoy\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">5.61<\/a>, which would be the second highest mark for a player who\u2019s averaged eight assists or more in at least 50 games in the 48 seasons that turnovers have been counted.<\/p>\n<p>The Pacers hold the tie-breaker over the fifth-place Pistons and have the easier remaining schedule, with two of their three remaining games against teams currently over .500 against the Cavs in the final week.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/pacers?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. SAC, vs. CHA, vs. UTA, @ DEN<\/p>\n<p>#12<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633170_356_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/pistons\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Detroit Pistons<\/a>Last Week:14\u2191<\/p>\n<p>Record: 42-33<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 114.6 (12) DefRtg: 112.0 (9) NetRtg: +2.6 (11) Pace: 100.3 (10)<\/p>\n<p>The Pistons won <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612765\/boxscores-advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the first three games<\/a> of Cade Cunningham\u2019s current absence (four games), beating the Cavs on Friday and climbing into fifth place in the East. But they went on the road and lost in Minnesota over the weekend.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>Those first three games without Cunningham were easily the Pistons\u2019 best stretch of offense this season, just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612765\/boxscores-advanced?CF=OFF_RATING*G*130\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the second, third and fourth times<\/a> they\u2019ve scored more than 130 points per 100 possessions. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612765\/players-traditional?DateFrom=03\/23\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/28\/2025&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PTS\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Eight Pistons<\/a> averaged double-figures over the three games, with Tim Hardaway Jr.\u2019s 32 points (including 7-for-11 from 3-point range) against the Cavs being the highlight.<\/p>\n<p>The hot offense continued through the first quarter (34 points on 24 possessions) in Minnesota on Sunday. Then the Pistons scored just 70 on 72 over the final 36 minutes, blowing a 16-point lead with three guys getting ejected midway through the second period. (Yes, Isaiah Stewart and Ron Holland II were two of the three.) That ended a streak of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612765\/boxscores-traditional?CF=PLUS_MINUS*G*0&amp;Period=1\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">15 straight wins<\/a> in games that the Pistons led after the first quarter.<\/p>\n<p>The Pistons have been the league\u2019s most improved defensive team, allowing 6.0 fewer points per 100 possessions than they did last season (118.0, 25th). But they still rank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/traditional?PerMode=Per100Possessions&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PF&amp;Season=2024-25\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">in the top five<\/a> in fouls per 100 possessions for the fifth straight season.<\/p>\n<p>The loss in Minnesota was game two in a stretch where the Pistons are playing six of seven against teams that rank in the top 10 offensively. Next (after two days off) is their second game against the Thunder in a span of 19 days, with the two teams having combined to score just 105.3 points per 100 possessions in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/game\/okc-vs-det-0022400969\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the Thunder\u2019s six-point win<\/a> on March 15.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/pistons?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ OKC, @ TOR, vs. MEM<\/p>\n<p>#13<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633174_676_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/grizzlies\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Memphis Grizzlies<\/a>Last Week:13<\/p>\n<p>Record: 44-30<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 117.5 (6) DefRtg: 112.6 (12) NetRtg: +4.9 (5) Pace: 103.9 (1)<\/p>\n<p>The Grizzlies had been on a slide and just got wiped out in the final 7 1\/2 minutes in Oklahoma City on Thursday, but it was still stunning that Taylor Jenkins was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/grizzlies-part-ways-taylor-jenkins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">fired the next day<\/a>, with only nine games left in the regular season.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Grizzlies were the league\u2019s fifth best defensive team over Jenkins\u2019 five full seasons as head coach. If you count this season, he also accounts for four of the 10 times in franchise history that they\u2019ve had a better-than-average offense.<\/p>\n<p>With their losses to the Thunder and Lakers last week, the Grizzlies continue to have the worst record (6-16, with six straight losses) in games played between the top eight teams in the West. They\u2019ve scored just 110.8 points per 100 possessions over those 22 games, though the other end of the floor was the bigger issue against L.A. on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/new-coach-tuomas-iisalo-takes-control-of-grizzlies\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Interim head coach<\/a> Tuomas Iisalo put Zach Edey back in the starting lineup (after three games off the bench) on Saturday, when Ja Morant also returned from a six-game absence. The numbers have generally been terrific (plus-8.7 points per 100 possessions) when Jaren Jackson Jr. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612763\/lineups-advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*J.%20Jackson&amp;GroupQuantity=2\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">has shared the frontcourt<\/a> with Edey, Santi Aldama or Brandon Clarke, or even with two of the three (plus-14.6 per 100 possessions in 166 total minutes).<\/p>\n<p>The Grizzles have three more games within the top eight in the West, and they\u2019ll be at a rest disadvantage in two of the three. The first of those rest-disadvantage games is Tuesday against the sixth-place Warriors, who they lead by one game.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/grizzlies?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. BOS, vs. GSW, @ MIA, @ DET<\/p>\n<p>#14<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633171_470_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/bucks\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>Last Week:11\u2193<\/p>\n<p>Record: 40-34<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 114.2 (15) DefRtg: 112.6 (11) NetRtg: +1.6 (12) Pace: 100.1 (13)<\/p>\n<p>After winning the first two games of Damian Lillard\u2019s absence, the Bucks have lost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612749\/boxscores-advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">four straight<\/a>, sliding to sixth place in the East.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The losing streak has been the Bucks\u2019 worst stretch of defense (126.5 points allowed per 100 possessions) since the All-Star break. Their opponents haven\u2019t been shooting exceptionally well (or a lot) from 3-point range, but they just don\u2019t turn teams over and they haven\u2019t been rebounding as well as they usually do.<\/p>\n<p>If they remain the No. 6 seed, the Bucks are looking at a first round series with the Knicks, against whom the Bucks went 0-3 this season. They shot <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612749\/boxscores-four-factors?OpponentTeamID=1610612752\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">much more effectively<\/a> than New York on Friday, but, thanks to big turnover and rebound differentials, had 17 fewer shooting opportunities. They\u2019ve averaged 3.3 fewer than their opponents (fifth worst discrepancy) for the season, the third straight year they\u2019ve been in the bottom six.<\/p>\n<p>The Bucks are now just 8-9 when they\u2019ve had only one of Lillard or Giannis Antetokounmpo, with five of those nine losses having come against teams \u2013 Atlanta (x 2), Charlotte, Chicago and Phoenix \u2013 that are currently below .500.<\/p>\n<p>The Bucks will play five of their next six games against that below-.500 group, with two of those five coming against the Pelicans. They\u2019ll be at a rest disadvantage in New Orleans on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/bucks?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. PHX, @ PHI, @ MIA, @ NOP<\/p>\n<p>#15<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633171_466_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/magic\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Orlando Magic<\/a>Last Week:18\u2191<\/p>\n<p>Record: 36-39<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 108.5 (27) DefRtg: 109.2 (2) NetRtg: -0.7 (18) Pace: 96.6 (29)<\/p>\n<p>The Magic blew a double-digit, second-half lead against Dallas on Thursday, but have won four of their last five games and remain in the top eight in the East.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>Though they scored less than a point per possession against the Mavs, the last five games have been the Magic\u2019s best stretch of offense (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612753\/advanced?Split=general&amp;DateFrom=03%2F21%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F29%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">117.3 points per 100<\/a>) since November. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner haven\u2019t shot well from 3-point range, but have combined to average <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612753\/players-traditional?DateFrom=03%2F21%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F29%2F2025&amp;PerMode=PerGame\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">54.2 points<\/a> and 9.0 assists over the five games.<\/p>\n<p>The Magic are the only team with two players with a usage rate of 30% or higher, though Wagner (55.7%) and Banchero (55.5%) rank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/advanced?CF=GP*GE*35:MIN*GE*20:USG_PCT*GE*30&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=TS_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">eighth and 10th<\/a> in true shooting percentage among the 11 players in the 30-and-higher group. Banchero\u2019s 55.5% is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/1631094\/advanced?Split=yoy\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the highest mark of his career<\/a>, and he\u2019s at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/advanced?CF=GP*GE*8:MIN*GE*20:USG_PCT*GE*30&amp;DateFrom=02\/27\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=TS_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">62.4%<\/a> over the last 15 games.<\/p>\n<p>It was noted in this space last week that the Magic bench hasn\u2019t been nearly as good as it was last season, but Anthony Black has provided a lift over this 4-1 stretch, averaging 14.4 points on an effective field goal percentage of 62%. Black actually ranks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612753\/players-traditional?PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=MIN\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">third<\/a> on the team in total minutes this season, though he hasn\u2019t started nearly as many games (nine) as he did as a rookie (33).<\/p>\n<p>The Magic have three games remaining against teams with winning records, and they\u2019ll have rest advantages in two of the three, including Monday against the Clippers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/magic?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. LAC, @ SAS, @ WAS<\/p>\n<p>#16<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633171_473_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/hawks\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta Hawks<\/a>Last Week:15\u2193<\/p>\n<p>Record: 36-38<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 113.2 (19) DefRtg: 114.7 (18) NetRtg: -1.5 (19) Pace: 103.6 (2)<\/p>\n<p>The Hawks had a chance to get back to .500 last week, but lost the first two games of a three-game trip before getting a comfortable win in Milwaukee on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Hawks have scored <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612737\/advanced?SeasonSegment=&amp;Split=general&amp;DateFrom=03%2F18%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F30%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">126.4 points per 100 possessions<\/a> over their last six games, their best stretch of offense this season. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612737\/players-traditional?DateFrom=03\/18\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PTS\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Seven Hawks<\/a> have averaged double-figures over that stretch, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/boxscores-traditional?CF=TEAM_ABBREVIATION*E*ATL&amp;DateFrom=03\/18\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PTS\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the highest-scoring performance<\/a> coming from Zaccharie Risacher. The rookie scored a career-high 36 points on Sunday and now has an effective field goal percentage of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/advanced?CF=FGA*GE*200&amp;DateFrom=01\/30\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=EFG_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">62.3%<\/a> over his 27 games since missing seven of eight in late January.<\/p>\n<p>On the other end of the floor, the Hawks have been fouling too much. They\u2019ve been outscored by 50 points at the line over those same six games, with their opponents registering a free throw rate of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/four-factors?DateFrom=03\/18\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=OPP_FTA_RATE\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">34.1 attempts per 100 shots from the field<\/a>. Dominick Barlow (in the rotation with Clint Capela out) has committed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612737\/players-traditional?DateFrom=03\/18\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;PerMode=Per36&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PF\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">6.5 fouls per 36 minutes<\/a> over that stretch.<\/p>\n<p>The Hawks have the easiest remaining schedule in regard to opponent strength among the four teams in the East Play-In, with only one of their eight games coming against a team \u2013 the Knicks \u2013 that\u2019s currently above .500. They\u2019re 20-16 (5-4 since the All-Star break) against their fellow sub-.500 teams after their loss in Miami on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>While the schedule is easy in regard to the opponents, the Hawks are the only team in the league with three rest-disadvantage games left on their schedule. The first of those is in Dallas on Wednesday, with the Hawks just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612737\/boxscores-advanced?VsConference=West&amp;Location=Road\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">4-10<\/a> in Western Conference arenas.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/hawks?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. POR, @ DAL, vs. NYK, vs. UTA<\/p>\n<p>#17<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633173_976_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/kings\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sacramento Kings<\/a>Last Week:16\u2193<\/p>\n<p>Record: 36-38<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 115.5 (7) DefRtg: 115.3 (22) NetRtg: +0.2 (15) Pace: 99.3 (17)<\/p>\n<p>The Kings ended <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612758\/boxscores-advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">a four-game losing streak<\/a> with a win over the Blazers on Thursday, but they then began a six-game trip by getting blown out in Orlando.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Kings have ranked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?DateFrom=03\/09\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">28th<\/a> defensively (123 points allowed per 100 possessions) as they\u2019ve gone 3-9 over the last 22 days. Six of those 12 games have come against teams that rank in the top 10 offensively, but they also allowed the 27th-ranked Magic to score 121 points on 97 possessions on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Opponents have shot a pretty incredible <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/opponent?DateFrom=03\/09\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=OPP_FG3_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">44.9% from 3-point range<\/a> over the 12 games. This would be the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612758\/opponent?Split=yoy\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">fifth straight season<\/a> (and the sixth time in the last eight years) that the Kings have allowed their opponents to shoot 37% or better on at least 30 3-point attempts per game. No other franchise has had that happen more than four times in the 46-year history of the 3-point line.<\/p>\n<p>On March 5, the Kings were four games over .500 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/traditional?Conference=West&amp;DateTo=03%2F04%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">in eighth place<\/a> in the West. Now they\u2019re in danger of falling out of the Play-In group, leading the 11th-place Suns by a game and a half. Phoenix has the tougher remaining schedule in regard to cumulative opponent winning percentage, but both teams have five games remaining against teams with winning records, and they\u2019ll face each other (in Sacramento) on the last day of the season.<\/p>\n<p>The Kings\u2019 loss in Orlando on Saturday was the start of a six-game trip through the Eastern Conference. They\u2019re just 11-14 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612758\/boxscores-advanced?VsConference=East&amp;Location=Road\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">5-5 on the road<\/a>) against the East, with a December loss to the Pacers being one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612758\/boxscores-traditional?dir=A&amp;sort=PLUS_MINUS\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the four times<\/a> prior to Saturday that they\u2019ve been beat by more than 25 points. They complete the season series in Indiana on Monday night.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/kings?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ IND, @ WAS, @ CHA, @ CLE<\/p>\n<p>#18<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633170_776_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/bulls\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chicago Bulls<\/a>Last Week:20\u2191<\/p>\n<p>Record: 33-41<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 113.0 (20) DefRtg: 115.3 (24) NetRtg: -2.4 (21) Pace: 103.4 (3)<\/p>\n<p>The Bulls\u2019 miraculous win over the Lakers on Thursday (with Josh Giddey hitting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/events?CFID=&amp;CFPARAMS=&amp;GameEventID=668&amp;GameID=0022401063&amp;Season=2024-25&amp;flag=1&amp;title=Giddey%2046%27%203PT%20Driving%20Floating%20Jump%20Shot%20(25%20PTS)%20(Williams%204%20AST)\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the game-winner<\/a> from halfcourt) capped their best stretch of the season, where they went 9-2, with seven of those nine wins against teams still playing for playoff or Play-In position. But they couldn\u2019t keep it going against the Mavs over the weekend, with a late comeback coming up short.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Bulls have seen the league\u2019s biggest jumps in pace, 3-point rate (3PA\/FGA) and assist rate (AST\/FGM) from last season, but have been a tick worse offensively (0.7 fewer points per 100 possessions than the league average) than they were in 2023-24 (0.6 fewer than average). Still they\u2019ve outscored their opponents by 6.4 points per game from beyond the arc, the league\u2019s fifth best differential. And they were a plus-21 from deep in the two-point win over the Lakers on Thursday, draining three 3s in the final 10 seconds.<\/p>\n<p>They did rank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?DateFrom=03\/06\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/27\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ninth<\/a> offensively over that 9-2 stretch, with Coby White averaging <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612741\/players-traditional?DateFrom=03\/06\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/27\/2025&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PTS\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">30.2 points<\/a> on 50% shooting. He\u2019s now scored more than 20 points in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/1629632\/boxscores-traditional\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">15 straight games<\/a>, finishing the Bulls\u2019 six-game trip with games of 35, 36 and 37.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, the Bulls have been the league\u2019s most improved team since the All-Star break, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612741\/advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">9.4 points per 100 possessions<\/a> better than they were before the break. When you take the league average (higher since the break) into account, the bigger improvement has been on defense, where they rank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ninth<\/a> since the break, even though eight of their 19 post-break games have come against teams that rank in the top 10 offensively.<\/p>\n<p>The Bulls have eight games remaining, two (on the road) against the first place teams in each conference, and six against teams with losing records. Chicago is one of two winless teams (0-6) in rest-disadvantage games and will be at a disadvantage against the Raptors on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/bulls?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ OKC, vs. TOR, vs. POR, @ CHA<\/p>\n<p>#19<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633174_914_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mavs.com\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Dallas Mavericks<\/a>Last Week:22\u2191<\/p>\n<p>Record: 37-38<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 114.3 (14) DefRtg: 114.7 (17) NetRtg: -0.4 (16) Pace: 100.2 (12)<\/p>\n<p>Anthony Davis is back and the Mavs have won <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612742\/boxscores-advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">four of their last five games<\/a> to climb back to ninth place in the West and within one game of .500.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>Three of the four wins have come against teams \u2013 Detroit, Orlando and Chicago \u2013 that are still playing for something. Though the defense wasn\u2019t good in their loss in New York on Tuesday, the Mavs have allowed just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612742\/advanced?Split=ingame&amp;DateFrom=03%2F21%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F29%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">110.5 points per 100 possessions<\/a> over the five games, down from 127.3 over their previous five. They\u2019ve seen a big jump in opponent turnover rate, committing 13 fewer than the Bulls (their best differential of the season) in their one-point win on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>The Mavs are now 4-0 with Davis in uniform, including 3-0 since he returned from a six-week absence. But they were outscored by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612742\/onoffcourt-summary?DateFrom=03\/24\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/29\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=ON_NET_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">7.3 points per 100 possessions<\/a> (scoring an anemic 101.1 per 100) in his 85 minutes on the floor last week. He shot just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/shooting?PerMode=Totals&amp;DistanceRange=By+Zone&amp;TeamID=1610612742&amp;DateFrom=03%2F24%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F29%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">10-for-23<\/a> in the paint in those first three games back.<\/p>\n<p>The Mavs continue to have seen the league\u2019s biggest drop in 3-point rate, from 44.1% of their shots (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/scoring?Season=2023-24&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=PCT_FGA_3PT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">second<\/a>) last season to just 39.3% (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/scoring?dir=D&amp;sort=PCT_FGA_3PT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">23rd<\/a>) this season. They\u2019ve taken just 31.5% of their shots (the league\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/scoring?DateFrom=03\/14\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/30\/2025&amp;Season=2024-25&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PCT_FGA_3PT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">lowest rate<\/a> by a wide margin) from beyond the arc over their last eight games.<\/p>\n<p>The Mavs have the easiest remaining schedule of the three teams \u2013 Dallas, Sacramento and Phoenix \u2013 fighting for the last two Play-In spots in the West. They have three games remaining against teams currently below .500, with two of those in the next three days. They\u2019ll have a rest advantage against the Hawks on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/mavericks?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. BKN, vs. ATL, @ LAC, @ LAC<\/p>\n<p>#20<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633171_632_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/heat\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Miami Heat<\/a>Last Week:21\u2191<\/p>\n<p>Record: 33-41<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 111.6 (21) DefRtg: 112.3 (10) NetRtg: -0.7 (17) Pace: 96.8 (28)<\/p>\n<p>The Heat have followed their 10-game losing streak with four straight wins, clobbering Jimmy Butler and the Warriors on Tuesday. But they still sit in 10th place in the East.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Heat scored just 104.8 points per 100 possessions over the losing streak, but the four games since have been their best four-game stretch of offense this season (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612748\/advanced?DateFrom=03%2F23%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F29%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">126.4 scored per 100<\/a>). Wins over the Warriors and Hawks last week were the fifth and sixth times the Heat have shot better than 50% from 3-point range.<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Herro has been on fire, averaging <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612748\/players-traditional?DateFrom=03\/23\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/29\/2025&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PTS\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">28.8 points<\/a> on an effective field goal percentage of 78.6% (plus 16-for-17 from the line) over the four games. He\u2019s shot <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/shots-general?DateFrom=03\/23\/2025&amp;DateTo=03\/29\/2025&amp;GeneralRange=Pullups&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;TeamID=1610612748&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGA\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">16-for-23<\/a> on pull-up jumpers over the winning streak and is now at 53.2% on pull-up 2-pointers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/shots-general?CF=FG2A*GE*200&amp;GeneralRange=Pullups&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FG2_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the best mark<\/a> among 31 players who\u2019ve attempted at least 200.<\/p>\n<p>Bench minutes have been big over the winning streak, with the Heat outscoring their opponents by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612748\/onoffcourt-summary?LastNGames=4&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=ON_NET_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">almost 30 points per 100 possessions<\/a> in Haywood Highsmith\u2019s 134 minutes over the four games.<\/p>\n<p>The Heat will have a great opportunity to run their winning streak to five games when they visit the Wizards on Monday. Then they\u2019ll play their final three games against teams that are currently over .500. They had lost 17 of their last 18 against that group before beating the Warriors last week.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/heat?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ WAS, @ BOS, vs. MEM, vs. MIL<\/p>\n<p>#21<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633173_925_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/suns\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Phoenix Suns<\/a>Last Week:17\u2193<\/p>\n<p>Record: 35-40<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 115.1 (10) DefRtg: 117.2 (26) NetRtg: -2.2 (20) Pace: 98.5 (21)<\/p>\n<p>The Suns won their first two games of a stretch of 10 straight against teams with winning records, but have since lost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612756\/boxscores-advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">three straight<\/a>, falling back into 11th place in the West and losing Kevin Durant to an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/suns-star-kevin-durant-to-undergo-mri-after-suffering-left-ankle-sprain\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ankle injury<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Suns could be a better offensive team if they didn\u2019t turn the ball over as much as they do, grabbed an occasional offensive rebound or shot a few more 3s per game. But their much bigger problems are on the other end of the floor, where they\u2019ve allowed an amazing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612756\/advanced?DateFrom=03%2F26%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F30%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">137.4 points per 100 possessions<\/a> over the three-game losing streak.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, the Suns have seen the league\u2019s third biggest jump in points allowed per 100 possessions (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612756\/advanced?Split=yoy\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">+3.5<\/a>) from last season. They ranked 25th in opponent turnover rate last season and have still seen the league\u2019s second biggest drop.<\/p>\n<p>Two-way point guard Collin Gillespie has been starting the last two weeks and had a big game (22 points on 9-for-11 shooting, 10 assists) in Minnesota on Friday. But the Suns\u2019 starting lineup has allowed almost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612756\/lineups-advanced?DateFrom=03%2F17%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F30%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">132 points per 100 possessions<\/a> in its 78 minutes over that stretch.<\/p>\n<p>The Suns now head East to play their final three games against the opposite conference. After a 2-8 start, they\u2019ve won <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612756\/boxscores-advanced?VsConference=East\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">12 of their last 17<\/a> against the East, though they\u2019re still just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612756\/traditional?Split=opp&amp;VsConference=East\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">3-6<\/a> against the six East teams with winning records.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/suns?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ MIL, @ BOS, @ NYK<\/p>\n<p>#22<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633173_566_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/blazers\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Portland Trail Blazers<\/a>Last Week:19\u2193<\/p>\n<p>Record: 32-43<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 111.3 (22) DefRtg: 114.8 (19) NetRtg: -3.5 (23) Pace: 99.1 (18)<\/p>\n<p>The Blazers\u2019 bid for the final Play-In spot in the West seems to have come to an end with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612757\/boxscores-advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">a four-game losing streak<\/a> in which they\u2019ve allowed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612757\/advanced?DateFrom=03%2F23%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F30%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">129 points per 100 possessions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Blazers have been a worse-than-average defensive team, but this was still a breakthrough year on that end of the floor, where they ranked in the bottom four in each of the last four seasons.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve actually seen the third biggest jump in opponent 3-point percentage from last season. But their opponents have shot just 56.5% in the paint, the league\u2019s 11th lowest mark and down from 61.3% (30th) in \u201923-24. That paint defense has been strongest with Robert Williams III (51.8%) or Donovan Clingan (53.7%) on the floor.<\/p>\n<p>The defensive end of the floor has been the Blazers\u2019 bellwether. They\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612757\/boxscores-advanced?CF=DEF_RATING*L*116\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">29-11<\/a> when they\u2019ve allowed fewer than 116 points per 100 possessions, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612757\/boxscores-advanced?CF=DEF_RATING*GE*116\" target=\"Stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">3-32<\/a> (with 18 straight losses) when they\u2019ve allowed 116 per 100 or more.<\/p>\n<p>The Blazers had won 15 straight games against other teams that are currently below .500 until they lost in Sacramento on Thursday. They\u2019ll play their next five games against that currently-under-.500 group before finishing their season with visits from the Warriors and Lakers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/blazers?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ ATL, @ TOR, @ CHI, vs. SAS<\/p>\n<p>#23<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633174_746_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/spurs\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">San Antonio Spurs<\/a>Last Week:23<\/p>\n<p>Record: 31-43<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 113.7 (17) DefRtg: 116.5 (25) NetRtg: -2.8 (22) Pace: 100.0 (14)<\/p>\n<p>The Spurs have dropped <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612759\/boxscores-advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">four straight games<\/a>, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612759\/boxscores-traditional?dir=A&amp;sort=PLUS_MINUS\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">their worst loss of the season<\/a> (to the Warriors by 42 points) coming on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>This will be the third straight season in which the Spurs ranked in the bottom 10 defensively. They had one bottom-10 defense (2019-20) in the 25 seasons prior.<\/p>\n<p>They had a worse-than-average defense (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Pre%20All-Star&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ranking 19th<\/a>) at the All-Star break, when they lost Victor Wembanyama for the season. Since the break, they\u2019ve ranked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">29th<\/a> defensively, with only the Sixers having allowed more points per 100 possessions. Overall, they\u2019ve allowed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612759\/onoffcourt-summary?dir=A&amp;sort=DIFF_DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">8.8 fewer points per 100 possessions<\/a> with Wembanyama on the floor (110.0) than they have with him off the floor (118.8). That\u2019s the biggest on-off differential on defense among players who\u2019ve played at least 1,000 minutes for a single team.<\/p>\n<p>The Spurs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/four-factors?dir=A&amp;sort=OPP_FTA_RATE\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">lead the league<\/a> in opponent free throw rate, having allowed just 20.0 attempts per 100 shots from the field. This will be the 18th time in the last 28 seasons that they ranked in the top five. They allowed just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612759\/lineups-four-factors?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*Paul:GROUP_NAME*E*Barnes:GROUP_NAME*E*Wembanyama&amp;GroupQuantity=3\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">14.2 attempts per 100 shots from the field<\/a> in 814 minutes with Wembanyama, Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes all on the floor.<\/p>\n<p>The Spurs are halfway through a stretch of four games in five nights that came about via a postponement from earlier in the year, but they\u2019ll have a rest advantage when they host the Magic on Tuesday. They won their first seven rest-advantage games of the season, but have lost two of their last three.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/spurs?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. ORL, @ DEN, vs. CLE, @ POR<\/p>\n<p>#24<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633170_390_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/raptors\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Toronto Raptors<\/a>Last Week:24<\/p>\n<p>Record: 28-47<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 109.6 (26) DefRtg: 113.7 (14) NetRtg: -4.1 (24) Pace: 100.3 (11)<\/p>\n<p>The Raptors remain the best of the bad teams, now 11-3 in games played between the seven teams that have won less than 40% of their games after beating the Wizards, Nets, Hornets and Sixers last week.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>After ranking 26th defensively last season, the Raptors have seen the league\u2019s fourth biggest drop in points allowed per 100 possessions (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612761\/advanced?Split=yoy\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">-4.4<\/a>) and are now right at the league average (113.7 per 100).<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve seen the league\u2019s biggest drop in effective field goal percentage, with the improvement coming both in the paint and from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve had the league\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"Stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">No. 1<\/a> defense (108.2 allowed per 100) since the All-Star break, having ranked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Pre%20All-Star&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">26th<\/a> (115.8) prior. That\u2019s the league\u2019s biggest improvement by a huge margin, with the context being that 13 of their 20 post-break games have come against teams that rank in the bottom 10 offensively.<\/p>\n<p>The Raptors still have three games remaining against bottom-10 offenses. Their lone remaining game against a team that\u2019s currently over .500 is Friday, when they\u2019ll be at a rest disadvantage against the Pistons. They\u2019ve lost each of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612761\/boxscores-traditional?OpponentTeamID=1610612765\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the first three meetings<\/a> by single digits.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/raptors?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ CHI, vs. POR, vs. DET, @ BKN<\/p>\n<p>#25<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633169_800_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/nets\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brooklyn Nets<\/a>Last Week:25<\/p>\n<p>Record: 24-51<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 108.4 (28) DefRtg: 115.3 (23) NetRtg: -6.9 (26) Pace: 96.5 (30)<\/p>\n<p>The Nets lost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612751\/boxscores-advanced\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">six straight games<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612751\/advanced?DateFrom=03%2F18%2F2025&amp;DateTo=03%2F28%2F2025\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">scoring an anemic 96.9 points per 100 possessions<\/a>) before getting a win in Washington on Saturday and falling to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/traditional?dir=D&amp;sort=W_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">sixth<\/a> in the upside-down standings.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Nets had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?DateFrom=01\/20\/2025&amp;DateTo=02\/13\/2025&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the league\u2019s No. 1 defense<\/a> over the last four weeks before the All-Star break, but rank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">19th<\/a> on that end since the break and are in position to finish in the bottom 10 defensively for the 11th time in the last 17 seasons.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve been one of the league\u2019s most aggressive defensive teams, ranking first in the percentage of ball-screens (26%) that they\u2019ve defended with \u201cblitz\u201d or \u201cshow\u201d coverage, according to Second Spectrum tracking. There have been times when they\u2019ve done a great job rotating out of the aggressive coverage, but there\u2019s obviously room for improvement and opportunities for opponents to beat them with ball movement. For the season, 67% of their opponents\u2019 field goals (the league\u2019s third highest opponent rate) have been assisted and 30% of their opponents\u2019 3-point attempts (the league\u2019s highest opponent rate) have come from the corners.<\/p>\n<p>The Nets are the only team that ranks in the bottom five in both opponent field goal percentage in the paint (58.8%, fourth highest) and the percentage of their opponents\u2019 shots that have come in the paint (49.5%, fifth highest).<\/p>\n<p>There are two pairs of opponents who\u2019ve yet to face each other this season. One is the Nets and Wolves, who will see each other for the first time on Thursday, with Minnesota having won the last three meetings.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/nets?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ DAL, vs. MIN, vs. TOR<\/p>\n<p>#26<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633174_414_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/pelicans\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New Orleans Pelicans<\/a>Last Week:26<\/p>\n<p>Record: 21-54<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 110.1 (25) DefRtg: 118.7 (30) NetRtg: -8.5 (29) Pace: 99.6 (15)<\/p>\n<p>The Pelicans picked up wins over the Sixers and Hornets last week, but still have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/traditional?dir=D&amp;sort=W_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the league\u2019s fourth worst record<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Pelicans have allowed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612740\/advanced?Split=yoy\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">6.8 more points per 100 possessions<\/a> than they did last season, when they ranked sixth defensively. That\u2019s been the league\u2019s biggest jump by a huge margin, with the next biggest being 4.4 more (Philadelphia). The Pels have seen the second biggest jump in opponent effective field goal percentage and its biggest drop in defensive rebounding percentage, going from eighth to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?Season=2024-25&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=DREB_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">30th<\/a> in the latter.<\/p>\n<p>In road games*, the Pelicans have allowed their opponents to take 75% of their shots, the league\u2019s highest opponent rate, in the restricted area or from 3-point range.<\/p>\n<p>* Using road games only to account for shot-charting discrepancies from arena to arena.<\/p>\n<p>The last two teams to face each other for the first time this season will be the Bucks and Pelicans, who will play the first of two matchups on Sunday in New Orleans.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/pelicans?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ LAC, @ LAL, vs. MIL<\/p>\n<p>#27<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633171_926_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/hornets\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Charlotte Hornets<\/a>Last Week:28\u2191<\/p>\n<p>Record: 18-56<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 107.0 (29) DefRtg: 115.0 (21) NetRtg: -8.1 (27) Pace: 98.3 (23)<\/p>\n<p>The Hornets are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/traditional?dir=D&amp;sort=W_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">third<\/a> in the upside-down standings, having lost road games against two of the teams \u2013 Toronto and New Orleans \u2013 below them over the weekend.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Hornets had the league\u2019s second worst defense last season, but ranked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Pre%20All-Star&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">13th<\/a> defensively at the All-Star break. They rank <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">26th<\/a> since the break, but have still seen the league\u2019s fifth biggest drop in points allowed per 100 possessions (-4.2) from last season.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve allowed 48.7 points in the paint per 100 possessions (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/misc?PerMode=Per100Possessions&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OPP_PTS_PAINT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">13th lowest<\/a>), down from 53.5 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/misc?PerMode=Per100Possessions&amp;Season=2023-24&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=OPP_PTS_PAINT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">sixth highest<\/a>) last season. They\u2019ve seen significant drops in both opponent field goal percentage in the paint and the percentage of their opponents\u2019 shots that have come in the paint.<\/p>\n<p>The Hornets have switched 32% of ball-screens, according to Second Spectrum tracking, the league\u2019s fifth highest rate and up from 15% (fourth lowest) last season. Only the Spurs have seen a bigger jump.<\/p>\n<p>The Hornets have one game remaining within the bottom six in the league, and it\u2019s against the Jazz on Monday. The first meeting (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/game\/cha-vs-uta-0022400569\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">a five-point win for the Hornets in January<\/a>) was one of just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612766\/lineups-advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*Ball:GROUP_NAME*E*Miller:GROUP_NAME*E*M.%20Williams\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">six games<\/a> in which the Hornets had their preferred starting lineup.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/hornets?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. UTA, @ IND, vs. SAC, vs. CHI<\/p>\n<p>#28<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633171_628_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/wizards\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Washington Wizards<\/a>Last Week:30\u2191<\/p>\n<p>Record: 16-58<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 106.2 (30) DefRtg: 118.1 (28) NetRtg: -11.9 (30) Pace: 102.2 (4)<\/p>\n<p>Alex Sarr <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/kia-rookie-ladder-march-26-2025-edition\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">continues to show improvement<\/a> and the Wizards picked up a win in Philadelphia on Wednesday, tying the Jazz with 16 victories.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Wizards are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/four-factors?CF=OPP_EFG_PCT_RANK*GE*21:OPP_FTA_RATE_RANK*GE*21:OPP_TOV_PCT_RANK*GE*21&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OPP_OREB_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the only team<\/a> that ranks in the bottom 10 in each of the four factors on defense. They\u2019ve seen the league\u2019s third biggest jump in defensive rebounding percentage, but mostly because they ranked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?Season=2023-24&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=DREB_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">last<\/a> by a wide margin last season.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve allowed 116.4 points per 100 possessions (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">18th<\/a>) since the All-Star break, down from 118.7 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Pre%20All-Star&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">30th<\/a>) before the break. That\u2019s been the league\u2019s fifth biggest drop, with the context being that 14 of their 20 post-break games have come against teams that currently rank in the bottom 10 offensively. On Thursday, they allowed the Pacers\u2019 eighth-ranked offense to score 160 points on 101 possessions, the most efficient offensive performance for any team in more than 27 years.<\/p>\n<p>Though Sarr has started all 59 games he\u2019s played in (and therefore defended against opposing starters), the Wizards have allowed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612764\/onoffcourt-summary?dir=A&amp;sort=DIFF_DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">fewer points per 100 possessions<\/a> with him on the floor (116.5) than they have with him off the floor (117.3). Opponents have shot just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/defensive-impact?CF=PLAYER_NAME*E*sarr&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RIM_FG_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">54.7% at the rim<\/a> when he\u2019s been there since the All-Star break, down from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/defensive-impact?CF=PLAYER_NAME*E*sarr&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;SeasonSegment=Pre%20All-Star&amp;dir=1&amp;sort=DEF_RIM_FGA\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">63.9%<\/a> before the break.<\/p>\n<p>The Wizards still have four games remaining against bottom-10 offenses, with two of those against the 21st-ranked Heat. The Wizards themselves have scored just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?OpponentTeamID=1610612764&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">93.5 points per 100 possessions<\/a> as they\u2019ve lost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612764\/boxscores-advanced?OpponentTeamID=1610612748\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the first two meetings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/wizards?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: vs. MIA, vs. SAC, vs. ORL, @ BOS<\/p>\n<p>#29<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633169_118_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/sixers\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Philadelphia 76ers<\/a>Last Week:27\u2193<\/p>\n<p>Record: 23-52<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 111.3 (23) DefRtg: 117.4 (27) NetRtg: -6.1 (25) Pace: 98.0 (25)<\/p>\n<p>The Sixers\u2019 eight-game losing streak includes losses to the Spurs, Pelicans, Wizards and Raptors. And with Brooklyn\u2019s win in Washington on Saturday, Philly is now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/traditional?dir=D&amp;sort=W_PCT\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">fifth<\/a> in the upside-down standings..<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Sixers have allowed 4.4 more points per 100 possessions than they did last season, when they ranked 11th defensively. Only the Pelicans have seen a bigger jump, and the Sixers have had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/advanced?SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=DEF_RATING\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the league\u2019s worst defense<\/a> as they\u2019ve gone 3-18 since the All-Star break.<\/p>\n<p>The Sixers have played zone on 10.0% of defensive possessions, the league\u2019s second highest rate and up from 5.8% (fourth highest) last season, according to Synergy tracking. The 0.96 points per possession they\u2019ve allowed in zone ranks sixth among the 20 teams that have played at least 100 total possessions of zone.<\/p>\n<p>The Sixers are just 6-29 against the 14 teams that currently have winning records, and all three of their remaining games against that group are this week.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/sixers?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ NYK, vs. MIL, vs. MIN<\/p>\n<p>#30<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745633173_501_logo.svg.svg+xml\" title=\" Logo\" alt=\" Logo\" class=\"TeamLogo_logo__PclAJ\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/jazz\/\" class=\"Anchor_anchor__cSc3P ArticlePowerRankings_prTeam__dTyqP Link_styled__okbXW\" data-is-external=\"false\" data-has-more=\"false\" data-has-children=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Utah Jazz<\/a>Last Week:29\u2193<\/p>\n<p>Record: 16-59<\/p>\n<p>OffRtg: 110.1 (24) DefRtg: 118.6 (29) NetRtg: -8.5 (28) Pace: 100.8 (6)<\/p>\n<p>The Jazz continue to hold the league\u2019s worst record, and they\u2019ve lost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612762\/boxscores-traditional\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">their last five games<\/a> by an average of 27 points.<\/p>\n<p>Three takeaways<\/p>\n<p>The Jazz don\u2019t rank last defensively, so they\u2019ve been a tick better on that end of the floor than they were last season. They\u2019ve allowed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612762\/advanced?Split=yoy\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">1.0 fewer points per 100 possessions<\/a> than they did in \u201923-24, with the league average having dropped by 0.9 per 100. They\u2019ve seen the league\u2019s biggest drop in opponent 3-point percentage, having seen a small drop in the percentage of their opponents\u2019 attempts that have been wide open.<\/p>\n<p>Transition defense, thanks in part to the Jazz\u2019s turnover issues, continues to be a huge problem. They\u2019ve allowed an amazing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/teams\/transition?TypeGrouping=defensive&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PTS\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">29.6 transition points per game<\/a>, what would be 2.4 more than any other team has allowed in the 21 seasons of Synergy tracking.<\/p>\n<p>The Jazz have allowed just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/team\/1610612762\/lineups-advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*Markkanen:GROUP_NAME*E*Collins:GROUP_NAME*E*Kessler&amp;GroupQuantity=3\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">111.8 points per 100 possessions<\/a> (with terrific rebounding numbers) in 377 minutes with their big frontline of Lauri Markkanen, John Collins and Walker Kessler all on the floor. But they\u2019ve played just 377 minutes together over 23 games.<\/p>\n<p>The Jazz haven\u2019t won on the road since Jan. 5 (16 straight losses), and their loss in Denver on Friday was the start of a five-game trip that continues in Charlotte on Monday. The Hornets (3-12) are the only team that\u2019s been worse than the Jazz (3-7) in games played between the bottom six in the league.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/schedule\/jazz?cal=24&amp;pd=false\" target=\"stats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Week 24<\/a>: @ CHA, @ HOU, @ IND, @ ATL<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Rockets enter Week 24 two games ahead of the 3rd-place Nuggets in the West. The Oklahoma City&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21168,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3794],"tags":[7,292,194,4066,6,552,211],"class_list":{"0":"post-21167","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston-rockets","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-houston","10":"tag-houston-rockets","11":"tag-houstonrockets","12":"tag-nba","13":"tag-nba-power-rankings","14":"tag-rockets"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/114478114920926756","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21167"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21167\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21168"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}