The All-Star break is over, and the home stretch of the regular season is here. This is always an interesting time in the NBA, with tanking becoming a growing issue across the league while contenders are jockeying for seeding as the regular season winds down.
Here’s how the league is shaping up.
30. Sacramento Kings (13-46)
Change: Neutral
Since our last update, the Kings have won just one game and only recently snapped a sixteen-game losing streak. It’s been rough across the board. This team needs to strike gold in the draft lottery.
29. Indiana Pacers (15-43)
Change: Down 2
The Pacers are one of several teams openly leaning into the tank this season. Key players have been in and out of the lineup as Indiana positions itself for a high draft pick. It’s all about next year for this squad.
28. Brooklyn Nets (15-41)
Change: Neutral
Not much has changed for Brooklyn since our last update. This roster is full of young players trying to carve out roles, which naturally leads to inconsistent play. Like the teams around them in this range of the rankings, the only thing that matters the rest of the way is stacking losses.
27. Washington Wizards (16-40)
Change: Up 2
Washington hasn’t been quite as bad lately as its record would suggest, but it still firmly belongs near the bottom of these rankings. There’s simply not much going on for this group in the final stretch of the regular season.
26. Chicago Bulls (24-34)
Change: Down 5
Yeah, things are getting ugly in Chicago, and honestly, that might be the best thing to happen to this Bulls team in a long time. The purgatory days look firmly behind them now, as the Bulls are chasing a top pick for the first time in years.
25. New Orleans Pelicans (16-42)
Change: Up 1
New Orleans has been decent over its recent stretch and sits at No. 25 mainly because it isn’t actively tanking like the teams below it. That said, this roster still has a long way to go.
24. Utah Jazz (18-40)
Change: Up 1
Utah obviously isn’t good right now, but the outlook is brighter heading into next year. The addition of Jaren Jackson Jr. was a smart move, and he should fit nicely alongside Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, Keyonte George, and a potential top draft pick.
23. Dallas Mavericks (20-36)
Change: Down 1
Dallas has really been struggling lately, going 1–9 over its last 10. At least Cooper Flagg has been everything Mavs fans could have hoped for in his rookie season.
22. Memphis Grizzlies
Change: Up 1
Memphis remains an uninspiring group as the season winds down. The Ja Morant situation will be one to watch as the offseason approaches.
21. Milwaukee Bucks (24-31)
Change: Up 3
Milwaukee, even without Giannis, has steadied a bit from its earlier slide, going 6–4 over its last 10. If he returns, the Bucks could be a first-round spoiler, assuming they make it through the Play-In.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (28-30)
Change: Neutral
Portland has hovered around .500 all season, which should be enough to land a Play-In spot. It’s hard to see this group making much noise once it gets there though.
19. Atlanta Hawks (28-31)
Change: Neutral
Much like Portland, Atlanta has been stuck around the .500 mark all season. This group is drifting in mediocrity, which is not where you want to be.
18. Los Angeles Clippers (27-30)
Change: Down 3
The Clippers drop three spots in these rankings due to roster changes, not their recent play. Losing James Harden and Ivica Zubac is significant and halts any momentum they were building. Now it’s about getting Darius Garland on the floor and seeing how this new group fits together.
17. Golden State Warriors (30-27)
Change: Down 3
Golden State is tough to watch without Steph Curry. This group is headed for a Play-In berth at best.
16. Phoenix Suns (33-25)
Change: Down 5
Phoenix has started to slip, both in form and in health. Dillon Brooks is out 4–6 weeks, and the Suns have dropped five of their last seven. At this point, Phoenix feels more like a feel-good story than a real playoff threat.
15. Charlotte Hornets (27-31)
Change: Up 3
Charlotte has stayed red-hot lately, going 11-4 over its last 15. The Hornets look poised for their first postseason appearance since the 2022 Play-In.
14. Orlando Magic (30-26)
Change: Up 2
Orlando’s biggest issue right now is health. It’s hard to see this team competing with the East’s best without Franz Wagner. They need him back as soon as possible if they want to be a factor.
13. Miami Heat (31-27)
Change: Up 4
Miami has quietly climbed the standings over the past few weeks and now sits just a half-game back of the East’s six seed. The Heat play balanced basketball with a deep, quality rotation and could be a sneaky threat down the stretch.
12. Philadelphia 76ers (31-26)
Change: Neutral
Philadelphia has slipped back toward the Play-In lately, with its lack of depth becoming a real challenge. It’s hard to see this group having enough to win multiple playoff series.
11. Los Angeles Lakers (34-22)
Change: Up 2
The Lakers are a frustrating group. They have the top-end talent to win in the playoffs, but also some of the biggest weaknesses among West contenders. The lack of depth and a true starting center will show up against the league’s elite.
10. Toronto Raptors (34-23)
Change: Neutral
Night in and night out, Toronto continues to prove it is a worthy contender in the East behind its elite defense. I’m very curious to see how this group performs in the playoffs.
9. Houston Rockets (35-21)
Change: Down 4
Houston’s flaws have really begun to show over the past few weeks, namely its offensive approach and lack of a true point guard. Those issues could prove insurmountable against elite defensive teams like San Antonio and OKC when it matters most.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (35-23)
Change: Down 1
Minnesota remains maddeningly inconsistent. One night they look like one of the league’s best, and the next they look like a team headed for the lottery. That volatility makes Minnesota one of the biggest wild cards heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
7. Denver Nuggets (36-22)
Change: Down 5
At 4-6 over their last 10, Denver had to come down. The defense has struggled lately, and the team looks disjointed in clutch moments. They should be fine by April, but for now, the drop is warranted.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (36-22)
Change: Up 3
Cleveland has caught fire lately, going 8-2 over its last 10. The James Harden addition has paid off for the Cavs, who have looked nearly unstoppable on offense since his arrival.
5. Boston Celtics (37-19)
Change: Up 3
Boston has proved me wrong time and time again this year. This squad has the goods, both in coaching and talent. And if Jayson Tatum comes back, look out.
4. New York Knicks (37-21)
Change: Up 2
New York has continued to play like one of the East’s best, going 7-3 in its last 10. This is a playoff-tested roster with everything needed to make a run.
3. Detroit Pistons (42-14)
Change: Neutral
Detroit has been the East’s best team all season behind an elite defense and superstar Cade Cunningham. Could this be the year the Pistons break through and reach the Finals?
2. San Antonio Spurs (41-16)
Change: Up 2
San Antonio has caught fire lately, winning nine straight to move within striking distance of OKC for the No. 1 seed. A Spurs-Thunder playoff series would be a battle of heavyweights.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (44-14)
Change: Neutral
Despite minor injuries to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, OKC is still the best team in the league and they remain the prohibitive favorite to win the title once again.
If this was your kind of read, you’ll like what’s next. Get The Sandman Ticket, our free, weekly newsletter with picks, insights, and a little bit of everything we love about sports.
