Thanksgiving is the official beginning of the holiday season, though it’s never been one of my favorite holidays, mainly because I am never where I am supposed to be. But in the hustle and bustle that marks the time when we unleash Mariah Carey upon all of the elevators, I did find something I am grateful for, and that is the NBA Cup.
I have really grown excited by these Tuesday and Friday nights in November. Teams are competing and not blatantly exercising organizational priorities, and in a culture where we’re waiting for the next “trades we want to see” piece to drop, I like that NBA Cup games take place just after the glorified feel-out games that mark the opening weeks of the season and wrap up just before all of those new contracts become tradeable. In essence, the NBA Cup is your “offseason paper championship,” given that the rosters you see now are the ones we spent from the NBA Draft to media day discussing.
So, yes, I am grateful. With that said, let’s get on to Power Rankings and what these 30 teams are grateful for as the normalcy of November comes to a close.
A reminder: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We will retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers every week:
- Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league
- In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams
- The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack
- Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do
- Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear
Let’s dive into Week 5 of the Power Rankings. Win/loss records and statistics are through Monday’s games.
Tier 1: Top Contenders
1. Boston Celtics (15-3)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W vs. CLE, W at WAS, W vs. MIN, W vs. LAC
Offensive rating: 120.9 (third)
Defensive rating: 110.2 (eighth)
Thankful: Kristaps Porziņģis is back
Boston got off to a 14-3 start without The Unicorn, which seems significant given that the Celtics started 13-4 last season with Porziņģis playing 15 of those games. Porziņģis’ return capped a seven-day period that began with the Celtics tagging the Cleveland Cavaliers with their first loss. Now, the Celtics don’t have to be one of the most one-dimensional offenses in the league with unsteady rim protection. The full championship rotation is finally here.
GO DEEPER
The Celtics could win without Kristaps Porziņģis, but they’re far more powerful with him
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-1)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: L at BOS, W vs. NO, W vs. TOR
Offensive rating: 122.8 (first)
Defensive rating: 110.9 (10th)
Thankful: Kenny Atkinson
The Cavaliers finally lost after a 15-0 start, but they got right back to winning games after a night in Boston when the Celtics made 22 3s. Atkinson has transformed the Cavaliers offense in a way no head coach in franchise history has done. And the thing is, Atkinson could easily be coaching in Brooklyn or Charlotte right now.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (13-4)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: L at SA, W vs. POR, W at SAC
Offensive rating: 114.2 (10th)
Defensive rating: 103.2 (first)
Thankful: Isaiah Hartenstein is back
Similar to the Celtics, the Thunder got their center back after having a fantastic start to the season in his absence. Unlike the Celtics, the Thunder needed Hartenstein as a replacement to go along with his presence as an asset in his own right. The injury to Chet Holmgren would have been far more devastating to last season’s Thunder team. This year, the Thunder were able to Smurf (they are blue, right?) their way to some wins with Jalen Williams as their nominal starting center. How convenient is it to have Hartenstein show up and make an impact?
4. Golden State Warriors (12-5)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W vs. ATL, W at NO, L at SA, L vs. BRK
Offensive rating: 115.3 (seventh)
Defensive rating: 107.5 (fourth)
Thankful: Draymond Green’s discipline
Green is a 35-year-old undersized power forward playing his 13th NBA season after being a second-round pick. He has had durability and discipline concerns for most of the previous five seasons. But entering Week 6, Green has played in every single game while serving as both Stephen Curry’s primary setup guy offensively and the computer of the Warriors defense. It’s the first time Green has played the first 17 games of a season in seven years.
GO DEEPER
Draymond Green, others pay the price for being the NBA’s old men on D
Houston’s Tari Eason defends the Clippers’ Jordan Miller. (Troy Taormina / Imagn Images)
5. Houston Rockets (12-6)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: W vs. IND, W vs. POR, L vs. POR
Offensive rating: 112.5 (15th)
Defensive rating: 103.7 (second)
Thankful: AT&T
It is such a luxury for the Rockets to have the youth and athleticism from Amen Thompson and Tari (Eason) coming off the bench. When those two are on the floor together, the Rockets outscore foes by 5.1 points per game and by 15.0 points per 100 possessions. Those two are legitimate game changers for coach Ime Udoka.
GO DEEPER
These second-year pros (not named Wemby) have made big jumps this season
Tier 2: In a Good Place
6. Memphis Grizzlies (11-7)
Last ranking: 8
In the last week: L vs. DEN, W vs. PHI, W at CHI, W vs. POR
Offensive rating: 115.9 (fifth)
Defensive rating: 108.9 (sixth)
Thankful: Tuomas Iisalo
The Grizzlies had the worst offense in the NBA last season, and while player availability had a lot to do with that, coach Taylor Jenkins needed some reinvigoration. Iisalo, the 2024 EuroCup Coach of the Year, was tapped as one of Jenkins’ new assistants. This season, only the Cavaliers average more points per game (120.4), and that’s with Ja Morant missing half the games. Only the Thunder drive more, and they live in the paint and on the offensive glass. Memphis is dynamic with whoever is available to Jenkins this season, and he made a strong move by adding Iisalo to his staff.
7. Orlando Magic (12-7)
Last ranking: 7
In the last week: L at LAC, W at LAL, W vs. DET, W at CHA
Offensive rating: 109.4 (25th)
Defensive rating: 104.6 (third)
Thankful: Franz Wagner
The Magic have injuries at power forward (Paolo Banchero), center (Wendell Carter Jr.) and point guard (Jalen Suggs). Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signed as a free agent and is shooting 22.4 percent from 3. But Wagner has been a steady and consistent force while allowing Orlando to maintain its size advantage defensively. He is leading a Magic team that has won nine of their past 10 games.
GO DEEPER
Franz Wagner and the Magic take pride in being ‘physical’ and it has them rolling
8. New York Knicks (10-7)
Last ranking: 9
In the last week: W at PHO, L at UTA, W at DEN
Offensive rating: 122.4 (second)
Defensive rating: 115.8 (23rd)
Thankful: OG Anunoby’s offense
Anunoby went into Denver on Monday night and had the first 40-point game of his eight-year career, and he has been phenomenal on that end of the floor. Before the season, it seemed more likely that fellow wing Mikal Bridges would take on a heavier role offensively. But Anunoby is averaging a career-high 19.1 points per game while hitting career-best marks from the field (52.4 percent) and from 3 (42.2 percent). Most importantly, Anunoby hasn’t missed a game.
GO DEEPER
The Knicks’ offense is scary good and might just be getting started
Naji Marshall has been a godsend for the Mavericks. (Rhona Wise / Imagn Images)
9. Dallas Mavericks (10-8)
Last ranking: 15
In the last week: W vs. NO, W at DEN, L at MIA, W at ATL
Offensive rating: 115.5 (sixth)
Defensive rating: 109.8 (seventh)
Thankful: Naji Marshall breaking through
The Mavericks were crying out for a player to help Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson offensively earlier this month. Marshall, a free agent from the New Orleans Pelicans, has emerged as that player. Undrafted out of Xavier, Marshall is averaging a career-best 11.3 points on 55 percent shooting from the field. He already has eight dunks this season; Marshall had nine all of last season and has never had more than 14 in a season. Marshall can be even better, too, as he is only shooting 28.6 percent from 3 after making 38.7 percent last year.
10. LA Clippers (11-8)
Last ranking: 11
In the last week: W vs. ORL, W vs. SAC, W at PHI, L at BOS
Offensive rating: 110.1 (22nd)
Defensive rating: 108.4 (fifth)
Thankful: Jeff Van Gundy
Similar to Memphis’ offense, the LA Clippers are benefiting from head coach Tyronn Lue adding a new coordinator to his staff. The Clippers had a four-game streak of holding opponents under 100 points before Boston tied an NBA record with 12 3s in a quarter Monday. Van Gundy has brought a level of detail and urgency to the Clippers that has led to arguably the most impressive defense in team history, and that’s with Paul George departing and Kawhi Leonard not playing a single game. Ivica Zubac in particular has stepped up on the glass and the interior to be an All-Defensive team candidate.
11. Denver Nuggets (9-7)
Last ranking: 13
In the last week: W at MEM, L vs. DAL, W at LAL, L vs. NY
Offensive rating: 114.6 (ninth)
Defensive rating: 114.0 (17th)
Thankful: The Los Angeles Lakers
Denver would be a lot lower in these rankings if it didn’t have a visit to Los Angeles this past weekend. The Nuggets’ dominance over that franchise in the last few seasons is really a sight to behold. After a tough NBA Cup loss at home Friday against the Mavericks, the same night Nikola Jokić came back from personal leave, beating up on the new version of the Lakers showed that Denver can still be a problem.
GO DEEPER
After a very familiar loss, it’s clear: The Lakers still haven’t figured out the Nuggets
12. San Antonio Spurs (9-8)
Last ranking: 21
In the last week: W vs. OKC, W vs. UTA, W vs. GS
Offensive rating: 110.8 (20th)
Defensive rating: 110.6 (ninth)
Thankful: Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul
The Spurs needed some veterans, and both Barnes and Paul have done their part to help San Antonio break through and surprisingly get over .500 — even with Victor Wembanyama needing time to get over a knee contusion. Barnes is the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week and shooting a career-best 43.9 percent from 3 and 52 percent from the field. Paul is in his 20th NBA season and still is one of seven players averaging at least eight assists per game while playing in at least 10 games.
Tier 3: The Bubble
13. Los Angeles Lakers (10-6)
Last ranking: 6
In the last week: W vs. UTA, L vs. ORL, L vs. DEN
Offensive rating: 117.1 (fourth)
Defensive rating: 117.9 (27th)
Thankful: The New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans already gave the Lakers Anthony Davis in 2019, which immediately led to a championship. Davis is now averaging 30 points per game for the first time in his 13-year career. But that’s not all! The Pelicans had a chance to get Los Angeles’ 2024 first-round pick in June but decided to defer to 2025. That allowed the Lakers to select forward Dalton Knecht 17th. Knecht is shooting 50/40/90 as a rookie: 51.5 percent from the field, 45 percent from 3 and 93.3 percent from the free-throw line.
14. Phoenix Suns (9-7)
Last ranking: 14
In the last week: L vs. NY
Offensive rating: 112.6 (13th)
Defensive rating: 115.3 (20th)
Thankful: A bye week
It’s really nice to have five days off at this time of the year. It’s even better when Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are recovering from calf injuries. The Suns were awful with Durant out of the lineup, losing six of seven games. The lone win came in Utah, and four of the losses were by at least 10 points. It’s discouraging that the Suns couldn’t find more wins with Devin Booker available, but Phoenix should be grateful that there weren’t more games to play this past week.
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15. Miami Heat (7-7)
Last ranking: 17
In the last week: W vs. DAL
Offensive rating: 112.0 (17th)
Defensive rating: 111.1 (11th)
Thankful: Tyler Herro’s offense
Miami is significantly better defensively with Herro off the floor, but Herro has been a big part of why the Heat aren’t a bottom-10 offense. Herro is averaging career highs in points (23.8), assists (5.1) and 3-point volume (4.1 makes per game) and accuracy (42.6 percent). It’s the first time in Herro’s career that he is over 40 percent from 3.
The Timberwolves have needed Nickiel Alexander-Walker to bolster their bench. (Brad Rempel / Imagn Images)
16. Minnesota Timberwolves (8-8)
Last ranking: 10
In the last week: L at TOR, L at BOS
Offensive rating: 114.2 (11th)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (13th)
Thankful: Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s versatility
We’re scraping here a bit, as we’ve already acknowledged Anthony Edwards’ shooting and Julius Randle’s good health to begin the season, and Minnesota is scuffling. But Alexander-Walker has been a bright spot for a bench that has been thinner than expected thanks to Donte DiVincenzo’s struggles and Rob Dillingham’s lack of readiness. Alexander-Walker is shooting career highs from the field (48 percent) and from 3 (44.4 percent) while compiling a career-best 2.6 assists per game. Alexander-Walker is still an impact defender for a team that is disappointing on that end.
17. Milwaukee Bucks (8-9)
Last ranking: 23
In the last week: W vs. CHI, W vs. IND, W vs. CHA
Offensive rating: 112.6 (14th)
Defensive rating: 112.6 (14th)
Thankful: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s drive
Milwaukee started so poorly, but the Bucks still had their best players available to do something about it. Antetokounmpo has been on a rampage as the Bucks have won six of their past seven games, averaging 33.4 points, 10.9 rebounds and 7.9 assists. Don’t look now, but Antetokounmpo is also making 47.8 percent of his midrange field goals, up from 35.1 percent last season.
GO DEEPER
NBA trends I’m watching: Giannis’ shooting, what the Wolves are missing and more
18. Sacramento Kings (8-10)
Last ranking: 12
In the last week: L at LAC, L vs. BRK, L vs. OKC
Offensive rating: 113.7 (12th)
Defensive rating: 113.3 (16th)
Thankful: De’Aaron Fox
The Kings have struggled as DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk return from their respective injuries, but Fox has found a way to take his game to the next level in his eighth NBA season. Only two point guards average more points per game than Fox’s career-high 28.1, and Fox is at 50.4 percent from the field despite being only 6-foot-3.
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear
19. Brooklyn Nets (8-10)
Last ranking: 25
In the last week: W vs. CHA, L at PHI, W at SAC, W at GS
Offensive rating: 115.0 (eighth)
Defensive rating: 117.3 (25th)
Thankful: Jordi Fernandez
The former Kings assistant had a triumphant return to Northern California as the head coach of the Nets, getting back-to-back wins against the Kings and Warriors. The win over the Warriors was particularly impressive given that it came with a rest disadvantage and with a gameday roster that didn’t have Ben Simmons or Nic Claxton to begin with and didn’t have Cameron Johnson to end with. Cam Thomas also was held out in the fourth quarter. Fernandez leaned on Dennis Schröder to complete the comeback in Golden State while getting production out of Ziaire Williams and Jalen Wilson.
20. Indiana Pacers (8-10)
Last ranking: 20
In the last week: L at HOU, L at MIL, W vs. WAS, W vs. NO
Offensive rating: 112.0 (18th)
Defensive rating: 115.6 (21st)
Thankful: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
The Pacers are 6-2 at home this season, the sixth-best record in the league. When the Pacers play in Indiana, their defense is acceptable while the offense is good (albeit not great like last season). When the Pacers get on a plane, they have a bottom-10 offense and defense, and All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton goes from 22.5 points per game on 46.3 percent from the field to 12.3 points and 31.8 percent.
21. Detroit Pistons (8-11)
Last ranking: 16
In the last week: L at CHA, L at ORL, W vs. TOR
Offensive rating: 110.6 (21st)
Defensive rating: 111.9 (12th)
Thankful: Jaden Ivey’s perseverance
Ivey has had three head coaches in his three training camps since being the fifth pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. He was playing behind Killian Hayes to begin last season, and he couldn’t build chemistry with Cade Cunningham as a rookie due to Cunningham’s season-ending leg surgery. Ivey has improved his game in his third season, getting his 3-point percentage over league average to 37.2 percent while getting back to the free-throw line at a high rate. His buzzer-beater to beat the Toronto Raptors is a wholesome moment for a franchise that needs to see if Ivey is a part of the future.
GO DEEPER
Pistons’ Jaden Ivey takes ‘huge step’ with game winner. How he can sustain it
The Bulls are decidedly mediocre, but Zach LaVine is playing at an All-Star level. (David Banks / Imagn Images)
22. Chicago Bulls (7-11)
Last ranking: 24
In the last week: L at MIL, W vs. ATL, L vs. MEM
Offensive rating: 112.0 (16th)
Defensive rating: 118.2 (28th)
Thankful: Zach LaVine’s resolve
The Bulls might be at a crossroads, but LaVine decided that he was going to make the best out of the situation. He has had a solid start to his 11th season and has been more efficient than ever as a shooter. LaVine is making 52.1 percent of his field goals and 44 percent of his 3s, both of which would be career highs. There’s only been one season where LaVine made 50 percent from the field or 40 percent from 3, and that was LaVine’s first All-Star season in 2020-21. LaVine also has more dunks already this season (14) than all of last year (13).
23. Atlanta Hawks (7-11)
Last ranking: 19
In the last week: L at GS, L at CHI, L vs. DAL
Offensive rating: 110.1 (23rd)
Defensive rating: 115.7 (22nd)
Thankful: Dyson Daniels’ defense
Atlanta isn’t good, but Daniels is. He leads the NBA with 3.1 steals per game, is adding 1.0 blocks and 4.7 rebounds and is doing just enough offensively to return positive value. If Daniels ever can get his shooting to be league average, then he would be a star. In the meantime, he has an awesome nickname now (Great Barrier Thief).
24. Charlotte Hornets (6-11)
Last ranking: 22
In the last week: L at BRK, W vs. DET, L at MIL, L vs. ORL
Offensive rating: 109.6 (24th)
Defensive rating: 114.4 (19th)
Thankful: Brandon Miller’s ceiling
Miller has alternated some really rough games with some truly awesome outbursts. On one hand, Miller has already had six games where he failed to clear 40 percent from the field. That needs to be cleaned up. But he gave the Pistons a career-best 38 points a day before his 22nd birthday, and he is already halfway toward matching his four 30-point games from last season.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (7-11)
Last ranking: 18
In the last week: L at OKC, L at HOU, W at HOU, L at MEM
Offensive rating: 104.4 (30th)
Defensive rating: 112.7 (15th)
Thankful: Donovan Clingan’s defense
Clingan missed Monday night’s game with a knee sprain, but he has held it down as the starting center with Deandre Ayton (finger) out of the lineup. Clingan has blocked more shots in six games (136 minutes) as a starter (19) than he has in his other 153 minutes as a reserve (18).
Tier 5: Basement Floor
26. Toronto Raptors (4-14)
Last ranking: 28
In the last week: W vs. MIN, L at CLE, L at DET
Offensive rating: 111.1 (19th)
Defensive rating: 116.4 (24th)
Thankful: Scottie Barnes is back
Barnes missed 24 days with a fractured orbital bone, but he is back to continue building on what was a decent start to the season. The Raptors lost a heartbreaker Monday in Detroit, which is par the course for their entire campaign so far, but Barnes hit season highs with 31 points, 14 rebounds and three 3s.
GO DEEPER
Scottie Barnes’ good leadership, Chris Boucher and more: Raptors starting 5
Where would the Jazz be without Lauri Markkanen? Well, they’re only 4-12 with him … (Christopher Creveling / Imagn Images)
27. Utah Jazz (4-12)
Last ranking: 27
In the last week: L at LAL, L at SA, W vs. NY
Offensive rating: 108.9 (26th)
Defensive rating: 117.8 (26th)
Thankful: Lauri Markkanen’s commitment
The Jazz need some help from the ballhandling department to complete their rebuild, but it is nice to have such a dominant player like Markkanen already in the fold. Markkanen continues to improve parts of his game, as he is up to 44.6 percent from 3 this season. The only other year of Markkanen’s career where he broke 40 percent was 2020-21, his last season in Chicago. It’s criminal, or tank-worthy, that Markkanen only averages 12.8 field goal attempts per game this season.
28. Philadelphia 76ers (3-13)
Last ranking: 29
In the last week: L at MEM, W vs. BRK, L vs. LAC
Offensive rating: 105.6 (28th)
Defensive rating: 114.1 (18th)
Thankful: Jared McCain
The Sixers are thoroughly uninspiring, with only one of their wins coming without needing overtime and only getting six minutes from the expected star trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey because of various injuries and Embiid’s suspension. But McCain has been a bright spot who was only able to emerge thanks to the stars being out of the lineup. Nick Nurse had no choice but to give McCain a chance to generate some offense. Over the last nine games, McCain is averaging 24.3 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 42 percent from 3. Not bad for the 16th pick in the draft.
GO DEEPER
Rookie Jared McCain, taking inspiration from Stephen Curry, is thriving for the Sixers
29. New Orleans Pelicans (4-14)
Last ranking: 26
In the last week: L at DAL, L at CLE, L vs. GS, L at IND
Offensive rating: 106.8 (27th)
Defensive rating: 118.3 (29th)
Thankful: Elfrid Payton to the rescue
Payton, the 2014 lottery pick and Louisiana native, was signed to give the Pelicans someone who could run an offense until Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum returned from injury. The last time Payton started more than one game in a season was 2020-21 with the New York Knicks. In Monday’s loss to the Pacers, Payton compiled 21 assists while making seven field goals. New Orleans has had multiple games where it didn’t have 20 assists as a team, including last week’s 41-point loss at Dallas, the last game before Payton joined the team in place of Jaylen Nowell.
30. Washington Wizards (2-13)
Last ranking: 30
In the last week: L vs. BOS, L at IND
Offensive rating: 105.5 (29th)
Defensive rating: 118.8 (30th)
Thankful: Jordan Poole bouncing back.
Washington has beaten one NBA team this season, but Poole went back to the lab and cleaned up his game. Last year saw Poole’s field goal percentage drop to 41.3 percent and his 3-point percentage drop to 32.6 percent. This season, Poole is shooting career bests from the field (45.9 percent) and from 3 (44.3 percent), and he is up to 21.2 points and 4.9 assists per game. While Kyle Kuzma has gone the other way in terms of harmful inefficiency, at least Poole has played better after being one of the most inefficient guards in the league last year.
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(Top photo of Harrison Barnes: Ronald Cortes / Getty Images)
