Power Rankings, Week 16: Clippers leading way to start trade deadline week – NBA.com

The Wolves and Cavs are rising (and the 76ers fall back) as Thursday's trade deadline looms over the league.
John Schuhmann
Russell Westbrook reached a career milestone as the Clippers kept rolling along in the West.
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The trade deadline is just three days away and two pieces of news from the last week have surely affected the market.
Zach LaVine has been the player most discussed over the last couple of months, but is out for the remainder of the season. The Philadelphia 76ers, meanwhile, should have been the most aggressive buyer on the market, but now have to wonder if Joel Embiid will return to full health in time for the playoffs.
There should still be plenty of action in the next few days, whether teams want to contend for a title, make the playoffs, build for the future, or just save some money.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
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East vs. West
Schedule strength through Week 15
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Movement in the Rankings
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Week 16 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: 33-15
OffRtg: 119.8 (4) DefRtg: 113.5 (11) NetRtg: +6.3 (3) Pace: 98.3 (26)
The Clippers are 5-1 on the seven-game road trip that ends in Atlanta on Monday, and they remain tied in the loss column with the Wolves and Thunder at the top of the Western Conference.
Three takeaways
The Clippers’ seven-game trip concludes with a rest-disadvantage game in Atlanta on Monday. They’re 4-3 (1-3 on the road) in the second games of back-to-backs, with Leonard having played in six of those seven games.
Week 16: @ ATL, vs. NOP, vs. DET
Record: 38-12
OffRtg: 120.4 (2) DefRtg: 110.6 (2) NetRtg: +9.8 (1) Pace: 99.0 (18)
After winning their first 20 home games, the Celtics have lost three of their last six, with their loss to the Lakers (who were without LeBron James and Anthony Davis) on Thursday being the most inexplicable of those three defeats.
Three takeaways
The Celtics are still undefeated (17-0) at home against the Eastern Conference, and their seven-game homestand concludes with games against the Hawks and Wizards. Then they’ll head to Miami, where they scored 143 points on just 96 possessions 11 days ago.
Week 16: vs. ATL, vs. WAS, @ MIA
Record: 35-16
OffRtg: 118.1 (8) DefRtg: 113.7 (12) NetRtg: +4.5 (8) Pace: 97.2 (29)
The Nuggets had a chance in Oklahoma City, holding a lead late in the third quarter, without Nikola Jokic on Wednesday. But whether Jokic is in uniform or not, their bench remains a question mark, and they lost a game in which they outscored the Thunder by 12 points with their starting lineup on the floor. They’re still 21-7 over the last eight weeks, though that game has them one game in the loss column behind the top three teams in the West.
Three takeaways
That 6-9 record within the top 10 includes a 0-1 mark against the Kings, who the Nuggets will play twice more before the All-Star break. They have just two games this week, but they’re a back-to-back and they’ll be at a rest disadvantage in Sacramento on Friday. They’re 3-3 (2-1 on the road) in rest-disadvantage games thus far, having not had one in a month.
Week 16: @ LAL, @ SAC
Record: 35-15
OffRtg: 114.1 (19) DefRtg: 108.2 (1) NetRtg: +5.9 (6) Pace: 98.4 (25)
The Wolves have stumbled a little over the last few weeks, but they picked up two important wins within the top eight in the West last week and are sending Chris Finch and his coaching staff to the All-Star Game.
Three takeaways
The Wolves conclude their pre-break schedule with a five-game road trip that includes a visit to Milwaukee on Thursday. They’re 3-3 (3-0 at home, 0-3 on the road) against the top five teams in the Eastern Conference, having split their season series against the Celtics, Knicks and Sixers and having yet to play the Bucks or Cavs.
Week 16: @ CHI, @ MIL
Record: 35-15
OffRtg: 119.3 (6) DefRtg: 111.2 (4) NetRtg: +8.1 (2) Pace: 100.6 (10)
The Thunder split their two big home games within the top four in the West last week, with neither being a truly fair fight. They lost a rest-disadvantage game to the Wolves and then beat the Nuggets without Nikola Jokic.
Three takeaways
Though they lost to the Pistons in their last road game, the Thunder are still tied for the league’s second-best road record (15-9). Three of their four remaining pre-break games are on the road, and they’ve already won in Utah and Dallas, where they’ll have games this week with a three-day break in between.
Week 16: @ UTA, @ DAL, vs. SAC
Record: 31-16
OffRtg: 115.3 (17) DefRtg: 110.5 (2) NetRtg: +4.7 (7) Pace: 98.8 (19)
Both Evan Mobley and Darius Garland returned from their extended absences last week, and the Cavs just kept on rolling. They’ve now won 13 of their last 14 games, climbing from eighth to third in the Eastern Conference.
Three takeaways
We’ll have a great matchup of two teams playing well when the Kings (who’ve won six of their last seven) visit Cleveland on Monday. The first meeting (Nov. 13 in Sacramento) was the Cavs’ worst defensive game of the season (132 points allowed on just 96 possessions).
Week 16: vs. SAC, @ WAS, @ BKN, @ TOR
Record: 32-18
OffRtg: 118.0 (9) DefRtg: 112.0 (6) NetRtg: +6.0 (5) Pace: 97.6 (27)
The Knicks ran their winning streak to nine games, winning their first three without Julius Randle. They then went into the fourth quarter against the Lakers with a six-point lead on Saturday, but came up empty offensively (10 straight scoreless possessions) and suffered just their second loss in a game they led after 36 minutes.
Three takeaways
The Knicks are still 11-1 with both Brunson and Anunoby, having outscored their opponents by 29 points per 100 possessions in 361 total minutes with both on the floor. That one loss came in Dallas on Jan. 11, when the Knicks couldn’t get a rebound on a critical defensive possession in the final minute. The Mavs will be at Madison Square Garden on Thursday for Game 5 of the Knicks’ six-game homestand.
Week 16: vs. MEM, vs. DAL, vs. IND
Record: 33-17
OffRtg: 119.9 (3) DefRtg: 116.4 (19) NetRtg: +3.5 (10) Pace: 102.5 (3)
Doc Rivers is the Eastern Conference All-Star coach, because he was able to get one win in his first four games with the Bucks.
Three takeaways
Having split their games in Denver and Dallas last week, the Bucks are 4-1 against the top eight teams in the West, set to face the Suns and Wolves for the first time this week. Those are Games 3 and 4 of their only stretch of five games in seven days this season.
Week 16: @ PHX, vs. MIN, vs. CHA
Record: 29-21
OffRtg: 118.2 (7) DefRtg: 115.3 (16) NetRtg: +2.9 (11) Pace: 98.7 (20)
The Suns went 4-3 on their seven-game road trip, good enough to remain in the top six in the West, but it seems like they still haven’t hit their stride.
Three takeaways
Only four of these last 15 games have been at home, where the Suns are just 14-11 (more home losses than they had in all of 2020-21 or ’21-22). They’ll play four of their last five pre-break games at the Footprint Center, with a marquee matchup against the Bucks on Tuesday.
Week 16: vs. MIL, vs. UTA, @ GSW
Record: 30-18
OffRtg: 119.3 (5) DefRtg: 113.3 (9) NetRtg: +6.0 (4) Pace: 99.5 (14)
Joel Embiid returned from two-game absence on Tuesday and suffered another knee injury in the Sixers’ loss at Golden State. With Tyrese Maxey returning from a three-game absence two nights later, they were able to get a win in Utah without the reigning MVP. But after losing to Ben Simmons and the Nets over the weekend, the Sixers are just 4-10 without Embiid, who is going to miss a lot more games in the coming weeks.
Three takeaways
Four other rotation players — Robert Covington (the last 16 games), De’Anthony Melton (11 straight), Nicolas Batum (three straight) and Tobias Harris (three of the last six) — have also been out, with three of the four listed as out for the Sixers’ game against Dallas on Monday (Harris is questionable). And with Embiid set to have surgery on his knee, it might not be time to go all-in with a trade at the deadline.
Week 16: vs. DAL, vs. GSW, vs. ATL, @ WAS
Record: 29-19
OffRtg: 116.7 (14) DefRtg: 115.7 (17) NetRtg: +1.1 (15) Pace: 100.5 (11)
The Kings are 5-1 on the seven-game road trip that concludes in Cleveland on Monday, and have won six of their last seven games overall, climbing from eighth to fifth (with a two-game edge in the loss column over the sixth-place Suns) in the Western Conference.
Three takeaways
After finishing their seven-game trip in Cleveland, the Kings will be home for just two games before hitting the road again for the last three games before the break. They’re currently 8-8 within the top eight in the West, set to play their final four pre-break games against the Nuggets (twice), Thunder and Suns.
Week 16: @ CLE, vs. DET, vs. DEN, @ OKC
Record: 28-21
OffRtg: 116.9 (13) DefRtg: 113.0 (8) NetRtg: +3.9 (9) Pace: 99.5 (13)
A tough January schedule pushed the Pelicans out of the top six in the West, but they won the last two games of a four-game trip and have a much more generous schedule over the next two weeks.
Three takeaways
The two remaining pre-break games against good teams are a three-day stay in L.A. this week, with the Pelicans having split their first two games against both the Clippers and Lakers.
ZION FOR THE WIN 😤 pic.twitter.com/v3VlE7VZ4s
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 3, 2024

Week 16: vs. TOR, @ LAC, @ LAL, @ POR
Record: 28-23
OffRtg: 120.7 (1) DefRtg: 119.1 (26) NetRtg: +1.6 (12) Pace: 102.8 (2)
The Pacers lost their first three games with Tyrese Haliburton back, with their star on a minutes restriction and even coming off the bench against the Kings on Friday. But they got to play the Hornets over the weekend and ended the skid with their third wire-to-wire victory of the season.
Three takeaways
Their loss to the Kings on Friday dropped the Pacers to just 6-10 (4-4 at home) against the Western Conference. One of those six wins was against the Rockets, who will be in Indianapolis on Tuesday. The Pacers will have a rest advantage two nights later for their first meeting with the Warriors.
Week 16: vs. HOU, vs. GSW, @ NYK
Record: 26-23
OffRtg: 117.3 (12) DefRtg: 117.9 (25) NetRtg: -0.7 (17) Pace: 100.8 (8)
The Mavs remain shorthanded, and they’ve lost six of their last eight games, falling to eighth place in the Western Conference.
Three takeaways
With the Doncic-less loss in Minnesota last week, the Mavs have the worst record (5-13) in games played between the top eight teams in the West, with seven of those 13 losses having come by more than 15 points. They’ll host the Thunder (0-1) after getting back from a three-game trip East. Irving is listed as probable (though Doncic is questionable) for their game in Philly on Monday
Week 16: @ PHI, @ BKN, @ NYK, vs. OKC
Record: 27-23
OffRtg: 112.5 (24) DefRtg: 111.4 (5) NetRtg: +1.1 (13) Pace: 98.6 (23)
The Magic let one get away last Monday, blowing a 16-point, halftime lead in Dallas and falling to 2-8 (with seven straight losses) in the second game of back-to-backs. But they’ve since won three straight (all on the road), holding their opponents to just 102.4 points per 100 possessions.
Three takeaways
The Magic’s five-game trip concludes on Tuesday in Miami, where they lost an ugly one (one of 11 games this season in which both teams scored less than 100 points) last month. They’re a game ahead of the Heat for seventh place in the East (and first in the Southeast Division).
Week 16: @ MIA, vs. SAS, vs. CHI
Record: 26-25
OffRtg: 113.6 (20) DefRtg: 114.7 (15) NetRtg: -1.1 (20) Pace: 101.3 (6)
LeBron James tweeted and the Lakers have responded, getting big wins in Boston (where the Celtics were 22-2) and New York (where the Knicks were 11-1 since Christmas), with one of those wins (the Boston one) coming without both James and Anthony Davis. They’re back above .500 and only two games in the loss column behind the eighth-place Mavs.
Three takeaways
The Lakers have lost six straight games to the Nuggets (counting the conference finals), who they last faced on opening night (when Davis went scoreless in the second half). They’ll host the champs about seven hours after the trade deadline, with a more important game (against the Pelicans) a little more than 24 hours after that.
Week 16: @ CHA, vs. DEN, vs. NOP
Record: 26-24
OffRtg: 112.8 (23) DefRtg: 113.8 (13) NetRtg: -0.9 (19) Pace: 97.5 (28)
The Heat ended their seven-game losing streak (their first since 2008) and got one of their best wins of 2024 on Wednesday, beating the Kings, who are otherwise 5-0 on their road trip. But Miami still can’t find any offense and remains in the Eastern Conference Play-In picture.
Three takeaways
Four of their five remaining pre-break games are against other teams that currently have winning records, and the the Heat have the worst record (8-16) in games played within that group. They are 2-1 against the Magic, who will be in Miami on Tuesday.
Week 16: vs. ORL, vs. SAS, vs. BOS
Record: 25-26
OffRtg: 115.6 (15) DefRtg: 117.9 (24) NetRtg: -2.3 (23) Pace: 100.7 (9)
After an 11-2 stretch, the Jazz lost six of eight, with the only wins coming against the Wizards and Hornets. They were well on their way to another loss on Sunday night before turning a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit into a 15-point win over the Bucks with a 38-9 run to close the game.
Three takeaways
The Jazz have two games left on a stretch of five straight against the top 11 teams in the league. They’re 0-5 against this week’s two opponents (the Thunder and Suns), having allowed 126.7 points per 100 possessions over those five games.
Week 16: vs. OKC, @ PHX
Record: 22-27
OffRtg: 117.4 (10) DefRtg: 119.5 (27) NetRtg: -2.2 (22) Pace: 102.4 (4)
The Hawks followed a four-game losing streak with four straight wins, beating the Lakers (who’ve since won in Boston and New York) and Suns along the way. If they were in the Western Conference, they’d be in 13th place. But they’re 9-7 against the West and holding onto the last Play-In Tournament spot in the East.
Three takeaways
The Hawks haven’t won five straight games since last January and the competition gets a little tougher this week, with their six-game homestand concluding with a visit from the Clippers. They’ll then travel to Boston, where they suffered one of their three wire-to-wire losses of the season.
Week 16: vs. LAC, @ BOS, @ PHI, vs. HOU
Record: 23-26
OffRtg: 113.2 (21) DefRtg: 112.1 (7) NetRtg: +1.1 (14) Pace: 99.2 (17)
With their win over the Lakers last Monday, the Rockets became the first team to match its win total from last season (22-60), though their pace has slowed after a 13-9 start and they remain outside the Play-In group in the West.
Three takeaways
Their loss in Minnesota was the start of a four-game trip, and the Rockets still have the league’s biggest home-road winning-percentage differential (18-9 vs. 5-17). They’ve also lost their last eight games against the Pacers, who they’ll visit on Tuesday.
Week 16: @ IND, @ TOR, @ ATL
Record: 21-25
OffRtg: 117.3 (11) DefRtg: 117.4 (22) NetRtg: -0.1 (16) Pace: 99.9 (12)
The Warriors won two straight games for the first time since Christmas, getting stops against two shorthanded opponents. Then they got 60 points from Stephen Curry … and lost in Atlanta on Saturday.
Three takeaways
Games 3 and 4 of the Warriors’ five-game trip (also their only stretch of five games in seven days) are against teams – the Nets and Sixers — they’ve already beaten at home. Then we’ll get to see Curry vs. the Pacers for the first time on Thursday.
Week 16: @ BKN, @ PHI, @ IND, vs. PHX
Record: 23-27
OffRtg: 112.9 (22) DefRtg: 114.7 (14) NetRtg: -1.8 (21) Pace: 97.1 (30)
The trade market took a hit on Saturday when the Bulls announced that Zach LaVine (who had missed 23 of the previous 30 games) would have surgery on his right foot and miss the rest of the season. After a loss to the Kings on Saturday night, they’ve played exactly half of their games (and are 13-12) without LaVine.
Three takeaways
The Bulls’ 22nd-ranked offense will now play six of its next seven games (a stretch that takes them past the All-Star break) against top-10 defenses. Two of the six times they’ve scored a point per possession or less have come against the Magic, who they’ll visit on Saturday.
Week 16: vs. MIN, @ MEM, @ ORL
Record: 20-28
OffRtg: 115.5 (16) DefRtg: 116.2 (18) NetRtg: -0.8 (18) Pace: 98.7 (22)
The Nets have won three of four for the first time since Dec. 13, and they trail both the Bulls and Hawks (who occupy the last two Play-In Tournament spots in the East) by just a game in the loss column.
Three takeaways
After welcoming Kevin Durant back last week, the Nets will get a visit from Kyrie Irving on Tuesday. They’re just 6-14 against the Western Conference, having lost in Dallas on Luka Doncic’s ridiculous late-clock 3-pointer off the glass back in October.
Week 16: vs. GSW, vs. DAL, vs. CLE, vs. SAS
Record: 17-32
OffRtg: 114.5 (18) DefRtg: 117.1 (20) NetRtg: -2.7 (24) Pace: 99.3 (16)
The Raptors got a win in Chicago on Tuesday and should be 2-2 (with a quality win) on their six-game road trip. However …
Three takeaways
Sunday was not a good time for a double-overtime loss, because it was the start of the Raptors’ second (and final) stretch of five games in seven days. They’ll be at a (serious) rest disadvantage in New Orleans on Monday and against the Cavs this weekend, currently 1-6 (0-4 on the road) in rest-disadvantage games.
Week 16: @ NOP, @ CHA, vs. HOU, vs. CLE
Record: 15-35
OffRtg: 108.9 (29) DefRtg: 117.1 (21) NetRtg: -8.2 (26) Pace: 98.5 (24)
The Blazers have won seven of their last 11 games at home, beating the Sixers and Bucks at the Moda Center last week. And they were somewhat competitive in two games in Denver, too.
Three takeaways
The Blazers lost their first six rest-advantage games before beating the Pacers with an advantage 17 days ago. They’ll have three rest-advantage games in a row starting Thursday, with the first of those against the Pistons, who are 0-6 in Western Conference arenas.
Week 16: vs. DET, vs. NOP
Record: 18-32
OffRtg: 107.2 (30) DefRtg: 113.4 (10) NetRtg: -6.2 (25) Pace: 99.3 (15)
With their loss to the Warriors on Friday, the Grizzlies became the first team to match its loss total from last season (51-31). They surpassed it with a 40-point loss in Boston two nights later.
Three takeaways
The Grizzlies have the league’s second-toughest February schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage (entering the month), even though six teams had more February games against teams that entered the month with winning records. Six of their 12 are against the top eight teams in the league, with the Knicks (against whom the Grizzlies had a rough offensive night a few weeks ago) up next.
Week 16: @ NYK, vs. CHI, @ CHA
Record: 9-40
OffRtg: 111.2 (25) DefRtg: 120.0 (28) NetRtg: -8.8 (28) Pace: 103.2 (1)
The Wizards got their first winning streak of the season, following their second win in Detroit with a comeback victory in San Antonio last Monday. Their schedule then took a more serious turn, and they lost the first three games of a four-game homestand.
Three takeaways
The Wizards are three games into a stretch of 11 straight against teams that currently have winning records. They’re now just 1-27 against that group, but Saturday will bring their final meeting with the Sixers, who are 4-10 without Joel Embiid.
Week 16: vs. CLE, @ BOS, vs. PHI
Record: 10-40
OffRtg: 109.3 (27) DefRtg: 117.8 (23) NetRtg: -8.5 (27) Pace: 102.2 (5)
After winning two of the first three games in their seven-game homestand, the Spurs have dropped four straight. They now have five fewer wins than anybody else in the Western Conference.
Three takeaways
The annual Rodeo Trip — nine straight road games split by the All-Star break — begins on Wednesday. The Spurs have already played the most interconference games (they’re 3-19 against the East) and the first four games of the trip will be their final four games in Eastern Conference arenas.
Week 16: @ MIA, @ ORL, @ BKN
Record: 10-38
OffRtg: 109.2 (28) DefRtg: 121.3 (30) NetRtg: -12.1 (30) Pace: 98.7 (21)
The Hornets have the league’s longest active losing streak (seven games) and they haven’t held a lead in their last 108 minutes (nine quarters) of basketball.
Three takeaways
The Hornets have a couple of decent opportunities to end the losing streak (and maybe pick up their first non-clutch win) this week, hosting the Raptors (whom they’ve already beaten at home) and Grizzlies, though those are Games 3 and 5 of their only stretch of five games in seven days.
Week 16: vs. LAL, vs. TOR, @ MIL, vs. MEM
Record: 6-43
OffRtg: 111.0 (26) DefRtg: 120.5 (29) NetRtg: -9.5 (29) Pace: 101.0 (7)
The Pistons have been relatively competitive (minus-2.8 points per 100 possessions) over their last 11 games, but they’ve dropped three straight after breaking through with a win over the Thunder.
Three takeaways
Four of the Pistons’ six wins have come at home, with the only exceptions being road wins in Charlotte and Washington. They’re on the road for their final five games before the All-Star break, and they’ll be at a rest disadvantage for the most winnable of those (Thursday in Portland).
Week 16: @ SAC, @ POR, @ LAC
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