NBA Power Rankings: Jazz, Sixers jump ahead entering the last week
The final week of the 2020-21 regular season has arrived as teams around the NBA continue to fight for playoff positioning and attempt to avoid the play-in tournament.
Several teams toward the top of the standings are playing some of their best basketball while others are struggling. The remaining games should prove highly entertaining to see how teams can finish heading into the postseason.
To make sense of it all, Rookie Wire took a look at the NBA and ranked each team from worst to best. We come back each week and provide our latest assessment on the best teams and those that are beginning to rise.
Check out our latest Rookie Power Rankings
Oklahoma City Thunder (21-48)
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Last Rank: 30 Since March 24, the Thunder have gone 2-24 with losing streaks of 14 and, now, seven games. They have been outscored by an average of 19.2 points per game during that span, the worst margin in the league.
Houston Rockets (16-52)
AP Photo/Aaron Gash
Last Rank: 29 The Rockets once again are dealing with several injuries, playing with only seven players on a few occasions last week. However, with the injuries, the team has seen rookies such as KJ Martin log extended minutes. He is averaging 21 points and 8.4 rebounds over his last five games.
Cleveland Cavaliers (21-47)
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Last Rank: 27 The Cavaliers have dropped a league-high 10 consecutive games and have dealt with plenty of turmoil in the midst of that streak. The latest development? One ex-Cavalier reportedly said the players on the roster would all welcome a trade out of town.
Detroit Pistons (20-49)
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Last Rank: 28 The Pistons' youth continues to shine with the season winding down. Pistons head coach Dwane Casey said he couldn't have predicted two of his rookies, Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey, would be in contention for All-Rookie honors but believes they are both worthy. Another, Killian Hayes, put up numbers on Sunday no Pistons rookie has since Grant Hill.
Orlando Magic (21-47)
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Last Rank: 26 The Magic have used so many players this season (28) that they are one shy of setting the NBA record for a season. The wheels fell off back in January, and the team is looking to finish the season strongly at this point. The rise of Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton has been bright spots, however.
Toronto Raptors (27-41)
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Last Rank: 25 The Raptors' time in Tampa is nearing its conclusion as their playoff chances all but ended after losing three straight. A win by the Indiana Pacers on Monday will eliminate Toronto from playoff contention. One positive note, though, Malachi Flynn recently took home Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for April.
Minnesota Timberwolves (21-47)
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Last Rank: 23 After turning in an impressive run, in which they won six of eight, the Timberwolves have dropped three of four games after beating the Magic on Sunday. Anthony Edwards looks to be closing the season strongly, though, after dropping his second 40-point game of the season last week. He joined LeBron James as the only teenagers in history with multiple 40-point games.
Sacramento Kings (30-38)
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Last Rank: 22 Sacramento had won four in a row before falling to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, a key loss in the race to secure a spot in the play-in group. They are still hanging on by a thread after defeating the Thunder on Sunday night, though.
New Orleans Pelicans (31-37)
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Last Rank: 21 The second installment of the Lonzo vs. LaMelo Ball matchup on Sunday went to the veteran and the Pelicans. Lonzo finished with 12 points and six assists while LaMelo had 22 points, five assists and four rebounds. The win helped the Pelicans maintain ground in the play-in race with four games remaining in the season.
San Antonio Spurs (32-35)
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Last Rank: 20 San Antonio has lost six of seven games, but is still in control of 10th place in the Western Conference. Barring something catastrophic, the Spurs appear to be on the verge of clinching a place in the play-in tournament beginning May 18.
Indiana Pacers (31-36)
Doug McSchooler-USA TODAY Sports
Last Rank: 19 The Pacers may have hit rock bottom last week when it was reported head coach Nate Bjorkgren may not be back next season. The news comes as the team has dropped three of four to fall to 10th in the Eastern Conference. On top of that, assistant coach Greg Foster and Goga Bitadze got into it on Wednesday in a loss to the Kings. Other than that, things are going well in Indy.
Chicago Bulls (29-39)
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Last Rank: 25 Zach LaVine is back, but his return may have come a little too late. The Bulls have won three straight with LaVine back as he looks to be returning to his pre-injury form. Still, Chicago needs to continue winning and some help in the standings for the play-in group.
Charlotte Hornets (33-35)
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Last Rank: 17 With a brutal schedule ahead this week, the loss to the Pelicans on Sunday didn't help matters. Even worse, the Hornets led by 12 points in the second half before allowing the Pelicans to come back and win. They will finish the regular season with two home games versus the Nuggets and Clippers before playing the Knicks and Wizards on the road.
Memphis Grizzlies (34-33)
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Last Rank: 16 Memphis remains a bit of a mystery entering the final week of the season. Yes, they have won two of three, but the loss was to the Pistons, who are well out of the playoff picture. They looked to play with more urgency on Saturday in a win over the Raptors, so we'll see if they can continue that momentum.
Boston Celtics (35-33)
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Last Rank: 13 Boston continues to put forth an uneven season, dropping two straight with their loss on Sunday to the Miami Heat. The team has struggled to begin games and vows to correct that prior to the start of the play-in tournament on May 18.
Washington Wizards (32-36)
Doug McSchooler-USA TODAY Sports
Last Rank: 15 Washington has won 12 of their last 15 overall games, tied for the best record in the NBA during that span. In addition, Russell Westbrook is one triple-double away from breaking Oscar Roberton's all-time record. After years of "stat-padding" claims, Westbrook is on the verge of making history Monday night in Atlanta. Here is a message for the Westbrook haters: His teams are 136-45 in games he registers a triple-double.
Golden State Warriors (35-33)
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Last Rank: 18 Stephen Curry continues to put up NBA 2K numbers after dropping 49 points in three quarters of work on Saturday. As of Monday, the Warriors would meet the Los Angeles Lakers in the play-in tournament. Does Curry think that will be good for the NBA? https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1391258598613815297?s=20
Atlanta Hawks (37-31)
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Last Rank: 14 Atlanta has posted wins in three of its last four games, including an impressive performance over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. They have two upcoming games versus the Wizards and a hungry Russell Westbrook, which should prove highly entertaining.
Los Angeles Lakers (38-30)
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Last Rank: 12 Anthony Davis said on Friday he is beginning to feel more like himself, and, based on his 42-point outburst on Sunday in a win over the Suns, we're inclined to believe him. The Lakers have an outside chance of avoiding the play-in tournament and will need Davis to go video game mode a few more times to make sure that happens. Oh, and LeBron James is back on Tuesday so that should help.
Miami Heat (37-31)
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Last Rank: 11 The Heat are 9-3 over their last 12 games and are on the verge of avoiding the play-in tournament. With a win on Tuesday versus the Celtics, the Heat can clinch an outright playoff berth.
Los Angeles Clippers (45-23)
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Last Rank: 8 The Clippers, despite losing four of six games, are getting healthier with more players returning from injury. They will have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, and with a week off following the season, should be ready to go.
New York Knicks (38-30)
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Last Rank: 7 The Knicks continue their impressive season after posting a win over the Clippers on Sunday on the clutch shooting of Julius Randle. Derrick Rose has played an integral role in their recent success as the team is 22-10 record with him.
Portland Trail Blazers (39-29)
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Last Rank: 10 The Trail Blazers hit the road on April 27 for a six-game East Coast road trip and the team returned having won five of those contests. They have won seven of their last eight games and are in a position to avoid the play-in tournament. However, after playing the Rockets on Monday, Portland finishes the season on the road against the Jazz and Suns before returning home to play the Nuggets. If they hold onto the sixth seed, they will have definitely earned it.
Dallas Mavericks (40-28)
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Last Rank: 9 Despite the latest antics of Luka Doncic, the Mavericks are on the rise in the West and have won 10 of 12 games. He is one technical foul away from a league-mandated one-game suspension, so it will be worth monitoring if he can control his temper over the final week of the season.
Brooklyn Nets (44-24)
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Last Rank: 5 Brooklyn suffered its first four-game losing streak of the season last week but bounced back to post a comeback win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. The team could get James Harden back at some point this week as he wants to play in a few regular-season games before jumping into the playoffs.
Denver Nuggets (44-24)
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Last Rank: 3 Denver is coming off a disappointing loss to the Nets in which they held a 21-point first-half lead. Despite the loss, the team wants to get its high-minute players some rest over the last week of the season, so another loss or two could be in store.
Milwaukee Bucks (43-24)
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Last Rank: 6 Giannis Antetokounmpo turned in two of his best games of the season versus the Nets last week to get the Bucks within half of a game of Brooklyn for second place in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee has won five straight, and, with a relatively easy schedule to finish the season, could extend that streak even longer.
Phoenix Suns (48-20)
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Last Rank: 1 The Suns have dropped two of three following a loss to the Lakers on Sunday. The team was once in the driver's seat for the No. 1 seed but has since fallen two games behind the Jazz. Potentially facing the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs would not be ideal, but it would certainly make for an entertaining series.
Philadelphia 76ers (47-21)
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Last Rank: 4 Although the Sixers have won a league-best eight straight games, Danny Green still doesn't like how his team is performing on both ends of the court. They kept it going on Saturday without Ben Simmons, who had a back injury. Sixers rookie Tyrese Maxey filled in admirably, scoring 22 points in a win over the Pistons. If we're to believe Green, the Sixers may not be playing their best basketball and that could mean trouble for the East.
Utah Jazz (50-18)
Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Last Rank: 2 Aside from a minor scare against the Rockets on Saturday, in which they allowed a late 14-0 run, the Jazz have been on a roll after winning five straight. How about the play of Georges Niang? He tied a career-high with 24 points in that win over Houston.
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