Power Rankings, Week 23: Thunder at No. 1; Rockets, Clippers rise in Top 10

Record: 59-12

OffRtg: 118.9 (4) DefRtg: 106.2 (1) NetRtg: +12.7 (1) Pace: 100.6 (8)

The Thunder have clinched the No. 1 seed in the West, have won six straight games and completed a four-game sweep of the Clippers (a potential first-round opponent) on Sunday. They lead the Cavs by two games for the best record in the league and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Three takeaways

• The Thunder had seen some defensive regression after the All-Star break, but they’ve allowed just 105.1 points per 100 possessions over their last five games, despite playing without Lu Dort (who returned on Sunday) for three of those five. James Harden (defended by Dort), Norman Powell (hounded by Cason Wallace) and Ivica Zubac were a combined 12-for-36 (33%) from the field on Sunday and OKC opponents have shot just 50% in the paint over the five games.

• Jalen Williams has missed the entirety of the winning streak, but the Thunder have outscored their opponents by 17.9 points per 100 possessions in 111 minutes with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander off the floor over the six games, beating the Sixers by 33 without him on Wednesday. Isaiah Joe and Kenrich Williams are the only players who’ve played in all six.

• Some tougher defensive tests are coming. The Thunder have four games remaining against teams that currently rank in the top 10 offensively, and three of the four are this week. Of course, they haven’t allowed league-average efficiency (114.5 points per 100 possessions) in any of their six games (all wins) against the Kings, Grizzlies and Pacers thus far.

Thunder-Kings is another potential playoff preview, with the third and final meeting in Sacramento on Tuesday (when the Thunder will have a rest advantage). They won the first two meetings by a total of 55 points, scoring more than 134 per 100 possessions.

Week 23: @ SAC, vs. MEM, vs. IND

Record: 57-14

OffRtg: 121.5 (1) DefRtg: 111.4 (8) NetRtg: +10.1 (2) Pace: 100.4 (10)

The Cavs’ losing streak hit four games before they got the ultimate schedule relief: a game against the Jazz on Sunday afternoon.

Three takeaways

• In general, defense has been the larger issue when the Cavs have lost, and that’s almost entirely about how well their opponents have shot from 3-point range (34.3% in wins vs. 43.3% in losses). They can give up some corner 3s (the Suns and Jazz each had nine last week), but the Cavs are good about defending the arc. Only Orlando (3.4/1) has a lower ratio of opponent 3-point attempts to mid-range attempts than Cleveland (3.5/1).

• While the Jazz shot 9-for-21 on corner 3s on Sunday, they were 23-for-68 (34%) elsewhere on the floor. With that win, the Cavs are 39-2 when they’ve allowed fewer than 113 points per 100 possessions.

With 11 games to play, the Cavs have a five-game lead over the Celtics for the top seed in the East. Boston has just two games remaining against teams with winning records, while Cleveland has six. The first of those will be in Detroit on Friday, a chance to complete a season sweep and the Cavs’ last rest-disadvantage game of the season.

Week 23: @ POR, vs. SAS, @ DET, vs. LAC

Record: 52-19

OffRtg: 119.4 (2) DefRtg: 110.4 (5) NetRtg: +9.0 (3) Pace: 97.0 (27)

The Celtics haven’t had their full rotation in the last month (14 games), but they’ve won 10 of their last 11, with the only loss having come by six points to the Thunder.

Three takeaways

• While they’ve now been without at least one starter in 51 of their 71 games, their game against the Nets on Tuesday was the first time that the Celtics were without both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. It was one of their worst offensive games since the All-Star break, but they got a huge lift from Baylor Scheierman off the bench. The rookie scored 20 points on 7-for-8 shooting, draining two 3-pointers during the 8-0 fourth-quarter run that turned the game around for good.

• The Boston bench hasn’t been quite as good as it was last season, in part because its top reserves have more often been in the starting lineup. But the bench still ranks second in the league and the Celtics have outscored their opponents by 9.8 points per 100 possessions with Payton Pritchard (whose only start of the season was Sunday in Portland) on the floor.

• Kristaps Porziņģis (who didn’t play in Portland on Sunday) has averaged 25.3 points (32 per 36 minutes) over his three games since returning from an eight-game absence. He’s shot just 5-for-16 from 3-point range but is 21-for-27 (78%) in the paint over that stretch. His post-up field goal percentage (57.5%) is still down from a remarkable 63.1% last season.

The Celtics are five games into a stretch of eight straight against teams currently at or below .500. Their game in Sacramento on Monday is their last rest-disadvantage game of the season, though they’ll have one more back-to-back in the final week.

Week 23: @ SAC, @ PHX, @ SAS

Record: 41-30

OffRtg: 113.6 (17) DefRtg: 111.2 (7) NetRtg: +2.4 (10) Pace: 99.7 (16)

The streaking Warriors had a golden opportunity with a home game last Monday against the shorthanded Nuggets. But they lost that game, lost Stephen Curry to a pelvic contusion three days later, and are in danger of losing their spot in the top six in the West.

Three takeaways

• The Warriors scored just 105 points on 103 possessions in their loss to the Nuggets, shooting just 8-for-33 (24%) from 3-point range and just 15-for-27 (56%) from the line. After scoring 123.4 points per 100 possessions over their first 11 games out of the All-Star break, they’ve scored just 108.0 per 100 over their last five. That’s their worst five-game stretch of offense since mid-January.

• Though they lost in Atlanta on Saturday, the Warriors are still 7-4 without Curry, with four of the seven wins have come against teams — Houston (twice), Memphis and Milwaukee — that currently have winning records. The defense has generally been better in those no-Curry games and their win on Tuesday was just the seventh time that the Bucks’ offense has been held under a point per possession.

• Jonathan Kuminga has been back for six games but has shot just 43% (including 2-for-14 from 3-point range) since his return, and his minutes have not been very good for the Warriors. Over those six games, they’ve been 25 points per 100 possessions better with Kuminga off the floor (plus-16.9) than they’ve been with him on the floor (minus-8.1).

The Warriors’ loss in Atlanta over the weekend was the start of a six-game trip that continues with three more games against teams with losing records. Jimmy Butler makes his return to Miami on Tuesday, with the Heat having beat the Warriors without him (he was suspended) in early January.

Week 23: @ MIA, @ NOP, @ SAS

Record: 43-27

OffRtg: 114.2 (14) DefRtg: 113.3 (13) NetRtg: +0.9 (14) Pace: 98.5 (21)

The Lakers went 3-3 on their stretch of six games in eight days (3-1 in the games that Luka Dončić played), and then got LeBron James back from a seven-game absence on Saturday. But they marked his return with one of their worst games of the season, losing to the Bulls (at home) by 31 points.

Three takeaways

• The Lakers are now 8-4 with both Dončić and James in uniform, with three of those four losses having come against the Jazz, Hornets and Bulls. Overall, they’re just 23-12 (14th best) against the 15 teams that are currently below .500.

• Dončić may still be getting used to his new teammates. He’s averaged 4.7 turnovers per 36 minutes in his 17 games with the Lakers, up from 3.4 per 36 in his 22 games with Dallas. L.A. has still scored 11.5 more points per 100 possessions with him on the floor (117) than it has with him off the floor (105.5) over the 20 games since he first suited up.

The Lakers still have the league’s biggest home-road differential in winning percentage (28-9 vs. 15-18), and they’ll play eight of their final 12 games on the road. Next up is a four-game trip that concludes with a huge game in Memphis on Saturday. L.A. (2-1 vs. the Grizzlies, leading their division and holding the better conference record) should hold the tie-breaker no matter the result.

Week 23: @ ORL, @ IND, @ CHI, @ MEM

Record: 45-27

OffRtg: 118.9 (3) DefRtg: 115.1 (21) NetRtg: +3.8 (8) Pace: 100.8 (6)

The Nuggets have been without Nikola Jokić (ankle sprain) for the last four games, but have managed to win two of the four to remain in the top three in the West.

Three takeaways

• The Nuggets are now 4-6 without Jokić, with the 10 games being the second most he’s missed in his eight seasons. They had scored just 109.5 points per 100 possessions over the first nine of those games but broke out offensively (116 on just 93 possessions) against a top-five defense in Houston on Sunday. Jamal Murray scored 39 points, while DeAndre Jordan played for the first time in three weeks (Aaron Gordon had been starting at center) and recorded his first double-double since Nov. 2023.

• The Nuggets have fallen to 25th in turnover differential, having committed 1.2 more per game than their opponents. They’ve committed more than their opponents in 15 of their last 18 games.

The Nuggets are one of two teams — Brooklyn is the other — with only three road games left on their schedule. They’ll be at a rest disadvantage when they begin a five-game homestand with a visit from the Bulls on Monday.

Week 23: vs. CHI, vs. MIL, vs. UTA

Record: 41-31

OffRtg: 115.0 (9) DefRtg: 110.6 (6) NetRtg: +4.4 (6) Pace: 98.2 (24)

Just when you thought the Wolves were playing with some consistency, they followed an eight-game winning streak with losses to the shorthanded Pacers (playing without four starters) and the Pelicans.

Three takeaways

• Clutch issues continue to plague the Wolves. They probably shouldn’t have let those two games come down to the final few minutes, but they did, and then they allowed Indiana and New Orleans to score 43 points on 30 clutch possessions. The Pacers and Pelicans shot 7-for-10 on clutch 3-pointers, dropping Minnesota to 18-25 in games that were within five points in the last five minutes.

• With their 41-point win on Friday, the Wolves are now 41-31, with the point differential (plus-4.5 per game, third best in the West) of a team that’s 48-24. With the Cavs’ recent losing streak, the Thunder (45-4) are the only team with fewer losses than the Wolves (23-6) in games that weren’t within five in the last five minutes.

• One positive from the losses last week was Anthony Edwards going 34-for-37 from the free throw line over the two games. His jump in 3-point rate this season has been accompanied by a drop in free throw rate, but the latter is now 45.2 attempts per 100 shots from the field over his last 24 games, up from 24.4 per 100 before that.

The Wolves are the only team with no rest-advantage or rest-disadvantage games left on their schedule, with their overtime loss to the Pacers last week having been their last of the latter. They exacted revenge on the Pelicans in the second game of their two-game series, and the Wolves will get another shot at Indiana on Monday.

Week 23: @ IND, vs. PHX, vs. DET

Record: 46-26

OffRtg: 114.3 (12) DefRtg: 109.7 (4) NetRtg: +4.6 (5) Pace: 98.8 (19)

The Rockets went undefeated on a stretch of nine straight games against teams with losing records before losing to the Jokić-less Nuggets on Sunday.

Three takeaways

• The Rockets got Amen Thompson back from a six-game absence over the weekend but still used just an eight-man rotation that included some minutes with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams on the floor together. The Rockets have outscored their opponents by 85 points (dominating the glass and allowing just 88 per 100 possessions) in 101 total minutes with both bigs on the floor.

• Seven of those eight rotation guys (all except Adams) averaged at least 15.2 points per game over the winning streak. The Rockets scored 120.2 points per 100 possessions over the nine games, up from 111.2 over their first seven games out of the All-Star break.

• The Rockets rank last in free throw percentage at 73.8%, with their win in Miami on Friday (10-for-21) being the second time they’ve shot below 50% from the line. (All other teams have combined for just two other instances.) They were a little better (22-for-34, 65%) against Denver over the weekend, but they would have made five more free throws (in a five-point loss) if they had shot the league average. They’ve had two games this season where shooting the league average from the line would have turned a loss into a win.

The Rockets have four games remaining against teams that currently have losing records, and three of them are this week. They’re 27-8 against that group thus far, with the most recent of those losses having come (just after the All-Star break) in Utah, where they’ll begin a three-game trip on Thursday.

Week 23: vs. ATL, @ UTA, @ PHX

Record: 40-31

OffRtg: 113.0 (18) DefRtg: 109.5 (3) NetRtg: +3.5 (9) Pace: 98.4 (22)

The Clippers had won eight of nine games before running into the best team in the league on Sunday night.

Three takeaways

• The Clippers scored just 101 points on 97 possessions in their loss to the Thunder on Sunday, and Norman Powell has yet to rediscover his rhythm, totaling just 41 points on 36% shooting over his four games back from a month-long absence. But the Clippers still rank sixth offensively (120.3 points scored per 100 possessions) over the last 3 1/2 weeks. They scored more than 130 points per 100 possessions in wins over the Cavs (who’d allowed more than 130 per 100 just twice prior) and Grizzlies (thrice) last week.

• Kawhi Leonard topped the 40-minute mark for the second time (first time in regulation) on Sunday. His three highest-scoring games of the season (29 points or more) have all come in March, when he’s had an effective field goal percentage of 58.0%, up from 52.1% through Feb. 28.

• With the defeat on Sunday, the Clippers became the 11th team to match its loss total from last season (51-31). While they’ve seen a drop in winning percentage, they’ve been a tick better statistically (+3.5 per 100 possessions) than they were in 2023-24 (+3.4). But they haven’t been as good in close games (15-17 in those that have been within five in the last five) and are now 40-31 with the point differential of a team that’s 44-27.

The Clippers are 18-8 (second best among West teams) against the Eastern Conference, with their final four interconference games coming on a four-game trip that begins Wednesday in New York. That will be their second meeting with the Knicks in less than three weeks, with the first (a 10-point Clippers win) being just one of only two times the Knicks’ offense has been held under a point per possession.

Week 23: @ NYK, @ BKN, @ CLE

Record: 44-26

OffRtg: 117.4 (5) DefRtg: 113.4 (14) NetRtg: +4.0 (7) Pace: 98.0 (25)

The Knicks are 4-4 over Jalen Brunson’s absence and still have some work to do to secure the No. 3 seed in the East.

Three takeaways

• The Knicks had won 13 straight games against teams that are currently at or below .500 before their back-to-back in San Antonio and Charlotte last week. They lost both games, allowing 123 points per 100 possessions, with the Spurs and Hornets shooting 31-for-67 (46%) from 3-point range. The Knicks now rank 28th in opponent 3-point percentage, though the percentage of their opponents’ attempts that have been wide open (48%) remains below the league average (51%).

• The Knicks’ offense also wasn’t very good in the back-to-back, scoring just 39 points on 49 first-quarter possessions over the two games. They lost 11 of their 15 first quarters since the All-Star break before getting off to a much better start against the Wizards on Saturday. With the win over Washington, the Knicks are 26-4 (fourth best) when they’ve led after 12 minutes.

• Miles McBride was also out on Saturday as Cameron Payne got his second start of the season and scored 10 of the Knicks’ 31 points in the first quarter. Payne is averaging just 14.6 minutes this season (his lowest mark since his rookie year), but the team has outscored their opponents by 8.4 points per 100 possessions (the best on-court mark among Knicks who’ve played more than 200 total minutes) with him on the floor.

The Knicks are 0-5 against the Mavs since Brunson left Dallas for New York (0-3 in games Brunson played). They’ll have a rest advantage against Dallas on Tuesday but will be at a disadvantage the following night against the Clippers.

Week 23: vs. DAL, vs. LAC, @ MIL, vs. POR

Record: 40-30

OffRtg: 114.0 (16) DefRtg: 111.8 (9) NetRtg: +2.2 (12) Pace: 100.2 (11)

The Bucks are 2-1 on their five-game trip West, with the one loss (at Golden State) dropping them back to fifth place in the East.

Three takeaways

• Wins in L.A. (with the Lakers playing without Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves) and Sacramento came without Damian Lillard, who was dealing with a calf issue. The Bucks are 5-2 when they’ve played with Giannis Antetokounmpo and not Lillard, and they’ve outscored opponents by 9.6 points per 100 possessions in Antetokounmpo’s 641 total minutes on the floor without Lillard.

• Ryan Rollins started both games in place of Lillard, but Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. both played big roles off the bench. Trent scored 23 points in L.A. and drained a dagger 3 off an Antetokounmpo drive in Sacramento. He ranks fourth on the team in clutch minutes, leads the Bucks with seven clutch 3s (on 17 attempts) and, overall, is having the most effective shooting season of his career (57.3%).

• Five of the Bucks’ last eight games have come against teams that rank in the top 10 offensively, but the Bucks have the league’s second-ranked defense since the All-Star break. They continue to lead the league in the (lowest) percentage of their opponents’ shots (45.7%) that have come in the paint.

The Bucks are 4-2 against the Suns since the two teams met in the 2021 Finals. They’ll face each other twice in the next nine days, the continuation of a stretch where Milwaukee is playing five of six games against top-10 offenses.

Week 23: @ PHX, @ DEN, vs. NYK, vs. ATL

Record: 41-29

OffRtg: 114.9 (10) DefRtg: 113.8 (15) NetRtg: +1.0 (13) Pace: 100.7 (7)

The Pacers are back in fourth place, having won four straight games, including three without Tyrese Haliburton.

Three takeaways

• The Pacers had lost their first four games without Haliburton, but beat the Wolves, Mavs and Nets by a total of 12 points without him last week, scoring 79 points on 54 clutch possessions (1.46 per). Amazingly, eleven Pacers contributed to that clutch scoring and Pascal Siakam (who missed the overtime win in Minnesota) had only one of the 79 points. Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin combined to score 43 on 14-for-19 shooting.

• With Haliburton back in the lineup on Saturday for the second of two straight games against the Nets, the Pacers almost lost a 20-point, fourth-quarter lead. But they held on and improved to 19-13 in games that were within five points in the last five minutes, giving them more clutch wins than they had last season (18-19). They’re one of three teams — the Hawks and Cavs are the others — to rank in the top 10 in both clutch offense and clutch defense.

• Overall and having allowed just 95.7 points per 100 possessions over the two wins vs. Brooklyn, the Pacers now rank 15th defensively. They’ve seen the league’s sixth biggest drop in points allowed per 100 from last season (-3.8), when they ranked 24th.

The Pacers still have a tougher remaining schedule than the fifth-place Bucks, who they lead by just a game (with Milwaukee holding the tie-breaker). Indiana will play six of its remaining 12 games against teams that rank in the top 10 on offense, with another meeting with the ninth-ranked Wolves up next.

Week 23: vs. MIN, vs. LAL, @ WAS, @ OKC

Record: 43-28

OffRtg: 117.3 (6) DefRtg: 112.3 (11) NetRtg: +5.0 (4) Pace: 104.0 (1)

The Grizzlies have lost the first three games of a five-game trip, sliding to fifth place in the West.

Three takeaways

• The Grizzlies have allowed 124.2 points per 100 possessions over the losing streak, their worst three-game stretch of defense this season. The Kings, Blazers and Clippers combined to shoot 55-for-121 (45%) from 3-point range, while also getting to the line a bunch. And with that, Memphis has slid out of the top 10 on defense for the first time since early November.

• Only six of the Grizzlies’ 17 games since the All-Star break have come against teams currently over .500, but they’re just 7-10 (12th in the West) since the break. Only the Mavs have seen a bigger drop in winning percentage.

• After playing in six straight games for the first time, Ja Morant has missed the last four with a hamstring issue. The Grizzlies are now 15-13 without him and made another change to their starting lineup (Santi Aldama replacing Zach Edey on Friday) after a couple of ugly first quarters last week. The Morant-and-Edey lineup continues to have gaudy season-long numbers (plus 25.2 points per 100 possessions), though it’s still been used in just 20 games and for an average of less than 10 minutes per night.

The Grizzlies have four games remaining against teams in the 2-8 tier in the Western Conference, and the most important of those could be a visit from the Lakers on Saturday. The home team has won each of the first three meetings, with all three having taken place before Christmas.

Week 23: @ UTA, @ OKC, vs. LAL

Record: 40-32

OffRtg: 114.2 (13) DefRtg: 111.8 (10) NetRtg: +2.4 (11) Pace: 100.5 (9)

The Pistons are 5-3 (with one game remaining) on a stretch where they’re playing eight of nine against teams with losing records.

Three takeaways

• This season (with their best record in the last 17 years) is a huge step forward for the Pistons, no matter what happens in the next two months. But if they miss out on the No. 4 vs. No. 5 series in the East by a game or two, they can look back at losses to the Wizards and Mavs during this soft stretch of schedule as a reason why. They lost the two games by a total of 10 points, allowing 35 points on 23 clutch possessions (1.52 per). They got some late stops in their comeback win in Miami on Wednesday, but still rank in the bottom five in clutch defense.

• The Pistons were dealing with some rare absences over the weekend, with Tim Hardaway Jr. turning his ankle in Dallas on Friday and Cade Cunningham (calf) a late scratch against the Pelicans on Sunday. They lost Jaden Ivey to a leg injury on Jan. 1, but the rest of their rotation has been relatively healthy. The Pistons have nine other players (not including Dennis Schröder) who’ve averaged at least 15 minutes per game, and eight of those nine have missed seven games or fewer. Their lineup with Hardaway in Ivey’s place has played 466 total minutes (third most in the league) and has outscored opponents by 7.3 points per 100 possessions, a mark which ranks seventh among 23 lineups that have played at least 200 minutes.

• Jalen Duren’s season-long numbers are still down from last season, but his scoring has climbed every month, from 8.6 points per game in October to 14.4 ppg in March. He scored a season-high 22 points against the Pelicans on Sunday when the Pistons (without Cunningham) had 136 on 98 possessions, their most efficient performance of the season.

The Pistons are just 4-12 in games played between the top six teams in the East, with four remaining. The first of those four is Friday when they’ll have a rest advantage against the Cavs.

Week 23: vs. SAS, vs. CLE, @ MIN

Record: 35-36

OffRtg: 112.8 (19) DefRtg: 114.4 (17) NetRtg: -1.6 (20) Pace: 103.7 (2)

The Hawks have won seven of their last nine games and are a game within .500 for the first time since late January.

Three takeaways

• The Hawks have scored 130.4 points per 100 possessions over their three-game winning streak, their best three-game stretch of offense this season. The context is that two of the three wins came against the Hornets and Sixers, but they also scorched the Warriors on Saturday, getting a huge game (23 points, 6-for-9 from 3-point range) from Georges Niang off the bench. He has a usage rate of 19.3% in 18 games with the Hawks, which would be the highest rate of his career (and up from 16.3% with Cleveland).

• Trae Young has now shot 50% or better in four straight games, having done so in just eight of his first 62. He also keeps dishing out a ton of assists and has accounted for more than 50 points per game via his scoring and assists for the fourth season. That’s tied (with James Harden) for the most seasons of 50-plus in the 29 years for which we have play-by-play data.

• Onyeka Okongwu has been in the starting lineup since Jan. 20, and the guy he replaced (Clint Capela) might be done for the season, having suffered a hand injury. Capela’s minutes off the bench hadn’t been great and now Dominick Barlow is the backup five. Since the All-Star break, the Hawks have been 16.2 points per 100 possessions better with Okongwu on the floor (plus 6.9) than they’ve been with him off the floor (minus 9.3).

The Hawks will play seven of their final 11 games on the road, with a three-game trip beginning in Houston on Tuesday. The first meeting (a four-point Rockets win) was one of just two times that both the Hawks and their opponent scored less than a point per possession.

Week 23: @ HOU, @ MIA, @ MIL

Record: 35-35

OffRtg: 115.9 (7) DefRtg: 115.1 (22) NetRtg: +0.8 (15) Pace: 99.4 (17)

The Kings began their seven-game homestand with quality wins over the Grizzlies and Cavs, but lost Domantas Sabonis to a sprained ankle against Memphis and then dropped games to the Bulls and Bucks.

Three takeaways

• The Kings are 4-8 without Sabonis, who has missed nine of the last 11 games. They’ve scored more efficiently (118.7 points per 100 possessions) over those 12 games without him than they have otherwise. Zach LaVine also missed the win over the Cavs on Wednesday, but seven guys scored 13 points or more, with Devin Carter and Trey Lyles giving the Kings big lifts off the bench.

• While the offense has been fine, the Kings have allowed 120.4 points per 100 possessions over those 12 games without their starting center, including 128.7 per 100 over the two losses last week. Overall, this would be the first season in the last three that the Kings scored fewer points per 100 possessions with Sabonis on the floor (112.9) than they have with him off (115.8). The on-off difference in how effectively their opponents have shot has been bigger in the paint than it’s been from the outside.

• Jonas Valančiūnas has scored as many points in the paint per 36 minutes (12.8) as Sabonis, but the Kings have been outscored by 44 points in the paint over their last four games. They rank fifth in field goal percentage in the paint (60.3%) but 27th in the percentage of their shots (44%) that have come there.

The Kings are three games into their second (and final) stretch of five games in seven days, which concludes with a tough back-to-back against the Celtics and Thunder. Both Sabonis and Malik Monk (who missed their loss to Milwaukee over the weekend) are listed as questionable for their rest-advantage game against Boston on Monday.

Week 23: vs. BOS, vs. OKC, vs. POR, @ ORL

Record: 34-37

OffRtg: 115.3 (8) DefRtg: 116.4 (26) NetRtg: -1.1 (17) Pace: 98.6 (20)

The Suns have suddenly won three straight games for the first time since January, and they’re now (thanks to the head-to-head tie-breaker with the Mavs) holding the final SoFi Play-In Tournament spot in the West.

Three takeaways

• The Suns have scored 129.4 points per 100 possessions over the winning streak, their best three-game stretch of offense this season. They’ve shot 55% inside the arc, 45% from 3-point range and 95% from the free throw line over the three games. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant have led the way, combining to average 55.7 points over the streak.

• All three wins have come without Bradley Beal, and the Suns are now 12-3 when they’ve had Booker and Durant available without Beal. They’ve been outscored by 4.1 points per 100 possessions in 667 minutes with all three on the floor, but have outscored their opponents by 7.4 per 100 in 771 minutes with Booker and Durant on the floor without Beal, with the much bigger difference having been on offense.

• The Suns’ win over the Cavs on Friday was a much-needed breakthrough, just their second win (in 13 games) since Feb. 1 against a team that’s currently over .500. Their next nine games are against that group, and they’re still just 11-22 (7-8 at home, 4-14 on the road) against those top 14 teams in the league.

Four of those nine games are against the two teams — the Bucks and Celtics — that the Suns haven’t faced yet. They’ll play each of them twice in the next 12 days, first in Phoenix and then on the road.

Week 23: vs. MIL, vs. BOS, @ MIN, vs. HOU

Record: 33-38

OffRtg: 108.1 (28) DefRtg: 109.4 (2) NetRtg: -1.4 (18) Pace: 96.7 (29)

The Magic have alternated wins and losses for their last eight games, hanging on to eighth place in the East.

Three takeaways

• With both Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony on the shelf, 14-year veteran Cory Joseph has started at point guard in the last five games. The Magic have outscored their opponents by 12.1 points per 100 possessions in Joseph’s 131 total minutes over that stretch, but bench minutes continue to be sub-par. They were somehow outscored by 26 points in less than 10 minutes with Franz Wagner on the bench in their eight-point loss to Houston on Wednesday.

• The Magic won their first 10 home games this season. Since then, they’re 8-17 (with six straight losses) at the Kia Center. They allowed just 101.6 points per 100 possessions over those first 10 home wins, but have allowed 122.1 per 100 over the last six, even though four of the six games have come against worse-than-average offensive teams.

They’ll now play four of their next five games at home, hosting the Lakers on Monday. The two teams haven’t met since before Thanksgiving when the Magic won on a Wagner step-back 3 with 2.5 seconds left. It was the only game this season in which both the Magic and their opponent scored more than 120 points per 100 possessions.

Week 23: vs. LAL, @ CHA, vs. DAL, vs. SAC

Record: 32-40

OffRtg: 111.4 (22) DefRtg: 114.3 (16) NetRtg: -2.9 (23) Pace: 99.3 (18)

The Blazers have kept themselves in the race for the final SoFi Play-In Tournament spot in the West, winning four straight games before losing to the Celtics on Sunday.

Three takeaways

• The loss to Boston was the second time they’ve allowed more than 140 points per 100 possessions, but the Blazers still have the league’s second-ranked defense since Jan. 19. They allowed just 103.3 per 100 over the winning streak, which included wins over two teams — Memphis and Denver — with top-six offenses (and missing their stars).

• The Blazers have had some ins and outs in their starting lineup as they’ve gone 19-12 in the second half of the season (since Game 42), but Anfernee Simons, Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara have all played in (and started) at least 28 of those 31 games. And the Blazers have outscored their opponents by 10.2 points per 100 possessions in 429 minutes with those three guys all on the floor over that stretch.

• With a couple of more big games last week, Avdija is averaging 23 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists in March. The only other players averaging 20, 10 and five this month are All-Stars Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Having just lost to the second-place team in the East over the weekend, the Blazers will complete their seven-game homestand with a visit from the first-place team on Tuesday. They’ll then face the third-place team in a five-game trip that begins in Sacramento two nights later.

Week 23: vs. CLE, @ SAC, @ NYK

Record: 31-40

OffRtg: 112.8 (20) DefRtg: 115.4 (24) NetRtg: -2.6 (22) Pace: 103.4 (3)

The Bulls have won seven of their last nine games, a stretch highlighted by 31-point win over the full-strength Lakers in L.A. on Saturday.

Three takeaways

• The Bulls have scored 135 points per 100 possessions over their last two games, with the wins over the Kings and Lakers being two of their three most efficient performances of the season. Coby White totaled 71 points over the two gams and has now scored more than 20 in 12 straight. His season-long true shooting percentage is now at a career-best 59.0% thanks, in part, to a career-high free throw rate of 25.1 attempts per 100 shots from the field.

• The Bulls have been outscored by 7.0 points per 100 possessions in 539 minutes with Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vučević (their starting frontline) on the floor together, but Buzelis busted out on Saturday, scoring a career-high 31 points against the Lakers. Some of that came in garbage time and 10 of his 12 buckets were assisted, but the rookie also had a couple of wicked one-on-one moves against Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves in the first half.

• A month ago, the Bulls had lost six straight games and were seemingly ready to hand over the last SoFi Play-In Tournament spot in the East to any team behind them (Brooklyn, Philly or Toronto) that wanted it. But they now have a chance to catch the eighth-place Magic, holding the head-to-head tie-breaker and trailing Orlando by just two games. Both teams have relatively easy remaining schedules, each set to play only four of their 11 games against teams that currently have winning records.

Three of the Bulls’ four games against winning teams are in the next eight days. They’ll have a rest advantage as they conclude their six-game trip in Denver on Monday and again when they host the Lakers three nights later.

Week 23: @ DEN, vs. LAL, vs. DAL

Record: 30-41

OffRtg: 111.1 (23) DefRtg: 112.7 (12) NetRtg: -1.6 (19) Pace: 97.0 (28)

The Heat’s losing streak hit 10 games and sunk them to 10th place in the East before they beat the Hornets on Sunday.

Three takeaways

• During the losing streak, the Heat ranked last offensively (104.8 points scored per 100 possessions) by a wide margin. They led five of the 10 games (including each of the last three) by double-digits but scored less than a point per possession after halftime over the streak.

• They came back from 12 points down and scored 122 points on just 95 possessions (easily their most efficient performance in March) as they put an end to the streak on Sunday. Andrew Wiggins missed losses to the Knicks and Pistons with a leg contusion earlier in the week but then returned to total 72 points on 26-for-34 (76%) shooting over their weekend games vs. Houston and Charlotte. He totaled just 24 points in his two games with the Heat before the All-Star break but has scored 20 or more in eight of his 11 games since the break.

• The Heat still rank 10th in 3-point rate (43.6%) for the season, but they’ve taken only 33% of their shots from beyond the arc over their last four games. Their loss to the Knicks last Monday was the fourth time that their opponent has made at least 10 more 3s than they have, and it’s probably not good when Bam Adebayo ranks third on your team in 3-point attempts over any stretch of games.

The Heat have the worst record (3-6) in games played between the four teams currently in the Eastern Conference SoFi Play-In Tournament group. They have two games remaining against the other three, with the first coming against the Hawks on Thursday. The home team has won all three meetings between Miami and Atlanta thus far, with the Heat’s win last month being their second-most-efficient offensive game of the season.

Week 23: vs. GSW, vs. ATL, @ PHI

Record: 34-37

OffRtg: 114.4 (11) DefRtg: 115.0 (19) NetRtg: -0.5 (16) Pace: 100.2 (12)

The Mavs got a win over the Pistons on Friday to stay tied with the Suns for the final SoFi Play-In Tournament spot in the West, and they could be getting Anthony Davis back this week.

Three takeaways

• The Mavs are now 2-7 since losing Kyrie Irving for the season. They rank much higher offensively (16th) than defensively (29th) over those nine games. So even if Davis isn’t sharp when he returns, he should help where they need it most.

• Since the last time one of their three centers — Davis, Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II — played, the Mavs’ defense has seen huge jumps in both opponent field goal percentage in the paint (from 54.3% to 58.8%) and the percentage of their opponents’ shots that have come in the paint (from 50% to 54%).

• The offense has been kept somewhat afloat by Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie. Marshall has averaged 22.7 points on 51% shooting over the nine games, while Dinwiddie has scored 28 and 31 in the two wins, going 11-for-13 at the line against Detroit on Friday. His free throw rate of 35.8 attempts per 100 shots from the field ranks 19th among 149 players with at least 500 field goal attempts.

The Mavs still have six games left on their stretch of nine straight against the Eastern Conference, and they’ll begin a four-game trip with a back-to-back in New York. They’ve won five straight games against the Knicks, but will be at a rest disadvantage at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

Week 23: @ BKN, @ NYK, @ ORL, @ CHI

Record: 31-39

OffRtg: 114.1 (15) DefRtg: 115.7 (25) NetRtg: -1.7 (21) Pace: 100.1 (14)

The Spurs have won three straight games for the first time since Thanksgiving, with eight players averaging double-figures over the winning streak.

Three takeaways

• The Spurs have been the league’s fourth most-improved offensive team, scoring 4.8 more points per 100 possessions than they did last season. They lost Victor Wembanyama at the All-Star break, but have scored 6.3 more per 100 since the break (118.7, sixth) than they did before it (112.4, 16th). That’s been the league’s fifth-biggest post-break jump.

• Among the nine players who have played at least 500 minutes for the Spurs, Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul rank eighth and ninth, respectively, in usage rate. But the offense has been at its best with the two veterans on the floor.

• The Spurs have scored 6.6 more points per 100 possessions at home (117.2, seventh best) than they have on the road (110.6, ninth worst). That’s the league’s biggest home-road differential on offense. Among 180 players with at least 200 field goal attempts both at home and on the road, Barnes has the third biggest effective-field-goal-percentage differential (65.6% vs. 54.6%).

The Spurs beat the Knicks on Wednesday, but are still just 11-22 against the 14 teams that are currently over .500. They’ll play eight of their next 10 games against that group, a stretch that includes two games each against the Cavs and Warriors.

Week 23: @ DET, @ CLE, vs. BOS, vs. GSW

Record: 24-47

OffRtg: 109.5 (26) DefRtg: 114.8 (18) NetRtg: -5.3 (24) Pace: 100.1 (13)

After a 6-1 stretch, the Raptors have lost four straight games, though they’re still seventh in the upside-down standings.

Three takeaways

• The Raptors have scored 4 fewer points per 100 possessions than the league average, which would be their worst differential in the last 21 seasons.

• They’ve scored an anemic 102.1 points per 100 possessions in 271 total minutes with Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes on the floor together. That’s the 35th worst on-court mark (fourth percentile) among 840 three-man combinations that have played at least 250 minutes.

• They’re the only team that ranks in the top five in both the percentage of their points that have come on fast breaks (16.1%, third) and the percentage that have come on second chances (13.9%, fifth). They lead the league in the percentage of their shots (54%) that have come in the paint.

The Raptors are one win from matching their total from last season (25-57) and they’ve got six games left within the bottom five in the Eastern Conference. Four of the six are this week, with the Raptors currently 6-3 in games played between the bottom five.

Week 23: @ WAS, @ BKN, vs. CHA, @ PHI

Record: 23-48

OffRtg: 108.8 (27) DefRtg: 115.0 (20) NetRtg: -6.2 (26) Pace: 96.3 (30)

The Nets were competitive against good teams (Boston and Indiana) on a three-game trip, but lost all three games, allowing 48 points on 35 clutch defensive possessions (1.37 per).

Three takeaways

• At the time the Nets made the first of two December trades that sent Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Pacific Division, they ranked 13th offensively. Since then, they’ve had the worst offense in the league, with an anemic 106.4 points scored per 100 possessions over their last 46 games.

• They’ve seen the league’s biggest jump in turnover rate, committing 15.5 per 100 possessions (fifth most), up from 13.4 per 100 (14th fewest) last season.

• The Nets scored 115.7 points per 100 possessions in 593 total minutes with Cam Thomas and Cam Johnson on the floor together, but 65% of those minutes came with Schröder and/or Finney-Smith also on the floor. Still, the offense surely would have been better (the other side of the floor is another story) if Thomas had played in more than just eight of the Nets’ last 53 games.

The Nets have lost nine straight road games, a streak that began a month ago with a loss in Washington, where they’ll return for a rest-disadvantage game on Saturday. They are playing eight of their final 11 games at home, where they’re 6-6 (with wins over the Rockets and Lakers) since Feb. 1.

Week 23: vs. DAL, vs. TOR, vs. LAC, @ WAS

Record: 19-53

OffRtg: 110.4 (25) DefRtg: 119.3 (30) NetRtg: -8.9 (29) Pace: 99.7 (15)

The Pelicans weren’t competing for anything, but they still suffered another serious blow last Monday, when Trey Murphy III suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

Three takeaways

• The Pelicans have seen the league’s biggest drop in points scored per 100 possessions (-6.1) from last season, when they ranked 11th offensively. They’ve seen the league’s third biggest drop in field goal percentage in the paint and its second biggest drop in 3-point percentage.

• They scored more efficiently with CJ McCollum, Murphy and Zion Williamson all on the floor this season (115.4 points per 100 possessions) than they did last season (113.3). That trio didn’t play a ton of minutes together last season (542), but they played just 324 together this season before Murphy’s injury.

• They rank fourth in the percentage of their points (29.2%) that have come via fast breaks (15.0%, sixth) or second chances (14.2%, fourth). They’re in the top 10 in offensive rebounding percentage for what would be the sixth time in the last seven seasons.

The Pelicans have three games left within the bottom seven of the league, with two of those three this week. Before Sunday’s loss to the Pistons, the Pelicans had only twice scored more than 125 points per 100 possessions without Williamson, with one of those two occasions coming (Jan. 10) in Philadelphia. They’ll complete the season series with the Sixers on Monday.

Week 23: vs. PHI, vs. GSW, vs. CHA

Record: 23-48

OffRtg: 111.6 (21) DefRtg: 117.2 (27) NetRtg: -5.6 (25) Pace: 98.0 (26)

After beginning their six-game trip with a win in Dallas, the Sixers have lost four straight.

Three takeaways

• The Sixers have seen the league’s fifth-biggest drop in points scored per 100 possessions from last season (when they ranked 14th offensively). The drop-off was much bigger in Joel Embiid’s minutes on the floor (-15.8 per 100) than it’s been in his minutes off the floor (-1.2).

• The Sixers scored just 108.2 points per 100 possessions in 294 minutes with Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George on the floor together. That mark ranked 707th (21st percentile) among 895 three-man combinations that had played at least 200 minutes after the last game (Feb. 22) that all three played in.

• Despite Embiid’s absence for all but 19 games, the Sixers still rank fourth in free throw rate (26.1 attempts per 100 shots from the field). They have seven players (tied for second most) with at least 250 field goal attempts and a free throw rate of 23.5 attempts per 100 shots from the field or higher.

The Sixers’ six-game trip concludes in New Orleans on Monday, and they’ll then play seven of their final 10 games at home. Nine of the 10, including two games each against the Wizards and Heat, are within the Eastern Conference.

Week 23: @ NOP, vs. WAS, vs. MIA, vs. TOR

Record: 18-53

OffRtg: 107.3 (29) DefRtg: 115.4 (23) NetRtg: -8.1 (29) Pace: 98.3 (23)

The Hornets got a win over the Knicks on Thursday, then got clobbered in games in Oklahoma City and Miami over the weekend.

Three takeaways

• In 2021-22 (former coach James Borrego’s last season in Charlotte), the Hornets had the league’s eighth-ranked offense. They’re set to rank in the bottom three offensively in each of the three seasons since. Having scored 6.3 fewer points per 100 possessions than the league average, this would be their worst offensive season in the last 13 years (since their 7-59 season), even though LaMelo Ball has played in more games (46) than he did in each of the last two (36 and 22).

• The Hornets have scored more efficiently (109.3 points per 100 possessions) in the 44 games for which Ball has been available for more than 12 minutes than they have (103.8) as they’ve gone 2-25 in the other 27. But that first mark would still rank in the bottom five of the league.

• They’re the only team that ranks in the bottom five in three of the four factors on offense, but the Hornets are seventh in offensive rebounding percentage and second in second-chance points per 100 possessions. Their 11 games with 25 or more second-chance points are tied for the third most for any team in the 29 seasons that second-chance points have been tracked.

The 2024-25 Southeast Division, with its cumulative winning percentage of .370, is the worst division in at least the last 55 seasons. But with their loss in Miami on Sunday, the Hornets are somehow 1-14 against the other four Southeast teams. Their last chance for a second Southeast victory is Tuesday when they’ll have a rest advantage against the Magic.

Week 23: vs. ORL, @ TOR, @ NOP

Record: 16-56

OffRtg: 110.4 (24) DefRtg: 118.1 (29) NetRtg: -7.7 (27) Pace: 100.8 (5)

The Jazz put an end to their 10-game losing streak by beating the Wizards on Wednesday, just their third win (they’re 3-51) in a game they trailed by double-digits and the only time in their last 10 games that they scored more efficiently than the league average.

Three takeaways

• The Jazz had a league-average offense last season, but have been 3.1 points per 100 possessions worse than average this year. This will be the first time since 2013-14 and just the second time in the last 19 seasons that they’ve ranked in the bottom 10 offensively.

• The offensive drop-off has been much bigger in Lauri Markkanen’s minutes on the floor (6.2 fewer points per 100 possessions than they scored last season) than in his minutes off the floor (2.0 fewer).

The Jazz’s loss to the Cavs on Sunday began a stretch of four straight games against teams in the top eight of the league. They’re 2-17 against the rest of that group, but 1-0 against the Rockets, who they’ll face twice in the next 10 days.

Week 23: vs. MEM, vs. HOU, @ DEN

Record: 15-55

OffRtg: 106.0 (30) DefRtg: 117.7 (28) NetRtg: -11.7 (30) Pace: 102.2 (4)

The Wizards again have the league’s worst record, having lost their showdown with the Jazz on Wednesday.

Three takeaways

• This will be the Wizards’ fourth straight season with a bottom-10 offense. They ranked 25th offensively last season and have seen the league’s sixth-biggest drop in points scored per 100 possessions (-4.2). They’ve seen the fourth biggest drop in field goal percentage in the paint, its third biggest drop in the percentage of their shots that have come in the paint, and its third biggest jump in turnover rate.

• When Kyle Kuzma played his final game with the Wizards (Feb. 3), Washington had scored just 97.4 points per 100 possessions in his 887 minutes on the floor, 9.8 fewer than they had scored with him off the floor (107.2). The Wizards rank 26th offensively (109.6 scored per 100) since then.

• The Wizards rank 29th in catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage (34.2%), but Jordan Poole has shot 37.8% on pull-up 3-pointers, the fourth-best mark among 29 players who’ve attempted at least 200 and up from 30.4% last season.

The Wizards have the best record (7-3) in games played between the bottom five teams in the East, with three more coming this week. They’ll have a rest advantage when they host the Raptors on Monday and again against Brooklyn over the weekend.

Week 23: vs. TOR, @ PHI, vs. IND, vs. BKN