The NBA’s 2024-25 common season enters its closing stretch. It is the center of March, which suggests anticipate loads of bizarre outcomes and performances as two-thirds of the league vies for seeding and the opposite third is in cruise management as a result of their spot is locked up or they wish to accumulate losses for lottery balls.
Like final season, the MVP race is all the way down to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. A back-to-back between the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Denver Nuggets might settle the rating. Gilgeous-Alexander is up 1-0 in that regard, with 40 factors and a blowout win.
In the meantime, the Cleveland Cavaliers proceed to be a successful machine. They’ve received 14 in a row and beat the Milwaukee Bucks by double-digit factors. This season has seen two historic regular-season golf equipment in Cleveland and OKC.
In the meantime, the Dallas Mavericks‘ apocalyptic season continues to worsen. They misplaced Kyrie Irving for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Anthony Davis may additionally be out the remainder of the best way with surgical procedure not dominated out. Their season is over lower than a 12 months after they made the NBA Finals.
All through the 2024-25 season, Thunder Wire will conduct weekly NBA energy rankings. Right here is the most recent version for the Mar. 3-9 week:
Earlier Rating: 27
The Jazz have made up for misplaced time within the reverse standings. They’ve misplaced 5 in a row with damage reviews the identical size as pharmacy receipts. Losses to the Wizards, Raptors and Sixers helped Utah fall to the league’s basement in anticipation of higher lottery odds.
Earlier Rating: 30
The wackiness of March has harm the Wizards’ objectives. They’ve received three of their final 4 video games. As soon as comfortably main the league within the reverse standings, they now have critical competitors for the highest spot. So long as Washington stays within the backside three, it ought to be good come the lottery.
28. Charlotte Hornets (15-48)
Earlier Rating: 29
The Hornets’ nine-game dropping streak ended with a win over the Nets. Miles Bridges led a comeback win over Brooklyn because it scored the final 12 factors. That stated, Charlotte is again in a well-recognized spot as one of many league’s worst groups. It hopes so as to add one other blue-chip prospect.
27. New Orleans Pelicans (17-48)
Earlier Rating: 26
The Pelicans have misplaced 4 in a row. Not even Zion Williamson can assist them. It has been a depressing season for New Orleans. These have change into too frequent for the franchise in its historical past. Accidents might be a sound excuse for the down 12 months, however the issues go deeper than that.
Earlier Rating: 25
It is that point of the season when the worst groups attempt to catch as much as their worst information. The Nets are a traditional instance. They’ve misplaced seven in a row and have pulled the plug to make sure that continues. Cam Thomas has returned, however he cannot do a lot to alter the Nets’ fortunes.
25. Toronto Raptors (21-43)
Earlier Rating: 28
A 3-game successful streak has set the Raptors again. An in depth loss to the Wizards helped them return to the correct path. It is bittersweet as a result of Ja’Kobe Walter scored a game-winner towards the Magic. That second ought to be celebrated for the rookie, however the win put Toronto in a tricky spot with its lottery odds.
Earlier Rating: 24
The remainder of the season might be in regards to the Sixers maintaining their top-six protected choose. They’ve dominated a number of gamers out to ensure that it occurs. Philadelphia has performed its job with loads of losses in latest weeks. In the event that they flip this depressing season right into a excessive lottery choose, that’d be an honest comfort prize.
Earlier Rating: 22
The Spurs are one other squad which have known as it quits on their season. The one objective left is to assist Stephon Fort’s late push for Rookie of the 12 months. He has a critical shot at it, contemplating the lackluster rookie class. In addition to that, De’Aaron Fox misplaced his return recreation to Sacramento in blowout trend.
22. Portland Path Blazers (28-37)
Earlier Rating: 19
Any faint hopes of a postseason push have been erased. The Path Blazers got a gimme win over the short-handed Thunder however suffered a foul loss towards their bench unit. Portland has performed higher during the last two months, however it’s nonetheless some time away from being an precise risk. Its youth was uncovered in its inexcusable loss to OKC.
Earlier Rating: 23
Contemplating the standings, the Bulls are mainly locked in tenth place. Meaning it’s going to be one other season the place they combat for his or her playoff spot within the play-in match. Very like in earlier years. Not less than Josh Giddey has put up spectacular numbers because the All-Star break. He scored a game-winner towards the Warmth.
Earlier Rating: 17
The Warmth have misplaced three in a row. All shut contests, too. Staying aggressive however not being a high-level winner is what their franchise has been about for years. Miami is one other one among these East squads mainly caught within the play-in match vary. It might want to advance previous the elimination contests to make the playoffs.
19. Orlando Magic (30-35)
Earlier Rating: 18
The Magic snapped a five-game dropping streak with an in depth win over the Bucks. Paolo Banchero led the best way with 29 factors. Orlando’s second-half downfall will solely be stopped if he steps up as its finest participant. He hasn’t seemed the identical since his return. That has harm the Magic.
18. Dallas Mavericks (32-33)
Earlier Rating: 15
Anticipate the Mavericks to proceed to drop. They’ve misplaced 5 in a row. So as to add salt to the wound, Kyrie Irving was misplaced for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Simply an terrible damage that lengthens one of many worst two-month durations an NBA franchise has ever skilled since Dallas shipped Luka Doncic.
Earlier Rating: 21
In traditional Suns trend, Kevin Durant scored an insane basket towards the Suns to drive extra time towards the Nuggets. As an alternative of stealing a win, Phoenix misplaced a high-scoring 149-141 recreation. It was a heartbreaker that encapsulated their season. They’ve proven flashes of potential however nothing sustainable.
Earlier Rating: 20
The Hawks hosted the Pacers for a uncommon back-to-back and received each video games. That might be essential to find out the standings. Trae Younger had 36 factors. The commerce deadline additions of Caris LeVert, Terance Mann and Georges Niang have rejuvenated Atlanta’s depth with three high quality rotation gamers.
Earlier Rating: 14
The Clippers proceed to be a textbook mediocre squad. They appear content material with that. James Harden had a classic efficiency with 50 factors in a win over the Pistons. LA seemed prefer it ran out of gasoline close to the end line, so the 35-year-old took it upon himself to hold it to a much-needed victory.
14. Sacramento Kings (33-30)
Earlier Rating: 16
Regardless of transferring on from their head coach and franchise star, the Kings stay within the thick of the playoff race. They deserve credit score for that. Sacramento was devoted to win now, even with the foremost shakeups and has performed so due to Zach LaVine turning into its high scorer.
13. Detroit Pistons (36-29)
Earlier Rating: 10
Shut losses to the Clippers and Warriors introduced the Pistons again down from an all-time excessive. They’re nonetheless the perfect shock crew of the season. Detroit will make the playoffs for the primary time in years and Cade Cunningham has an actual shot to be an All-NBA participant.
Earlier Rating: 11
The Pacers dropped two video games to the Hawks. Each time they seem like a contender, they take a step again with questionable losses. At this level of the season, they’re doubtless simply a mean crew with good expertise who hopes to get sizzling on the proper time like they did final 12 months.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves (37-29)
Earlier Rating: 13
The Timberwolves have received 5 in a row. They padded their report with a comfortable stretch of their schedule. Anthony Edwards continues to be one of many league’s high scorers. Minnesota is a component of a giant group of West groups that would both make or keep away from the play-in match.
10. Golden State Warriors (36-28)
Earlier Rating: 12
The Warriors have caught hearth. They’ve received 4 in a row and 9 of their final 10 video games. Stephen Curry joined the 25K profession level membership in a win over the Pistons. Golden State has additionally taken benefit of a comfortable a part of its schedule. The veteran squad has been among the finest groups because the commerce deadline.
9. Milwaukee Bucks (36-27)
Earlier Rating: 6
The Bucks have performed higher, however they’ve additionally overwhelmed up on cupcakes. In a check towards the East’s finest crew, they misplaced to the Cavaliers. That is been the kind of season Milwaukee has had. Whereas Giannis Antetokounmpo has confirmed to be ok to headline a title contender, the remainder of the roster does not look that means.
Earlier Rating: 9
A trivial determination to go away Amen Thompson in rubbish time to stat-pad for a triple-double has turned expensive. The Rockets might be with out him for no less than per week attributable to an ankle sprain. Whereas it is nothing critical for his long-term future, that hurts Houston’s playoff seeding because it’s in a decent race for a top-four spot.
7. New York Knicks (40-23)
Earlier Rating: 7
The Knicks proceed to have a depressing second-half of the season. They’ve misplaced three in a row. Even worse, they misplaced Jalen Brunson for no less than two weeks with an ankle sprain. He suffered the damage in a loss to the Lakers. The one vivid aspect is that New York has a pleasant third-place cushion to afford a number of extra unhealthy outings.
Earlier Rating: 8
With an opportunity to make an announcement win, the Grizzlies suffered one other blowout loss to the Thunder. It is painfully apparent that Ja Morant is not the electrifying famous person he as soon as was. How a lot of that’s psychological in comparison with his nagging shoulder damage is unknown. Both means, it has been an unsightly match for either side this season.
5. Denver Nuggets (41-23)
Earlier Rating: 4
The Nuggets had fairly the week. In an exciting extra time win over the Suns, Nikola Jokic turned the primary participant in NBA historical past to log a 30-20-20 triple-double. That ballooned his MVP case because the three-time winner hopes so as to add a fourth award. However towards the Thunder, the Nuggets dropped the ball with a blowout loss.
Earlier Rating: 5
Identical to that, the Lakers seem like the second-best crew within the West. Wonderful what including Luka Doncic does for a franchise. An eight-game win streak was snapped with a loss to the Celtics. Los Angeles might be with out LeBron James as a groin damage will hold him out for no less than per week. He additionally turned the primary participant in NBA historical past to succeed in 50K profession factors.
Earlier Rating: 3
The Celtics’ four-game successful streak is sandwiched between victories over the Nuggets and Lakers. They’ve quietly been the third-best crew this season. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard turned the primary Boston teammates to every rating 40-plus factors in a recreation collectively towards the Path Blazers.
2. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (53-11)
Earlier Rating: 2
The remainder of the common season might be about serving to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander win the MVP award. The Thunder took a step in the correct route towards that objective with a blowout win over the Nuggets. It was the primary recreation of a back-to-back towards Denver. Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 factors and has been on a scoring heater in his final three video games.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (54-10)
Earlier Rating: 1
The Cavaliers simply proceed to win. They’ve received 14 in a row. It is their third 12-plus win streak of the season. A blowout over the Bucks flexed their dominance towards the remainder of the East. Cleveland has been on the high spot for a lot of the season and will enter the playoffs as title co-favorites with the Thunder.
This text initially appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: NBA Energy Rankings: SGA beats Jokic in MVP match; Cavs win 14 straight
