Clippers, Suns moving up in West
Since the Los Angeles Clippers adjusted to the James Harden trade, they have been among the best teams in the NBA.
They are 12-2 since Dec. 1 – tied for the most victories in that span – and have the No. 3 offense in those 14 games, scoring 122.8 points per 100 possessions. Both of those losses (Oklahoma City, Boston) were without Kawhi Leonard, who returned to the lineup in Monday’s victory against Miami.
Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, Harden and Leonard are playing the kind of basketball that elevate the Clippers to contender status.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns have a healthy Bradley Beal, who is back in the lineup. The Suns have won four consecutive games, and while they lack depth, they need to see what they can do with Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the court for an extended period.
The Suns and Clippers play each other twice in the next week – Wednesday and Monday.
The Western Conference is loaded, and the Pacific Division with the Clippers, Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors might be the toughest division in the league.
Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Denver – the Northwest Division is strong, too, especially at the top – are 1-2-3 in the West, but there is still plenty of time for the Clippers and Suns to make serious moves.
USA TODAY NBA power rankings (records and stats entering Tuesday):
1. Boston Celtics (26-6)
The Celtics are launching 3-pointers – 42.9 per game, which is the fifth most in a season in NBA history and just ahead of the 42.6 per game they attempted last season. And they’re making them – No. 1 3s made per game (16.1) and No. 11 in 3-point shooting percentage (.374).
Previous ranking: 2 2. Minnesota Timberwolves (24-8)
A lot of talk about Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert – all deserved too – but Mike Conley is the adhesive the Timberwolves need. At 36, Conley averages 11.5 points and 6.2 assists, shoots 45.5% on 3s and is important to Minnesota’s top-ranked defense.
Previous ranking: 1
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (22-9)
Three teams are in the top six offensive and defensively: Boston, Philadelphia and … the Thunder. Just how close is Oklahoma City to competing for an NBA title?
Previous ranking: 5
4. Milwaukee Bucks (24-9)
During this 8-2 stretch, the Bucks’ offense remains top notch and their defense has improved, a solid sign for firstyear Milwaukee coach Adrian Griffin.
Previous ranking: 3
5. Denver Nuggets (24-11)
The Nuggets commit the third-fewest turnovers per game, and as much as they handle the basketball, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray each average fewer than three turnovers per game at 2.7 and 1.8.
Previous ranking: 7
6. Los Angeles Clippers (20-12)
In December, the Clippers compiled an 12-2 record and started 2024 with a victory, and in 14 games, they have moved from 11th place in the West to fourth – just 2 1⁄2 games out of second place.
Previous ranking: 9
7. Philadelphia 76ers (22-10)
The Sixers are tops in the league in steals per game (9.1), No. 4 in fast-break points per game (16.7) and No. 7 in points off turnovers per game (17.7).
Previous ranking: 4
8. Sacramento Kings (19-12)
The Kings are winning games, but oddly, they are not among the top 10 teams in offensive and defensive efficiency – 12th and 21st.
Previous ranking: 10
9. New Orleans Pelicans (19-14)
With so many great players in the West, it might be difficult for Brandon Ingram to make the All-Star team. But he is making a solid case at 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 50.1% from the field.
Previous ranking: 11
10. Miami Heat (19-14)
Duncan Robinson deserves credit. From falling out of the rotation last season to back in it this season, he averages 14.6 points and shoots 44.4% on 3pointers as his minutes have almost doubled compared to last season.
Previous ranking: 14
11. Indiana Pacers (18-14)
Tyrese Haliburton had back-to-back 20-point, 20-assist performances becoming just the third player to accomplish that, joining Magic Johnson and John Stockton. Against Chicago, he also became the second player to have at least 20 points and 20 assists and zero turnovers.
Previous ranking: 16 12. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-15)
In his past five games, Jarrett Allen averaged 20.6 points, 14 rebounds and 5.2 assists and shot 67.7% from the field – that included a 24-point, 23-rebound, six-assist performance in a victory against Dallas.
Previous ranking: 19
13. Dallas Mavericks (19-15)
Good news: Kyrie Irving is back in the lineup after missing three weeks with a bruised right heel. Bad news: The Mavs lost to Utah on New Year’s Day.
Previous ranking: 6
14. New York Knicks (18-15)
In his Knicks debut following the trade with Toronto on Dec. 30, OG Anunoby had 17 points, six rebounds and one steal in a 112-106 victory against Minnesota on Monday. The Knicks will try to maximize his offensive potential while relying on his All-NBA defense.
Previous ranking: 15
15. Phoenix Suns (18-15)
Kevin Durant had 31 points, Bradley Beal 25 (in just his eighth game of the season) and Devin Booker 21 in the Suns’ New Year’s Eve victory against Orlando. Now, they just need those three to stay healthy.
Previous ranking: 17
16. Orlando Magic (19-13)
The schedule was difficult for Orlando
in December, and they went 6-8 in- cluding four consecutive losses to Bos- ton (twice), Miami and Milwaukee. It doesn’t get easier with a three-game West Coast road trip against Golden State, Sacramento and Denver and games against Minnesota, Miami, Oklahoma City and New York.
Previous ranking: 8
17. Los Angeles Lakers (17-17)
Since starting 14-10, the Lakers are 3-7, and in the team’s past 10 games, the Lakers have the No. 25 offense. Getting points is an issue as the Lakers tinker with starting lineup combinations.
Previous ranking: 12
18. Golden State Warriors (15-17)
The up-and-down nature of Golden State’s season continues. The Warriors started the month with a victory, lost three consecutive games, won five straight and then lost three in a row to close out 2023. They’re expecting Draymond Green to return from his suspension in January.
Previous ranking: 20
19. Houston Rockets (16-15)
The Rockets are 3-6 in their past nine with three of the losses by six points or fewer – indicative of a young team with talent trying to figure out how to win close games.
Previous ranking: 13
20. Chicago Bulls (15-19)
In the last month with Zach LaVine sidelined, the Bulls went 10-5 with victories against Philadelphia (twice), Milwaukee, New Orleans, Miami and Los Angeles Lakers. Chicago was 5-13 with him in the lineup in the first five weeks of the season.
Previous ranking: 21
21. Utah Jazz (15-19)
The Jazz are 8-3 since moving Collin Sexton into the starting lineup, and Sexton has increased his offense in those 10 games, averaging 21.7 points and 4.6 assists and shooting 49.1% from the field and 36.5% on 3s.
Previous ranking: 23
22. Brooklyn Nets (15-18)
Losing eight of their past 10 games sunk a solid start to the season (13-10) even as Mikal Bridges puts together an All-Star-caliber season.
Previous ranking: 18
23. Toronto Raptors (13-20)
The Raptors traded OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a
second-round pick and they may not be done making deals ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
Previous ranking: 22
24. Atlanta Hawks (13-19)
Guard Trae Young is shooting a career high on 3s (38.5) and averaging a career high in assists (11.3) while still scoring 28.2 points per game.
Previous ranking: 24
25. Memphis Grizzlies (10-22)
Ja Morant gave the Grizzlies a boost with his return from a 25-game suspension, winning his first four games back in the lineup. But then, Memphis lost three consecutive games, one without Morant and two with him. But his play (game-winners, 30-point performances) is encouraging.
Previous ranking: 26
26. Portland Trail Blazers (9-23)
Three of the Blazers’ victories have happened in the past two weeks as Anfernee Simons (29.2 points per game on 48.1% from the field in past six games) and Jerami Grant (23.1 points per game on 50.8% shooting from the field and 43.9% on 3s) have provided a boost.
Previous ranking: 27
27. Washington Wizards (6-26)
A team looking for a capable point guard should be calling the Wizards for Tyus Jones, who averaged 15.4 points and 6.9 assists and shot 59.4% from the field and 55.8% on 3s in the past 10 games.
Previous ranking: 28
28. San Antonio Spurs (5-27)
Rookie Victor Wembanyama had his third 30-plus points game of the season (30 points on 9-for-14 shooting, six rebounds, six assists, seven blocks) in San Antonio’s 118-105 victory against Portland on Friday.
Previous ranking: 29
29. Charlotte Hornets (7-24)
The Hornets have lost 11 consecutive games and have an abysmal minus-17.9 net rating in that stretch.
Previous ranking: 25
30. Detroit Pistons (3-30)
The Pistons deserved a win before 2023 disappeared, and they got one with a victory against Toronto. In his past five games, guard Cade Cunningham averaged 30.4 points, 8.4 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals and shot 52.4% from the field and 48% on 3pointers.
Previous ranking: 30