Power Rankings, Week 21: Nuggets jump past Celtics for No. 1 spot – NBA.com

Denver climbs to the top after a big win over Boston, while the rest of the Top 10 shakes up 5 weeks before the playoffs.
John Schuhmann
Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Nuggets beat the Celtics in Denver last week.
We’ve raced past the three-quarter mark of the 2023-24 season, and there are only five weeks left.
Two teams — the San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards — have officially been eliminated from playoff contention, but there’s so much more to be determined over the next 35 days and final 269 games.
The Boston Celtics remain head-and-shoulders above everybody else in the combined standings, but look a little more vulnerable after two losses last week. One of those came to the defending champs, who took over the No. 1 spot in the Power Rankings after four straight weeks with the Celtics on top.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
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East vs. West
Schedule strength through Week 20
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Movement in the Rankings
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Week 21 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 114.9 points scored per 100 possessions and 99.5 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: 44-20
OffRtg: 117.6 (7) DefRtg: 113.1 (10) NetRtg: +4.5 (5) Pace: 97.5 (27)
The champs are 2-0 against the team with the league’s best record, having held the most efficient offense in NBA history to 7.7 fewer points per 100 possessions below its season-long mark.
Three takeaways
The Nuggets have the easiest remaining schedule (cumulative opponent winning percentage of .470) among the top four teams in the West. It includes six games remaining against the bottom three teams in the conference, with the first of those being a visit to San Antonio on Friday, Game 3 of a four-game trip.
AARON GORDON ON THE PUTBACK 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/xhQuClLyju
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 8, 2024

Week 21: vs. TOR, @ MIA, @ SAS, @ DAL
Record: 49-14
OffRtg: 121.3 (1) DefRtg: 110.3 (2) NetRtg: +11.0 (1) Pace: 98.7 (18)
The Celtics took their 11-game winning streak on the road and dropped the first two games of their five-game trip, losing to the Cavs without Donovan Mitchell and then coming up short in another playoff-like game against the Nuggets.
Three takeaways
The Celtics don’t have a lot of interesting games left on the schedule, but they do have two games each against the Blazers, Wizards, Pistons and Hornets. The first of those eight games is in Portland on Monday.
Week 21: @ POR, @ UTA, vs. PHX, @ WAS
Record: 45-19
OffRtg: 119.1 (3) DefRtg: 111.3 (4) NetRtg: +7.9 (2) Pace: 100.8 (10)
The Thunder had a rough offensive night in L.A. last Monday, but remain in sole possession of first place in the Western Conference, a game ahead of the Nuggets and holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Three takeaways
With their win over the Heat on Friday, the Thunder are 7-1 in rest-advantage games. Their final one is Thursday against the Mavs, with the last meeting (Feb. 10 in Dallas) having been Oklahoma City’s worst loss of the season (35 points).
Week 21: vs. IND, vs. DAL, @ MEM
Record: 42-23
OffRtg: 118.7 (5) DefRtg: 115.0 (15) NetRtg: +3.7 (9) Pace: 101.3 (5)
After winning their first six games out of the All-Star break, the Bucks dropped the first two games of a four-game trip. But they picked up their second rest-advantage win over the Clippers in seven days, surviving a close game in which LA was without both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
Three takeaways
The Bucks are one loss from matching their total from last season (58-24). They’ll complete their trip in Sacramento on Tuesday, having won their last 15 games against the Kings, with Lillard draining a 32-foot, buzzer-beating game-winner back in January.
Week 21: @ SAC, vs. PHI, vs. PHX
Record: 41-22
OffRtg: 119.0 (4) DefRtg: 114.5 (14) NetRtg: +4.5 (6) Pace: 98.3 (21)
The Clippers are 5-5 since the All-Star break, 4-0 against teams with losing records and 1-5 against teams over .500.
Three takeaways
The Clippers’ weekend back-to-back was the start of a stretch of five games in seven days, with the middle game being the most important. The Clippers are 1-2 against the third-place Wolves, who they trail by one game in the loss column. They won an ugly game in Minnesota eight days ago and the final meeting is Tuesday in L.A., where the Clips are just 3-5 since Feb. 1.
Week 21: vs. MIN, @ CHI, @ NOP, vs. ATL
Record: 44-21
OffRtg: 114.2 (18) DefRtg: 108.3 (1) NetRtg: +6.0 (3) Pace: 98.1 (23)
Karl-Anthony Towns is (likely) out for the rest of the regular season and the Wolves are just 1-2 on the six-game trip that continues for another eight days.
Three takeaways
That includes a 2-1 mark against the fourth-ranked Clippers, with their loss at home eight days ago being one of their three games in which both teams scored less than a point per possession. The fourth and final meeting is in L.A. on Tuesday, after which the Wolves will have a three-day break.
THIS GAME-SEALING BLOCK BY ANT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/2sOK3gwSsT
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 8, 2024

Week 21: @ LAC, @ UTA
Record: 39-25
OffRtg: 117.2 (8) DefRtg: 111.7 (6) NetRtg: +5.5 (4) Pace: 99.2 (16)
The Pelicans are the only unbeaten team this month, having won their four March games by an average of 22.3 points.
Three takeaways
The Pelicans are 6-6 (2-3 at home, 4-3 on the road) against the top four teams in the West. They have two games remaining (both at home) against the group, with the first of those against the Clippers on Friday, when the Pelicans will have a rest advantage.
Week 21: vs. CLE, vs. LAC, vs. POR
Record: 41-23
OffRtg: 115.2 (16) DefRtg: 110.8 (3) NetRtg: +4.3 (7) Pace: 98.0 (24)
The Cavs are dealing with more injuries, playing without Donovan Mitchell for the last six games and down to just two starters (Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen) for the last three. They managed to beat the Celtics and Wolves last week … and also managed to lose to the Hawks and Nets.
Three takeaways
The Cavs’ game against the Suns on Monday is the end of their second post-break stretch of five games in seven days. They’ll have just one day off after that before they begin a stretch where they’re playing 11 of 14 on the road.
Week 21: vs. PHX, @ NOP, @ HOU
Record: 37-27
OffRtg: 117.0 (11) DefRtg: 114.2 (13) NetRtg: +2.8 (11) Pace: 99.4 (15)
The Suns are playing 17 of their final 22 games against teams with winning records. They’re 2-2 (1-2 against the winning teams) on that stretch so far, getting an overtime win in Denver on Tuesday.
Three takeaways
The Suns are playing nine of their next 11 games on the road, facing the top three teams in the Eastern Conference on the four-game trip that begins Monday in Cleveland. They’ll have a rest advantage against the Cavs, who are the one East team they’ve yet to face.
Week 21: @ CLE, @ BOS, @ CHA, @ MIL
Record: 36-28
OffRtg: 117.9 (6) DefRtg: 117.2 (22) NetRtg: +0.7 (15) Pace: 100.9 (7)
After a 1-5 stretch, the Mavs have won two straight games to remain in the top eight in the West.
Three takeaways
The Mavs’ stretch of nine straight games against the Eastern Conference will come to an end in Chicago on Monday. They’ll then play 10 straight within the West, currently just 10-14 in games played between the top 10 in the West and set to face the Warriors, Thunder and Nuggets this week.
Week 21: @ CHI, vs. GSW, @ OKC, vs. DEN
Record: 35-29
OffRtg: 113.4 (22) DefRtg: 112.7 (9) NetRtg: +0.6 (16) Pace: 97.3 (28)
After a stretch where they won 11 of 14, the Heat have lost three straight games, sliding back to eighth place in the East.
Three takeaways
Going back to Games 3-5 of the 2023 NBA Finals, the Heat have scored just 98.9 points per 100 possessions over their last four games against the Nuggets. They never held a lead in Denver 11 days ago and will face the champs again on Wednesday.
Week 21: vs. DEN, @ DET, @ DET
Record: 36-27
OffRtg: 116.8 (13) DefRtg: 116.5 (20) NetRtg: +0.4 (17) Pace: 100.2 (12)
Over the last month, the Kings have road wins over the Nuggets, Clippers, Wolves and Lakers. But they also lost home games to the Bulls and Rockets last week, with the latter one dropping them back into seventh place in the West.
Three takeaways
The Kings have lost their last 15 games (including a heart-breaker in January) against the Bucks, who will be in town on Tuesday. Then it’s an opportunity to complete what would be just the second season sweep of the Lakers in the franchise’s 76-year history.
SABONIS STEAL + SCORE FOR THE WIN 😱 pic.twitter.com/wVKDMCUi1A
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 8, 2024

Week 21: vs. MIL, vs. LAL, vs. NYK
Record: 36-30
OffRtg: 115.0 (17) DefRtg: 115.3 (17) NetRtg: -0.3 (19) Pace: 101.2 (6)
The Lakers went 4-2 on their six-game homestand and remain in ninth place in the West, but they have wins over the Clippers, Thunder, Bucks and Wolves over the last two weeks.
Three takeaways
The lone road game in a stretch where the Lakers are playing 10 of 11 at home is Wednesday in Sacramento, and they’ll have a rest advantage, with the Kings playing Milwaukee the night before. The Lakers are 3-2 (1-2 on the road) in rest-advantage games thus far, but they’re 0-3 against the Kings.
Austin Reaves hops in his bag for the bucket! 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/CjtN1c4G8T
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 11, 2024

Week 21: @ SAC, vs. GSW
Record: 36-29
OffRtg: 120.1 (2) DefRtg: 118.5 (25) NetRtg: +1.5 (12) Pace: 102.5 (2)
The Pacers have been pretty inconsistent over the last month, with losses to the Hornets, Raptors and Spurs. But they picked up a couple of good road wins last week to become the fifth team to surpass its win total from last season (35-47).
Three takeaways
The Pacers are one of five teams with two opponents they’ve yet to face, and those two opponents are the Thunder and the Nets. The Pacers will be in Oklahoma City on Tuesday and then host Brooklyn over the weekend in Game 2 of a three-game homestand.
Week 21: @ OKC, vs. CHI, vs. BKN
Record: 36-28
OffRtg: 117.1 (10) DefRtg: 114.0 (12) NetRtg: +3.1 (10) Pace: 98.7 (17)
Joel Embiid remains out and Tyrese Maxey has now missed the last four games. The Sixers were winless 0-7 without both of their All-Stars … until they won the ugliest game of the season on Sunday.
Three takeaways
Their weekend split against the Pelicans and Knicks was the start of a stretch where the Sixers are playing 11 of 12 against teams with winning records. The one exception is a rest-advantage game against the Hornets on Saturday, with the previous meeting (a home win 10 days ago) coming with the most efficient offensive performance (121 points on just 88 possessions) the Sixers have had without Embiid.
Week 21: @ NYK, @ MIL, vs. CHA
Record: 37-27
OffRtg: 116.6 (14) DefRtg: 112.7 (8) NetRtg: +3.9 (8) Pace: 96.4 (30)
While the rest of us were springing forward, the Knicks and Sixers turned back the clock on Sunday, putting on the lowest-scoring game in the last seven seasons. New York has allowed less than 90 points per 100 possessions in two straight games, but somehow only won one of the two.
Three takeaways
After they host the Sixers for the second time in three days, the Knicks will play 11 of their next 15 games on the road. They have the league’s third best road record (7-3) since Jan. 1, having allowed just 108.6 points per 100 possessions over those 10 games, though 10 is the fewest road games any team has played in 2024.
Week 21: vs. PHI, @ POR, @ SAC
Record: 37-28
OffRtg: 112.6 (23) DefRtg: 111.3 (5) NetRtg: +1.3 (14) Pace: 97.6 (26)
After a stretch where they won 13 of 16, the Magic have lost two straight games for the first time since late January.
Three takeaways
The Magic still have an easy and home-heavy remaining schedule, with their next four games against bottom-five teams in the East. They’re 12-2 (with eight straight wins) against that group, though both losses were to the Nets, who will be in Orlando on Wednesday.
Week 21: vs. BKN, @ TOR, vs. TOR
Record: 33-30
OffRtg: 116.9 (12) DefRtg: 115.5 (18) NetRtg: +1.4 (13) Pace: 100.5 (11)
The Warriors had a lead over the Bulls when Stephen Curry turned his ankle in the fourth quarter on Thursday. But they couldn’t finish without their star and then dropped to 0-4 in games he’s missed, losing to the Spurs on Saturday.
Three takeaways
Curry will miss the rematch with the Spurs on Monday, but his status beyond that is unknown. The Warriors’ game in Dallas on Wednesday night is the start of a stretch where they’re playing seven of eight against teams with winning records, with five of those seven games on the road.
Week 21: @ SAS, @ DAL, @ LAL
Record: 31-33
OffRtg: 113.5 (21) DefRtg: 115.1 (16) NetRtg: -1.6 (20) Pace: 96.9 (29)
The Bulls won three straight games and had a chance to get back to .500 for the first time since they were 2-2. They had a double-digit lead in the second half in L.A. on Saturday afternoon, but couldn’t hold on against the Clippers.
Three takeaways
The Bulls are the best of the 12 teams with losing records but are still one of eight teams that have been worse than the league average on both ends of the floor, having slid a bit defensively since the All-Star break. And their loss to the Clippers on Saturday was the first of four straight games against teams that rank in the top six on offense.
Week 21: vs. DAL, @ IND, vs. LAC, vs. WAS
Record: 29-35
OffRtg: 112.5 (24) DefRtg: 112.4 (7) NetRtg: +0.1 (18) Pace: 99.6 (14)
The Rockets are 2-0 on the three-game trip that ends on Tuesday, so it’s already their most successful road trip (the only one with multiple wins) of the season. But it may also be the most damaging, with Alperen Sengun going down with a bad-looking right leg injury in the final minute of their comeback win in Sacramento on Sunday.
Three takeaways
Sengun will reportedly have his leg evaluated on Monday. If he were healthy (and with Stephen Curry out), there might be a small opportunity for the Rockets to make a push for the last Play-In Tournament spot in the West. Six of their next seven games are against other teams with losing records, though they’re just 13-8 (9-2 at home, 4-6 on the road) within that group thus far.
Week 21: @ SAS, vs. WAS, vs. CLE
Record: 29-35
OffRtg: 117.1 (9) DefRtg: 118.8 (26) NetRtg: -1.7 (21) Pace: 101.6 (4)
The Hawks are 5-3 since losing Trae Young to a finger injury and (again) comfortable in the last Play-In Tournament spot in the Eastern Conference.
Three takeaways
The Hawks now begin a five-game trip out West, currently 12-9 (fourth best among East teams) against the opposite conference. One of those losses was to the Clippers (who they’ll visit on Sunday), with the Hawks scoring 144 points on 103 possessions, the second most efficient offensive performance for a losing team this season. (The Hawks also have the most efficient performance in a loss.)
VIT'S GOT IT LIKE THAT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/4idBLheqaz
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 10, 2024

Week 21: @ POR, @ UTA, @ LAC
Record: 26-39
OffRtg: 113.7 (19) DefRtg: 115.7 (19) NetRtg: -2.0 (22) Pace: 98.0 (25)
After two encouraging (and important) wins over the Hawks, it didn’t take long for the Nets to seemingly let go of the rope, suffering losses to the Grizzlies, Pistons and Hornets last week. But they also beat the Pistons and Cavs in what was their only stretch of five games in seven days.
Three takeaways
The one team in the bottom six that the Nets haven’t lost to is the Spurs, having won the only meeting by 20 just before the All-Star break. They’ll finish a six-game trip in San Antonio on Sunday.
Week 21: @ ORL, @ IND, @ SAS
Record: 23-41
OffRtg: 113.6 (20) DefRtg: 117.5 (24) NetRtg: -3.9 (24) Pace: 99.7 (13)
After winning their first game without Scottie Barnes, the Raptors have dropped three straight, including a rest-advantage game (their final rest-advantage game of the season) in Portland on Saturday.
Three takeaways
After the loss in Portland, the Raptors are 8-6 against the bottom six teams in the league. Their first game after the Anunoby trade was a loss in Detroit, and they’ll complete their four-game trip there on Wednesday.
Week 21: @ DEN, @ DET, vs. ORL, @ ORL
Record: 28-36
OffRtg: 115.6 (15) DefRtg: 118.9 (27) NetRtg: -3.3 (23) Pace: 100.8 (9)
The Jazz have won just two of their last 12 games, with the two wins having come against the Spurs and Wizards.
Three takeaways
The Jazz are 14-13 against the Eastern Conference, with two of their three remaining interconference games coming at the start of a four-game homestand that begins Tuesday.
Keyonte George goes off the glass to Collin Sexton for the TOUGH lob 😳 pic.twitter.com/3psjxwLkO2
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 5, 2024

Week 21: vs. BOS, vs. ATL, vs. MIN
Record: 14-50
OffRtg: 109.9 (27) DefRtg: 117.3 (23) NetRtg: -7.5 (26) Pace: 102.2 (3)
The Spurs have been eliminated from playoff contention, but they did get their first win (they were previously 0-7) without Victor Wembanyama, keeping the Warriors winless without Stephen Curry.
Two takeaways
The Spurs will now begin the longest homestand for any team this season: eight games over 15 days. They’re 2-0 at home since the All-Star break, with both wins having come against teams — the Thunder and Pacers — with winning records.
Week 21: vs. GSW, vs. HOU, vs. DEN, vs. BKN
Record: 18-45
OffRtg: 108.8 (28) DefRtg: 116.7 (21) NetRtg: -7.8 (27) Pace: 98.1 (22)
We’re well beyond the All-Star break, but the Blazers have still been somewhat competitive. They lost to both the Wolves and Thunder by single digits last week, and they got a win over Toronto on Saturday.
Two takeaways
The Blazers have three games left on their six-game homestand, though they’re also the last three games of a stretch of five in seven days. So the Knicks (the opponent in the second game of the second back-to-back) are in trouble.
Week 21: vs. BOS, vs. ATL, vs. NYK, @ NOP
Record: 22-43
OffRtg: 106.9 (30) DefRtg: 113.5 (11) NetRtg: -6.6 (25) Pace: 98.6 (19)
The Grizzlies won the Brooklyn-Memphis-Philly round robin that took place last Monday-Wednesday, registering their two best offensive performances since the All-Star break to win both road games.
Two takeaways
The Grizzlies are 4-5 (with three straight losses) in games played between the bottom six teams in the league. They have six remaining, with two this week against the Wizards and Hornets, having lost to both on the road.
Week 21: vs. WAS, vs. CHA, vs. OKC
Record: 16-48
OffRtg: 108.6 (29) DefRtg: 118.9 (28) NetRtg: -10.4 (30) Pace: 98.4 (20)
The Hornets put an end to a couple of losing streaks over the weekend, losing to the Wizards (who had lost 16 straight) and beating the Nets to end their own six-game losing streak.
Two takeaways
With their loss in Washington last week, the Hornets are 5-5 in games played between the bottom six teams in the league, set to complete their season series with the Pistons (0-2) and Grizzlies (1-0) this week.
Week 21: @ DET, @ MEM, vs. PHX, @ PHI
Record: 11-53
OffRtg: 110.7 (26) DefRtg: 119.5 (30) NetRtg: -8.8 (29) Pace: 103.4 (1)
With the Hawks’ win in Memphis on Friday, the Wizards were the first team officially eliminated from playoff contention. But they did end their 16-game losing streak the same night, and then they got their second win over one of the 18 teams currently over .500.
Two takeaways
The Wizards will now play eight of their next 10 games against teams with losing records, 9-13 against that group after the win over the Hornets last week.
Week 21: @ MEM, @ HOU, @ CHI, vs. BOS
Record: 10-53
OffRtg: 110.8 (25) DefRtg: 119.4 (29) NetRtg: -8.6 (28) Pace: 100.9 (8)
The Pistons got win No. 10 on Thursday, getting 66 combined points from Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey against Brooklyn.
Two takeaways
The Pistons won their first two games against the Hornets, though their two leading scorers against Charlotte – Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic – are no longer with the team. The third and final meeting is Monday in Detroit.
Week 21: vs. CHA, vs. TOR, vs. MIA, vs. MIA
Boston has won 11 straight to open Week 20, with Denver, Milwaukee and Miami among the teams hitting their stride.
Nikola Jokic stays at the top while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stays hot on his heels.
Could the frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race double up with Defensive Player of the Year honors? 
The Bulls are currently ninth in the East and are on pace for another appearance in the Play-In Tournament.
Boston has won 11 straight to open Week 20, with Denver, Milwaukee and Miami among the teams hitting their stride.
Nikola Jokic stays at the top while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stays hot on his heels.
Could the frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race double up with Defensive Player of the Year honors? 
The Bulls are currently ninth in the East and are on pace for another appearance in the Play-In Tournament.
Klay Thompson is a historic figure for one of the greatest teams ever assembled. That era is over as Dallas seeks 1 of its own.
The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will decide the final four teams to compete in the men's basketball tournament in Paris.
Learn more about France's road to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Tatum's supermax extension surpasses that of teammate Jaylen Brown, who had signed a $304 million extension last season.
The 9-time All-Star reportedly joins forces with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, positioning Philadelphia as a serious contender in the East.
Former All-Star guard Klay Thompson is joining the Mavs as part of a sign-and-trade deal that also involves the Hornets.

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