Playoff Power Rankings: Celtics, Wolves on top to begin conference semifinals – NBA.com

The first round is complete and eight teams have moved on. How are they looking for the next round?
John Schuhmann
Jayson Tatum (right) and Derrick White have Boston looking sharp as the conference semifinals begin.
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There was a thought that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, because of their youth and lack of past playoff success, were the most vulnerable high seeds in the 2024 playoffs.
Instead, they were the only teams that swept their first-round series, and the Wolves are now a game up on the defending champs. It’s a new day in the NBA, the first postseason since 2005 in which Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James are all watching the conference semifinals from home (or a beachside resort somewhere).
Neither the Thunder nor the Wolves are No. 1 as we rank the teams still playing. That distinction still belongs to the Boston Celtics, the team that remains most likely to reach The Finals.
Plus-Minus Players of the first round
* * *
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 16 teams have averaged 111.1 points scored per 100 possessions and 93.7 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes in the playoffs, down from 114.5 and 99.2 (for all 30 teams) in the regular 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.
Playoffs: 4-1
OffRtg: 117.7 (3) DefRtg: 100.7 (3) NetRtg: +17.0 (1) Pace: 91.6 (13)
First round: Beat Miami in 5 games
Conf. semis: vs. Cleveland
The Celtics took care of business in the first round, eliminating the team that nobody wanted to play with relative ease. But they lost Kristaps Porzingis along the way, and he’s expected to miss all of the conference semis.
Three takeaways
With their win in Game 5 on Wednesday, the Celtics are 22-4 without Porzingis, a record that includes a 10-3 mark against playoff teams. He was available for all three of their regular-season games against the Cavs, and all three were within five points in the last five minutes.
Next game: Tue. vs. CLE, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
Playoffs: 5-0
OffRtg: 121.6 (1) DefRtg: 108.9 (5) NetRtg: +12.7 (3) Pace: 94.6 (8)
First round: Beat Phoenix in 4 games
Conf. semis: Lead 1-0 vs. Denver
Is it more surprising that the Wolves are 5-0 with a win in Denver on Saturday, or that they have the No. 1 offense in the playoffs?
Three takeaways
It’s hard to believe that the Wolves can continue to score this efficiently. But if they continue to dominate the glass (the Nuggets’ three offensive boards on Saturday were a season low) and defend at a high level, they can continue to win.
Next game: Mon. @ DEN, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
Playoffs: 4-0
OffRtg: 109.6 (10) DefRtg: 93.5 (1) NetRtg: +16.2 (2) Pace: 95.9 (2)
First round: Beat New Orleans in 4 games
Conf. semis: vs. Dallas
So much for inexperience. The Thunder took care of business in the first round, sweeping the Pelicans by shutting them down defensively.
Three takeaways
Defending the Mavs will be much tougher. The Thunder won three of the four regular-season meetings, but Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving played together in only one of the four, the one in which Dallas scored 146 points on 106 possessions (138 per 100), the second most efficient game any team had against Oklahoma City this season.
Next game: Tue. vs. DAL, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Playoffs: 4-2
OffRtg: 112.4 (8) DefRtg: 110.6 (8) NetRtg: +1.9 (7) Pace: 95.7 (6)
First round: Beat L.A. Lakers in 5 games
Conf. semis: Trail 0-1 vs. Minnesota
Uh oh. The Nuggets are in a hole after losing Game 1 of the conference semis at home on Saturday and Jamal Murray is not at his best, dealing with a calf strain that has him questionable for Monday’s Game 2. The champs didn’t trail in any of their four series last year, losing only four of their 20 playoff games.
Three takeaways
The Nuggets did lose a home game in last year’s playoffs, dropping Game 2 vs. Miami in The Finals. They won their last five road games in their title run and must win at least one in Minnesota. First, they need to even the series on Monday.
JAMAL MURRAY HITS THE GAME-WINNER IN DENVER!! pic.twitter.com/kIZ7EIW2sV
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 23, 2024

Next game: Mon. vs. MIN, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
Playoffs: 4-2
OffRtg: 115.9 (7) DefRtg: 109.5 (6) NetRtg: +6.4 (4) Pace: 92.0 (11)
First round: Beat LA Clippers in 6 games
Conf. semis: vs. Oklahoma City
The Mavs probably benefitted from Kawhi Leonard’s absence in four of six games in the first round, but they won the two games he played and are in the conference semis for just the second time since they won the title in 2011.
Three takeaways
Doncic and Kyrie Irving played just 22 total minutes together against the Thunder this season, when the Mavs did a pretty good job of defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His 22 points per game in the season series was his second-lowest mark vs. any opponent.
KYRIE IN HIS BAG FOR THE 4-POINT PLAY 🥶 pic.twitter.com/M4B8i0coZl
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 4, 2024

Next game: Tue. @ OKC, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Playoffs: 4-2
OffRtg: 116.7 (6) DefRtg: 116.9 (13) NetRtg: -0.2 (9) Pace: 91.1 (15)
First round: Beat Philadelphia in 6 games
Conf. semis: vs. Indiana
It’s been 24 years since the Knicks reached the conference finals. For the second straight postseason, they’ll be facing a bottom-four seed (coming off an upset of the Bucks) in the semifinals.
Three takeaways
The Pacers won the season series (2-1) and among Eastern Conference opponents, only the Celtics and Bucks scored more efficiently against the Knicks. But New York was without OG Anunoby for all three meetings, and he could be tasked with guarding former teammate Pascal Siakam in this series.
JOSH HART. CLUTCH TRIPLE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DJNW8oiu4s
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 3, 2024

Next game: Mon. vs. IND, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Playoffs: 4-2
OffRtg: 119.4 (2) DefRtg: 116.8 (12) NetRtg: +2.6 (6) Pace: 92.9 (9)
First round: Beat Milwaukee in 6 games
Conf. semis: vs. New York
The Pacers have won a playoff series for the first time since 2014. A year before that, they beat the second-seeded Knicks in the conference semis.
Three takeaways
The Pacers had the third most efficient game for a visiting team in Madison Square Garden this season, scoring 125 points on just 98 possessions in a 14-point win just before the All-Star break. They saw the biggest drop in pace from the regular season (102.2 possessions per 48 minutes, second) to the first round, so it’s not like they aren’t ready for the Knicks’ grind-it-out style.
Next game: Mon. @ NYK, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Playoffs: 4-3
OffRtg: 100.0 (15) DefRtg: 104.9 (4) NetRtg: -4.9 (12) Pace: 95.7 (4)
First round: Beat Orlando in 7 games
Conf. semis: vs. Boston
The Cavs weren’t exactly impressive in their first-round series against the Magic, but they eventually got the job done behind a second straight big game from Donovan Mitchell.
Three takeaways
If Allen couldn’t play in Game 7, it seems doubtful he’ll be ready to go for Game 1 in Boston on Tuesday. The Cavs did play the Celtics will in the regular season, getting outscored by just 4.0 points per 100 possessions (second best among Boston’s Eastern Conference opponents) over three games, all of which were close down the stretch.
Next game: Tue. @ BOS, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
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