NBA Power Rankings, Week 16: Here Come the Champions, Timberwolves Roll Over

As the NBA season progresses we will see teams hit their stride and encounter some roadblocks. While the greatest prize is won in the playoffs, their regular-season performance helps us visualize how they stand amongst each other.

Our NBA Power Rankings are updated weekly so that basketball fans and gambling enthusiasts can see how teams are performing in a more focused span of time. Is one team’s overall record disappointing? They might be on absolute fire over the past four days.

Every week our experts use analytics to compare all thrifty NBA teams to update this list, called the NBA Power Rankings. Visit here, every Monday in time for your weekly wagers!

Week 15 Highlights

The NBA season chugs on and we have crossed the halfway point. Teams are almost 50 games through the year and the contenders and the pretender could not be more separate in the rankings.

The Toronto Raptors are on an eleven-game winning streak, topped by a recent blowout of the Chicago Bulls on Super Bowl Sunday. With the likes of Lowry, Ibaka, Gasol, and Powell having missed a combined 60+ games, their run of play has been incredible.

Don’t sleep on the Trail Blazers though. While results haven’t been going their way, Damian Lillard is making sure everyone knows he’s one of the NBA’s best scorers. Averaging 48.8 points in his last six games, Lillard joins elite company in NBA history.

The All-Star Game is just a week away and the NBA Trade Deadline is this Thursday. Will we see some shake-ups on perennial contenders? Or a fire sale from the bottom feeders? This NBA season is one of the most exciting we’ve seen!

Teams of the Week

Toronto Raptors (4-0): It’s all good in the North! Despite the freezing temperatures, Toronto couldn’t be any hotter as they’ve taken down any and all competition.

Minnesota Timberwolves (0-2): The Minnesota Timberwolves are riding an 11-game losing streak and lost their only two games of the week. It’s not looking good in Minneapolis.

The odds for the NBA Championship 2019/2020 are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook. We update the odds weekly.

Good luck!

Which play from @khris22m tops the list? @BMOHarrisBank | #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/oeSy0w7cwt

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 3, 2020

What can stop the charge of these incredible Milwaukee Bucks? They are not only on pace for a 70-win season, but they have shown little weakness to this point in the season. The Greek Freak is still amazing. But contributions from Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe have been welcome for the reigning NBA MVP.

The Milwaukee Bucks protect the paint at all costs when they step on the court. That does have its dangers though. A match against the Nuggets saw the Western Conference team convert on a season-high in three-pointers made, the sixth team to record the feat against Milwaukee this season.

You can’t really say that it’s a weakness of the Bucks, as Milwaukee are at the top of the league table. However, it has been a recent issue, which the league leaders will want to clean up.

(#2) Los Angeles Lakers (37-11)

Shoutout to Lakers Nation chanting in Sacramento ??

(?: @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/QTkRIs09Rh

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 2, 2020

The Los Angeles Lakers have gone through the toughest week imaginable for a franchise. After the tragic loss of one of their truest legends, the Lakers and the NBA felt it necessary for their derby against the LA Clippers be postponed.

The Lakers are still far and away the top team in the Western Conference. They are an impressive 21-5 on the road and have won six of their last ten games. After a road-heavy and challenging opening to the year, their February is much lighter.

Eight of their eleven games in February are against sub-.500 opponents. While James and Davis have driven them to victory, it is the perfect time for the likes Danny Green, Avery Bradley, and Rajon Rondo to find their rhythm offensively.

(#3) Toronto Raptors (36-14)

January was a good one.@CastrolCanada Performance Report pic.twitter.com/0hmas1GUEI

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 4, 2020

The Toronto Raptors are on an 11-game winning streak. That is the second-longest streak in the league this season and they have been riddled with injuries throughout. Their run has awarded Nick Nurse and his coaching staff a slot as the Eastern Conference representatives during the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. These Raptors now have the same record after 50 games as last seasons Kawhi Leonard-led squad.

With a healthy roster, we’ve been able to see what the Toronto Raptors can do. They are unselfish, defensively adept, and can score with speed, or in tough situations. While their schedule was incredibly forgiving over those 11 games – the only notable team being the Sixers – the Raptors easily took care of business.

While there is some concern over the play of Pascal Siakam, it likely shouldn’t be read too deeply into. In his 12 games back from injury he is averaging 20.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists – much less than his pre-injury averages. He’s picked it up over his last six though, averaging 24.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in just 32.4 minutes per game.

(#4) LA Clippers (34-15)

The best blocks, steals and defensive stands from January.

? @CedarsSinai Preventive Plays pic.twitter.com/DujXW8jWBc

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 3, 2020

The LA Clippers have a multitude of scoring options on the court. Unfortunately, Lou Williams has struggled in recent matches, shooting only 33% from the field over his last eight matches. On a positive note, despite Williams’ struggles, the Clippers are 14-4 when George and Leonard are on the court together.

Unfortunately for Clippers fans, Leonard and George don’t share the court often. In their recent win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was their first time in the lineup together in almost a month.

The Clippers 7-3 run over their last ten has brought them within 3.5 games of the Los Angeles Lakers at the top of the Western Conference. Had their match against the Lakers not been postponed, it could have been brought to just 2.5 games.

(#5) Boston Celtics (33-15)

From the no-look pass to the two-handed slam, it was easy to pick out tonight’s @jetblue play of the game ? pic.twitter.com/CuWbUBUL9F

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 4, 2020

It is difficult to penalize the Boston Celtics in the rankings because they were without one of Kemba Walker or Jayson Tatum in their games against the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite that, they came out with two impressive wins.

With one of their two All-Stars out, it was Jaylen Brown who stepped up to the plate for the Boston Celtics. He was almost unstoppable when attacking the rim, as he was 12-13 from inside the arc against the Heat and the Sixers.

Despite their positive run of form, the Celtics haven’t shown themselves to be true title contenders yet. They are 6-6 against the top six teams in the Eastern Conference, showing that they don’t quite have the experience needed yet. Time will tell if they can prove otherwise.

(#6) Denver Nuggets (34-16)

Need a bucket?

Give it to the All-Star and let him work! ?

(?: @AltitudeTV) pic.twitter.com/sNcMEcF771

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) February 2, 2020

The Nuggets have shown some interesting form over the course of the week. Not only did they win against the Milwaukee Bucks, but they lost to a less than impressive Detroit Pistons team just two days later.

The Nuggets have mostly struggled due to their inability to manage when the starters head to the bench. With Mason Plumlee and Michael Porter Jr out, Denver have struggled to score the ball as well as stop their opponents on defense.

Porter Jr has been quite the revelation for the Nuggets this season. They are almost 17 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court and a -5.3 with him off. They take on a tough schedule this week, headlined by the Blazers and Damian Lillard.

For more on Damian Lillard check out our latest prop bets video.

(#7) Miami Heat (33-15)

Let’s run it back real quick because the squad had 41 points in the 3rdQ tonight! pic.twitter.com/tw7kEkAMtk

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 4, 2020

The Heat would’ve been higher up on this list, had they not lost to their conference competitors the Boston Celtics earlier this week. Their youngsters have shown struggles, as expected, in games where they have little rest time in between. Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and Kendrick Nunn must be more productive if they hope to climb back up the table.

Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler were named All-Stars for the Miami Heat this year. Butler was a shoe-in, but the meteoric rise of Bam Adebayo made his claim to the roster almost undeniable.

The Miami Heat are 7-3 in their last ten games against the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They’ve shown the ability to defeat quality competition, but the grind of the NBA season is clearly wearing on them.

(#8) Utah Jazz (32-17)

Take a look at the top assists from January! ? #AssistsoftheMonth pic.twitter.com/0nB4AqpItc

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 3, 2020

All good things come to an end. But for the Utah Jazz, their good times have been followed with some shocking performances. Not on a four-game losing streak, after a 19-2 run, the Utah defense hasn’t been up to their standards.

Since acquiring Jordan Clarkson the Jazz have increased both their points per possessions and points per 100 possessions from last season. Their early-season scoring struggles seem to be gone, but their defensive ability has dropped off in recent games.

Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were rewarded with All-Star berth last week, both more than deserving of the honor. For two-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, this will be his first appearance.

(#9) Oklahoma City Thunder (30-20)

January was a good month.
??@budweiserusa #6packplays pic.twitter.com/lBRvaHx2UA

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 2, 2020

The Thunder failed to defend the three-point line when they faced the Dallas Mavericks in their last match. Usually a stout defensive outfit, the Thunder were outscored 57-36 in their last outing. Well off from their top ten ranked three-point defense.

Despite that, the Thunder have won the last seven games that Chris Paul has led them. The ten-time All-Star continues to play at a fantastic pace, showing that he’s not trailing behind his younger proteges in any way.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have the benefit of a four-game homestead before the upcoming All-Star break. Unfortunately, they haven’t rewarded their Thunder faithful as OKC has lost four of their last six at home.

(#10) Houston Rockets (31-18)

? January Plays of The Month ?@budweiserusa | #6PackPlays pic.twitter.com/lB8Ynazn0k

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 3, 2020

The Rockets’ form comes and goes like the wind. One night they look like world-beaters, the next night they look as if they couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn. Such is the case with Mike D’Antoni’s offense. But Russell Westbrook and James Harden won’t be the ones to blame.

The two former league MVPs missed the match against the Utah Jazz, but they were paced by Eric Gordon who dropped an incredible 50 points on the evening. With the return of Westbrook and Harden, the team found some fantastic offense totaling 75 points from Harden alone over the weekend.

What is the next step for the Houston Rockets? The team is very talented, but clearly lacking when it comes to the X-Factor needed to compete at the top of the conference. They seem to be shopping everyone not named Harden or Westbrook, so don’t be surprised to see some big changes in H-Town.

(#11) Indiana Pacers (31-18)

The Indiana Pacers were uncharacteristically irresponsible with the ball when they faced off against the Chicago Bulls. They also failed to find their range against the New York Knicks. Likely just blips on the radar, but for the Pacers, they’ll want to clean up those mistakes before they become habits.

The return of Victor Oladipo was more than welcome for the Pacers and their fans. The Thingamajig may not have shot very well from the floor, but his instincts passing the ball were more than on display. It’s just a matter of time before he rounds into form.

(#12) Philadelphia 76ers (31-19)

Yeah. Count that.@BenSimmons25 | #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/ILABFNjyXp

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 4, 2020

The Philadelphia 76ers aren’t very strong on the road, to say the least. The Eastern Conference hopefuls were without Embiid for nine games, but his return failed to spark too much optimism. Defeating the Warriors is one thing, but competing against the top of the league with such inconsistencies is a big ask.

The Sixers are 2-9 over their last 11 games on the road. While Wells Fargo Center has been a fortress for them, they can’t seem to find any rhythm away from it. Their penchant for fouling when things get bad hasn’t helped either. Their 78 combined free-throw attempts allowed against the Hawks and Celtics puts a spotlight on their defensive issues.

(#13) Dallas Mavericks (30-19)

The Dallas Mavericks are the victims of another Luka Doncic injury misfortune. They were able to manage over the weekend without him, scoring 1.22 points per possessions against the Houston Rockets.

Where the Mavericks will be able to make up the difference is on the glass though. The Dallas Mavericks had 20 second-chance points against the Houston Rockets without Doncic in the lineup. While their shooting won’t maintain, energy and effort will be massive in bridging the gap without their All-Star.

(#14) Memphis Grizzlies (24-25)

24 points for @JValanciunas ? pic.twitter.com/CglvYOPqcM

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) February 4, 2020

The Memphis Grizzlies’ four-game winning streak coincided with their best run of form on the defensive side all season long. They are excellent at protecting the rim, allowing opponents to shoot over 51% only four times this season.

Jaren Jackson Jr is key to their defensive success. The springy forward is their main shot-blocking threat, but without him, against the Pelicans, they allowed 60 points in the paint. On the plus side, they still hold a two-game lead on eighth place in the Western Conference.

(#15) Portland Trail Blazers (23-27)

Damian Lillard is playing like a man possessed. Lillard is averaging 48.8 points on 57% shooting from deep and 92% from the free-throw line. His ability in scoring the ball has been incredible and has led them to some impressive wins.

The Blazers are 4-1 against plus-.500 teams over the past two weeks and they’ve also scored 128 points per 100 possessions against three top ten defenses. They even have three more matches with the eighth seed Grizzlies, more than helpful in their pursuit of the playoffs.

(#16) San Antonio Spurs (22-26)

8-game @spurs road trip starts tonight.

Put on some coffee and join us on FSSW! #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/AP0cBPuKzM

— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) February 4, 2020

The San Antonio Spurs enter a tough stretch in February as they will be on the road for eight games – including a break due to the All-Star festivities. Six of their upcoming eight road games will be a against plus-.500 teams.

Demar Derozan has continued his scoring run as he took down the Jazz in yearly fashion with a 38 point evening. Since the New Year came around, the Spurs have a top-five offense. If it can hold in February, they might find themselves in a playoff spot.

You should set your expectations low for any rookie entering the league, as the incidence of a game-changer joining your ranks in their first season is incredibly unlikely. For the Pelicans though, Zion Williamson has been more than an impact piece since his return.

With him on the court the Pelicans have outscored their opponent by 14.9 per 100 possessions. He’s also been a positive in net rating in every game. He’s showing different facets to his game and his fitness looks to be where it needs to be. Don’t look now, these Pelicans may be buyers at the deadline.

(#18) Orlando Magic (21-28)

It’s a ?−?−?!@mcarterwilliams | @Gary11_Clark pic.twitter.com/Eds5pXXTEH

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) February 4, 2020

The Orlando Magic are going through a rough defensive stretch as Jonathan Isaac has been out of the lineup. They are allowing 113.6 points without Isaac on the court, to the 105.3 with him on it.

Unfortunately, almost 50 games in, the Magic still can’t compete with their opponents on the offensive side of the ball. They are handling sub-.500 teams, 17-6, but are clearly out of their depth against stronger, plus-.500 sides where they are 4-22.

(#19) Phoenix Suns (20-29)

The Phoenix Suns continue to struggle, despite some impressive performances from the likes of Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton. The two cornerstones of the Suns continue to produce, but their lack of supporting cast makes it hard for the Suns to compete.

Their youthful energy makes for some exciting matches, but they haven’t been able to close out games to show they’ve taken the next step. A seven-point lead in the last five minutes was overcome by the Oklahoma City Thunder, displaying the heartbreak Suns fans have witnessed all season.

(#20) Brooklyn Nets (21-27)

.@CarisLeVert just gettin’ buckets tonight pic.twitter.com/Gnj9Edz2DO

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 4, 2020

Kyrie Irving is by far the best player on the Nets current roster. He’s had two 50-point games and has shown that he can be the difference-maker for the franchise. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to stay on the court. Unsurprisingly, the Nets have been better defensively with Irving off the floor.

(#21) Sacramento Kings (18-31)

The Sacramento Kings have taken a step in the right direction and it comes from Buddy Hield’s willingness to contribute coming off of the bench. He is averaging 23.4 points per game as a sixth man and is shooting a blazing 28-57 from deep in that time. the Kings’ comeback against the Timberwolves is the promising display they need moving forward.

(#22) Detroit Pistons (18-33)

The Detroit Pistons continue to be the prime team in trade chatter due to the contracts of Derrick Rose and Andre Drummond. Despite the gossip, they were able to come from behind and defeat the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. It seems that when Reggie Jackson is locked in, the Pistons are a much better team. Who knew?

(#23) Chicago Bulls (19-33)

Who had the nicest 3 in January?

Check out the Drains of The Month, presented by @RotoRooter: pic.twitter.com/ff7hkr5jy0

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 3, 2020

Can anyone ruin a Super Bowl Sunday like the Chicago Bulls? Up at halftime to the Toronto Raptors, they promptly gave it all away in the second half, losing by upwards of 20 points. The cherry on top, Jim Boyle calling a time out down 20 with a minute left to go in the match. On the bright side, the inclusion of Kris Dunn in the lineup has improved their defensive rating.

(#24) Washington Wizards (17-31)

All things on the Wizards occur through Bradley Beal, who has not been named an All-Star this season. The Wizards score more than 120 points per 100 possessions with Beal on the court, without him it isn’t even close. It seems his All-Star slight has motivated the Wizards though, as they’ve won four of their last six.

(#25) Charlotte Hornets (16-33)

The Charlotte Hornets can’t seem to hold on to a lead. Despite gaining a double-digit advantage over their opponents, Charlotte are 9-10 in those games. On the positive side, three of their players have been chosen for the Rising Stars Game during All-Star Weekend.

(#26) New York Knicks (14-36)

CLUTCH pic.twitter.com/HIx8jouv7o

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 4, 2020

If there’s one thing you can say about Marcus Morris, he takes care of business when he is on the court. His production is one of the lone bright spots in the Knicks’ season, despite Morris’ post-game rant on Jae Crowder being one of the low spots. A win over Indiana is huge for the Knicks, likely to boost the trade stock of certain pieces going forward.

(#27) Atlanta Hawks (13-37)

The Atlanta Hawks have looked solid with their incredibly young core on the court together. Young, Huerter, Hunter, Reddish, and Collins are a plus 4.3 points per 100 possessions when they are on the court together. It’s a lineup for the future, as it isn’t garnering them many wins at the moment.

(#28) Minnesota Timberwolves (15-33)

The Minnesota Timberwolves blew a 17-point lead to the Sacramento Kings on their Monday matchup. It was the darkest part of the season for Minnesota, on top of Karl-Anthony Towns not being selected as an All-Star. The T-Wolves are all over in trade speculation, so we’ll see what happens post-Thursday.

(#29) Golden State Warriors (11-39)

Started strong.
Finished strong.

Game Rewind || @verizon pic.twitter.com/xJ782ZiKf2

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 4, 2020

The Golden State Warriors took a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers to save themselves from the bottom spot of the Power Rankings this week. They’ve also looked like the Warriors of old, hitting 18 threes and scoring 27 fast break points to go with 39 assists in their win.

(#30) Cleveland Cavaliers (13-37)

The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to end their seven-game losing skid by defeating the Detroit Pistons. Kevin Love led the way as he was 6-8 from three and was in vintage playmaking form. Unfortunately, they are 0-10 at home since 2020 began and have some unfortunate losses to the bottom of the NBA barrel.

Whether you are new to professional basketball or have been an avid fan for years, it is incredibly fun to place wagers on the outcomes of certain games, especially if it is your favorite team playing, and especially not that it is becoming increasingly legal in the United States.

To win money betting on basketball, it helps to understand how each of the thirty teams stacks up against the others, and that is exactly what the NBA Power Rankings are used for.

Before you make your bets – even the ones based on the in-depth analytics and insider knowledge – taking a look at our NBA Power Rankings will certainly increase your chances of winning.

Weekly Updated Power Rankings

If you’re a basketball fan, the NBA is perfect for you. There are few days across the season where basketball can’t be found on the television or on your favorite streaming service!

Since we update these NBA Power Rankings each week on Monday during the NBA regular season, they are the perfect place to see where the teams you might be betting on rank compared to the ones you are betting against.

The NBA is one of the longest sports schedules in the world and the numbers don’t lie. Don’t like your chances on a team with a poor overall record? Our power rankings might reveal they’ve been on fire over the past seven days!

Mark this page down as a favorite and check back weekly to see how your favorite teams have moved up or down in the NBA Power Rankings and use our tips to help you learn to place better wagers with a more likely return.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are the NBA Power Rankings Calculated?

Over the course of an 82-game season, there are many factors that are diligently considered when our experts power rank all thirty NBA franchises each week.

Some of the factors include updated point spreads, the strength of schedule during that particular week, as well as recent trades and signings that might affect their roster and rotation in a given matchup.

WSN throws all of these factors into consideration and ranks teams accordingly, adjusting them each week when the inevitable change takes place.

What Role Do Injuries Play in the Power Rankings?

Injuries are the most unfortunate part of sports, where passionate athletes and competitors have put their bodies on the line for the sake of their teams’ success.

Depending on the value of a player, injuries will certainly affect the power ranking of a team. While one team may be on a hot trend, wins against a severely hobbled team are less rewarded in the rankings.

Do Trades and Free Agency Play Into a Team’s Power Ranking?

Whenever a team acquires new talent to their roster, it can certainly affect their power ranking.

Based on previous team composition, that can help or hurt a team’s chances going forward. We’re not surprised by blockbuster trades in today’s NBA, but that doesn’t mean it won’t shake the competitive landscape.

Roster movement during the regular season is more limited. However keep an eye on the February trade deadline and free agency deadline, as teams will be making their final moves to prep for the playoffs, or the NBA Draft.

How Does Schedule Affect a Team’s Power Ranking?

The schedule is one of the defining factors that go into a team’s success. Over an 82-game season, it is near impossible for a team to have the same consistency. Weeks of reprieve and hardship against opponents show team quality in high-pressure situations.

On the other hand, an 82-game season really helps to separate the strongest teams from those who are not at their level.

It may be frustrating to see some teams benefit from their schedule while others struggle, that is all taken into account by the experts who create the NBA Power Rankings.

What Measures of a Team Affects Their Power Ranking?

We are in an age of basketball where it seems like almost every team has a superstar. Their contributions and leadership, combined with team makeup and game plan, are summed up by a few key statistics.

• PACE: Pace Factor, the formula is 48 * ((Tm Poss + Opp Poss) / (2 * (Tm MP / 5))). Pace factor is an estimate of the number of possessions per 48 minutes by a team.
• ORtg: Offensive Rating, for players it is points produced per 100 possessions, while for teams it is points scored per 100 possessions.
• DRtg: Defensive Rating, for players and teams it is points allowed per 100 possessions.
• NetRtg: Net Rating, a stat to measure a team’s point differential per 100 possessions (offensive rating – defensive rating). On a player level, this statistic is the team’s point differential per 100 possessions while he is on the court.

Can Anyone Create Their Own NBA Rankings?

Absolutely! Power Rankings can vary depending on the factors that are taken into consideration.

Some rankings may consider defensive teams as more successful than offensive teams in a win. Perhaps a weaker team got an upset over a playoff-bound team, they may be rewarded differently.

Power Rankings are a fun and interactive way to engage the sports community in the trends of every NBA team. Our experts take into account the most overall factors in order to benefit the gambling experience of our players, in order to enhance the overall experience!