Power Rankings, Week 17: Celtics on top, Cavs enter Top 5 before All-Star break – NBA.com

Boston returns to No. 1 while Dallas and Cleveland surge forward as the Top 10 shakes up before All-Star weekend.
John Schuhmann
Jaylen Brown and the Celtics are looking sharp as the All-Star break comes into view.
The trade deadline is behind us, with no major moves going down last week. The big action took place earlier in trade season when the Toronto Raptors parted ways with OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam.
There were still some deals made that will affect playoff races. A lot of players have already made their debuts with their new teams, but it’s too early to know if the landscape has shifted much.
There won’t be much data to collect this week, as we have just four days (32 games) of hoops before we hit the All-Star break. It’ll be a good time for a reset before the stretch run.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
* * *
East vs. West
Schedule strength through Week 16
* * *
Movement in the Rankings
* * *
Week 17 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 115.3 points scored per 100 possessions and 99.7 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: 41-12
OffRtg: 120.3 (2) DefRtg: 110.8 (3) NetRtg: +9.5 (1) Pace: 99.2 (16)
The Celtics took care of business over the last three games of their seven-game homestand and then hit the road, picking up an important win in Miami on Sunday afternoon.
Three takeaways
The Celtics have won 12 of their last 13 games against the Nets, set to finish their pre-break schedule with home-and-home back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Week 17: @ BKN, vs. BKN
Record: 35-16
OffRtg: 119.8 (3) DefRtg: 113.9 (12) NetRtg: +5.9 (5) Pace: 98.5 (23)
The Clippers haven’t been quite so dominant over the last eight days, but they remain tied with the Wolves in the loss column atop the Western Conference.
Three takeaways
One of those three clutch losses since Dec. 1 was in Minnesota about a month ago. The Clips are 2-4 (2-1 at home, 0-3 on the road) within the top four in the West and will host the Wolves in a huge game on Monday.
Week 17: vs. MIN, @ GSW
Record: 35-16
OffRtg: 116.0 (15) DefRtg: 110.0 (2) NetRtg: +6.0 (4) Pace: 98.7 (21)
While Milwaukee, New York and Philadelphia have all slid back a little, the Cavs keep winning and now lead the third-place Bucks by three games in the loss column.
Three takeaways
The schedule gets a little tougher this week, with the Cavs hosting the Sixers and Bulls to close out their pre-break schedule. They’re 1-0 against the Sixers, having won in overtime in Philadelphia (without Mitchell) in November.
Week 17: vs. PHI, vs. CHI
Record: 36-17
OffRtg: 117.9 (10) DefRtg: 114.0 (13) NetRtg: +3.9 (9) Pace: 97.3 (29)
The Nuggets stood pat at the deadline and will have to see what shakes loose on the buyout market if they’re going to improve a bench that currently ranks 26th in the league.
Three takeaways
The Nuggets will be the team with the rest advantage when they face the Kings again (at home) on Wednesday. First, they’re in Milwaukee, having spoiled Doc Rivers’ debut with the Bucks two weeks ago.
Week 17: @ MIL, vs. SAC
Record: 36-16
OffRtg: 114.7 (18) DefRtg: 108.6 (1) NetRtg: +6.1 (3) Pace: 98.2 (26)
The Wolves have had eight players that coach Chris Finch could trust, and one of those eight (Kyle Anderson) is a perimeter player who’s shot 6-for-31 from 3-point range this season. Monte Morris (acquired on Thursday) shot 39% from deep over the last five seasons and is another steady hand, but has played just 68 total minutes since making his season debut with the Pistons 19 days ago.
Three takeaways
With the Milwaukee win, the Wolves are 20-11 (second best) in games played between the 17 teams that currently have winning records. They have six games left within the top four in the West, three (two on the road) against the Clippers and then three (two on the road) against the Nuggets. The first of those is Monday in L.A., with the Wolves having won the first meeting (with an eight-man rotation) four weeks ago.
Week 17: @ LAC, @ POR, @ POR
Record: 36-17
OffRtg: 119.1 (5) DefRtg: 112.0 (5) NetRtg: +7.2 (2) Pace: 100.6 (10)
The Thunder did not get a big man at the deadline. They got Gordon Hayward in a trade that was sandwiched by two games in which they got absolutely clobbered on the glass.
Three takeaways
They lost to the Pistons 15 days ago, but the Thunder are still tied with the Clippers for the league’s best record (14-4) in interconference games, set to finish their pre-break schedule in Orlando on Tuesday. They beat the Magic by 12 last month despite grabbing just 46% of available rebounds and shooting 8-for-36 (22%) from 3-point range.
Week 17: @ ORL
Record: 30-23
OffRtg: 118.0 (7) DefRtg: 117.1 (22) NetRtg: +0.8 (15) Pace: 100.7 (8)
Kyrie Irving has been back for four games and the Mavs have won all four. Road wins over the Sixers and Knicks came with the context that those teams were missing Joel Embiid and Jalen Brunson, but the Mavs clobbered the healthy Thunder on Saturday afternoon.
Three takeaways
The Mavs have a golden opportunity to go into the break with a six-game winning streak, hosting the Wizards and Spurs in their last two games, though Dallas (just 15-13 at American Airlines Center) and Washington are two of the four teams that have better records on the road than they do at home.
What a dime by Luka 🪄 pic.twitter.com/tpSEX23cPy
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 9, 2024

Week 17: vs. WAS, vs. SAS
Record: 33-20
OffRtg: 118.0 (9) DefRtg: 112.7 (7) NetRtg: +5.3 (6) Pace: 97.5 (27)
The Knicks were, seemingly, the biggest winners at the trade deadline, acquiring two rotation players — Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks — without surrendering a first-round pick. Of course, with OG Anunoby and Julius Randle out, they need those guys to take on larger roles than they’ll have when everybody’s available.
Three takeaways
Having played 12 of their last 14 games at home, the Knicks will finish their pre-break schedule on the road. They’ll have a rest advantage in Orlando on Wednesday, having scored just 105.2 points per 100 possessions as they’ve lost the first two meetings. They were without Brunson for the loss (at home) last month.
Week 17: @ HOU, @ ORL
Record: 31-22
OffRtg: 118.0 (8) DefRtg: 114.8 (15) NetRtg: +3.1 (11) Pace: 99.0 (19)
The Suns remain very good, but not quite elite. They’ve had Bradley Beal, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant in the lineup for 17 of their last 18 games (Booker missed a comfortable win over Utah on Thursday), and are 12-6 in that stretch.
Three takeaways
The Suns have won their last five games at home, a streak that began with a comeback from 22 points down in the fourth quarter against the Kings, who are back in Phoenix on Tuesday. The two teams are tied in the loss column and this will be Game 4 in the five-game season series, which Sacramento can clinch with a win.
Week 17: vs. SAC, vs. DET
Record: 34-19
OffRtg: 119.6 (4) DefRtg: 116.1 (17) NetRtg: +3.4 (10) Pace: 102.2 (4)
The Bucks are 2-5 under Doc Rivers, but got to play the Hornets at the end of their only stretch of five games in seven days. With that, they followed their worst defensive game of the season (129 points allowed on 91 possessions vs. Minnesota) with (statistically, at least) their best defensive game of the season (84 allowed on 99 vs. Charlotte).
Three takeaways
The Rivers Era opened with a loss in Denver and the Bucks will face the champs again on Monday. Milwaukee (22-6 vs. 12-13) and Denver have the third and fourth biggest home-road differentials regarding winning percentage.
Week 17: vs. DEN, vs. MIA, @ MEM
Record: 31-22
OffRtg: 117.3 (13) DefRtg: 112.9 (8) NetRtg: +4.3 (8) Pace: 99.3 (14)
The Pelicans split two big games in Los Angeles last week and have won five of their last six games overall, continuing to take care of business against the bottom half of the league.
Three takeaways
Two of their 17 clutch games (both losses) have come against the Grizzlies, who the Pels will visit on Monday.
Week 17: @ MEM, vs. WAS
Record: 30-22
OffRtg: 116.9 (14) DefRtg: 116.4 (19) NetRtg: +0.5 (17) Pace: 100.5 (11)
There are two teams – Oklahoma City and Sacramento – that have lost to the Pistons and beat the Nuggets this season. The Kings pulled off that Jekyll-and-Hyde act in about 51 hours last week.
Three takeaways
Their last two pre-break games are back-to-back in Phoenix and Denver, and the Kings will be at a rest disadvantage against the champs on Wednesday. They were 0-4 in the second games of back-to-backs through Dec. 31, but are 3-0 (2-0 on the road) in 2024.
Week 17: @ PHX, @ DEN
Record: 30-24
OffRtg: 120.8 (1) DefRtg: 119.4 (26) NetRtg: +1.5 (12) Pace: 102.6 (2)
The Pacers have a chance to finish in the top four in the Eastern Conference, but they were sellers at the deadline, trading Buddy Hield for Doug McDermott and two second-round picks.
Three takeaways
The Pacers are just 11-7 against the nine teams below them in the East, set to complete their pre-break schedule with visits to Charlotte (2-1) and Toronto (0-1).
Week 17: @ CHA, @ TOR
Record: 31-21
OffRtg: 118.6 (6) DefRtg: 113.8 (10) NetRtg: +4.7 (7) Pace: 99.6 (13)
The Sixers were able to stop the bleeding with a win in Washington on Saturday, but they had lost eight of nine before that and are now 5-13 without Joel Embiid.
Three takeaways
The Sixers are 5-9 when they’ve had Maxey but not Embiid, a record that includes a 2-4 mark against teams that currently have winning records. Their next six games are against that group (and all within the Eastern Conference), with their pre-break schedule concluding with what could be a pretty big game against the Heat on Wednesday.
Week 17: @ CLE, vs. MIA
Record: 28-25
OffRtg: 113.1 (23) DefRtg: 113.4 (9) NetRtg: -0.3 (18) Pace: 97.5 (28)
The Heat won four out of five, with an important win over the Magic included. They were competitive against the Celtics on Sunday afternoon, but fell to 0-3 against the best team in the league, unable to get over the hump.
Three takeaways
The Heat will have two more games against the East’s top five this week. One of their two wins against the group was against the Embiid-less Sixers on Christmas, when Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored a career-high 31 points.
Week 17: @ MIL, @ PHI
Record: 28-26
OffRtg: 114.0 (20) DefRtg: 114.8 (14) NetRtg: -0.8 (19) Pace: 101.3 (6)
The Lakers didn’t make a trade (not even a small move to duck the luxury tax) at the deadline and have now lost seven straight games against the Nuggets, unable to finish a comeback from 15 points down on Thursday. But they’ve won four of their last five overall, picking up a big, rest-disadvantage win over the Pelicans the following night.
Three takeaways
The Lakers are still just a game in the loss column ahead of the 11th-place Jazz, and they’ll be at another rest disadvantage when they close their pre-break schedule in Utah on Wednesday.
Week 17: vs. DET, @ UTA
Record: 29-24
OffRtg: 112.6 (24) DefRtg: 111.7 (4) NetRtg: +0.9 (14) Pace: 98.4 (24)
The Magic had a month-long stretch (Dec. 31 to Jan. 29) where they went 5-11. They’ve since gone 5-1 to remain in competition for a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference.
Three takeaways
Their worst defensive game against that group (two weeks ago in Dallas) was the second game of a back-to-back, and the Magic are just 2-8 (with seven straight losses) without rest. Their last two pre-break games are a tough, home-home back-to-back against two top-10 offenses (those of the Thunder and Knicks).
Week 17: vs. OKC, vs. NYK
Record: 25-25
OffRtg: 117.4 (12) DefRtg: 116.4 (20) NetRtg: +1.0 (13) Pace: 100.1 (12)
The Warriors have won four straight games to climb back to .500 for the first time since they were 15-15. They’re, amazingly, just three games in the loss column behind the fifth-place Suns, who they just beat on Saturday. But they’re much further away in the win column, with some games to make up.
Three takeaways
The Warriors are tied (with the Blazers) for the fewest games played (they’re 14-3) against the 12 teams that are currently below .500. They’ll play their first two games against the barely-below-.500 Jazz this week, with a big test of their defensive improvement on Wednesday, when they’ll host the Clippers.
STEPH CURRY FOR THE LEAD 😱 pic.twitter.com/v0GsUMuu9z
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 11, 2024

Week 17: @ UTA, vs. LAC, @ UTA
Record: 26-27
OffRtg: 115.7 (16) DefRtg: 118.1 (24) NetRtg: -2.4 (23) Pace: 100.7 (9)
The Jazz still feel like they can go in either direction at any time, though they (once again) seemingly made moves at the deadline to go backward.
Three takeaways
The Jazz are in 11th place, a game in the loss column behind the ninth-place Lakers and two in the loss column behind the 10th-place Warriors (who’ve played three fewer games). They’ll go into the break with three home games against those two teams, with the home team having won their first two meetings against L.A. and with Monday bringing their first meeting with Golden State.
Week 17: vs. GSW, vs. LAL, vs. GSW
Record: 24-29
OffRtg: 117.8 (11) DefRtg: 119.8 (28) NetRtg: -2.0 (22) Pace: 102.5 (3)
Dejounte Murray is still on the Hawks, who haven’t been too bad over the last couple of weeks.
Three takeaways
The Hawks have played the league’s 10th easiest schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage, but 33 of their 53 games (tied for second most) have come against the 17 teams that currently have winning records. Their win over the Rockets began a stretch where they’re playing seven of eight against other teams below .500, though they’re 0-1 against both the Bulls and Hornets, who they’ll face this week.
Week 17: vs. CHI, @ CHA
Record: 25-28
OffRtg: 113.3 (21) DefRtg: 114.9 (16) NetRtg: -1.6 (21) Pace: 96.8 (30)
The Bulls had an opportunity to climb within one game of .500 (for the first time since they were 2-3) on Saturday, holding a double-digit lead in the second half. But they couldn’t close the deal and remain solidly entrenched in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament group.
Three takeaways
The Bulls’ four-game trip continues with a big game against the 10th-place Hawks on Monday. Chicago won the first meeting with Drummond starting (in place of Vucevic) and tallying 24 points, 25 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Week 17: @ ATL, @ CLE
Record: 23-29
OffRtg: 113.2 (22) DefRtg: 112.5 (6) NetRtg: +0.7 (16) Pace: 99.2 (15)
The Rockets’ hopes for making the Play-In Tournament seem to be slipping away. As the ninth-place Lakers and 10th-place Warriors show improvement, Houston has lost four straight to fall six games below .500.
Three takeaways
The Rockets face another Eastern Conference opponent on Monday, but their game against the Knicks is at home. Then they’ll visit a place (Memphis) where they got one of their five road wins.
THIS JALEN GREEN POSTER 😱 pic.twitter.com/zcmHstFsbb
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 11, 2024

Week 17: vs. NYK, @ MEM
Record: 21-31
OffRtg: 114.9 (17) DefRtg: 116.2 (18) NetRtg: -1.3 (20) Pace: 98.5 (22)
The Nets got three second-round picks for Royce O’Neale, but more interesting was their swap of Spencer Dinwiddie (a free agent in the summer) for Dennis Schroder, who’s under contract for another season and gives them a little more juice off the dribble.
Three takeaways
They finish their pre-break schedule with two games against the Celtics, having lost both of the first two meetings by double-digits.
Week 17: vs. BOS, @ BOS
Record: 19-34
OffRtg: 114.2 (19) DefRtg: 117.7 (23) NetRtg: -3.5 (24) Pace: 99.1 (18)
For the second straight year, the Raptors (who were still the big sellers this season) surprised us by being a buyer at the trade deadline, sending a first-round pick to Utah for Ochai Agbaji and Kelly Olynyk.
Three takeaways
That struggling defense will wrap its pre-break schedule with a visit from Pascal Siakam and the league’s No. 1 offense on Wednesday.
Week 17: vs. SAS, vs. IND
Record: 15-37
OffRtg: 108.8 (29) DefRtg: 117.1 (21) NetRtg: -8.2 (26) Pace: 98.2 (25)
The Blazers have been banged up and have lost four straight, but the last three losses (including two to good teams) have been by single digits.
Three takeaways
The Blazers have a seemingly comfortable lead over the Grizzlies for 29th in offensive efficiency, but Portland has 15 games remaining against teams that currently rank in the top 10 defensively, while Memphis only has nine. The first two of those 15 are their second and third meetings with the Wolves’ top-ranked defense, with the Blazers having shot 18-for-41 in the paint in an ugly loss exactly one month ago.
Week 17: vs. MIN. vs. MIN
Record: 18-35
OffRtg: 107.6 (30) DefRtg: 113.9 (11) NetRtg: -6.2 (25) Pace: 99.1 (17)
There are a few teams with long losing streaks entering Week 17 and the Grizzlies have the longest. They’ve dropped eight straight and probably hit the low point of their season on Saturday, when they lost a rest-advantage game in Charlotte, marking the Hornets’ first win that wasn’t within five points in the last five minutes.
Three takeaways
The Grizzlies have multiple wins over three teams, with one of those being the Pelicans. The road team has won all three meetings thus far and the Pels will be in Memphis on Monday.
Week 17: vs. NOP, vs. HOU, vs. MIL
Record: 9-43
OffRtg: 111.1 (26) DefRtg: 119.7 (27) NetRtg: -8.6 (27) Pace: 103.4 (1)
The Wizards have lost six straight overall and still haven’t won a home game in 2024.
Three takeaways
The home losing streak is on pause until after the All-Star break and the Wizards will finish their pre-break schedule in Dallas and New Orleans, currently 0-9 against the nine West teams that have winning records.
Week 17: @ DAL, @ NOP
Record: 8-44
OffRtg: 111.5 (25) DefRtg: 120.1 (29) NetRtg: -8.7 (28) Pace: 101.0 (7)
The Pistons traded two of their five top scorers on Thursday, but might be playing their best basketball of the season.
Three takeaways
The Pistons need just one more win to guarantee that they won’t finish with the worst record in NBA history, but their final two pre-break games are a tough back-to-back against the Lakers and Suns.
Week 17: @ LAL, @ PHX
Record: 11-41
OffRtg: 109.2 (28) DefRtg: 121.1 (30) NetRtg: -11.9 (30) Pace: 98.8 (20)
With a 10-game losing streak and having traded much of their core, the Hornets were looking like a good candidate to be last in these here rankings. But they suddenly have a lot more healthy bodies and a motley crew of veterans put an end to the losing streak on Saturday.
Three takeaways
The win ended both the Hornets’ 10-game losing streak and an eight-game home losing streak. Their last two games before the All-Star break are the end of a stretch where they’re playing 10 of 12 at the Spectrum Center, with the first five weeks after the break being very road heavy.
Brandon Miller with the chasedown on one end then knocks down the triple! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1htkJ7eaBE
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 8, 2024

Week 17: vs. IND, vs. ATL
Record: 10-43
OffRtg: 109.3 (27) DefRtg: 118.1 (25) NetRtg: -8.9 (29) Pace: 102.0 (5)
The Spurs’ latest losing streak has hit seven games and they’ve trailed each of their last four by at least 19 points.
Three takeaways
* Using just road shots here to account for shot-charting discrepancies from arena to arena.
The Spurs will face another below-average offense in Toronto on Monday. Then the Rodeo Trip comes back to Texas for their final game before the All-Star break and their third of four meetings with the Mavs.
Week 17: @ TOR, @ DAL
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