Power Rankings, Week 11: Thunder, Clippers land in Top 5 – NBA.com

To open 2024, the Clippers and Thunder are soaring while the Celtics continue to hold down No. 1.
John Schuhmann
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has lifted the Thunder to the No. 2 spot in this week’s Power Rankings.
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Sometimes, the stars align and you get the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the Power Rankings facing each other just eight hours after the rankings were published.
That’s the case this week, with the Boston Celtics visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night (8 ET, NBA League Pass). The Celtics have won 11 of their last 12 games, while the Thunder have won seven of their last eight, a stretch that includes three wins over the Nuggets and Timberwolves. Both teams are rested and healthy.
It’s a great way to start the new year.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
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East vs. West
Schedule strength through Jan. 1
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Movement in the Rankings
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Week 11 Team to Watch
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Previously…
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
The league has averaged 114.9 points scored per 100 possessions and 100.0 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes this season.

NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail or contact him via Twitter.
Record: 26-6
OffRtg: 120.8 (2) DefRtg: 110.4 (3) NetRtg: +10.4 (1) Pace: 98.6 (24)
The Celtics had a couple of serious scares against bad teams last week, but they remain perfect (16-0) at home, and they’ve won 11 of their last 12 games overall.
Three takeaways
The Celtics have the league’s third toughest January schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage, with 13 of their 16 games against teams that currently have winning records. The toughest game of the month is the first one, Tuesday in Oklahoma City, where the Celtics lost by 33 almost exactly one year ago. No rotation players are on the injury report for either team.
Jan. 2-7: @ OKC, vs. UTA, @ IND
Record: 22-9
OffRtg: 118.9 (6) DefRtg: 110.3 (2) NetRtg: +8.7 (3) Pace: 101.5 (7)
The Thunder have won seven of their last eight games, a stretch that now includes two wins in Denver (the rest of the league has just one of those) and the Wolves’ worst loss of the season (23 points).
Three takeaways
Having beat the first place team in the West and the defending champs last week, the Thunder will now host the best team in the league. Then they’ll play 11 of their next 14 games on the road.
Jan. 2-7: vs. BOS, @ ATL, @ BKN
Record: 24-8
OffRtg: 113.6 (19) DefRtg: 108.2 (1) NetRtg: +5.3 (5) Pace: 99.1 (19)
The Wolves are still at the top of the Western Conference, but they’re now just a game in the loss column ahead of the Thunder, who beat them handily in Oklahoma City last Tuesday.
Three takeaways
The Wolves remain the only team that hasn’t lost two straight games, but the loss on Monday began a stretch of six straight against teams that currently have winning records, with five of those six games on the road (where seven of their eight losses have come). They’re at home on Wednesday, but the opponent is a team (the Pelicans) that beat them by 14 in their last meeting.
Jan. 2-7: vs. NOP, @ HOU, @ DAL
Record: 24-11
OffRtg: 117.8 (7) DefRtg: 112.1 (7) NetRtg: +5.7 (4) Pace: 97.9 (29)
This is the team for which the regular season means the least, but the Nuggets surely would like to have played better in their showdown with the Thunder on Friday. It was their worst loss of the season (26 points) and their first double-digit defeat in five weeks.
Three takeaways
The Nuggets have three more games against teams currently under .500 in the next nine days, but they’ll be at another rest disadvantage when they host the Magic on Friday, having lost in Orlando (without Murray) just before Thanksgiving.
Jan. 2-7: @ GSW, vs. ORL, vs. DET
Record: 20-12
OffRtg: 117.6 (8) DefRtg: 113.0 (9) NetRtg: +4.7 (7) Pace: 98.8 (21)
After losses to the top two teams in these here rankings, the Clippers have won three straight. More important is that Kawhi Leonard is back in uniform, returning from a four-game absence to fill the boxscore against the Heat on Monday.
Three takeaways
It’s a great time for a showdown between the Clippers and Suns, who will meet in Phoenix on Wednesday. The tests don’t stop there for the Clippers, who are 6-6 against the other nine Western Conference teams that are currently at or above .500.
Jan. 2-7: @ PHX, @ NOP, @ LAL
Record: 22-10
OffRtg: 120.8 (3) DefRtg: 110.5 (4) NetRtg: +10.3 (2) Pace: 99.9 (15)
The Sixers are just 2-5 without Joel Embiid, who’s missed the last four games with an ankle sprain. But those two wins came on the road last week against teams – the Magic and Rockets – who are otherwise 25-7 at home.
Three takeaways
The Sixers are still 20-5 with Embiid in uniform, with all five of those losses having been within five points in the last five minutes. So they haven’t been beaten comfortably with the MVP, who could make his return as they begin a three-game homestand on Tuesday. They’re now 0-2 (0-1 with Embiid) against the Bulls, and this will be the final meeting of the season.
Jan. 2-7: vs. CHI, vs. NYK, vs. UTA
Record: 24-9
OffRtg: 120.7 (4) DefRtg: 115.4 (20) NetRtg: +5.3 (6) Pace: 102.6 (4)
It remains fair to keep questioning the Bucks, who still have the league’s third-best record and a ridiculously good offense, because the issues on the other end of the floor remain.
Three takeaways
The Bucks are the only team that is unbeaten (4-0) against the opposite conference, though those four interconference games are the fewest that any team has played. Two of those four wins came against the Spurs and Rockets, who they’ll visit after finishing their five-game season series with the Pacers on Wednesday.
Jan. 2-7: @ IND, @ SAS, @ HOU
Record: 19-12
OffRtg: 116.3 (12) DefRtg: 115.4 (21) NetRtg: +0.9 (15) Pace: 100.5 (10)
The Kings suffered their first loss to a bad team last Tuesday, getting clobbered in Portland despite 77 combined points from De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Other starters paid the price later in the week, but the Kings recovered to win the last two games on their three-game trip.
Three takeaways
The Kings have a relatively easy January schedule, and they’re one of two teams – the Celtics are the other — with five rest-advantage games this month. They’re 4-1 in rest-advantage games thus far, and the first of those five is Tuesday against the Hornets, the start of a four-game homestand.
Jan. 2-7: vs. CHA, vs. ORL, vs. TOR, vs. NOP
Record: 19-14
OffRtg: 115.4 (15) DefRtg: 112.1 (8) NetRtg: +3.3 (8) Pace: 100.3 (11)
The Pelicans haven’t lost by more than two points since they got clobbered by the Lakers in the In-Season Tournament semifinals, and they exacted some revenge on Sunday, beating the Lakers by 20.
Three takeaways
The Pelicans have the league’s toughest January schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage, and they’re also the only team without a rest-advantage game this month. They’ll be at a disadvantage in Minnesota on Wednesday, having lost two of their first three games against the Wolves.
Jan. 2-7: vs. BKN, @ MIN, vs. LAC, @ SAC
Record: 19-14
OffRtg: 115.2 (16) DefRtg: 113.9 (13) NetRtg: +1.3 (14) Pace: 98.2 (26)
Jimmy Butler’s return from a four-game absence was brief, as he suffered a foot injury (not deemed to be serious) in the third quarter in Utah on Saturday. The Heat couldn’t beat the Jazz without him, and they dropped to 1-2 on their five-game trip with a loss in L.A. two nights later.
Three takeaways
The Heat are staying in L.A. to play the 17-17 Lakers on Wednesday. Then they’ll have four straight games against the currently over .500 group.
Jan. 2-7: @ LAL, @ PHX
Record: 18-14
OffRtg: 122.2 (1) DefRtg: 120.2 (28) NetRtg: +2.0 (11) Pace: 103.5 (2)
The Pacers have seemingly recovered from their In-Season Tournament hangover, winning four straight games to climb from eighth to sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Three takeaways
The Pacers have the Eastern Conference’s toughest January schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage, but the month began with their third win over the Bucks. The fifth and final meeting is Wednesday in Indiana and the start of a five-game homestand that also includes two games against the Celtics.
Jan. 2-7: vs. MIL, vs. ATL, vs. BOS
Record: 18-15
OffRtg: 116.2 (13) DefRtg: 114.5 (14) NetRtg: +1.7 (13) Pace: 98.2 (27)
A week ago, the Suns were in 11th place, having lost nine of their last 12 games. Now, they’re just a game behind the sixth-place Pelicans, having won four straight.
Three takeaways
The winning streak includes good wins in Houston and against the Magic, but the best test will come Wednesday when the Suns host the Clippers, who’ve won their last 10 games with Kawhi Leonard. It’s the first of four meetings, with the second one coming five days later in L.A.
Jan. 2-7: vs. LAC, vs. MIA, vs. MEM
Record: 19-13
OffRtg: 112.9 (21) DefRtg: 110.6 (5) NetRtg: +2.3 (10) Pace: 100.0 (14)
The Magic continue to have a hard time against the best teams in the league, but they got a big win over the Knicks on Friday, despite continued poor shooting from the outside.
Three takeaways
With their loss in Phoenix on Sunday, the Magic are 5-4 against the Western Conference and 8-9 against the other 16 teams that currently have winning records. Their January schedule is both difficult (11 of 16 against that over-.500 group) and West heavy (nine games against the opposite conference), with their four-game trip continuing this week.
Jan. 2-7: @ GSW, @ SAC, @ DEN, vs. ATL
Record: 18-15
OffRtg: 117.2 (9) DefRtg: 115.4 (19) NetRtg: +1.9 (12) Pace: 98.4 (25)
Last February, the Knicks traded for Josh Hart, a player who was seemingly meant to play for Tom Thibodeau. OG Anunoby (acquired on Saturday) is another one of those guys and then some, and his physicality was apparent as he took on the Anthony Edwards assignment (and fouled out) in his Knicks debut on Monday.
Three takeaways
The win over the Wolves was one of only six January games (they have 16 total) against teams that entered the month with winning records. The next is Friday in Philadelphia, the Knicks’ first meeting with the third-place Sixers.
Jan. 2-7: vs. CHI, @ PHI, @ WAS
Record: 19-15
OffRtg: 117.0 (10) DefRtg: 116.9 (23) NetRtg: +0.2 (17) Pace: 101.0 (8)
Having lost six of their last nine games, the Mavs have slipped out of the top six in the Western Conference. It’s been a relatively tough stretch of schedule, but two of their last three losses have come to the Cavs (who were without three starters) and Jazz.
Three takeaways
The Mavs’ loss in Minnesota on Thursday was the end of their only stretch of five games in seven days, while their loss in Utah on Monday was the end of a stretch where they played seven of 10 on the road. They now begin their longest homestand of the season (seven games over 13 days) and while they still have a better record on the road (11-8) than they do at home (8-7), they’ve been much more efficient offensively at American Airlines Center.
Jan. 2-7: vs. POR, vs. POR, vs. MIN
Record: 18-15
OffRtg: 113.2 (20) DefRtg: 113.2 (11) NetRtg: +0.0 (18) Pace: 98.6 (23)
The Cavs are 6-3 without Donovan Mitchell, having come back from 20 points down to win without him in Dallas on Wednesday. But they’ve dropped to 12-12 with their star, having lost their first two games upon his return.
Three takeaways
The loss in Toronto was only the Cavs’ second (they’re 11-2) against the 12 teams that currently have losing records, and it began a stretch of six straight games against that group. This week brings their first meetings with both the Wizards and the Spurs.
Jan. 2-7: vs. WAS, vs. WAS, vs. SAS
Record: 17-17
OffRtg: 112.4 (23) DefRtg: 113.2 (10) NetRtg: -0.8 (21) Pace: 100.9 (9)
The Lakers’ defense hasn’t been good enough to make up for their lack of shooting, and they’re 3-8 since the In-Season Tournament final, falling to .500 for the first time since they were 6-6.
Three takeaways
Good news: The Lakers will play 11 of their next 12 games in L.A., a stretch that includes their second and third meetings with the Clippers. They ended their 11-game losing streak against the Clippers with an overtime win in Week 2.
Jan. 2-7: vs. MIA, vs. MEM, vs. LAC
Record: 16-15
OffRtg: 114.2 (18) DefRtg: 111.3 (6) NetRtg: +2.9 (9) Pace: 98.2 (28)
The Rockets, who had won 11 straight games at the Toyota Center, are just 1-3 on the seven-game homestand that concludes this week, with the one win having come against the Pistons on Monday.
Three takeaways
The homestand will conclude on Saturday with another visit from a top-five offense, that of the Bucks, who scored 128 points on just 99 possessions when the two teams met in Milwaukee 16 days ago. It will be the second game of about as tough a home back-to-back as you’re going to get, with the Wolves in town the night before.
Jan. 2-7: vs. BKN, vs. MIN, vs. MIL
Record: 15-19
OffRtg: 112.3 (24) DefRtg: 114.7 (15) NetRtg: -2.5 (23) Pace: 96.6 (30)
The Bulls are now without three of their four highest-paid players (you’re forgiven if you forgot about Lonzo Ball), but they keep winning games. They went 4-2 on their six-game homestand and are now 10-5 (with the league’s seventh-ranked defense) without Zach LaVine.
Three takeaways
The Bulls have the league’s easiest January schedule when it comes to cumulative opponent winning percentage (.402 as of Dec. 31), though it’s also the league’s most road-heavy January schedule, with 10 of their 15 games on the road. They’ll look to complete a three-game season sweep when they visit Philly on Tuesday, having held the Sixers to just 104.3 points per 100 possessions over the first two meetings (one with Joel Embiid, one without him).
Jan. 2-7: @ PHI, @ NYK, vs. CHA
Record: 15-17
OffRtg: 115.6 (14) DefRtg: 115.2 (16) NetRtg: +0.4 (16) Pace: 100.0 (13)
The Warriors had won eight straight games at the Chase Center … until they began their seven-game homestand with losses to the Heat (missing Jimmy Butler) and Mavs. They’ve lost three straight overall, their worst three-game stretch of defense this season.
Three takeaways
Games 3 and 4 of the homestand should be just as tough as the first two, and the Warriors have lost five straight games to the Nuggets, who will be in town on Thursday. But the first two games this season (both in Denver and both without Green) were decided by a total of just nine points.
Jan. 2-7: vs. ORL, vs. DEN, vs. DET, vs. TOR
Record: 15-19
OffRtg: 112.5 (22) DefRtg: 116.8 (22) NetRtg: -4.3 (24) Pace: 100.2 (12)
The league’s biggest surprise team usually isn’t the same team two seasons in a row, but the Jazz have won eight of their last 11 games and could soon be knocking on the door of the Play-In Club.
Three takeaways
We’ll see if the Jazz can keep this going through the next 10 days. After they host the Pistons on Wednesday, they’ll play four games against four of the top six teams in the league, with all four — Boston, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Denver — having offenses that rank in the top seven.
sneaky last-minute candidate for favorite block of 2023 👀#TakeNote | @youngoch pic.twitter.com/M0YTiIlpPP
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 30, 2023

Jan. 2-7: vs. DET, @ BOS, @ PHI
Record: 15-18
OffRtg: 116.4 (11) DefRtg: 117.1 (24) NetRtg: -0.7 (20) Pace: 99.0 (20)
The Nets have lost their last eight games that weren’t against the Pistons, a stretch that includes three losses to other teams — the Warriors, Jazz and Wizards — that have losing records.
Three takeaways
Their loss in Oklahoma City on Sunday began a stretch where the Nets are playing 12 of 15 games against the Western Conference. They’re currently 2-7 against the West and their struggling offense has three more games against teams that rank in the top 10 defensively this week.
Jan. 2-7: @ NOP, @ HOU, vs. OKC, vs. POR
Record: 10-22
OffRtg: 106.6 (30) DefRtg: 113.6 (12) NetRtg: -7.0 (26) Pace: 99.5 (16)
The Grizzlies won their first four games with Ja Morant, but they’ve since lost three straight (including one without him) and offense remains a struggle.
Three takeaways
Six of the Grizzlies’ seven games since Morant’s return were against teams that are currently at least four games over .500. If Memphis is going to eventually climb into the Play-In race in the West, it needs to take advantage of every little dip in their strength of schedule. Their next three games are against teams no better than the 17-17 Lakers, though their Tuesday-Wednesday back-to-back is the end of their only stretch of five games in seven days.
Jan. 2-7: vs. SAS, vs. TOR, @ LAL, @ PHX
Record: 13-19
OffRtg: 119.1 (5) DefRtg: 119.7 (27) NetRtg: -0.6 (19) Pace: 102.3 (5)
The Hawks got Jalen Johnson back last week and beat the Wizards on Sunday, but they’re still six games under .500 and in the bottom five in the Eastern Conference.
Three takeaways
The Hawks are just 5-14 against the 17 teams that currently have winning records, and their first five games of 2024 are against that group. That includes two games against the Pacers, with the first meeting (a 157-152 win for Indiana) having been the wildest game of the season to date.
Jan. 2-7: vs. OKC, @ IND, @ ORL
Record: 13-20
OffRtg: 114.3 (17) DefRtg: 115.3 (17) NetRtg: -1.0 (22) Pace: 99.2 (18)
It was an eventful Saturday for the Raptors, who became the team that helped the Pistons end their 28-game losing streak just hours after making a franchise-altering trade. RJ Barrett has come home, and he’s brought Immanuel Quickley with him.
Three takeaways
That stretch includes losses to the Jazz and Pistons, but the Raptors did beat the Cavs in the new guys’ debut on Sunday. As we continue to wonder about the future of Siakam, we at least have something new to watch and evaluate north of the border.
The Raptors will be south of the border for the next 10 days, with one of their two six-game road trips beginning Wednesday in Memphis.
Jan. 2-7: @ MEM, @ SAC, @ GSW
Record: 9-23
OffRtg: 109.0 (27) DefRtg: 115.3 (18) NetRtg: -6.4 (25) Pace: 98.8 (22)
Sometimes, the Blazers are pretty competitive. Sometimes, they’re not. Two nights after they beat the Kings, they suffered a wire-to-wire loss to the Spurs.
Three takeaways
After getting clobbered in Phoenix, the Blazers are 4-12 on the road, 0-10 against the West and 4-2 in Eastern Conference arenas. The seven-game trip that began on Monday is West-heavy but will take them through Brooklyn (on Sunday) and New York.
Jan. 2-7: @ DAL, @ DAL, @ BKN
Record: 7-24
OffRtg: 110.4 (26) DefRtg: 121.7 (30) NetRtg: -11.3 (29) Pace: 99.3 (17)
If you miss the Pistons’ losing streak, the Hornets have got you covered. They’ve lost 11 straight games, in part because they’ve been without some of their best players. LaMelo Ball has missed the last 16 games, while Mark Williams has been out for the last 11 and Gordon Hayward has missed three straight.
Three takeaways
The Hornets have two games left on their six-game road trip, though their next four games are against the Kings and Bulls. They’ll be at a rest disadvantage in Sacramento on Tuesday, currently one of four winless teams (they’re 0-4) in the second game of back-to-backs.
Jan. 2-7: @ SAC, @ CHI
Record: 6-26
OffRtg: 112.2 (25) DefRtg: 121.2 (29) NetRtg: -9.0 (27) Pace: 104.1 (1)
The Wizards were going for their first winning streak of the season on Sunday, and they led the Hawks by 13 points after five minutes. But the lead quickly disappeared and they remain the only team that hasn’t won two straight games this season.
Three takeaways
The Wizards have the league’s third easiest January schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage, mostly because they have two games each against the Pistons and Spurs. They have more games against teams that entered the month with winning records (nine) than they do against teams with losing records (six), and they’ll begin 2024 with five straight against the former group.
Jan. 2-7: @ CLE, @ CLE, vs. NYK
Record: 5-27
OffRtg: 107.3 (29) DefRtg: 119.0 (25) NetRtg: -11.7 (30) Pace: 103.0 (3)
The Spurs got their first win against one of the other teams in the league’s bottom 10 team, splitting a back-to-back in Portland last week. They’ve still won just two of their last 27 games.
Three takeaways
The Spurs have one of the league’s easiest January schedules regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage, though their first opponent is now much better than its record would indicate, and the Spurs already lost to the Grizzlies in what was Memphis’ best offensive game of the season without Ja Morant.
SHEEESH 😤 pic.twitter.com/MnQf3FR8vO
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 1, 2024

Jan. 2-7: @ MEM, vs. MIL, @ CLE
Record: 3-30
OffRtg: 108.5 (28) DefRtg: 119.5 (26) NetRtg: -11.0 (28) Pace: 101.5 (6)
The streak is over. After 28 straight losses — tied for the longest losing streak (single or multi-season) in NBA history — the Pistons were able to win a basketball game, out-gunning Toronto on Saturday in what was their most efficient offensive performance (129 points on 104 possessions) since their last win, which had come exactly nine weeks earlier.
Three takeaways
A new streak has begun and the Pistons’ 23-point loss in Houston was the start of a four-game trip. But stop No. 2 is Utah and the Pistons were tied with the Jazz in the fourth quarter just 12 days ago.
Jan. 2-7: @ UTA, @ GSW, @ DEN
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