[ESPN] NBA 实力榜：步行者队力争季后赛席位，掘金队苦苦支撑

阿拉莫议事厅
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By NBA insiders | ESPN, 2025-03-26 19:00:00

由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。

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在2024-25赛季 NBA 常规赛的最后几周，东西部的季后赛争夺战愈发激烈，悬念迭起，比赛也进入了白热化阶段。

在西部，菲尼克斯太阳队和伤病缠身的达拉斯独行侠队正在为第10号种子和最后一个附加赛名额展开激烈的争夺。独行侠队希望安东尼·戴维斯在因内收肌受伤缺席很长时间后复出，能够帮助他们在积分榜上超越太阳队。

在东部，本赛季的黑马球队之一——排名第6的底特律活塞队仍然渴望更高的季后赛席位，而亚特兰大老鹰队和奥兰多魔术队之间关于第7号种子的附加赛争夺战也将备受关注。

以下是本周实力榜中所有 30 支球队的排名情况。

注意：球队排名基于我们专家组（ESPN的蒂姆·邦坦普斯、贾马尔·科利尔、迈克尔·莱特(Michael Wright)、蒂姆·麦克马洪、戴夫·麦克梅宁、奥姆·扬米苏克和克里斯·赫林）对本赛季各支球队实力的判断。

此前排名：季前赛 | 10月30日 | 11月5日 | 11月13日 | 11月20日 | 11月27日 | 12月4日 | 12月11日 | 12月18日 | 12月25日 | 1月1日 | 1月8日 | 1月15日 | 1月22日 | 1月29日 | 2月5日 | 2月12日 | 2月26日 | 3月5日 | 3月12日 | 3月19日

跳转至球队：

ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE

DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND

LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN

NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX

POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS

  1. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 60胜12负
  • 此前排名： 2
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 MEM (3月27日), 对阵 IND (3月29日), 对阵 CHI (3月31日)

第三中锋杰林·威廉姆斯为雷霆队三月份的出色表现（12胜1负）做出了重要贡献。本月，威廉姆斯场均得到7.9分、6.0个篮板和2.9次助攻，主要担任替补。在他首发的两场比赛中，他都获得了职业生涯的前两个三双，分别是战胜开拓者队和76人队的比赛，这两场比赛中雷霆队的大部分常规首发球员都缺席了。威廉姆斯与拉塞尔·威斯布鲁克、凯文·杜兰特和约什·吉迪并列，成为雷霆队历史上仅有的在单赛季获得多个三双的球员。– 蒂姆·麦克马洪

  1. 克利夫兰骑士
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 58胜14负
  • 此前排名： 1
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 SA (3月27日), 客场对阵 DET (3月28日), 对阵 LAC (3月30日)

克利夫兰本赛季以平均主义的方式和深厚的轮换阵容赢得了比赛，但毫无疑问：多诺万·米切尔才是球队的核心。在上周以 123-112 输给太阳队的比赛中——骑士队遭遇的连续第四场失利——他只得到赛季最低的7分，18投2中，这也提醒了所有人这一点。尽管骑士队拥有如此多的天赋，但米切尔将是在季后赛中带领他们的那个人，如果他状态不佳，球队也会受到影响。– 戴夫·麦克梅宁

  1. 波士顿凯尔特人
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 53胜19负
  • 此前排名： 3
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 PHX (3月26日), 客场对阵 SA (3月29日), 客场对阵 MEM (3月31日)

尽管全 NBA 前锋杰森·塔图姆在周一客场战胜萨克拉门托的比赛中扭伤脚踝后，被列为周三比赛的出战成疑球员，但波士顿似乎避开了对这位球星的严重伤病。塔图姆在一次三分球尝试中，被多曼塔斯·萨博尼斯干扰投篮时扭伤了脚踝，但他能够自己走下场。随着凯尔特人队将目光投向季后赛，他们需要所有球员都保持健康，才能再次冲击总决赛。– 蒂姆·邦坦普斯

  1. 休斯顿火箭
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 47胜26负
  • 此前排名： 4
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 UTAH (3月27日), 客场对阵 PHX (3月30日), 客场对阵 LAL (3月31日)

火箭队通常不会浪费赢得比赛的黄金机会，但周日对阵掘金队的比赛并非如此，尽管三届 MVP 尼古拉·约基奇因脚踝受伤缺席了比赛。然而，贾马尔·穆雷在火箭队的防守端横冲直撞，拿下 39 分，结束了休斯顿的九连胜。休斯顿教练伊梅·乌度卡称火箭队在球队寻求加强季后赛关键领域的关键时刻表现得“马虎”。休斯顿已经确立了一种身体对抗强硬、防守至上的风格，乌度卡需要他的球队在常规赛结束时充分拥抱这种风格。– 迈克尔·莱特

  1. 丹佛掘金
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 45胜28负
  • 此前排名： 5
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 MIL (3月26日), 对阵 UTAH (3月28日), 对阵 MIN (4月1日)

掘金队以 10 分的劣势输给了公牛队，开启了五场主场比赛。但最重要的问题是让尼古拉·约基奇以健康的状态迎接季后赛。约基奇已经连续缺席了五场比赛，并且很有可能缺席周三对阵雄鹿队的比赛，但迈克尔·马龙表示，他的球星可能会在主场比赛的某个时候回归。在没有约基奇的情况下，贾马尔·穆雷在过去的 2 场比赛中分别得到 39 分和 28 分。– 奥姆·扬米苏克

  1. 纽约尼克斯
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 45胜26负
  • 此前排名： 7
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 LAC (3月26日), 客场对阵 MIL (3月28日), 对阵 POR (3月30日), 对阵 PHI (4月1日)

在二月份防守效率联盟倒数第二之后，纽约队在三月份重整旗鼓，每百回合仅失 109.1 分——在此期间联盟第二好。当然，尼克斯队最近面临的竞争并不激烈，但这让他们有机会在杰伦·布伦森（脚踝受伤）缺席和米切尔·罗宾逊逐渐恢复状态的情况下，解决一些重要问题。– 克里斯·赫林

  1. 洛杉矶湖人
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 43胜28负
  • 此前排名： 9
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 IND (3月26日), 客场对阵 CHI (3月27日), 客场对阵 MEM (3月29日), 对阵 HOU (3月31日)

湖人队在过去的 10 场比赛中战绩为 3 胜 7 负，勒布朗·詹姆斯从左侧腹股沟伤势中复出以及八村塁从左膝伤势中复出尚未提供助力，因为他们都在逐渐恢复状态。七场失利平均输掉 15.7 分，对于洛杉矶来说，事情并没有变得更容易，因为他们将在印第安纳和芝加哥进行背靠背的客场之旅，然后与灰熊队进行比赛。– 麦克梅宁

  1. 孟菲斯灰熊
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 44胜28负
  • 此前排名： 6
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 OKC (3月27日), 对阵 LAL (3月29日), 对阵 BOS (3月31日), 对阵 GS (4月1日)

最近，客场之旅对灰熊队并不友好，他们在五场客场之旅中连续输掉了三场。球星后卫贾·莫兰特因腿筋受伤缺席了他的连续第三场比赛，俱乐部周六宣布，中锋布兰登·克拉克将因右膝 PCL 高度扭伤而缺席本赛季剩余的比赛。莫兰特因多次受伤仅参加了孟菲斯 70 场比赛中的 43 场，但在季后赛即将到来之前，这位后卫需要在孟菲斯的新进攻体系中与他的队友找到一些节奏。– 莱特

  1. 金州勇士
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 41胜31负
  • 此前排名： 8
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 NO (3月28日), 客场对阵 SA (3月30日), 客场对阵 MEM (4月1日)

斯蒂芬·库里在南海滩与勇士队会合，并在周一训练结束时进行了一次个人训练。但主教练史蒂夫·科尔表示，这位球队球星在训练后期的一个特定动作中感到有些不适，还没有完全准备好复出，并希望给库里多休息几天。勇士队在吉米·巴特勒重返迈阿密后被击溃，但他们有机会在周五对阵新奥尔良鹈鹕队的比赛中反弹。科尔表示，如果一切顺利，预计库里可以在那时复出，这将让这位 37 岁的球员自周四对阵多伦多时遭受骨盆挫伤以来休息一周。他们需要一个健康且休息充分的库里来避免参加附加赛。– 扬米苏克

  1. 明尼苏达森林狼
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 41胜32负
  • 此前排名： 10
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 PHX (3月28日), 对阵 DET (3月30日), 客场对阵 DEN (4月1日)

在经历了八连胜之后，森林狼队在过去的四场比赛中输掉了三场，在拥挤的西部联盟中跌至第八位。然而，中锋纳兹·里德继续争夺年度最佳第六人奖的连庄，周一替补出场得到 20 分，这是他本赛季第 24 次做到这一点，创造了球队纪录。在森林狼队下周前往丹佛与掘金队进行一场重要比赛之前，明尼苏达队需要里德在主场对阵菲尼克斯和底特律的两场比赛中保持这种水平的发挥。– 贾马尔·科利尔

  1. 印第安纳步行者
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 42胜29负
  • 此前排名： 12
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 LAL (3月26日), 客场对阵 WAS (3月27日), 客场对阵 OKC (3月29日), 对阵 SAC (3月31日)

步行者队已经连续赢得了五场比赛，并在过去的八场比赛中赢得了七场，以两场优势领先于雄鹿队，位居东部第四。泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿继续了下半赛季的强势表现，连续 11 场比赛获得两双，这是联盟中最长的活跃纪录。哈利伯顿有望获得自 1990-91 赛季穆格西·博格斯以来最好的单赛季助攻失误比（5.46）。– 科利尔

  1. 洛杉矶快船
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 40胜31负
  • 此前排名： 13
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 NYK (3月26日), 客场对阵 BKN (3月28日), 客场对阵 CLE (3月30日), 客场对阵 ORL (3月31日)

快船队在过去的 10 场比赛中赢得了 8 场，最近一次失利是在周日以 2 分之差输给了雷霆队。他们设法打出了一些最好的篮球，泰伦·卢也从背部问题中恢复过来参加了对雷霆队的比赛。快船队，仍然缺少顶级助教杰夫·范甘迪（个人原因），开始了本赛季末的东海岸客场之旅，第一站是在纽约对阵尼克斯队。他们还将在返回主场之前面对篮网队、骑士队和魔术队。– 扬米苏克

  1. 密尔沃基雄鹿
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 40胜31负
  • 此前排名： 11
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 DEN (3月26日), 对阵 NYK (3月28日), 对阵 ATL (3月30日), 对阵 PHX (4月1日)

雄鹿队在过去的五场比赛中输掉了三场，在过去的 10 场比赛中战绩为 4 胜 6 负，这一糟糕的时期恰逢达米安·利拉德的重大伤病消息，他因右小腿深静脉血栓（血凝块）而无限期缺阵。本赛季没有利拉德的情况下，雄鹿队的战绩为 8 胜 5 负，平均得分为 108.5 分，而当他在场时，这一数字为 115.7 分。– 科利尔

  1. 底特律活塞
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 41胜32负
  • 此前排名： 14
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 CLE (3月28日), 客场对阵 MIN (3月30日)

还剩 9 场比赛，活塞队在东部第四名的争夺中，落后步行者队和雄鹿队三场失利，这意味着他们将失去季后赛首轮的主场优势。底特律仍然有可能赶上雄鹿队，获得第五名，从而确保与印第安纳队进行更有利的对决，而不是作为第六名面对尼克斯队。活塞队周日展示了他们的实力，在全明星球员凯德·坎宁安和首发球员小蒂姆·哈达威因小伤缺席的情况下击败了鹈鹕队。– 凯文·佩尔顿

  1. 萨克拉门托国王
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 35胜37负
  • 此前排名： 15
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 POR (3月27日), 客场对阵 ORL (3月29日), 客场对阵 IND (3月31日)

一周前，国王队似乎已经锁定了附加赛的第九名，当时他们领先连败的独行侠队和状态不稳定的太阳队三场比赛，但国王队在主场连续输掉四场比赛后，突然发现自己正在为保住这个位置而战。萨克拉门托队仅领先达拉斯队半场，并与菲尼克斯队战绩相同，这三支球队中有一支将进入彩票区，而另外两支将在 9-10 附加赛中展开对决。多曼塔斯·萨博尼斯周一的复出应该会帮助国王队，他在因伤缺席的九场比赛中战绩为 3 胜 6 负。– 佩尔顿

  1. 亚特兰大老鹰
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 35胜37负
  • 此前排名： 17
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 MIA (3月27日), 客场对阵 MIL (3月30日), 对阵 POR (4月1日)

如果在终点线上出现重大变动，亚特兰大仍然有微乎其微的机会——根据 ESPN 的篮球实力指数，机会为 1.5%——进入东部前六名。排名第七的老鹰队——落后排名第六的活塞队 5 场半——在过去的 10 场比赛中赢了底特律两场。活塞队在 NBA 本赛季剩余赛程中难度排名第二，而亚特兰大队则排名第七。– 赫林

  1. 菲尼克斯太阳
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 35胜37负
  • 此前排名： 18
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 BOS (3月26日), 客场对阵 MIN (3月28日), 对阵 HOU (3月30日), 客场对阵 MIL (4月1日)

太阳队的四连胜是自去年 10 月底至 11 月初取得七连胜以来最长的一次。凯文·杜兰特在这波连胜的过去两场比赛中场均得到 40 分，对手是东部的两支强队克利夫兰和密尔沃基。在对菲尼克斯队的崛起感到过于兴奋之前，请考虑一下接下来的八场比赛：两次对阵波士顿，再加上俄克拉荷马城、休斯顿、明尼苏达、纽约、金州和再次对阵密尔沃基。– 麦克梅宁

  1. 奥兰多魔术
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 35胜38负
  • 此前排名： 16
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 DAL (3月27日), 对阵 SAC (3月29日), 对阵 LAC (3月31日), 客场对阵 SA (4月1日)

魔术队可能会在正确的时间找到自己的状态。连续战胜湖人队和黄蜂队让奥兰多队获得了自 12 月 1 日以来的第一个三连胜。再加上魔术队在输给休斯顿之前在克利夫兰取得的胜利，有迹象表明奥兰多队找到了足够的进攻来补充球队坚如磐石的防守。这始于球星保罗·班切罗，他在 3 月份场均得到 30 分，三分球命中率为 41.2%，看起来更像赛季初期的强势表现，然后遭受了严重的腹斜肌拉伤。– 佩尔顿

  1. 达拉斯独行侠
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 35胜38负
  • 此前排名： 19
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 ORL (3月27日), 客场对阵 CHI (3月29日), 对阵 BKN (3月31日)

斯宾塞·丁威迪在他重返达拉斯的第二次效力期间，以老将底薪合同出战，在保持伤病缠身的独行侠队的季后赛希望方面发挥了重要作用。在独行侠队过去战胜活塞队和篮网队的两场比赛中，丁威迪场均得到 23.5 分和 9.5 次助攻，投篮命中率为 72.7%。在 3 月 10 日战胜马刺队的比赛中，他得到 28 分和 6 次助攻，这是自凯里·欧文遭遇赛季报销的膝盖伤病以来独行侠队取得的唯一一场胜利。– 麦克马洪

  1. 波特兰开拓者
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 32胜41负
  • 此前排名： 21
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 SAC (3月27日), 客场对阵 NYK (3月30日), 客场对阵 ATL (4月1日)

还剩 9 场比赛，开拓者队已经没有多少时间来超越独行侠队和太阳队，获得西部第 10 名和最后一个附加赛名额，但他们上周在主场击败了灰熊队和没有约基奇的掘金队，从而设法保持了竞争力。波特兰队的防守提升，由全防守竞争者图马尼·卡马拉领衔，已被证明不仅仅是对手投篮状态的结果。在 2 月份球队对阵开拓者队的三分球命中率仅为 31% 之后，3 月份这一数字为 38%——但波特兰队的防守仍然处于联盟平均水平。– 佩尔顿

  1. 芝加哥公牛
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 32胜40负
  • 此前排名： 22
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 LAL (3月27日), 对阵 DAL (3月29日), 客场对阵 OKC (3月31日), 对阵 TOR (4月1日)

公牛队在过去的 10 场比赛中战绩为 8 胜 2 负，并且自 3 月 6 日以来，在此期间场均得到 122.5 分，在 NBA 中排名第一。他们的后场表现出色，科比·怀特连续三场比赛得到 35 分，这是他职业生涯中最长的纪录，而约什·吉迪自全明星赛以来场均得到 22.6 分、9.1 次助攻和 10.3 个篮板，投篮命中率为 54%（三分球命中率为 53%）。芝加哥队落后奥兰多队两场比赛，争夺东部第八名。– 科利尔

  1. 圣安东尼奥马刺
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 31胜40负
  • 此前排名： 23
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 CLE (3月27日), 对阵 BOS (3月29日), 对阵 GS (3月30日), 对阵 ORL (4月1日)

圣安东尼奥队在争夺附加赛资格的道路上仍然面临着陡峭的攀登。但马刺队将继续战斗。圣安东尼奥队在周日以 123-89 击败多伦多队的比赛中，将对手的半场得分限制在 40 分，从而获得了本赛季第二次三连胜，接下来还有一场客场对阵骑士队的比赛。老将克里斯·保罗参加了他的第 70 场比赛，成为联盟历史上第一位在他职业生涯的第 20 个赛季或更晚的赛季中参加球队前 70 场比赛的球员。– 莱特

  1. 迈阿密热火
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 31胜41负
  • 此前排名： 20
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 ATL (3月27日), 客场对阵 PHI (3月29日), 客场对阵 WAS (3月31日)

迈阿密队终于在周日结束了他们的 10 连败，安德鲁·威金斯爆发得到 42 分，这支持了他在迈阿密的最佳表现，他在周五对阵火箭队的连败中最后一场比赛中得到 30 分。然而，比迈阿密队连输 10 场更引人注目的是，即使在这样做之后，它仍然牢牢地占据着东部附加赛的位置。– 邦坦普斯

  1. 布鲁克林篮网
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 23胜49负
  • 此前排名： 26
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 TOR (3月26日), 对阵 LAC (3月28日), 客场对阵 WAS (3月29日), 客场对阵 DAL (3月31日)

本赛季的大部分时间里，无论有多少人试图扑灭火焰，布鲁克林的蜡烛都不会熄灭。然而，这些尝试——交易丹尼斯·施罗德和多里安·芬尼-史密斯，裁掉本·西蒙斯，以及头号得分手卡梅隆·托马斯赛季报销——似乎终于追上了注定要参加乐透区的篮网队，他们在开局超出预期的 21 胜 38 负之后，在 3 月份的战绩为 2 胜 11 负。– 赫林

  1. 多伦多猛龙
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 25胜47负
  • 此前排名： 24
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 BKN (3月26日), 对阵 CHA (3月28日), 客场对阵 PHI (3月30日), 客场对阵 CHI (4月1日)

猛龙队在乐透区排名中与 76 人队和篮网队保持同步。但是，面对联盟中最轻松的赛程之一，导致猛龙队在周三对阵篮网队的比赛中，在过去 10 场比赛中取得了 5 胜 5 负的战绩——而且，如果猛龙队输给篮网队，他们未来几周超越这两支球队的机会将微乎其微。– 邦坦普斯

  1. 费城76人
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 23胜49负
  • 此前排名： 25
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 WAS (3月26日), 对阵 MIA (3月29日), 对阵 TOR (3月30日), 客场对阵 NYK (4月1日)

在这个充满失望的赛季中，新秀贾斯廷·爱德华兹为他的家乡球队带来了一丝希望。爱德华兹在 3 月份场均得到 14 分，三分球命中率为 37.5%。最重要的是，他利用了在 76 人队应对所有伤病的情况下，额外的上场时间和触球机会。– 邦坦普斯

  1. 新奥尔良鹈鹕
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 20胜53负
  • 此前排名： 27
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 GS (3月28日), 对阵 CHA (3月30日)

当锡安·威廉姆森遭受腰部挫伤，迫使他缺席了三场客场之旅的过去两场比赛时，鹈鹕队收到了更多关于伤病方面的坏消息。令人惊讶的新秀伊夫·米西也因为臀部酸痛而缺席了周日在底特律的失利。这标志着新奥尔良队历史上第三次在一场比赛中遭受失利，该场比赛的投篮命中率为 55%，三分球命中率为 50%。现在是新奥尔良队开始展望未来和阵容建设选择的时候了。– 莱特

  1. 夏洛特黄蜂
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 18胜54负
  • 此前排名： 28
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 TOR (3月28日), 客场对阵 NO (3月30日), 对阵 UTAH (3月31日)

对于夏洛特黄蜂队控球后卫拉梅洛·鲍尔来说，这是一个充满挑战的下半赛季——在某种程度上，也是一个充满挑战的整体赛季。在全明星赛前投篮命中率略低于 42% 之后，这位 23 岁的球员此后的投篮命中率仅为 35.3%。他本赛季的 40.1% 的投篮命中率和 33.6% 的三分球命中率都是职业生涯的最低点，即使他联盟最高的 36% 的使用率也是有史以来的最高点。– 赫林

  1. 犹他爵士
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 16胜57负
  • 此前排名： 30
  • 接下来比赛： 对阵 HOU (3月27日), 客场对阵 DEN (3月28日), 客场对阵 CHA (3月31日)

犹他队本赛季至少有 20 次失误的比赛有 22 场。据 ESPN Research 称，这是自 2018-19 赛季的老鹰队以来，任何球队在一个赛季中失误次数最多的一次。爵士队以场均 17.6 次失误（比任何其他球队多 1.5 次）和因失误失分 22.1 分（比任何球队多 1.8 分）领先联盟。– 麦克马洪

  1. 华盛顿奇才
  • 2024-25 赛季战绩： 15胜56负
  • 此前排名： 29
  • 接下来比赛： 客场对阵 PHI (3月26日), 对阵 IND (3月27日), 对阵 BKN (3月29日), 对阵 MIA (3月31日)

华盛顿队在周三对阵费城队的比赛中已经连输五场。然而，对于奇才队来说，重要的是让亚历克斯·萨尔等年轻球员在赛季末获得经验。萨尔在七场比赛中场均得到 19.7 分，其中包括在战胜丹佛队的比赛中创下职业生涯新高的 34 分。看到萨尔以强劲的势头结束他的新秀赛季，进入他的第一个休赛期，将会令人鼓舞。– 扬米苏克

点击查看原文：NBA Power Rankings: Pacers make playoff push, Nuggets hold on

NBA Power Rankings: Pacers make playoff push, Nuggets hold on

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In the final weeks of the 2024-25 NBA regular season, we’re coming down to the wire with the race for the postseason becoming tighter in the East and West.

In the West, the Phoenix Suns and the injury-riddled Dallas Mavericks are in a battle for the 10th seed and last play-in spot. The Mavs hope the return of Anthony Davis following his lengthy absence with an adductor injury will give them a boost over the Suns in the standings.

In the East, the No. 6 Detroit Pistons – one of the surprise teams of the season – still have their sights on a higher playoff seed, while the play-in race between the Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic for the No. 7 spot will be one to watch.

Here’s where all 30 teams stack up in this week’s Power Rankings.

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk and Chris Herring) think teams belong this season.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 30 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 20 | Nov. 27 | Dec. 4 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 18 | Dec. 25 | Jan. 1 | Jan. 8 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 22 | Jan. 29 | Feb. 5 | Feb. 12 | Feb. 26 | Mar. 5 | Mar. 12 | Mar. 19

Jump to a team:\

ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE\

DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND\

LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN\

NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX\

POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

  • 2024-25 record: 60-12
  • Previous ranking: 2
  • Next games: vs. MEM (Mar. 27), vs. IND (Mar. 29), vs. CHI (Mar. 31)

Third-string center Jaylin Williams has been a significant contributor to the Thunder’s spectacular March (12-1). Williams has averaged 7.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists this month, primarily as a reserve. He had the first two triple-doubles of his career in the pair of games that he started, wins over the Trail Blazers and 76ers when most of the Thunder’s regular starters sat. Williams joined Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Josh Giddey as the only players in Thunder history to have multiple triple-doubles in a season. – Tim MacMahon

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

  • 2024-25 record: 58-14
  • Previous ranking: 1
  • Next games: vs. SA (Mar. 27), @ DET (Mar. 28), vs. LAC (Mar. 30)

Cleveland has won this season with an egalitarian approach and a deep rotation, but make no mistake: Donovan Mitchell is the straw that stirs the drink. He reminded everyone of that in a 123-112 loss to the Suns last week – the Cavs’ fourth straight defeat – scoring only a season-low seven points on 2-for-18 shooting. For as much talent as the Cavaliers have, Mitchell will be the guy to lead them in the playoffs, and if he’s off, they’re off. – Dave McMenamin

3. Boston Celtics

  • 2024-25 record: 53-19
  • Previous ranking: 3
  • Next games: @ PHX (Mar. 26), @ SA (Mar. 29), @ MEM (Mar. 31)

Boston appears to have ducked a serious injury to star Jayson Tatum despite the All-NBA forward being listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s game following an ankle sprain in Monday’s win in Sacramento. Tatum went down after turning his ankle on a 3-point attempt when Domantas Sabonis contested the shot, though he was able to walk off on his own. With the Celtics looking toward the postseason, they’ll need all their players healthy to make another run to the Finals. – Tim Bontemps

4. Houston Rockets

  • 2024-25 record: 47-26
  • Previous ranking: 4
  • Next games: @ UTAH (Mar. 27), @ PHX (Mar. 30), @ LAL (Mar. 31)

The Rockets usually don’t squander prime opportunities for victories but that wasn’t the case Sunday against the Nuggets despite three-time MVP Nikola Jokic sitting out due to an ankle injury. However, Jamal Murray ran roughshod through the Rockets’ defense, dropping 39 points to end Houston’s nine-game winning streak. Houston coach Ime Udoka called the performance “sloppy” at a time when the Rockets are looking to tighten key areas for the postseason. Houston has established a physical, defense-first identity that Udoka needs his team to fully embrace in closing out the regular season. – Michael Wright

5. Denver Nuggets

  • 2024-25 record: 45-28
  • Previous ranking: 5
  • Next games: vs. MIL (Mar. 26), vs. UTAH (Mar. 28), vs. MIN (Apr. 1)

The Nuggets opened a five-game homestand with a 10-point loss to the Bulls. But the most important issue is getting Nikola Jokic healthy for the playoffs. Jokic has missed five straight games and was doubtful to play Wednesday against the Bucks, but Michael Malone said his star could be back at some point during the homestand. Jamal Murray has scored 39 and 28 points in the past two games without Jokic. – Ohm Youngmisuk

6. New York Knicks

  • 2024-25 record: 45-26
  • Previous ranking: 7
  • Next games: vs. LAC (Mar. 26), @ MIL (Mar. 28), vs. POR (Mar. 30), vs. PHI (Apr. 1)

After logging the league’s second-worst defense during February, New York has gotten its act together in March, surrendering just 109.1 points per 100 possessions – second best in the league over that span. Sure, the Knicks have faced lightweight competition lately, but that has given them a chance to work through important areas with Jalen Brunson (ankle) out and Mitchell Robinson working himself back into form.– Chris Herring

7. Los Angeles Lakers

  • 2024-25 record: 43-28
  • Previous ranking: 9
  • Next games: @ IND (Mar. 26), @ CHI (Mar. 27), @ MEM (Mar. 29), vs. HOU (Mar. 31)

The Lakers are 3-7 in their past 10 games and the return of LeBron James from a left groin injury and Rui Hachimura from a left knee injury haven’t provided a boost yet as they both round into form. The seven losses have come by an average of 15.7 points, and things don’t get any easier for L.A. as it finishes off its road trip with a back-to-back in Indiana and Chicago before a date with the Grizzlies. – McMenamin

8. Memphis Grizzlies

  • 2024-25 record: 44-28
  • Previous ranking: 6
  • Next games: @ OKC (Mar. 27), vs. LAL (Mar. 29), vs. BOS (Mar. 31), vs. GS (Apr. 1)

Lately, the road has been unfriendly to the Grizzlies, who have dropped three in a row on their five-game road trip. Star guard Ja Morant missed his third consecutive contest due to a hamstring injury, and the club announced Saturday that big man Brandon Clarke will miss the rest of the season due to a high-grade PCL sprain in his right knee. Morant has played in just 43 of Memphis’ 70 games due to multiple injuries, but the guard needs to find some rhythm with his teammates in Memphis’ new offense ahead of the fast-approaching playoffs. – Wright

9. Golden State Warriors

  • 2024-25 record: 41-31
  • Previous ranking: 8
  • Next games: @ NO (Mar. 28), @ SA (Mar. 30), @ MEM (Apr. 1)

Stephen Curry rejoined the Warriors in South Beach and went through an individual workout at the end of Monday’s practice. But head coach Steve Kerr said the franchise star felt something on a certain move late in the workout, wasn’t quite ready to return and wanted to give Curry a couple more days to rest. The Warriors were routed in Jimmy Butler’s return to Miami, but have a chance to bounce back as they face the Pelicans in New Orleans on Friday. Kerr said if all goes well, the expectation is Curry can make his return then, which would give the 37-year-old a week off since he suffered a pelvic contusion Thursday against Toronto. They need a healthy and rested Curry to stay out of the play-in. – Youngmisuk

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

  • 2024-25 record: 41-32
  • Previous ranking: 10
  • Next games: vs. PHX (Mar. 28), vs. DET (Mar. 30), @ DEN (Apr. 1)

Following an eight-game winning streak, the Wolves have dropped three of their past four games to fall to No. 8 in the packed Western Conference. However, center Naz Reid continues to make a case to be a repeat winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award, scoring 20 points off the bench for the 24th time this season Monday, setting a franchise record. Minnesota will need Reid to keep up that level of production during a pair of games at home against Phoenix and Detroit before the Wolves head to Denver next week for an important contest against the Nuggets. – Jamal Collier

11. Indiana Pacers

  • 2024-25 record: 42-29
  • Previous ranking: 12
  • Next games: vs. LAL (Mar. 26), @ WAS (Mar. 27), @ OKC (Mar. 29), vs. SAC (Mar. 31)

The Pacers have won five straight games and seven of their past eight to take a two-game lead over the Bucks for the No.4 seed in the East. Tyrese Haliburton continued a strong second half of the season with 11 consecutive double-doubles, the longest active streak in the league. Haliburton is on pace for the best assist-to-turnover ratio (5.46) in a season since Muggsy Bogues in 1990-91. – Collier

12. LA Clippers

  • 2024-25 record: 40-31
  • Previous ranking: 13
  • Next games: @ NYK (Mar. 26), @ BKN (Mar. 28), @ CLE (Mar. 30), @ ORL (Mar. 31)

The Clippers have won eight of their past 10 games with the last loss coming by two points to the Thunder on Sunday. They’ve managed to play some of their best basketball, and Tyronn Lue returned from a back issue for the Thunder loss. The Clippers, who also are still without top assistant Jeff Van Gundy (personal), start a late-season road trip to the East Coast that begins in New York against the Knicks. They also face the Nets, Cavs and Magic before returning home. – Youngmisuk

13**. Milwaukee Bucks**

  • 2024-25 record: 40-31
  • Previous ranking: 11
  • Next games: @ DEN (Mar. 26), vs. NYK (Mar. 28), vs. ATL (Mar. 30), vs. PHX (Apr. 1)

The Bucks have dropped three of their past five games and are 4-6 in their past 10 contests, a rough patch that has coincided with major injury news regarding Damian Lillard, who is out indefinitely with a deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) in his right calf. The Bucks are 8-5 and averaging 108.5 points without Lillard this season compared to the 115.7 points when he’s on the floor. – Collier

14. Detroit Pistons

  • 2024-25 record: 41-32
  • Previous ranking: 14
  • Next games: vs. CLE (Mar. 28), @ MIN (Mar. 30)

With nine games left, the Pistons have slipped three games behind the Pacers and Bucks in the loss column for the No. 4 seed in the East and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Detroit can still realistically catch the Bucks for fifth, ensuring a more favorable matchup against Indiana rather than facing New York as the No. 6 seed. The Pistons showcased their depth Sunday, beating the Pelicans with All-Star Cade Cunningham and fellow starter Tim Hardaway Jr. sitting out due to minor injuries. – Kevin Pelton

15. Sacramento Kings

  • 2024-25 record: 35-37
  • Previous ranking: 15
  • Next games: vs. POR (Mar. 27), @ ORL (Mar. 29), @ IND (Mar. 31)

Seemingly locked into the ninth spot for the play-in a week ago, when they were three games up on the reeling Mavericks and iffy Suns, the Kings suddenly find themselves in a battle to maintain that spot after dropping four straight at home. Sacramento is just a half-game ahead of Dallas and tied with Phoenix, with one of the three teams headed to the lottery while the other two will square off in the 9-10 play-in game. Domantas Sabonis’ return Monday should help the Kings, who went 3-6 in the nine games he missed with injuries. – Pelton

16. Atlanta Hawks

  • 2024-25 record: 35-37
  • Previous ranking: 17
  • Next games: @ MIA (Mar. 27), @ MIL (Mar. 30), vs. POR (Apr. 1)

It would take substantial movement at the finish line, but there is still an outside chance – a 1.5% chance, per ESPN’s Basketball Power Index-- for Atlanta to land in the top six of the East. The seventh-place Hawks – 5½ games back of the sixth-place Pistons – picked up two games on Detroit over their past 10 outings. The Pistons have the NBA’s second toughest remaining slate for the rest of the season, whereas Atlanta’s has the seventh easiest. – Herring

17. Phoenix Suns

  • 2024-25 record: 35-37
  • Previous ranking: 18
  • Next games: vs. BOS (Mar. 26), @ MIN (Mar. 28), vs. HOU (Mar. 30), @ MIL (Apr. 1)

The Suns’ four-game winning streak is their longest since they won seven straight in late October through early November. Kevin Durant averaged 40 points in the past two games of this streak against two East powers in Cleveland and Milwaukee. Before getting too excited about Phoenix’s rise, consider the next eight games on the schedule: two against Boston, plus Oklahoma City, Houston, Minnesota, New York, Golden State and Milwaukee again. – McMenamin

18. Orlando Magic

  • 2024-25 record: 35-38
  • Previous ranking: 16
  • Next games: vs. DAL (Mar. 27), vs. SAC (Mar. 29), vs. LAC (Mar. 31), @ SA (Apr. 1)

The Magic could be finding their footing at the right time. Back-to-back wins over the Lakers and Hornets gave Orlando its first three-game winning streak since Dec. 1. Add in the Magic’s win in Cleveland, before losing at home to Houston, and there are signs of Orlando finding enough offense to complement the team’s rock-solid defense. That starts with star Paolo Banchero, averaging 30 points in March while shooting 41.2% from 3 – looking more like his strong start to the season before a severe oblique strain. – Pelton

19. Dallas Mavericks

  • 2024-25 record: 35-38
  • Previous ranking: 19
  • Next games: @ ORL (Mar. 27), @ CHI (Mar. 29), vs. BKN (Mar. 31)

Spencer Dinwiddie, who is playing on a veteran’s minimum contract during his second stint in Dallas, has played a major role in keeping the injury-ravaged Mavs postseason hopes alive. Dinwiddie averaged 23.5 points and 9.5 assists while shooting 72.7% from the floor in the Mavs’ past two wins over the Pistons and Nets. He had 28 points and six assists in a March 10 win over the Spurs, the Mavs’ only other victory since Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending knee injury. – MacMahon

20. Portland Trail Blazers

  • 2024-25 record: 32-41
  • Previous ranking: 21
  • Next games: @ SAC (Mar. 27), @ NYK (Mar. 30), @ ATL (Apr. 1)

With nine games to go, the Blazers are running out of time to surpass the Mavericks and Suns for the 10th and final play-in spot in the West, but they managed to stay in the race with impressive wins at home last week over the Grizzlies and Jokic-less Nuggets. Portland’s defensive uptick, led by All-Defensive contender Toumani Camara, has proved more than a product of opponent shooting. After teams made just 31% of 3s against the Blazers in February, they’re at 38% in March – yet Portland is still defending at a league-average level. – Pelton

21. Chicago Bulls

  • 2024-25 record: 32-40
  • Previous ranking: 22
  • Next games: vs. LAL (Mar. 27), vs. DAL (Mar. 29), @ OKC (Mar. 31), vs. TOR (Apr. 1)

The Bulls are 8-2 in their past 10 games and are averaging an NBA-best 122.5 points during that span dating to March 6. Their backcourt has been leading, with Coby White putting up three consecutive 35-point games, the longest streak of his career, and Josh Giddey averaging 22.6 points, 9.1 assists and 10.3 rebounds while shooting 54% (53% from 3) since the All-Star break. Chicago is two games behind Orlando for the No. 8 seed in the East. – Collier

22. San Antonio Spurs

  • 2024-25 record: 31-40
  • Previous ranking: 23
  • Next games: @ CLE (Mar. 27), vs. BOS (Mar. 29), vs. GS (Mar. 30), vs. ORL (Apr. 1)

San Antonio faces a steep climb toward legitimate contention for a berth in the play-in tournament. But the Spurs will continue to fight. San Antonio held Toronto to just 40 first-half points in a 123-89 drubbing Sunday to capture its second three-game winning streak of the season with one more road game out East against the Cavaliers. Veteran Chris Paul played in his 70th game of the campaign, becoming the first player in his 20th season or later to play in each of his team’s first 70 outings in league history. – Wright

23. Miami Heat

  • 2024-25 record: 31-41
  • Previous ranking: 20
  • Next games: vs. ATL (Mar. 27), @ PHI (Mar. 29), @ WAS (Mar. 31)

Miami finally snapped its 10-game losing streak Sunday behind a 42-point explosion from Andrew Wiggins, backing up what had been his best game in Miami when he scored 30 in the last loss of the streak against the Rockets on Friday. More remarkable than Miami dropping those 10 games in a row, however, was the fact that even after doing so it remains firmly ensconced in a spot for the play-in tournament in the East. – Bontemps

24. Brooklyn Nets

  • 2024-25 record: 23-49
  • Previous ranking: 26
  • Next games: vs. TOR (Mar. 26), vs. LAC (Mar. 28), @ WAS (Mar. 29), @ DAL (Mar. 31)

For much of the season, Brooklyn’s candle wouldn’t burn out, no matter how many times someone tried to extinguish the flame. However, those attempts – trading Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith, waiving Ben Simmons and losing leading scorer Cam Thomas to a season-ending injury – seem to have finally caught up with the lottery-bound Nets, who have gone 2-11 in March after a better than expected 21-38 start. – Herring

25. Toronto Raptors

  • 2024-25 record: 25-47
  • Previous ranking: 24
  • Next games: @ BKN (Mar. 26), vs. CHA (Mar. 28), @ PHI (Mar. 30), @ CHI (Apr. 1)

Toronto has kept pace with the 76ers and Nets in the race in the lottery standings. But playing against one of the easiest schedules in the league has caused the Raptors to enter Wednesday’s game against Brooklyn with a 5-5 record in their past 10 games – and, if the Raptors lose that against the Nets, they will have little chance of falling behind either of those teams over the next couple of weeks. – Bontemps

26. Philadelphia 76ers

  • 2024-25 record: 23-49
  • Previous ranking: 25
  • Next games: vs. WAS (Mar. 26), vs. MIA (Mar. 29), vs. TOR (Mar. 30), @ NYK (Apr. 1)

In a season full of disappointments, rookie Justin Edwards has been a bright spot playing for his hometown team. Edwards is averaging 14 points and shooting 37.5% from 3 in the month of March. Most importantly, he has taken advantage of the extra opportunities of playing time and touches with all of the injuries the 76ers are dealing with. – Bontemps

27. New Orleans Pelicans

  • 2024-25 record: 20-53
  • Previous ranking: 27
  • Next games: vs. GS (Mar. 28), vs. CHA (Mar. 30)

The Pelicans received more tough news on the injury front when Zion Williamson suffered a low back contusion that forced him out of the past two games of a three-game road trip. Surprise rookie Yves Missi is also dealing with hip soreness that kept him out of Sunday’s loss at Detroit. That marked the third time in franchise history New Orleans suffered a defeat in a game in which it hit 55% from the field and 50% from 3. It’s time for New Orleans to start looking ahead to the future and roster-building options. – Wright

28. Charlotte Hornets

  • 2024-25 record: 18-54
  • Previous ranking: 28
  • Next games: @ TOR (Mar. 28), @ NO (Mar. 30), vs. UTAH (Mar. 31)

It’s been a highly challenging second half of the season-- and on some level, a highly challenging season overall – for Charlotte point guard LaMelo Ball. After shooting a hair under 42% from the field before the All-Star break, the 23-year-old has shot just 35.3% since. His 40.1% field goal percentage and 33.6% 3-point percentage for the season are career lows, even as his league-high 36% usage rate is the highest it’s ever been. – Herring

29. Utah Jazz

  • 2024-25 record: 16-57
  • Previous ranking: 30
  • Next games: vs. HOU (Mar. 27), @ DEN (Mar. 28), @ CHA (Mar. 31)

Utah has committed at least 20 turnovers in 22 games this season. That is the most such games by any team in a season since the 2018-19 Hawks, according to ESPN Research. The Jazz lead the league with 17.6 turnovers per game (1.5 more than any other team) and 22.1 points allowed off of turnovers (1.8 more than any team). – MacMahon

30. Washington Wizards

  • 2024-25 record: 15-56
  • Previous ranking: 29
  • Next games: @ PHI (Mar. 26), vs. IND (Mar. 27), vs. BKN (Mar. 29), vs. MIA (Mar. 31)

Washington has lost five straight entering Wednesday’s game at Philadelphia. However, for the Wizards, what matters is getting young players like Alex Sarr experience down the stretch. Sarr is averaging 19.7 points in seven games, including a career-high 34-point outing in a win over Denver. It will be encouraging to see Sarr finish his rookie season strong with momentum heading into his first offseason. – Youngmisuk

By NBA insiders | ESPN, via ESPN