NBA News | Weekly Power Rankings

The NBA power rankings are here after five weeks of action. The Golden State Warriors are still holding on to their spot as the best team in the league but the Phoenix Suns are a close second and their run of 12 successive wins is unrivalled in the league. The likes of the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and the Atlanta Hawks, to name a few, are currently on extended winning runs and this has seen them join the Playoff spot conversation after having seemed to be way behind in previous weeks.

1 – Golden State Warriors (Unmoved)

The Warriors are still holding on to the top spot in the power rankings due to a four-game winning streak. They seem determined to dominate the West once again as they are on an 8-1 run against their Western rivals. The Warriors are also fun to watch on their travels boasting a 6-1 record so far.

2 – Phoenix Suns (Moved up 1 spot)

The Suns have moved up a spot in the power rankings due to their hot streak of 12 consecutive wins. After a 2-3 start in October, the Suns are now 12-0 in November after steamrolling past every opponent put before them in that period. The team has also seen showing improvements in a month-to-month comparison as they have improved from 46 to 48.3% from the field while also shooting 37.5% from three-point range (previously shooting 31% from beyond the arc in October).

3 – Brooklyn Nets (Moved up 3 spots)

The Brooklyn Nets have ascended to the summit in the East in recent weeks due to a strong push that has also seen them improve their ranking. The Nets recently recovered from a tough loss against the Warriors to go on a 3-0 run. They have an excellent 11-4 record out East.

4 – Miami Heat (Moved up 3 spots)

The Miami Heat are back in the top five of the power rankings as they have moved up three spots. They have an impressive 6-1 record at the American Airlines Arena. Their road form stands at 6-5 as they have seen their previously great road record decline.

5 – Chicago Bulls (Moved down 1 spot)

The Bulls have dropped one spot in the rankings. They have a 6-4 record in their last 10 games which has helped them remain the third seed in the Eastern Conference. A few weeks ago they were the top team in the land in terms of the power rankings, although they have drooped down the pecking order they have done well to remain in the top five in the last few weeks.

6 – Washington Wizards (Dropped 4 spots)

The Bradley Beal-led Wizards have dropped down four spots in these rankings. They have a solid home court foundation that has helped them push for the top three seeding spots in the East, they have a 7-2 record in the American capital. The team started the season with a 5-1 record in October, November has yielded a 6-5 record.

7 – Utah Jazz (Moved up 1 spot)

Even though the Jazz have a 5-5 record in their last 10 games in the league they still have a superior 6-1 record against teams in the West. Quin Snyder’s charges are currently the third seeded team in the West. They have moved up one spot in the power rankings. With marquee player Donovan Mitchell tallying an impressive 24 points per game and the defensive solidity of Rudy Gobert still proving useful, the Jazz can be sure of another strong Playoff push.

8 – Dallas Mavericks (Dropped 3 spots)

Jason Kidd was revered for being a great facilitator during his playing days, that is yet to fully translate to better fortune as a coach he has had a mixed spell in the league with previous teams. However, he seems to have settled well into his role with the Mavs. His team is currently fourth in the West. After a 4-2 start in October the team has a 6-5 record in November. They have dropped down three spots in these rankings.

9 – Charlotte Hornets (Moved up 4 spots)

The Hornets have a decent 8-4 record against teams in the Eastern Conference. They recently got back to winning ways against the Washington Wizards to continue their push for a playoff spot. They have moved up four spots in the rankings. The Hornets also boast the third best scoring rate in the league, they average a nightly tally of 112.2 points.

10 – Portland Trail Blazers (Moved up 8 spots)

The Blazers have made a giant leap into the top 10 fueled by a four-game winning streak in recent days. They have moved up eight spots in the power rankings from the 18th spot last week. They have also moved to sixth position in the West. The Blazers have a healthy 7-3 record in the last 10 games.

11 – Milwaukee Bucks (Moved up 10 spots)

The defending champions are starting to get their mojo back, they have moved from unfamiliar territory outside the Playoff spots to occupy eighth seeding in the East. They have been powered by a current run of four consecutive victories, their best winning sequence so far this term. They have moved up 10 spots in the power rankings.

12 – New York Knicks (Unmoved)

The Knicks have retained their 12th spot in the rankings. They have a 5-5 record in the last 10 games, their struggle to replicate their October form has seen them in and out of the top 10 of the power rankings.

13 – Boston Celtics (Moved up 3 spots)

The Celtics are on a three-game win streak this past week, this has enabled them to move up three spots in these rankings. In week two they were in the bottom 10 but they have made a week-by-week progression that is sure to please the Boston faithful.

14 – Los Angeles Clippers (Dropped 5 spots)

The Clippers are enjoying a good month, they were recently on a seven-game winning stretch. It was snapped but they have regrouped and look more solid. The slightly better form of other teams around them has seen them drop five spots in these rankings.

15 – Philadelphia 76ers (Unmoved)

The Sixers were without marquee star Joel Embiid who is slowly working his way back to full health. They have struggled in November; they recently snapped a terrible run of five straight defeats. They have retained their 15th spot in these rankings.

16 – Memphis Grizzlies (Moved up 1 spot)

The Grizzlies have moved up one spot in the power rankings.

17 – Atlanta Hawks (Moved up 3 spots)

The Hawks are currently on an impressive five-game winning streak, this has helped them move up the rankings.

18 – Cleveland Cavaliers (Dropped 7 spots)

The Cavs have lost their last four games after a promising start to the season.

19 – Denver Nuggets (Dropped 9 spots)

The Nuggets have lost five games on the bounce.

20 – Los Angeles Lakers (Dropped 6 spots)

The star-studded Lakers have a 4-6 record in their last 10 games. The struggle to find consistent form has resulted in their drop-in these rankings.

21 – Minnesota Timberwolves (Moved up 4 spots)

The Timberwolves appear to have turned a corner with an active four-game winning run in as many matchups.

22 – Toronto Raptors (Dropped 3 spots)

The Raptors are 3-7 in their last 10 games.

23 – Indiana Pacers (Unmoved)

The Pacers are currently on a two-game winning run.

24 – Oklahoma City Thunder (Unmoved)

OKC have lost successive games in the last week.

25 – Sacramento Kings (Dropped 5 spots)

The Kings recently fired head coach Luke Walton after yet another dismal start to the season. They have lost the last four games.

26 – San Antonio Spurs (Unmoved)

The Spurs have lost their last three games. They have been languishing in the bottom six for numerous weeks.

27 – Detroit Pistons (Unmoved)

The Pistons have lost their last three games.

28 – Orlando Magic (Unmoved)

The Orlando Magic are currently on a three-game losing streak.

29 – New Orleans Pelicans (Unmoved)

The Pelicans have lost their last two games and still look bad but they did beat the Clippers recently

30 – Houston Rockets (Unmoved)

The basement dwellers have not shown any signs of improving their situation with a league-worst 15-game losing streak.

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