Sports
Power Rankings, Week 15: Clippers reign as new No. 1 team – NBA.com
LA surges ahead of Boston while Denver rises to No. 3 in another week of changes to the Top 10.
John Schuhmann
Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are making it look easy this season against teams over .500.
Things are heating up at the top of the Western Conference with the midway point of the season in the rearview mirror.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder’s stunning loss in Detroit on Sunday, there are four teams within a game in the loss column of each other at the top of the West standings:
They’re four great teams, they all have at least two wins and two losses in games played between the four, and there will be two more of those games in the next three days. The Thunder (5-3) have played the most games within the group and have just three left, but two of those three are Monday (vs. Minnesota) and Wednesday (vs. Denver).
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
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East vs. West
Schedule strength through Week 14
Schedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record, and adjusted for home vs. away and days of rest before a game.
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Movement in the Rankings
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Week 15 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 115.2 points scored per 100 possessions and 99.8 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: 30-14
OffRtg: 119.7 (4) DefRtg: 113.4 (11) NetRtg: +6.3 (4) Pace: 98.3 (26)
The Clippers continue to roll. They’re 13-2 since Christmas, with the two losses having come by a total of just seven points. And they got their most impressive win of the season on Saturday, when they were at a rest disadvantage in Boston and won by 19.
Three takeaways
The Clips still have five games left on their longest road trip of the season (seven games over 11 days). The toughest remaining game is Monday in Cleveland, where the Clippers lost by 23 (without Leonard or Paul George) exactly one year ago.
KAWHI SPINS IN FOR THE SLAM 💥 pic.twitter.com/bON5Luuy9r
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 28, 2024
Week 15: @ CLE, @ WAS, @ DET, @ MIA
Record: 35-11
OffRtg: 120.2 (3) DefRtg: 110.6 (2) NetRtg: +9.7 (1) Pace: 99.0 (17)
The Celtics have been careful with Kristaps Porzingis, sitting him for one of their two games in five of their last six back-to-backs. But they can’t put him in bubble wrap for the next three months, and an ankle sprain kept him out of their game against the Clippers on Saturday, their second (and worst) home loss of the season.
Three takeaways
Porzingis is listed as questionable for the Celtics’ game against the Pelicans on Monday, Game 2 of a seven-game homestand (their longest of the season), so the injury doesn’t seem to be a long-term thing. The Celtics are 2-2 against the Pacers and will be at a rest disadvantage when they decide the season series on Tuesday night.
Week 15: vs. NOP, vs. IND, vs. LAL, vs. MEM
Record: 32-15
OffRtg: 118.2 (7) DefRtg: 113.8 (12) NetRtg: +4.4 (7) Pace: 97.5 (29)
The Nuggets are 5-2 on a stretch of eight straight games against the Eastern Conference that ends with a visit from the Bucks on Monday. The last two games have been rather disappointing, as they got clobbered in New York on Thursday (the final matchup of a five-game trip that didn’t include any back-to-backs) and faced the Sixers’ B Team two nights later.
Three takeaways
The Nuggets are 1-2 vs. the first-place Thunder (whom they trail by just a half-game), with the road team having won all three games and Oklahoma City having scored 10 points on just five clutch possessions to win the close one. The final meeting is in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Week 15: vs. MIL, @ OKC, vs. POR, vs. POR
Record: 29-15
OffRtg: 119.6 (5) DefRtg: 111.9 (6) NetRtg: +7.7 (3) Pace: 99.6 (14)
Joel Embiid scored 70 points (in less than 37 minutes) against the Spurs on Monday, but the Sixers are 0-2 on their five-game road trip, with Embiid having missed their game in Denver for the fourth straight season.
Three takeaways
The rest of the road trip should be easier than the first two games, though the Sixers lost at home (without Embiid) to the Jazz, who they’ll visit on Thursday. Both Maxey and Embiid are listed as questionable for their game in Portland on Monday.
Week 15: @ POR, @ GSW, @ UTA, vs. BKN
Record: 32-14
OffRtg: 119.4 (6) DefRtg: 111.3 (4) NetRtg: +8.1 (2) Pace: 101.1 (8)
With home games against the Wolves and Nuggets coming in the next three days, the Thunder’s visit to Detroit on Sunday afternoon was a trap game. And boy did they get trapped, suffering only their third double-digit loss of the season to an opponent that was previously 0-25 against the 18 teams that currently have winning records.
Three takeaways
Ten of the Thunder’s 14 games within the top eight in the West have been on the road, but they’ll begin a four-game homestand with huge games against the Wolves and Nuggets. They’ll be at a rest disadvantage against Minnesota on Monday, but benefitting from the Lions having won a playoff game for the first time in 33 years, because that Sunday loss in Detroit was moved up from a 6 p.m. to a 2 p.m. ET start.
They’re 2-1 against both the Wolves and Nuggets, but 4-0 against them since Dec. 1, having allowed just 104.0 points per 100 possessions over the four wins.
Week 15: vs. MIN, vs. DEN, vs. CHA, vs. TOR
Record: 32-14
OffRtg: 120.4 (2) DefRtg: 116.3 (19) NetRtg: +4.0 (9) Pace: 102.6 (3)
After their win in Detroit last Monday, the Bucks were tied for the league’s second-best record. But they had its 10th-best point differential and the 22nd-ranked defense, having played the league’s easiest schedule. Wins are good, but two single-digit wins over the Pistons are not great, and Adrian Griffin was fired on Tuesday.
Three takeaways
Though their last three games have come against the Cavs (x 2) and Pelicans, the Bucks have still played the league’s easiest schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage. The three games last week began a stretch (that extends past the All-Star break) where they’re playing 12 of 15 against teams that currently have winning records.
Additionally, the Bucks are the only team that hasn’t played in the Mountain or Pacific time zones. They begin a five-game trip in Denver on Monday, with the third game of that trip (in Dallas on Saturday) being the start of their only stretch of five games in seven nights.
Week 15: @ DEN, @ POR, @ DAL, @ UTA
Record: 32-14
OffRtg: 114.2 (19) DefRtg: 108.9 (1) NetRtg: +5.2 (6) Pace: 98.5 (24)
The Wolves have hit a rough patch. They had four games against four of the eight worst teams in the league last week, and they went 2-2, barely escaping Brooklyn with one of the two wins.
Three takeaways
One of those six losses was to the Thunder, who rank second in field goal percentage on non-restricted-area 2-pointers (47.7%) and were 12-for-21 on Dec. 26, also beating the Wolves (in Minnesota) nine days ago. The Wolves will look to earn a split of the season series with their visit to Oklahoma City on Monday.
ANT THROWS DOWN THE PUTBACK 😱 pic.twitter.com/L2PtosqwBA
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 28, 2024
Week 15: @ OKC, vs. DAL, vs. ORL, vs. HOU
Record: 29-17
OffRtg: 117.9 (8) DefRtg: 112.1 (7) NetRtg: +5.8 (5) Pace: 97.9 (27)
The Knicks’ 12-2 record with OG Anunoby (11-1 with both Anunoby and Jalen Brunson) now includes wins over the Wolves, Sixers, Nuggets (by 38 points) and Heat.
Three takeaways
The Knicks’ last game before they added Anunoby was a loss in Indiana and one of their worst defensive games of the season. They’ll host the Pacers twice on a six-game homestand (their longest of the season) that begins Tuesday.
Week 15: @ CHA, vs. UTA, vs. IND, vs. LAL
Record: 26-20
OffRtg: 117.3 (10) DefRtg: 115.3 (16) NetRtg: +2.0 (11) Pace: 98.5 (23)
The Suns won seven straight games, coming back from big deficits to beat the Bulls and Mavs last week. But the streak ended with two losses over the weekend in which a season-long problem reared its ugly head.
Three takeaways
The last three games of the Suns’ seven-game trip are against three of the bottom six teams in the East. They’ll first be at a rest disadvantage in Miami on Monday, but are currently 4-1 (only the Bucks have been better) in rest-disadvantage games.
KEVIN DURANT WINS IT FOR THE SUNS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PhTaSMU8Ft
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 23, 2024
Week 15: @ MIA, @ BKN, @ ATL, @ WAS
Record: 27-16
OffRtg: 114.9 (16) DefRtg: 110.7 (3) NetRtg: +4.2 (8) Pace: 98.7 (21)
The Cavs’ eight-game win streak came to an end on Wednesday, but they earned a split of two games in Milwaukee by holding the league’s second-ranked offense under a point per possession for the second time in 10 days.
Three takeaways
The Cavs will play their third straight game against a top-five offense, their first meeting with the Clippers, on Monday. Then it’s three straight games against teams that rank in the bottom five on that end of the floor. They’re 17-2 (only the Knicks have been better) against the 12 teams that are currently below .500.
Week 15: vs. LAC, vs. DET, @ MEM, @ SAS
Record: 26-20
OffRtg: 117.0 (13) DefRtg: 113.0 (9) NetRtg: +4.0 (10) Pace: 99.7 (13)
The Pelicans had the toughest January schedule in regard to cumulative opponent winning percentage (entering the month), and they’ve seemingly felt it. After winning four of their first five January games, they’ve lost five of eight, slipping out of the top six in the Western Conference.
Three takeaways
The toughest game in a tough month is a visit to Boston on Monday, with the Pelicans having lost their last four games against the Celtics.
Week 15: @ BOS, @ HOU, @ SAS
Record: 27-20
OffRtg: 121.2 (1) DefRtg: 119.4 (26) NetRtg: +1.8 (12) Pace: 102.9 (2)
Tyrese Haliburton has missed five straight and 10 of the last 11 games. But the Pacers have won six of those 10 games he’s missed and their current, three-game winning streak includes victories against the Sixers and Suns.
Three takeaways
That 11-4 record against the top five in the East includes a 2-2 mark against the Celtics, and the season series will be decided in Boston on Tuesday. Then it’s on to New York for the first of two big games against the fourth-place Knicks in 10 days.
Week 15: @ BOS, @ NYK, vs. SAC, @ CHA
Record: 26-18
OffRtg: 117.0 (12) DefRtg: 116.3 (18) NetRtg: +0.7 (14) Pace: 100.3 (11)
The Kings have followed a four-game losing streak with three straight wins, rising to fifth place in the Western Conference with an important victory in Dallas on Saturday.
Three takeaways
The Kings have five games left on their seven-game road trip. They had rest advantages at Golden State and Dallas and they’ll have two more (in Memphis and Indiana) this week.
Week 15: @ MEM, @ MIA, @ IND, @ CHI
Record: 25-21
OffRtg: 117.6 (9) DefRtg: 117.4 (23) NetRtg: +0.3 (16) Pace: 100.9 (9)
Luka Doncic scored 73 points, tied for the fourth highest-scoring game in NBA history, as the Mavs won in Atlanta on Friday. But that’s their only win in their last five games, as they continue to struggle against other good teams.
Three takeaways
The Mavs’ schedule remains difficult (though a little East-heavy) through the next two weeks. One of their three 2024 wins over a winning team was against the Wolves on Jan. 7, when Doncic and Kyrie Irving (who’s missed the last three games) combined for only 69 points. The fourth and final meeting is in Minnesota on Wednesday.
Week 15: vs. ORL, @ MIN, vs. MIL
Record: 24-22
OffRtg: 112.2 (24) DefRtg: 111.5 (5) NetRtg: +0.7 (15) Pace: 98.6 (22)
The Magic have won just three of their last 10 games, but the three wins have come against the Knicks, Heat and Suns, with the opponents having barely scored a point per possession over those three games.
Three takeaways
Their win over Phoenix on Sunday was the first game of their 10th back-to-back. The back end (Monday in Dallas) is the start of a five-game trip, with the Magic currently 3-7 in Western Conference arenas.
Week 15: @ DAL, @ SAS, @ MIN, @ DET
Record: 24-23
OffRtg: 115.5 (15) DefRtg: 117.1 (22) NetRtg: -1.7 (21) Pace: 100.9 (10)
A three-game losing streak took the Jazz back below .500, but they’ve since won two straight and remain in the Play-In club in the Western Conference.
Three takeaways
The wins in Washington and Charlotte improved the Jazz to 12-5 (12-2 since Dec. 1) against the Eastern Conference, needing just one more win to match their interconference total from last season (13-17). Their six-game trip concludes with a Monday-Tuesday back-to-back in New York, with the second of those games being the start of five straight against teams that rank in the top 10 offensively.
Week 15: @ BKN, @ NYK, vs. PHI, vs. MIL
Record: 24-23
OffRtg: 113.5 (20) DefRtg: 114.4 (14) NetRtg: -0.9 (18) Pace: 101.2 (7)
The Lakers have won five of their last seven games to climb above .500 for the first time since they were 17-16, and their double-overtime win at Golden State on Saturday was a big one in regard to the standings.
Three takeaways
The win over the Warriors was the start of a six-game road trip and while Lakers-Celtics on Thursday is the marquee matchup, the biggest game of the six is Monday, when the ninth-place Lakers visit the 11th-place Rockets (their opposite regarding record and point differential) for their fourth and final meeting. The home team has won each of the first three, with the Lakers’ two wins having come by a total of 11 points and the Rockets’ win (which Davis missed) having come by 34.
Week 15: @ HOU, @ ATL, @ BOS, @ NYK
Record: 24-22
OffRtg: 113.1 (22) DefRtg: 114.1 (13) NetRtg: -1.0 (19) Pace: 97.5 (28)
The Heat made a trade to upgrade the point guard position, but the new guy (Terry Rozier) hasn’t shot any better than the old one (Kyle Lowry), and the Heat have lost six straight games for the first time in the last three seasons.
Three takeaways
The last time the Heat lost seven straight games was, amazingly, almost 16 years ago (April of 2008). They’ll now have to beat the Suns on Monday to stop this streak at six, and they have the worst record (7-15) in games played between the 18 teams that are currently over .500.
The good news is that, with Jaime Jaquez returning from a six-game absence on Sunday, they’re as healthy as they’ve been in a long time. The loss in New York was just the third time this season that the Heat have had all five of Adebayo, Jaquez, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin in uniform.
Week 15: vs. PHX, vs. SAC, @ WAS, vs. LAC
Record: 22-25
OffRtg: 112.9 (23) DefRtg: 114.6 (15) NetRtg: -1.7 (22) Pace: 96.9 (30)
The Bulls went 1-2 on a trip out West, with their worst offensive game of the three being the one they won, because it was against the Blazers and not the Suns or Lakers.
Three takeaways
The Bulls are in the middle of a (larger) road-heavy stretch, but will play three of their next four at home. They’re 10-4 at the United Center (where they’ve been much better defensively) since Thanksgiving.
Week 15: vs. TOR, @ CHA, vs. SAC
Record: 21-24
OffRtg: 113.3 (21) DefRtg: 112.5 (8) NetRtg: +0.8 (13) Pace: 98.8 (20)
The Rockets have won just three of their last 11 games, with two of those three wins having come against the Pistons and Hornets. The stretch has dropped them to two games (one in the loss column) behind the 10th-place Jazz.
Three takeaways
Their loss in Brooklyn on Saturday was the Rockets’ first chance to become the first team to match its win total from last season. Their second opportunity is Monday against the Lakers, with the home team having won the first three meetings.
Week 15: vs. LAL, vs. NOP, vs. TOR, @ MIN
Record: 19-24
OffRtg: 117.2 (11) DefRtg: 117.9 (24) NetRtg: -0.6 (17) Pace: 99.9 (12)
The Warriors’ chances of just making the Play-In Tournament are seemingly slipping away, with their 4-10 record since (and including) Christmas Day being the worst mark in the Western Conference. But six of those 10 losses were within five points in the last five minutes.
Three takeaways
The five-game trip that begins Friday in Memphis is not only the Warriors’ longest trip of the season to date but also their only stretch of five games in seven days. They’re 5-3 (though with two straight losses) in the second game of back-to-backs.
Week 15: vs. PHI, @ MEM, @ ATL
Record: 19-27
OffRtg: 116.8 (14) DefRtg: 119.8 (27) NetRtg: -3.0 (24) Pace: 102.2 (5)
The Hawks’ last three wins have all come on shots in the last two seconds, with Saddiq Bey providing the heroics on Sunday. In between, they lost four straight.
Three takeaways
The remainder of the Hawks’ six-game homestand is visits from four Pacific-Division teams. They’ve had just two rest-advantage games (fewest in the league) thus far, but will had advantages against the Lakers on Tuesday and again against the Clippers next week.
SADDIQ BEY PUTBACK FOR THE WIN 🚨
WHAT AN ENDING IN ATL 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Px108vazBo
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 29, 2024
Week 15: vs. LAL, vs. PHX, vs. GSW
Record: 18-28
OffRtg: 108.1 (29) DefRtg: 113.1 (10) NetRtg: -5.1 (23) Pace: 99.3 (16)
The super-shorthanded Grizzlies keep winning games. They beat the Raptors, Heat and Magic last week before coming up a little short in Indiana on Sunday.
Three takeaways
The Grizzlies are in the middle of a tough stretch of schedule in regard to the both the opponents and the calendar (eight games over 14 days). They’re 1-6 in the second games of back-to-backs and will have rest-disadvantage games against both the Kings and Warriors this week.
Week 15: vs. SAC, vs. CLE, vs. GSW, @ BOS
Record: 18-27
OffRtg: 114.4 (18) DefRtg: 115.8 (17) NetRtg: -1.5 (20) Pace: 98.4 (25)
It seems that no Nets lead is safe, and they’ve suffered some brutal collapses in the last few weeks. But they managed to hold on after seeing a 28-point lead cut to one against Houston on Saturday.
Three takeaways
The Nets are three games into a stretch where they’re playing 10 of 11 at home. They’re already one of the Eastern Conference teams that have played the most games (they’re 5-13) against the West, and they’ll have four more interconference games in the next nine days. Kevin Durant makes his return to Barclays Center (with the worst fourth-quarter team in the league) on Wednesday.
Week 15: vs. UTA, vs. PHX, @ PHI
Record: 16-30
OffRtg: 114.6 (17) DefRtg: 116.8 (20) NetRtg: -2.2 (23) Pace: 99.4 (15)
The Raptors won three of their first four games with RJ Barret and Immanuel Quickley. Since then, they’re 1-9, and their loss in Atlanta on Sunday has them three games out of the last Play-In spot in the Eastern Conference.
Three takeaways
The Raptors trail the ninth-place Bulls by five games in the loss column, set to play Game 2 of their six-game trip in Chicago on Tuesday. The Bulls have won two of the first three meetings, with the Raptors having blown late leads (17 points with less than five minutes left in October, four points with less than five to go 11 days ago) in both of their losses.
Week 15: @ CHI, @ HOU, @ OKC
Record: 13-33
OffRtg: 107.8 (30) DefRtg: 116.9 (21) NetRtg: -9.1 (28) Pace: 98.9 (18)
The Blazers continue to be a box of chocolates. Their two best games last week were against the two strongest opponents, as they went down to the wire (losing under crazy circumstances) in Oklahoma City before winning in Houston (under more crazy circumstances) the following night.
Three takeaways
So watch out, Sixers. Their game against Philly on Monday is the end of the Blazers’ first stretch of five games in seven nights, but also Game 2 in a stretch (that extends past the All-Star break) where they’re playing 10 of 12 at home. Prior to their loss to the Bulls on Sunday, they had won five of their last eight at the Moda Center.
JERAMI GRANT FORCES OT IN HOUSTON 😳 pic.twitter.com/uavmeT4PlZ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 25, 2024
Week 15: vs. PHI, vs. MIL, @ DEN, @ DEN
Record: 10-36
OffRtg: 109.7 (27) DefRtg: 118.1 (25) NetRtg: -8.4 (26) Pace: 102.4 (4)
Victor Wembanyama played in both games of a back-to-back for the first time since mid-November, and the Spurs won both games, holding the Blazers to less than a point per possession and then scoring efficiently against the Wolves’ top-ranked defense.
Three takeaways
The Spurs have a good chance for their first three-game winning streak of the season, hosting the Wizards on Monday in Game 4 of their seven-game homestand. Of course, Washington is surely looking at that game as a great opportunity to register its first two-game winning streak of the season. One of these teams is about to make history.
Week 15: vs. WAS, vs. ORL, vs. NOP, vs. CLE
Record: 10-34
OffRtg: 109.6 (28) DefRtg: 121.3 (30) NetRtg: -11.7 (30) Pace: 98.9 (19)
The Hornets got one of their best wins of the season on Monday, coming back from 18 points down (15 down in the fourth quarter) to beat the Wolves in Minnesota. Less than 12 hours later, they traded Terry Rozier for what could be a pretty good first-round pick four years from now.
Three takeaways
The Hornets are two games into a stretch (that takes them into the All-Star break) where they’re playing 10 of 12 at home. The Minnesota win was their fourth against teams that are currently over .500, with one of the others having come against the Pacers, who will be in Charlotte twice in the next 15 days.
Week 15: vs. NYK, vs. CHI, @ OKC, vs. IND
Record: 8-37
OffRtg: 111.5 (25) DefRtg: 120.1 (29) NetRtg: -8.6 (27) Pace: 103.4 (1)
The Wizards weren’t expected to compete for a playoff spot this season, but they probably weren’t expecting to be this bad, especially offensively. They were well on their way to a third straight season in the bottom 10 on both ends of the floor when Wes Unseld Jr. was … promoted! He was moved to the front office on Thursday, with Brian Keefe acting as the interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Three takeaways
The Wizards remain the only team that hasn’t won two straight games. The last time they had a chance at a second straight win, they lost at home to the Pistons. Now, having won in Detroit, they can have their first winning streak if they can win in San Antonio on Monday. After that, they’ll play 11 straight games against teams that currently have winning records, currently 1-25 against that group.
Week 15: @ SAS, vs. LAC, vs. MIA, vs. PHX
Record: 6-40
OffRtg: 110.6 (26) DefRtg: 120.0 (28) NetRtg: -9.5 (29) Pace: 101.3 (6)
The Pistons have won two out of three for the first time since they won games 2 and 3, and they’re now on pace for 11 wins, up from an eight-win pace (what would be the worst record in NBA history) six days ago.
Three takeaways
The game on Sunday began a stretch where the Pistons are playing 14 of 16 against teams that currently have winning records, a daunting task if they were still winless against that group. But now that they’ve broken the seal…
Week 15: @ CLE, vs. LAC, vs. ORL
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