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Power Rankings, Week 20: Nuggets rise to No. 2 as Celtics roll along – NBA.com
Boston has won 11 straight to open Week 20, with Denver, Milwaukee and Miami among the teams hitting their stride.
John Schuhmann
Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are rolling, going 6-0 since the All-Star break.
The 2023-24 season is just about *75% complete. And as we hit the three-quarter mark, there isn’t a single team within three games of .500 … on either side.
* We’ll be there after Tuesday’s games.
On the day before the All-Star break, the Golden State Warriors won in Utah, improving to 27-26 and giving us 18 teams with winning records. Since then, those 18 teams have stayed clear of .500, while the other 12 haven’t come close.
(We miss you, 2022-23 Hawks.)
Ten of the 18 teams with winning records reside in the Western Conference, and two of them won’t make the playoffs. As things stand right now, the ninth-place Warriors and 10th-place Lakers would face each other just to stay alive in the SoFI Play-In Tournament, with the winner still needing to win on the road (Dallas or Phoenix) to make the playoffs.
Of course, while the West is having its strongest season in the last five years, the Warriors would also be in ninth place in the East with the same record they have in the West. If you mixed conferences and seeded teams 1-16, you’d still have eight teams from each side.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
* * *
East vs. West
Schedule strength through Week 19
* * *
Movement in the Rankings
* * *
Week 20 Team to Watch
* * *
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 99.6 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 threads.
Record: 48-12
OffRtg: 121.7 (1) DefRtg: 110.2 (2) NetRtg: +11.6 (1) Pace: 98.8 (19)
The Celtics have the first double-digit winning streak this season, and it hit 11 games (with the largest point differential for any 11-game stretch in NBA history) on Sunday with a 52-point win over a team (Golden State) that had been playing pretty well.
Three takeaways
The Celtics will play 12 of their next 15 games on the road, and the first three games of that stretch might be their best remaining chances to test their playoff chops before they clinch the league’s best record. They lost a playoff-like game to the Nuggets in January and the rematch will be Thursday in Denver.
Week 20: @ CLE, @ DEN, @ PHX
Record: 42-19
OffRtg: 117.4 (8) DefRtg: 113.0 (9) NetRtg: +4.5 (7) Pace: 97.6 (27)
The Nuggets remain undefeated (6-0) since the All-Star break, with the last four wins having come against teams with winning records. They’re still very much in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the West (again), currently a half-game behind the first-place Thunder.
Three takeaways
The Nuggets held the most efficient offense in NBA history to just four points on nine clutch possessions when they won in Boston in January. The rematch is on Thursday in Denver.
Week 20: vs. PHX, vs. BOS, vs. UTA
Record: 42-18
OffRtg: 119.3 (3) DefRtg: 111.4 (4) NetRtg: +8.0 (2) Pace: 100.9 (7)
The Thunder saw their six-game winning streak come to a (surprising) end in San Antonio on Thursday, but they responded well by responding well in Phoenix over the weekend.
Three takeaways
The Thunder have two games left on their four-game trip and they’ll be at a rest disadvantage against the Lakers on Monday. But they’re 6-3 in rest-disadvantage games thus far, having scored an amazing 128.1 points per 100 possessions over those nine contests.
Week 20: @ LAL, @ POR, vs. MIA, vs. MEM
Record: 39-20
OffRtg: 118.9 (5) DefRtg: 114.2 (12) NetRtg: +4.7 (6) Pace: 98.4 (21)
The Clippers suffered a brutal collapse against the Lakers, but won their more important game of the week, edging the Wolves (on the road) on Sunday.
Three takeaways
The defense will have a tougher challenge when the Clippers’ three-game trip continues in Milwaukee on Monday, their first of two meetings with the Bucks next week. They’ll have two days off after the trip concludes in Houston on Wednesday, but they’ll then begin their second of three stretches of five games in seven days.
Week 20: @ MIL, @ HOU, vs. CHI, vs. MIL
Record: 42-19
OffRtg: 114.4 (18) DefRtg: 107.8 (1) NetRtg: +6.6 (3) Pace: 98.1 (24)
The Wolves have matched their win total from last season (42-40), but are just 3-3 on the seven-game homestand that ends Monday, with the three losses having come by a total of 10 points.
Three takeaways
The Wolves wrap up the homestand and their only stretch of five games in seven nights with a game against the Blazers on Monday. Three nights later, they begin their longest road trip of the season (six games over 12 days), which includes another big game against the Clippers next week.
Week 20: vs. POR, @ IND, @ CLE, @ LAL
Record: 40-21
OffRtg: 119.1 (4) DefRtg: 114.8 (15) NetRtg: +4.4 (8) Pace: 101.5 (5)
The Bucks remain one of three undefeated teams since the All-Star break, with a quality win in Minnesota and four blowouts of below-.500 or shorthanded opponents giving them a winning record (8-7) under Doc Rivers.
Three takeaways
Now we’ll see just how legit the Bucks’ improvement is. They’ll play their next eight games against teams with winning records, with some potent offenses included within. They’ll have a rest advantage in both of their games against the Clippers this week.
Week 20: vs. LAC, @ GSW, @ LAL, @ LAC
Record: 39-21
OffRtg: 115.6 (15) DefRtg: 110.6 (3) NetRtg: +5.0 (4) Pace: 98.3 (22)
The Cavs are 3-4 since the All-Star break, dealing with some familiar issues and needing a miracle to get one of those three wins.
Three takeaways
And they’ll begin another five-in-seven stretch on Tuesday with a visit from the Celtics, having lost the first two meetings (a two-game series in Boston). The Cavs do have two rest-advantage games (vs. Minnesota and Brooklyn) this week, currently the only undefeated team (7-0) with a rest advantage.
MAX STRUS WINS IT FOR THE CAVS 🤯
WHAT AN ENDING IN CLEVELAND! pic.twitter.com/fen3FfS056
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 28, 2024
Week 20: vs. BOS, @ ATL, vs. MIN, vs. BKN
Record: 34-26
OffRtg: 113.4 (21) DefRtg: 112.6 (8) NetRtg: +0.7 (15) Pace: 97.4 (28)
The Heat lost in Denver on Thursday, but still have the league’s third-best record (10-3) and its second-best defense (106.7 points allowed per 100 possessions) since Jan. 31.
Three takeaways
The Heat have five games remaining against the two worst teams in the league, set to host both the Pistons and Wizards this week. In between is a tough back-to-back in Dallas and Oklahoma City, with the Heat currently 7-5 in Western Conference arenas after their 3-1 trip coming out of the break.
Week 20: vs. DET, @ DAL, @ OKC, vs. WAS
Record: 34-27
OffRtg: 117.6 (7) DefRtg: 117.0 (22) NetRtg: +0.6 (16) Pace: 100.9 (8)
The Mavs have had Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving together for 12 straight games, the longest such streak since Irving arrived in Dallas 13 months ago. They won the first seven of those games, but have since dropped four of five, falling into eighth place in the West.
Three takeaways
The Mavs are five games through a stretch of nine straight against the Eastern Conference, and they’ll now face the league’s second-ranked offense for the second time in 10 days, having lost by 22 in Indiana.
Week 20: vs. IND, vs. MIA, @ DET
Record: 34-25
OffRtg: 116.7 (14) DefRtg: 116.4 (21) NetRtg: +0.3 (17) Pace: 100.2 (12)
The Kings continue to have success against potential playoff opponents and are 8-5 (4-3 on the road) against the top four teams in the Western Conference after splitting games in Denver and Minnesota last week.
Three takeaways
The Kings have spent much of the last two months on the road, where they have a winning record for the second straight season. Fifteen of their remaining 23 games will be at home, with their second six-game homestand of the season beginning with a rest-disadvantage game against the Spurs on Thursday.
Week 20: vs. CHI, @ LAL, vs. SAS, vs. HOU
Record: 35-26
OffRtg: 117.1 (11) DefRtg: 114.3 (13) NetRtg: +2.8 (11) Pace: 99.6 (11)
The gauntlet is here. Beginning with their game against the Thunder on Sunday, the Suns were playing 15 of their final 22 games against the top eight teams in the league.
Three takeaways
Next up is a date with the champs. Both teams were missing two starters (Beal and Booker for the Suns) when the Nuggets won in Phoenix on Dec. 1.
Week 20: @ DEN, vs. TOR, vs. BOS
Record: 36-25
OffRtg: 117.0 (12) DefRtg: 112.2 (6) NetRtg: +4.8 (5) Pace: 99.3 (16)
After a couple of ugly losses at home, the Pelicans have seemingly found their offense, to the point that they scored 48 points on 24 possessions (and on 20-for-22 shooting) in the first quarter on Friday.
Three takeaways
The Pelicans’ stretch of nine straight games against the Eastern Conference continues with a three-game trip this week. Their first meeting with the Raptors (who they’ll visit on Tuesday) was their third most efficient offensive game of the season, with Ingram scoring 41 points (making eight of his 11 3-point attempts) in less than 30 minutes.
Week 20: @ TOR, @ PHI, @ ATL
Record: 36-25
OffRtg: 117.3 (9) DefRtg: 113.3 (10) NetRtg: +4.0 (9) Pace: 96.8 (30)
The Knicks were already struggling without Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, and then Jalen Brunson suffered a knee injury early in the first quarter in Cleveland on Sunday. They managed to beat the Cavs without their All-Star, but Brunson’s timeline going forward is a huge variable in the non-Boston division of the Eastern Conference.
Three takeaways
The Knicks’ win in Cleveland was sandwiched between two four-game homestands, with the second one — visits from the Hawks, Magic and Sixers (twice) — being a little easier than the first regarding the opponents.
Week 20: vs. ATL, vs. ORL, vs. PHI
Record: 35-25
OffRtg: 117.8 (6) DefRtg: 114.4 (14) NetRtg: +3.4 (10) Pace: 99.1 (17)
Joel Embiid remains out, but the Sixers remain in the top five in the East, having picked up a pair of critical wins over the weekend.
Three takeaways
The Sixers enter the week a half-game behind the Knicks for fifth place in the East and having scored just 95.4 points per 100 possessions (easily their worst mark vs. any opponent) in the two head-to-head meetings thus far. They’ll play a two-game series at Madison Square Garden starting Sunday.
Week 20: @ BKN, vs. MEM, vs. NOP, @ NYK
Record: 35-26
OffRtg: 113.1 (22) DefRtg: 111.4 (5) NetRtg: +1.8 (12) Pace: 97.9 (26)
The Magic are the third team to surpass its win total from last season (34-48). More important is that they’ve climbed into sixth place in the East, having won 11 of their last 14 games.
Three takeaways
Games against the Knicks and Pacers this week are the only exceptions in a stretch where the Magic are playing 11 of 13 games against teams with losing records, and they’re currently 5-0 against New York (3-0) and Indiana (2-0), having scored more than 120 points per 100 possessions against both of them.
Week 20: @ CHA, @ WAS, @ NYK, vs. IND
Record: 32-28
OffRtg: 116.8 (13) DefRtg: 115.7 (18) NetRtg: +1.1 (14) Pace: 100.4 (11)
The Warriors had a good road trip … until they lost by 52 points in Boston on Sunday.
Three takeaways
They got waxed by the best team in the league on Sunday, but the Warriors have done a good job of taking care of business, currently 19-3 (tied for fourth best) against the 12 teams currently under .500. They’ll host the improved Bucks on Wednesday, but then play three games against the Bulls and Spurs (x 2).
Week 20: vs. MIL, vs. CHI, vs. SAS
Record: 33-29
OffRtg: 114.7 (17) DefRtg: 115.3 (17) NetRtg: -0.6 (19) Pace: 101.2 (6)
The Lakers had some late-game adventures last week, coming back from 21 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Clippers, going to overtime with the Wizards, and coming up short against the defending champs.
Three takeaways
The Lakers are now 5-7 against the top four teams in the West, 5-2 against the Clippers and Thunder, but 0-5 against the Nuggets and Wolves. They have three games remaining against the group, with two of those three this week. More important could be their two games against the sixth-place Kings (whom they trail by four games in the loss column) over the next 10 days.
Week 20: vs. OKC, vs. SAC, vs. MIL, vs. MIN
Record: 34-28
OffRtg: 120.1 (2) DefRtg: 118.9 (26) NetRtg: +1.2 (13) Pace: 102.6 (2)
The Pacers have two wins over good teams since the All-Star break. They also have two losses to bad ones, not that that’s a new problem.
Three takeaways
One of those post-break, quality wins came against the Mavs when Myles Turner (33 points) matched Luka Doncic in scoring. The rematch is in Dallas on Tuesday, one of five games remaining on the schedule where the Pacers’ bottom-five defense will face a top-10 offense.
Week 20: @ DAL, vs. MIN, @ ORL
Record: 28-32
OffRtg: 113.1 (23) DefRtg: 114.8 (16) NetRtg: -1.8 (20) Pace: 96.9 (29)
A 1-2 homestand for the Bulls was not unexpected, given the competition. But they flipped the script a bit.
Three takeaways
The Bulls still have a winning record (12-10) against the Western Conference, with five of their final eight games against the West coming in the next eight days. A four-game trip begins Monday in Sacramento, with the Bulls having almost come back from 30 points down against the Kings a month ago.
Week 20: @ SAC, @ UTA, @ GSW, @ LAC
Record: 26-34
OffRtg: 112.1 (24) DefRtg: 112.5 (7) NetRtg: -0.3 (18) Pace: 99.7 (14)
The Rockets aren’t getting any closer to competing for a Play-In Tournament spot in the West, but they did get a road win (against a good team) last week.
Three takeaways
Having played their first six post-break games against teams in the West’s top seven, the Rockets will play eight of their next 11 against teams with losing records. One exception is a game against the Clippers on Wednesday when the Rockets will be at a rest disadvantage.
Week 20: vs. SAS, vs. LAC, @ POR, @ SAC
Record: 23-38
OffRtg: 114.0 (19) DefRtg: 117.1 (23) NetRtg: -3.1 (23) Pace: 99.7 (13)
The Raptors won three straight games for the first time this season … and then lost Scottie Barnes indefinitely (who had played in their first 60 games and ranks fifth in total minutes played) to a fractured finger.
Three takeaways
If it’s not Barnes’ injury that will keep the Raptors from competing for a Play-In spot, it’s a rough schedule. Fifteen of their remaining 21 games are against teams that currently have winning records and though they got a win in Indiana last week, they’re just 9-25 against that group.
Week 20: vs. NOP, @ PHX, @ POR
Record: 24-36
OffRtg: 113.6 (20) DefRtg: 115.8 (19) NetRtg: -2.2 (21) Pace: 98.2 (23)
The Nets have suddenly won three out of four, with their two wins over Atlanta last week giving them the head-to-head tiebreaker and putting them within two games of the final Play-In Tournament spot in the East. Maybe, just maybe, they’ve realized that they can be a good defensive team if they play with some energy.
Three takeaways
The Nets are in the middle of a relatively easy run regarding the strength of their opponents, but this week brings their only stretch of five games in seven days, and Game 3 of that stretch (in Detroit on Thursday) is the start of one where they’re playing 10 of 11 on the road.
Week 20: vs. MEM, vs. PHI, @ DET, @ CHA, @ CLE
Record: 26-34
OffRtg: 117.2 (10) DefRtg: 119.4 (29) NetRtg: -2.2 (22) Pace: 102.1 (4)
The Hawks won their first two games after Trae Young’s injury by 17 and 27 points, respectively, but then went to Brooklyn and lost two games to the team that now trails them by two games for the final Play-In Tournament spot in the East.
Three takeaways
The two losses in Brooklyn began a stretch where the Hawks are playing nine of 11 on the road, where they’re just 6-16 since late November. The two exceptions in that stretch are home games against the Cavs (against whom they’re 0-3) and Pelicans (1-0).
Week 20: @ NYK, vs. CLE, @ MEM, vs. NOP
Record: 27-34
OffRtg: 115.4 (16) DefRtg: 118.6 (25) NetRtg: -3.2 (24) Pace: 100.9 (9)
The Jazz are suffering a familiar, post-trade-deadline swoon. They’re 1-8 (only the Wizards have been worse) since the deadline, with the only win having come against the Spurs.
Three takeaways
They’ll play 12 of their next 19 games at the Delta Center, hosting the Wizards and Bulls this week. The Jazz are 14-7 (7-1 at home) in games played between the 12 teams currently under .500, having split their two road games against Washington and Chicago.
Week 20: vs. WAS, vs. CHI, @ DEN
Record: 13-48
OffRtg: 109.5 (27) DefRtg: 117.3 (24) NetRtg: -7.8 (26) Pace: 102.2 (3)
The post-break Spurs have looked a lot more competitive, even when they haven’t won. But they have won their last two games, ending the Thunder’s six-game winning streak on Thursday.
Two takeaways
This is the fourth time that the Spurs have won two straight games. Their next chance for their first three-game winning streak will come in the building (the Toyota Center) in which they shot a season-worst 5-for-41 (12%) from 3-point range in early December.
Week 20: @ HOU, @ SAC, @ GSW
Record: 17-42
OffRtg: 108.3 (29) DefRtg: 116.3 (20) NetRtg: -8.1 (27) Pace: 98.1 (25)
The Blazers were one of two winless teams (0-9) in February, but they began the month of March with a pair of wins in Memphis, one in which they led by as many as 33 points and one in which they trailed by 18 in the fourth quarter.
Two takeaways
The next two games could be a lot different than the last two. The Blazers are 0-6 against the Wolves and Thunder, with the six losses having come by an average of 29.8 points. They’ll complete both season series this week.
Week 20: @ MIN, vs. OKC, vs. HOU, vs. TOR
Record: 15-46
OffRtg: 108.7 (28) DefRtg: 119.3 (28) NetRtg: -10.6 (30) Pace: 98.6 (20)
The Hornets had a 5-1 stretch straddling the All-Star break, but have dropped four straight and have had more injuries piling up.
Two takeaways
The Hornets have seven games remaining against other teams with losing records, including a stretch of four straight that begins with a visit to Washington on Friday. Charlotte won two of the first three meetings, with all three having taken place in November.
Week 20: vs. ORL, @ WAS, vs. BKN
Record: 20-41
OffRtg: 108.3 (30) DefRtg: 113.4 (11) NetRtg: -6.6 (25) Pace: 98.9 (18)
The Grizzlies are one of two teams without a win (0-5) since the All-Star break, and the offense has been rough to say the least.
Two takeaways
Those two games against the Grizzlies pushed Portland out of the bottom 10 in defensive efficiency. Memphis still has eight games remaining against (current) bottom-10 defenses, with the first of those against the 29th-ranked Hawks on Friday.
Week 20: @ BKN, @ PHI, vs. ATL, @ OKC
Record: 9-51
OffRtg: 110.6 (25) DefRtg: 119.3 (27) NetRtg: -8.7 (28) Pace: 100.9 (10)
The Pistons got their ninth win of the season, tying them with the Wizards and guaranteeing that they won’t finish with the worst record in NBA history.
Two takeaways
The Pistons’ visit to Miami on Tuesday will end a stretch where they will have played 10 of 12 on the road. They’ll begin their second of two six-game homestands with a visit from the Nets on Thursday night.
Week 20: @ MIA, vs. BKN, vs. DAL
Record: 9-51
OffRtg: 110.6 (26) DefRtg: 119.9 (30) NetRtg: -9.3 (29) Pace: 103.6 (1)
The Wizards have lost 14 straight games (the third longest streak in the league this season) and are now tied with the Pistons for the ninth worst record in NBA history.
Two takeaways
The next couple of weeks are the Wizards’ best opportunity to climb out of 30th in defensive efficiency. After they finish their three-game trip in Utah on Monday, they’ll play six straight games against teams that rank in the bottom 10 offensively, though they’ve already allowed more than 125 points per 100 possessions as they’ve lost their first three against the 22nd-ranked Magic.
Week 20: @ UTA, vs. ORL, vs. CHA, @ MIA
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Boston maintains its lead at No. 1 while Oklahoma City, Denver and Milwaukee are among the teams climbing this week.
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