Power Rankings, Week 18: Celtics lead, Wolves surge after All-Star weekend – NBA.com

Boston holds the top spot and Minnesota is on the rise to No. 2 after NBA All-Star 2024 in Indianapolis.
John Schuhmann
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics remain on top after All-Star weekend.
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A year ago, the Denver Nuggets came out of the All-Star break with a four-game lead in the loss column atop the Western Conference. They still had some work to do, but that was a nice cushion with which they were operating.
This year, the defending champs come out of the break three games in the loss column behind the first-place Minnesota Timberwolves, with two other teams in their way, and having lost three straight games.
Denver isn’t the only contender that should have a sense of urgency as the season restarts on Thursday. The Milwaukee Bucks are 3-7 under coach Doc Rivers and are in danger of slipping out of the top four in the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia 76ers, no matter when they’re getting Joel Embiid back, need to find their footing. And the Phoenix Suns need to put their foot on the gas as soon as possible.
Further down the standings, teams like the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat need to make a push if they’re going to give themselves a chance to replicate last year’s postseason success.
As we come out of the break, the season is exactly two-thirds complete, with 820 of 1,230 games in the books. Given how many teams need to get back on the right track, we should have some great basketball ahead of us.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
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East vs. West
Schedule strength through Week 17
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Movement in the Rankings
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Week 18 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 99.7 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: 43-12
OffRtg: 120.8 (1) DefRtg: 110.5 (3) NetRtg: +10.3 (1) Pace: 99.0 (19)
The Celtics went into the break with five straight wins, with two of those by 40 and 50 points. They’re looking good for finishing with the league’s best record for the first time since they won the championship in 2007-08, currently leading the Wolves by four games.
Three numbers to know
The Celtics have the league’s third easiest post-break schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage (.463). But it’s a road-heavy slate (15 of 27 on the road) with big games in New York and Cleveland in their first 12 days back.
Week 18: @ CHI, @ NYK
Record: 39-16
OffRtg: 115.2 (17) DefRtg: 108.2 (1) NetRtg: +7.0 (3) Pace: 98.2 (26)
The Wolves might have had the league’s strongest close to the pre-break schedule, going into All-Star with four straight road wins, including two by more than 20 points over the Bucks and Clippers.
Three numbers to know
The Wolves have the league’s most home-heavy remaining schedule, with 17 of their 27 games at the Target Center. They begin their post-break schedule with their longest homestand of the season (seven games over 11 days), though it includes three rest-disadvantage games, the first coming Saturday against Brooklyn.
Week 18: vs. MIL, vs. BKN
Record: 36-17
OffRtg: 119.7 (3) DefRtg: 114.3 (13) NetRtg: +5.4 (5) Pace: 98.5 (22)
The Clippers’ last four games before the break were not great. They suffered a wire-to-wire defeat (at home) to the Pelicans, barely beat the Pistons, got clobbered by Minnesota, and were down 14 in the fourth quarter at Golden State on Wednesday. But (without Kawhi Leonard) they came back to beat the Warriors and stay within a game in the loss column of the first-place Wolves.
Three numbers to know
The Clippers are one of three teams with a league-high 29 games left to play, one of four with a league-high seven back-to-backs, and one of two with two remaining sets of five games in seven days. The first of the seven back-to-backs is Thursday and Friday, with the first game (in Oklahoma City) being one of the biggest games left on the NBA schedule.
Week 18: @ OKC, @ MEM, vs. SAC
Record: 36-17
OffRtg: 116.2 (15) DefRtg: 110.3 (2) NetRtg: +5.8 (4) Pace: 98.6 (21)
The Cavs’ eight-game winning streak came to an end last Monday with a loss to the Sixers, their worst defensive performance (123 points allowed on 96 possessions) since Christmas. But they went into the break with a win, are 18-2 since early January, and have a four-game lead in the loss column for second place in the East.
Three numbers to know
The Cavs are one of three teams with 29 games remaining and they’ll have two stretches of five games in seven days in the first three weeks out of the break. The first begins with a visit from the Magic (a potential playoff preview) on Thursday, with the Cavs having won two of the first three meetings between two of the league’s top-five defenses.
Week 18: vs. ORL, @ PHI, @ WAS
Record: 37-17
OffRtg: 119.2 (4) DefRtg: 111.9 (4) NetRtg: +7.3 (2) Pace: 100.7 (10)
The Thunder went into the break with a good win in Orlando, having lost their previous three road games. They come out of the break right in the middle of the four-team race for the top seed in the West.
Three numbers to know
The Thunder have the easiest remaining schedule (cumulative opponent winning percentage of .485) among the top nine teams in the Western Conference. They have just one game remaining within the top four in the West and it’s their first game out of the break a visit from the Clippers on Thursday. Gordon Hayward should be in the rotation, having not played since Dec. 26.
Week 18: vs. LAC, vs. WAS, @ HOU
Record: 36-19
OffRtg: 117.1 (13) DefRtg: 113.7 (11) NetRtg: +3.3 (9) Pace: 97.4 (28)
The Nuggets needed the All-Star break, having scored just 99 points per 100 possessions as they lost their last three games.
Three numbers to know
Denver has a relatively easy and home-heavy post-break schedule and is one of four teams with only three back-to-backs left to play. The first two of those are in the first eight days back from the break, with the Nuggets in Portland for a rest-disadvantage game on Friday.
Week 18: vs. WAS, @ POR, @ GSW
Record: 32-23
OffRtg: 117.5 (11) DefRtg: 116.2 (19) NetRtg: +1.3 (13) Pace: 100.9 (8)
The Mavs have won six straight games (the longest active streak in the West) and are just a game in the loss column behind the fifth-place Suns, who they’ll host on Thursday.
Three numbers to know
The Mavs have just 11 home games remaining, tied (with Brooklyn) for the fewest in the league. The biggest of the 11 is the first one, as it will determine the season series with Phoenix. The road team has won each of the first two meetings.
Week 18: vs. PHX, @ IND
Record: 33-22
OffRtg: 117.8 (9) DefRtg: 114.5 (14) NetRtg: +3.3 (10) Pace: 99.3 (15)
Bradley Beal couldn’t get to the All-Star break in one piece, leaving the Suns’ game against the Kings on Tuesday with a hamstring injury. The Suns still went into the break with a pair of wins and are 14-4 (best in the West) since Jan. 11.
Three numbers to know
The Suns have the league’s toughest remaining schedule concerning cumulative opponent winning percentage, with 19 of their 27 games against other teams that come out of the break with winning records. It’s also road-heavy, with only 12 of the 27 at the Footprint Center.
They begin their post-break slate with a huge game in Dallas that will determine the season series with a team they lead by just one game.
Week 18: @ DAL, @ HOU, vs. LAL
Record: 33-22
OffRtg: 117.2 (12) DefRtg: 112.7 (7) NetRtg: +4.4 (8) Pace: 99.3 (16)
The Pelicans took advantage of a relatively soft stretch of schedule leading into the break, winning six of their last seven games. They’re tied with the Suns for the final two guaranteed playoff spots in the West.
Three numbers to know
The Pels’ first five games out of the break are their only stretch of five games in seven days this season. They have the most interconference games remaining (16) and they’re currently 10-4 against the East, though they’ll be at a rest disadvantage when they host the Heat on Friday.
Week 18: vs. HOU, vs. MIA, vs. CHI
Record: 33-22
OffRtg: 117.9 (8) DefRtg: 113.1 (9) NetRtg: +4.8 (6) Pace: 97.2 (29)
The Knicks won four of their first five games without Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, but went into the break with a four-game losing streak, allowing 126 points per 100 possessions over the four games.
Three numbers to know
That 6-12 record within the top eight in the East includes a 0-3 mark against the Celtics, who will be at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. It seems unlikely that either Anunoby or Randle will be back, but a return from Isaiah Hartenstein (who missed the last three games before the break) would be helpful.
Week 18: @ PHI, vs. BOS
Record: 35-21
OffRtg: 118.9 (5) DefRtg: 115.9 (17) NetRtg: +3.1 (11) Pace: 102.0 (5)
The Bucks are just 3-7 with Doc Rivers and went into the break with a pretty brutal loss in Memphis.
Three numbers to know
The Bucks have the East’s toughest remaining schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage (.534), with 18 of their 26 games against the other 17 teams that come out of the break with winning records. They’re 17-13 against the group, though just 4-8 on the road and 2-4 under Rivers.
Week 18: @ MIN, @ PHI
Record: 31-23
OffRtg: 116.6 (14) DefRtg: 116.1 (18) NetRtg: +0.5 (17) Pace: 0.5 (17)
The Kings went 2-2, with both wins over the Nuggets, as they played their final four pre-break games against three of the top five teams in the West.
Three numbers to know
Fifteen of the Kings’ last 19 games before the All-Star break were on the road and 17 of their 28 post-break games are at Golden 1 Center. But their first five games out of the break are just two single home games and three road games against three of the top four teams in the West. The first of those is in L.A. on Sunday.
Week 18: vs. SAS, @ LAC
Record: 30-25
OffRtg: 113.3 (22) DefRtg: 113.0 (8) NetRtg: +0.3 (18) Pace: 97.5 (27)
The Heat followed up a seven-game losing streak by winning six of their final eight games before the break, picking up important wins in Milwaukee and Philadelphia last week.
Three numbers to know
* Using only road games here to account for shot-charting discrepancies from arena to arena.
The Heat will play 10 of their first 14 games on the road, but they will have a rest advantage in three of the four games on the road trip that begins in New Orleans on Friday.
Week 18: @ NOP
Record: 31-25
OffRtg: 120.5 (2) DefRtg: 119.2 (26) NetRtg: +1.3 (14) Pace: 102.6 (2)
The Pacers were a little lucky to escape with a split of games in Charlotte and Toronto last week, with their two-point win over the Raptors keeping them in the top six in the Eastern Conference.
Three numbers to know
Good news for the Pacers’ 26th-ranked defense: They’re tied (with the Warriors) for the fewest remaining games (five) against teams that currently rank in the top 10 offensively. But they have two games in the first two weeks out of the break against the Mavs’ 11th-ranked offense, with the first of those in Indiana on Sunday.
Week 18: vs. DET, vs. DAL
Record: 32-22
OffRtg: 118.6 (6) DefRtg: 114.1 (12) NetRtg: +4.5 (7) Pace: 99.5 (13)
With Joel Embiid out, the Sixers needed the All-Star break as much as any team. But they did get a great win in Cleveland last Monday, and they could have some more healthy bodies (including Kyle Lowry) when they restart the season on Thursday.
Three numbers to know
The Sixers are the only team that’s played less than half its games (26/54) against the 18 teams that come out of the break with winning records. They’ll play a league-high 19 of their final 28 games against that group, with their first four against the four teams ahead of them in the Eastern Conference. They’re 2-5 (1-4 with Embiid, 1-1 without him) against those four teams thus far.
Week 18: vs. NYK, vs. CLE, vs. MIL
Record: 30-26
OffRtg: 114.5 (18) DefRtg: 114.7 (15) NetRtg: -0.2 (19) Pace: 101.4 (6)
The Lakers remain in the bottom half of the Play-In Tournament group in the West, but are comfortably over .500, having won six of their last seven games, a stretch that includes victories over the Celtics, Knicks and Pelicans.
Three numbers to know
This 6-1 stretch has come with a major uptick in offense, and the offense may need to stay hot, as the Lakers have the league’s toughest post-break schedule regarding opposing offenses. Three of their first four post-break games are against teams that rank in the top 10 offensively, with visits to the Warriors (seventh) and Suns (ninth) this week.
Week 18: @ GSW, vs. SAS, @ PHX
Record: 30-25
OffRtg: 113.0 (24) DefRtg: 112.0 (5) NetRtg: +1.0 (15) Pace: 98.2 (25)
The Magic had a rough January, but have won six of their last eight games and went into the break with their most efficient offensive performance of the season, scoring 118 points on just 86 possessions against the Knicks.
Three numbers to know
The Magic have the league’s easiest remaining schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage (.435), with 16 of their 27 remaining games against the 12 teams that come out of the break with losing records (no other team has more than 13 games against the bottom 12). They’re 16-5 against that group thus far, though two of the five losses were to the Hawks, who they’ll visit (with a rest disadvantage) on Sunday.
Week 18: @ CLE, @ DET, @ ATL
Record: 27-26
OffRtg: 117.9 (7) DefRtg: 116.6 (20) NetRtg: +1.4 (12) Pace: 100.3 (12)
The Warriors could have gone into the All-Star break with a seven-game winning streak, but they blew a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Clippers on Wednesday. They’re still back over .500.
Three numbers to know
The Warriors have the easiest remaining schedule (cumulative opponent winning percentage of .471) among the top 12 teams in the West. They also have three games remaining against the ninth-place Lakers, with whom they’re tied in the loss column. The first of those is Thursday in San Francisco, where the Warriors are just 5-8 (with a loss to the Lakers) since Christmas.
Week 18: vs. LAL, vs. CHA, vs. DEN
Record: 26-29
OffRtg: 113.5 (21) DefRtg: 115.0 (16) NetRtg: -1.4 (20) Pace: 96.9 (20)
The Bulls have the East’s fourth best record (21-15) since late November, but their 5-14 start still has them far behind the eighth-place Magic. They did solidify their position as the best East team with a losing record with a win in Atlanta last week.
Three numbers to know
The Hawks have won four of their last six games (after starting 8-21) against teams that are currently over. 500. Ten of their first 12 post-break games will be against that group, with the Celtics in Atlanta on Thursday.
Week 18: vs. BOS, @ NOP
Record: 26-30
OffRtg: 115.8 (16) DefRtg: 118.8 (25) NetRtg: -3.0 (23) Pace: 100.8 (9)
The Jazz’s Play-In chances seem to be slipping away. The Lakers and Warriors are playing better and Utah went into the break with their first four-game losing streak since Thanksgiving.
Three numbers to know
The Jazz are now four games in the loss column out of the Play-In group in the West, and they have the West’s third toughest post-break schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage (.522). But their first three games out of the break are three of their 10 remaining games against the other 11 teams that currently have losing records. They’re 13-5 against that group thus far.
Week 18: vs. CHA, vs. SAS
Record: 24-30
OffRtg: 113.2 (23) DefRtg: 112.7 (6) NetRtg: +0.5 (16) Pace: 99.1 (17)
The Rockets got a win over the Knicks last week, benefitting from an erroneous call that put Aaron Holiday at the line for the game-winning free throws. But their road woes continued and they’re one of two teams that went into the break with a loss in Memphis.
Three numbers to know
The Rockets have more road games (15) than home games (13) left to play, and they begin their post-break schedule with six games against three of the top six teams – the Pelicans, Suns (x 3) and Thunder (x 2) – in the Western Conference. They won six of their first eight games against that group, but have since lost four straight (all by double-digits).
Week 18: @ NOP, vs. PHX, vs. OKC
Record: 24-31
OffRtg: 117.6 (10) DefRtg: 120.0 (29) NetRtg: -2.4 (22) Pace: 102.4 (3)
The Hawks were playing relatively well … until they lost to the Bulls and Hornets (by 23 points) last week.
Three numbers to know
Like their last three games before the break, four of the Hawks’ first five games after the break will be against teams that currently have losing records. The one exception is their game against Orlando on Sunday (when they’ll have a rest advantage).
Week 18: vs. TOR, vs. ORL
Record: 21-33
OffRtg: 114.5 (19) DefRtg: 116.8 (21) NetRtg: -2.3 (21) Pace: 98.4 (23)
The good news is that the Nets don’t have to play the Celtics again, having lost by 50 in Boston to close out their pre-break schedule. The bad news is that loss may have sparked the team to part ways with coach Jacque Vaughn on Monday.
Three numbers to know
The Nets had a lot of home games early on and will be paying for it over the last couple of months, with the league’s most road-heavy remaining schedule (17 of 28). They’re also tied (with the Kings) for the most rest-disadvantage games left to play (six).
But it’s the league’s second easiest remaining schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage (.460). They’re 12-7 against the other 11 teams that are currently below .500, a record that includes a home win over the Raptors, who they’ll play three more times.
Week 18: @ TOR, @ MIN
Record: 19-36
OffRtg: 113.8 (20) DefRtg: 117.6 (24) NetRtg: -3.8 (24) Pace: 99.4 (14)
Remember when the Raptors won three of their first four games with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley? Since then, they’re 4-15, and they lost to the Spurs by 23 points last week.
Three numbers to know
No team in NBA history has ever gone winless within its division, but the Raptors are 0-11 against the Atlantic Division as they come out of the break. Three of their five remaining division games are against the Nets, who will be in Toronto on Thursday.
Week 18: vs. BKN, @ ATL
Record: 20-36
OffRtg: 107.7 (30) DefRtg: 113.5 (10) NetRtg: -5.9 (25) Pace: 99.1 (18)
The Grizzlies ended a nine-game losing streak and went into the break with two straight wins, with GG Jackson totaling 47 points on 18-for-32 shooting over the two games.
Three numbers to know
It will be interesting to see when (or if) Marcus Smart and/or Desmond Bane return to action. They were both ruled out for (at least) six weeks a little less than six weeks ago.
Week 18: vs. LAC
Record: 15-39
OffRtg: 108.5 (29) DefRtg: 117.3 (22) NetRtg: -8.8 (28) Pace: 98.3 (24)
The Blazers had a tough schedule and a bunch of injuries leading into the break. They’ve dropped (at least) six straight games for the third time this season.
Three numbers to know
The Blazers climbed out of the basement in offensive efficiency a few weeks ago, but they’ll play seven of their first eight post-break games against teams that rank in the top 10 defensively. The one exception (Sunday) is their first of two meetings against Charlotte, with the Blazers currently 3-4 against the other five teams that come out of the break with fewer than 20 wins.
Week 18: vs. DEN, vs. CHA
Record: 13-41
OffRtg: 109.5 (27) DefRtg: 120.3 (30) NetRtg: -10.8 (30) Pace: 98.8 (20)
The Hornets went into the break with their first three-game winning streak of the season. It was, by far, their best three-game stretch of defense (104.1 points allowed per 100 possessions), with two of the opponents — Indiana and Atlanta — having top-10 offenses.
Three numbers to know
The league’s 30th-ranked defense has a league-high 13 post-break games against teams that currently rank in the top 10 offensively. The first of those is Friday at Golden State, with the Hornets also playing 13 of their first 17 post-break games on the road.
Week 18: @ UTA, @ GSW, @ POR
Record: 11-44
OffRtg: 109.0 (28) DefRtg: 117.5 (23) NetRtg: -8.5 (27) Pace: 102.2 (4)
The Spurs are 1-4 on the Rodeo trip, with four more games left to go. The one win (in Toronto last Monday) was, statistically, their best defensive game of the season (99 points allowed on 108 possessions).
Three numbers to know
The Spurs have the league’s second-toughest post-break schedule in regard to cumulative opponent winning percentage (.535) and it begins with the last four games of the rodeo trip.
Week 18: @ SAC, @ LAL, @ UTA
Record: 9-45
OffRtg: 111.0 (25) DefRtg: 119.5 (27) NetRtg: -8.5 (26) Pace: 103.5 (1)
The Wizards went into the break with eight straight games against teams that currently have winning records, and they lost all eight, dropping them to 1-33 against that group.
Three numbers to know
The Wizards are two losses from being the second team to match its total from last season (35-47), and the string of games against good teams didn’t end at the All-Star break. Their first six games coming out of the break are against teams that currently have winning records.
Week 18: @ DEN, @ OKC, vs. CLE
Record: 8-46
OffRtg: 110.9 (26) DefRtg: 119.8 (28) NetRtg: -8.9 (29) Pace: 101.2 (7)
After winning the first two games of a five-game trip, the Pistons dropped three straight going into the break, scoring less than a point per possession over the three games.
Three numbers to know
The Pistons still need one more win to guarantee that they won’t finish with the worst record in NBA history. The early, post-break schedule won’t do them any favors, with six of their next seven games coming against teams currently over .500. The one exception (at Chicago next Tuesday) is a rest-disadvantage game.
Week 18: @ IND, vs. ORL
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