It’s been a rough week for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Sloppy efforts led to losses against the Knicks and Warriors, leaving the Wolves on the outside looking in at this week’s rankings.
Sometimes, being a Minnesota Timberwolves fan feels like trying to assemble Ikea furniture without the instructions. Just when it looks like everything is coming together, you realize you’re holding a handful of screws and a lopsided chair. After a promising couple of weeks, Minnesota is back to being that team—inconsistent, frustrating, and now officially absent from the top 12 in this week’s power rankings.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: if you’re barely clinging to the 10th seed in the Western Conference while the Eastern Conference features some powerhouses, you don’t deserve to be in the rankings. But hey, the holidays are here, and maybe Santa has some defensive intensity and consistent shooting packed in his sleigh for the Wolves. For now, let’s focus on the teams that are making noise.
Without further ado, here’s this week’s top 12.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (25-4) | Last Week: 1
The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to hold the crown, running their win streak to four and maintaining the league’s best record. Sure, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics are breathing down their necks, but Cleveland’s blend of depth, defense, and Donovan Mitchell-led scoring makes them tough to topple. For now, the top spot is still theirs.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (22-5) | Last Week: 3
It’s rare to lose the NBA Cup Championship and move up in the rankings, but that’s the kind of month OKC is having. They’ve won 11 of their last 13 games, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing like a bona fide MVP candidate. The Thunder are steamrolling the West, and it’s hard to see anyone stopping them.
3. Boston Celtics (22-6) | Last Week: 2
The Celtics slipped to third after a shocking home loss to the Chicago Bulls. Yes, that’s a sentence I never thought I’d type in 2024. But let’s not overreact—Boston still looks like a Finals contender, and you can bet Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are taking this #2 spot in the East personally.
4. New York Knicks (18-10) | Last Week: 6
Karl-Anthony Towns’ revenge tour anyone? The New York Knicks obliterated Minnesota on Thursday, and it was like Towns was auditioning for a role in a Broadway show called This Is Why You Traded Me? The Knicks are clicking on both ends, and their defense is starting to look extremely solid.
5. Houston Rockets (19-9) | Last Week: 5
The Houston Rockets hold steady after a tough NBA Cup semi-final loss to the Thunder. They’ve been inconsistent against elite teams, but the Rockets have still exceeded expectations this season. Jalen Green is growing into a star, and Alperen Şengün remains one of the most underrated bigs in the league.
6. Milwaukee Bucks (15-12) | Last Week: Not Ranked
Egg on my face for writing off the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this season. After winning the NBA Cup, they’ve looked re-energized and focused, rattling off a solid streak of victories. Beating OKC for the Cup was impressive, but losses to the Celtics and Cavs remind us that Giannis and company still have some work to do to reclaim their Eastern throne.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (20-9) | Last Week: 8
The Memphis Grizzlies have strung together some impressive wins, including one over Boston. But let’s be real: their schedule has been softer than a Hallmark movie plot. I’m still not buying the Grizz as legitimate contenders until they start beating elite teams consistently.
8. Denver Nuggets (15-11) | Last Week: 10
Nikola Jokić might just be a basketball wizard. The Denver Nuggets have been inconsistent, but the reigning MVP is keeping them afloat with nightly masterpieces. Denver won four of five with just a lone stumble against the Portland Trail Blazers, and they’re starting to find a rhythm.
9. Orlando Magic (18-12) | Last Week: 9
The Orlando Magic are slipping. Four losses in their last six games have them trending downward, but to be fair, those losses came against some of the best teams in the league. They’re still a fun, scrappy team, but the pixie dust is wearing off a bit.
10. Los Angeles Lakers (16-12) | Last Week: 12
The Los Angeles Lakers are quietly climbing the standings with a three-game winning streak. Anthony Davis is playing at an elite level, but let’s not forget the Wolves smacked this team twice in the last month. For now, the standings keep them in the rankings, but they’re on thin ice.
11. Los Angeles Clippers (15-13) | Last Week: NR
The Los Angeles Clippers are the NBA’s version of a rollercoaster: up, down, and occasionally making you want to throw up. They’ve followed a losing streak with some solid wins over the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks, but this ranking feels more like a placeholder than an earned spot.
12. San Antonio Spurs (15-13) | Last Week: NR
Victor Wembanyama has arrived to the power rankings. The San Antonio Spurs have won four of their last five, and they’re starting to look like a real team instead of just a Wemby showcase. Their lone loss in that stretch? A beatdown from the Wolves. But hey, the rankings are about momentum, and San Antonio has it.
Dropping Out:
Minnesota Timberwolves (14-13; Last Week: 7)
Phoenix Suns (14-13; Last Week: 11)
The Wolves: Outside Looking In
It’s tough to see the Lakers and Spurs here, knowing Minnesota dominated both not too long ago. But Thursday’s blowout against the Knicks and Friday’s first-half disaster against the Golden State Warriors were just that bad. The Wolves are still teetering on the edge of the play-in, and unless they find consistency, they’ll stay out of the rankings.
The good news? There’s plenty of basketball left. With matchups against the Atlanta Hawks and Mavericks on the horizon, Minnesota has a chance to turn things around. But if they want to crack the rankings next week, they’ll need to clean up their defense, find some offensive rhythm, and—most importantly—play like the team we saw earlier this month.
For now, we’ll let the Wolves sit this one out. Here’s hoping they give us something to cheer about in this holiday stretch. Let’s see if Ant and company can find some magic under the Christmas tree.