Sports
Power Rankings, Week 12: Thunder overtake Celtics for No. 1 spot – NBA.com
Oklahoma City moves past Boston for the top spot as the West continues to hold an edge over the East this season.
John Schuhmann
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came up big for OKC in a key win against Boston last week.
The Western Conference is dominating the East once again.
The Eastern Conference had a winning record vs. the West in the last two seasons, ending a stretch where the West had the better record in 12 straight (and 21 of 22). But the West is best once again, posting an 85-66 (.563) record against the East through Week 11, which would be the West’s best mark of the last nine seasons (since 2014-15).
The good news for the East is that one of their best teams — the Milwaukee Bucks — has played the fewest interconference games and is thus far 5-1 against the West. The bad news is that three West teams that are below .500 overall — the Warriors (6-4), Blazers (5-5) and Jazz (7-5) — are a combined 18-14 against the East, with Portland having won five of its seven games in Eastern Conference arenas.
The imbalance makes it tougher to make the playoffs in the West, but the eighth-place team in the West (the 18-16 Rockets) would be the ninth-place team in the East with that same record.
There will be 26 interconference games this week, with 10 of those (at least one per night) being matchups between two teams that enter the week with winning records. The highlight could be Wolves-Celtics on Wednesday or a fast-paced Pacers-Nuggets game on Sunday afternoon.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
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East vs. West
Schedule strength through Week 11
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Movement in the Rankings
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Week 12 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 100.0 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: 23-11
OffRtg: 119.3 (4) DefRtg: 111.7 (7) NetRtg: +7.6 (3) Pace: 101.5 (6)
The Thunder won the biggest game of the week, getting another huge performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and outscoring the Celtics from 3-point range. But they then dropped the first two games of a stretch where they’re playing 11 of 14 on the road.
Three takeaways
The last game of the Thunder’s four-game trip (Wednesday) is the start of their first stretch of five games in seven days, which will take them from Miami to L.A.
Week 12: @ WAS, @ MIA, vs. POR, vs. ORL
Record: 28-7
OffRtg: 120.6 (2) DefRtg: 109.9 (2) NetRtg: +10.8 (1) Pace: 99.0 (20)
The Celtics lost their marquee matchup in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, but still have two fewer losses than every other team, and they’re 16-3 since late November.
Three takeaways
While the Celtics have one of the league’s toughest January schedules regarding opponent strength, they also have a league-high five rest-advantage games this month. The first two of those are against the Wolves and Rockets this week. They’ll be at a disadvantage in Milwaukee on Thursday.
Week 12: @ IND, vs. MIN, @ MIL, vs. HOU
Record: 26-12
OffRtg: 118.7 (7) DefRtg: 112.9 (9) NetRtg: +5.8 (4) Pace: 97.9 (29)
Nikola Jokic has had a ridiculous stretch of shooting over the last 11 days, but a couple of Denver opponents have also shot well recently, and the Nuggets dropped a game they probably should have won on Friday.
Three takeaways
The Nuggets will have plenty of opportunities to improve on that 8-12 mark this month. After they visit the Jazz on Wednesday, nine of their remaining 10 January games will be against teams that currently have winning records, a stretch that includes two games each against the Pacers and Sixers.
Week 12: @ UTA, vs. NOP, vs. IND
Record: 25-10
OffRtg: 113.8 (19) DefRtg: 108.7 (1) NetRtg: +5.1 (5) Pace: 98.9 (21)
The Wolves remain atop the Western Conference, but they’re 1-3 in 2024, their first rough patch of the season.
Three takeaways
In their first rest-disadvantage game, the Wolves allowed Phoenix to score 133 points on 91 possessions, the fifth most efficient performance for any team this season. Their second rest-disadvantage game is in Boston on Wednesday, the end of a four-game trip.
Week 12: @ ORL, @ BOS, vs. POR, vs. LAC
Record: 22-13
OffRtg: 117.8 (8) DefRtg: 113.0 (10) NetRtg: +4.8 (6) Pace: 98.5 (23)
The Clippers suffered their first real setback in more than a month on Sunday, coming up empty offensively as they lost to the Lakers.
Three takeaways
With those two wins, the Clips are 8-5 against the other eight West teams that currently have winning records, set to face Phoenix (again) and Minnesota this week. Their game on Sunday is their first meeting of the season with the first-place Wolves.
Week 12: vs. PHX, vs. TOR, @ MEM, @ MIN
Record: 22-15
OffRtg: 116.0 (13) DefRtg: 111.6 (6) NetRtg: +4.4 (8) Pace: 99.6 (16)
The Pelicans had a rough night inside the arc on Friday, losing to the Clippers in what was their worst offensive game in more than four weeks. But they’ve shot an incredible 45.3% from 3-point range as they’ve won five of their last six.
Three takeaways
The Pels will play three more games against that over-.500 group in the West on the five-game trip that began with their win in Sacramento on Sunday. They will be at a rest disadvantage (coming from Denver!) for the first of two straight games in Dallas, having split a two-game series with the Mavs in November.
Week 12: @ GSW, @ DEN, @ DAL
Record: 23-12
OffRtg: 119.2 (5) DefRtg: 110.7 (3) NetRtg: +8.5 (2) Pace: 100.1 (12)
The Sixers have lost three out of four for the first time this season, in part because they didn’t have Joel Embiid for two of those three losses. But they also lost (at home) by 36 points with Embiid in uniform against the Knicks on Friday.
Three takeaways
Overall, the Sixers are 21-6 with Embiid and 2-6 without him, with the difference being about equal on both ends of the floor. He was dealing with knee swelling before the loss to the Jazz on Saturday, so it’s a good time for the team to be playing just two games in eight days.
Week 12: @ ATL, vs. SAC
Record: 25-11
OffRtg: 120.3 (3) DefRtg: 115.8 (19) NetRtg: +4.5 (7) Pace: 102.7 (4)
The Bucks’ win in San Antonio was one of the most entertaining games of the season. But the victory came by just four points over the team with the league’s worst point differential, and it’s the Bucks’ only win in their last four games.
Three takeaways
They’ll play two more on the four-game homestand that begins Monday with just their seventh interconference game. They’ll have a rest advantage against the Celtics (who they lost to in November) on Thursday, but will be at a disadvantage against Sacramento three nights later.
Week 12: vs. UTA, vs. BOS, vs. GSW, vs. SAC
Record: 20-15
OffRtg: 122.4 (1) DefRtg: 119.8 (26) NetRtg: +2.6 (10) Pace: 103.6 (1)
The Pacers came up empty from beyond the arc against the Celtics on Saturday, but that loss was preceded by a six-game winning streak that included three victories over the Knicks and Bucks (x 2).
Three takeaways
At tip-off on Saturday, the Pacers were in fourth place in the East, but the loss dropped them down to seventh as we enter Week 12, set to host the first-place Celtics again on Monday. Their longest road trip of the season (six games over 10 days) will begin four nights later in Atlanta.
Week 12: vs. BOS, vs. WAS, @ ATL, @ DEN
Record: 21-15
OffRtg: 117.7 (9) DefRtg: 114.2 (14) NetRtg: +3.5 (9) Pace: 98.4 (25)
The Knicks are 4-0 with OG Anunoby and got their best win of the season on Friday, beating the Sixers (in Philly and with Joel Embiid) by 36 points.
Three takeaways
Two of the Knicks’ four games with Anunoby have come against teams — Chicago and Washington — that rank in the bottom 10 offensively. They’ll face two more bottom-10 offenses — those of the Blazers and Grizzlies — this week.
Week 12: vs. POR, @ DAL, @ MEM
Record: 22-15
OffRtg: 117.5 (10) DefRtg: 115.5 (17) NetRtg: +2.1 (13) Pace: 101.2 (8)
Kyrie Irving returned from a 12-game absence on Jan. 1, and the Mavs began 2024 with a 37-point loss in Utah. But they’ve since won three straight, getting both their first win without Luka Doncic (Friday against Portland) and their best win of the season (Sunday against Minnesota).
Three takeaways
The Mavs are in sixth place, ahead of the similarly 22-15 Pelicans because they have a better record (6-3) within the Southwest Division. The standings can change between now and Saturday, but their seven-game homestand will conclude with two huge games against the Pels. They split a two-game set in New Orleans in November, with Doncic and Irving combining for 65 points and 16 assists in the win.
Week 12: vs. MEM, vs. NYK, vs. NOP
Record: 20-15
OffRtg: 114.6 (17) DefRtg: 113.4 (13) NetRtg: +1.2 (16) Pace: 98.3 (27)
The Heat remain in a tight race where teams 4-8 in the Eastern Conference are separated by just a half-game, having gone 2-3 on a five-game trip out West over which they had Jimmy Butler for just 23 minutes.
Three takeaways
The Heat will now play 13 of their next 18 games at home. They’re 5-5 against the Western Conference after the 2-3 trip, set to face the Rockets and Thunder for the first time on Monday and Wednesday. Then it’s a big game against one of those other East teams in the 4-8 race, with the Heat currently 1-0 (getting the win without Butler) against the Magic.
Week 12: vs. HOU, vs. OKC, vs. ORL, vs. CHA
Record: 21-14
OffRtg: 116.0 (14) DefRtg: 116.1 (21) NetRtg: -0.1 (18) Pace: 100.3 (11)
The Kings have had one of the league’s easiest schedules since Christmas, but they’re just 4-3 (with losses to the Blazers and Hornets) over that stretch, and they no-showed their biggest game since the holiday.
Three takeaways
The Kings have 19 games between now and the All-Star break, and 15 of those 19 will be on the road. A five-game trip begins with a back-to-back in Detroit and Charlotte, but will get much tougher after that.
Week 12: @ DET, @ CHA, @ PHI, @ MIL
Record: 19-17
OffRtg: 116.4 (11) DefRtg: 114.9 (16) NetRtg: +1.5 (15) Pace: 98.2 (28)
The Suns were seemingly starting to put it together, winning their first four games after Christmas. But they went 1-2 in the second half of their six-game homestand and are as close to 12th place as they are to seventh.
Three takeaways
The Suns are also 0-3 against the 18-19 Lakers, with Bradley Beal and Devin Booker each available for only one of the three games. All three were close and the Suns scored just 25 points on 31 clutch possessions, shooting 0-for-7 on clutch 3s. Their fourth of five meetings is in L.A. on Thursday, three nights after they play the Clippers for the second time in six days.
Week 12: @ LAC, @ LAL, @ POR
Record: 21-15
OffRtg: 113.2 (21) DefRtg: 111.1 (4) NetRtg: +2.1 (12) Pace: 99.8 (14)
The Magic went 1-3 on a trip out West, losing Franz Wagner to an ankle sprain along the way. But the one win was Friday in Denver, making it a much better trip home than it would have been otherwise. And they improved to 2-0 without Wagner by outlasting the Hawks in overtime on Sunday.
Three takeaways
The Magic are in fourth place, but just a half-game ahead of the eighth-place Heat, one of five Eastern Conference teams that are either 21-15 or 20-15. They’ll begin a four-game trip in Miami on Friday, having been outscored by 18 points from 3-point range in a nine-point loss to the Heat 19 days ago.
Week 12: vs. MIN, @ MIA, @ OKC
Record: 21-15
OffRtg: 114.4 (18) DefRtg: 112.5 (8) NetRtg: +1.9 (14) Pace: 98.5 (24)
The Cavs are playing six straight games against teams that are currently at least five games under .500. They lost the first game in that stretch, but have won three straight, though things got a little hairy against the Spurs on Sunday afternoon.
Three takeaways
Among the five East teams currently seeded 4-8 and separated by just a half-game, the Cavs have the easiest schedule between now and the All-Star break. But it’s a road-heavy stretch, especially when you consider that they’re going all the way to Paris to play a “home” game against the Nets on Thursday.
Week 12: vs. BKN (Paris)
Record: 18-16
OffRtg: 113.5 (20) DefRtg: 111.1 (5) NetRtg: +2.4 (11) Pace: 98.4 (26)
The Rockets’ seven-game homestand didn’t start well, and before Saturday, they were 2-4 on the stand with the only wins coming against Detroit and Brooklyn. But they finished it off with a victory over the Bucks in which they held the league’s third-ranked offense to its fourth least efficient game of the season.
Three takeaways
The Rockets now begin their longest road trip of the season, six games over 10 days. After losing their first eight road games of the season, they’ve won three of their last five, and this could be a season-defining trip, even though all the opponents are in the other conference.
CAM WHITMORE TAKES FLIGHT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ybTqXmHovE
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 6, 2024
Week 12: @ MIA, @ CHI, @ DET, @ BOS
Record: 17-20
OffRtg: 112.6 (22) DefRtg: 116.9 (23) NetRtg: -4.3 (24) Pace: 100.5 (10)
The Jazz continue to make some noise. They’ve won 10 of their last 14 games and are now just a game behind the Lakers for the final Play-In spot in the Western Conference.
Three takeaways
They got clobbered by the Celtics last week, but the Jazz won in Philly (the Sixers were without Joel Embiid) and are now 7-5 against the Eastern Conference, set to conclude their three-game trip in Milwaukee on Monday. They begin a six-game homestand two nights later, but the last five games of the homestand are their second stretch of five games in seven days.
Week 12: @ MIL, vs. DEN, vs. TOR, vs. LAL
Record: 16-21
OffRtg: 111.6 (24) DefRtg: 114.3 (15) NetRtg: -2.7 (23) Pace: 96.6 (30)
The Bulls got Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic back from 17 and five-game absences, respectfully, on Friday. Both came off the bench and they sparked the two game-deciding runs — a 7-0 run to end the first half and a 22-6 run to start the fourth quarter — as Chicago got its first win of 2024.
Three takeaways
The Bulls have yet to win two straight games with LaVine in uniform, but they’ll have a good opportunity with a second straight game against the Hornets on Monday. That’s the second game in a stretch where they’re playing 10 of 13 against teams that currently have losing records.
Week 12: @ CHA, vs. HOU, vs. GSW, @ SAS
Record: 18-19
OffRtg: 111.7 (23) DefRtg: 113.1 (12) NetRtg: -1.3 (20) Pace: 100.9 (9)
There were a lot of teams with mixed results last week, and the Lakers were among them. Just when everything seemed to be going downhill, they salvaged their week with their second straight win over the Clippers.
Three takeaways
The Lakers are just three games into a stretch where they’re playing 11 of 12 in L.A., and Thursday brings their fourth of five meetings with the Suns. They won the first three by a total of 11 points.
LEBRON JAMES WITH AUTHORITY 👑 pic.twitter.com/0gjBY8cy6A
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 8, 2024
Week 12: vs. TOR, vs. PHX, @ UTA
Record: 15-21
OffRtg: 115.1 (16) DefRtg: 115.6 (18) NetRtg: -0.5 (19) Pace: 99.4 (17)
The Raptors-Knicks trade remains a win-win transaction, as the two teams are a combined 7-1 since the deal. The Raptors have the one loss, but it went down to the wire (after they trailed by as many as 23 points) in Sacramento on Friday.
Three takeaways
The Raptors’ six-game trip continues with a Tuesday-Wednesday back-to-back in L.A., and they’ll be at a rest disadvantage against the Clippers. They’re 1-4 in rest-disadvantage games thus far, with losses to the Jazz and Pistons included.
Week 12: @ LAL, @ LAC, @ UTA
Record: 13-23
OffRtg: 107.4 (30) DefRtg: 113.0 (11) NetRtg: -5.6 (25) Pace: 99.8 (13)
Ja Morant has missed two of the Grizzlies’ 11 games since the end of his suspension. But they got an impressive victory in Phoenix without him on Sunday and have won three of their last four overall.
Three takeaways
Their win in Phoenix on Sunday was the first of four straight games against teams that currently have winning records. The Grizzlies’ first loss with Morant was against the Clippers, who will be in Memphis on Friday.
Week 12: @ DAL, vs. LAC, vs. NYK
Record: 17-19
OffRtg: 116.3 (12) DefRtg: 116.2 (22) NetRtg: +0.1 (17) Pace: 99.8 (15)
Draymond Green’s suspension has been lifted and he could make his return this week. Does that mean the Warriors will be something better than a low-level Play-In team?
Three takeaways
The Warriors have a couple of days off before their seven-game homestand comes to an end with a visit from the Pelicans on Wednesday. Their first meeting with New Orleans was a 28-point win in October.
Week 12: vs. NOP, @ CHI, @ MIL
Record: 16-21
OffRtg: 115.6 (15) DefRtg: 117.2 (24) NetRtg: -1.6 (21) Pace: 98.9 (22)
The Nets got their best win of the season on Friday, holding on to beat the Thunder after seeing almost all of a 32-point lead disappear. But they followed that up with a loss to the Blazers and have now lost 11 of their last 14 games.
Three takeaways
Sharpe wasn’t on the plane as the Nets flew to Paris, set to face the Cavs on Thursday. They lost the first meeting (in Brooklyn) in Week 1, blowing a six-point lead with a little more than a minute to go and falling victim to some Donovan Mitchell heroics.
DENNIS SMITH JR. THROWS IT DOWN 😳 pic.twitter.com/VpLILDVsg6
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 7, 2024
Week 12: vs. CLE (Paris)
Record: 14-21
OffRtg: 118.7 (6) DefRtg: 120.3 (28) NetRtg: -1.6 (22) Pace: 102.3 (5)
Twenty-four hours after beating the Celtics, the Thunder lost in Atlanta, seemingly a signature win for the Hawks, even if they had a rest advantage. But they followed it up with a 0-2 road trip and remain outside the Play-In club in the Eastern Conference.
Three takeaways
Having played 15 of their last 21 games on the road, the Hawks will now play 12 of their next 15 at home. They’ll face the Pacers for the third time on Friday, having allowed an amazing 142.8 points per 100 possessions over the first two meetings. They (nearly) kept pace in the November game but got blown out on Friday, shooting just 10-for-42 (24%) from 3-point range against the league’s 26th-ranked defense.
Week 12: vs. PHI, vs. IND, vs. WAS
Record: 10-25
OffRtg: 108.5 (28) DefRtg: 116.0 (20) NetRtg: -7.4 (26) Pace: 99.2 (18)
The Blazers lost the first three games of their seven-game trip by a total of 86 points, but they got an overtime win in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon behind a big game (38 points and 11 assists) from Anfernee Simons and some big shots from Malcolm Brogdon.
Three takeaways
They’ll be at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday before ending their trip with a tough back-to-back against the Thunder and Wolves.
Week 12: @ NYK, @ OKC, @ MIN, vs. PHX
Record: 8-25
OffRtg: 110.0 (26) DefRtg: 120.8 (29) NetRtg: -10.8 (28) Pace: 99.2 (19)
When the Hornets went into their rest-disadvantage game in Sacramento on Tuesday, they had an 11-game losing streak, they were 0-9 against the Western Conference, they were 0-4 in the second games of back-to-backs and they were 0-12 when they scored less than 110 points per 100 possessions. All of those losing streaks came to an end as they closed the game on a 10-0 run.
Three takeaways
The Hornets will play the Bulls and Kings again this week, then face the Spurs for the first of two meetings in eight days. Already without LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward and Mark Williams, they lost Washington to an ankle injury in the first quarter on Friday.
Week 12: vs. CHI, vs. SAC, @ SAS, @ MIA
Record: 6-29
OffRtg: 111.3 (25) DefRtg: 121.6 (30) NetRtg: -10.3 (27) Pace: 103.6 (2)
The Wizards have one of the league’s easiest January schedules regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage, but they haven’t reached the easy part yet, and the results have been ugly thus far.
Three takeaways
The Wizards’ January schedule will get easier after they play the Thunder and Pacers this week. They’ll have a rest advantage in Atlanta on Saturday, the start of a stretch where they’re playing six of nine against teams that currently have losing records. They’re 5-10 within the currently below .500 group thus far.
Week 12: vs. OKC, @ IND, @ ATL
Record: 5-30
OffRtg: 107.6 (29) DefRtg: 118.8 (25) NetRtg: -11.2 (30) Pace: 102.8 (3)
The Spurs have been very competitive against two good teams (the Bucks and Cavs) over the last four days. But they’ve been unable to close the deal and have another five-game losing streak.
Three takeaways
The Spurs are two games into a stretch of 10 straight against the Eastern Conference, and their first chances to play the Hornets, Pistons or Wizards are this week. They’ll have a rest advantage in Detroit on Wednesday, but will have a home back-to-back later in the week, with Wembanyama having missed the second game of each of their last two back-to-backs.
WEMBY GOES BEHIND-THE-BACK ON THE COAST-TO-COAST SLAM 🔥 pic.twitter.com/blstNHmgdD
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 5, 2024
Week 12: @ DET, vs. CHA, vs. CHI
Record: 3-33
OffRtg: 109.4 (27) DefRtg: 120.2 (27) NetRtg: -10.9 (29) Pace: 101.3 (7)
The Pistons had late leads at Utah and Golden State, but went 0-4 on their trip out West and remain winless (0-13) against the opposite conference.
Three takeaways
Having played nine of their last 12 games on the road, the Pistons will now play 11 of their next 13 at home, though they’ll be at a rest disadvantage on Wednesday, when we finally get the San Antonio-Detroit matchup we’ve been waiting for. Both teams are winless (0-24 combined) against the opposite conference, so something has got to give.
Week 12: vs. SAC, vs. SAS, vs. HOU
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