The Wolves again find themselves on the outside looking in at our Top 12. Things remain static at the top of the rankings, but there’s been plenty of shuffling with Western Conference teams in the mid-to-bottom tiers.
Welcome to the first power rankings of the new year, where optimism reigns and reality crashes the party. And for Minnesota Timberwolves fans? Well, it’s like showing up to prom without a date. The Wolves find themselves outside the top 12, victims of a three-game losing streak that encapsulates their season-long battle with inconsistency. There’s still plenty of time for Minnesota to right the ship, but for now, the rankings belong to teams that have figured things out—or at least pretend to know what they’re doing.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the rankings.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (31-4)
Last Week: 1
Can anyone stop the Cleveland Cavaliers? Seriously. Cleveland is on a 10-game heater, and even when they’re not perfect, they’re still running the NBA. The Darius Garland–Donovan Mitchell duo is humming, and the team has an aura of inevitability. Wednesday’s clash with OKC is shaping up to be a midseason Super Bowl. Until then, the Cavs reign supreme.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (30-5)
Last Week: 2
The Oklahoma City Thunder are riding a 10-game win streak and just punked the Boston Celtics. They’ve been in second place for weeks, but a win over Cleveland could flip the script.
3. Boston Celtics (26-10)
Last Week: 3
Five losses in their last 10 games is not what you’d expect from the defending champs, but the Celtics are still terrifying. Tatum and Brown can drop 30 in their sleep, and the supporting cast is solid, even if a bit inconsistent. Boston’s New Year’s resolution? Stop playing down to their competition. Until then, they stay locked in third.
4. Houston Rockets (23-12)
Last Week: 5
The Houston Rockets keep climbing, but they’re still not quite ready to join the big boys. Impressive wins over Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers are nice, but they’re sandwiched around a loss to Boston that showed their flaws. Still, for a team that wasn’t supposed to be here this quickly, Houston is thriving. They might not have the ceiling of OKC or Boston, but they’re making noise.
5. New York Knicks (24-12)
Last Week: 4
The New York Knicks had been riding high, but back-to-back losses to OKC and the Chicago Bulls brought them back to earth. Karl-Anthony Towns has been a revelation in New York, but their depth is being tested. The Knicks have proven they can beat up on most teams, but now it’s about hanging with the heavyweights. We’ll see if they can stabilize this week.
6. Denver Nuggets (20-14)
Last Week: 11
Nikola Jokić remains the most unstoppable force in the NBA. He’s basically playing chess while everyone else is figuring out checkers. The Denver Nuggets have won four of their last five, but they haven’t faced stiff competition. A showdown with Boston tomorrow night could catapult them even higher—or expose them as a step below the elite.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (23-13)
Last Week: 6
The Memphis Grizzlies’ schedule has finally toughened up, and surprise—they’re looking vulnerable. Losses to OKC, the Golden State Warriors, and the Sacramento Kings showed their limitations. They’re good, but are they good enough to take the next step? The jury’s still out.
8. Los Angeles Lakers (20-15)
Last Week: 9
Four wins in six games is nice, but it’s not exactly inspiring. Still, the Lakers are atop the Pacific Division. LeBron James and Anthony Davis continue to defy Father Time (most nights). First-year head coach J.J. Redick has steadied the ship, but LA needs to prove they can beat the upper-echelon teams.
9. Los Angeles Clippers (20-15)
Last Week: 7
Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and the Los Angeles Clippers feel like the NBA’s version of an aging rock band—still capable of magic, but not quite hitting the same high notes as they used to. Losses to OKC and the San Antonio Spurs dinged them this week. Let’s see how they fare on the road against the Wolves tonight.
10. Dallas Mavericks (20-15)
Last Week: 8
The Dallas Mavericks are reeling, and it’s directly tied to Luka Dončić’s injury. They’ve lost four straight and five of their last six. Even so, it’s hard to discount a team with Luka and Kyrie Irving’s firepower. If they can weather the storm, Dallas will be fine.
11. San Antonio Spurs (18-17)
Last Week: NR
Victor Wembanyama is ridiculous, and the Spurs are finally finding their groove. They’ve won three of five, including a win over the Clippers, and Wemby looks more comfortable by the day. This is a team on the rise, and while they’re not contenders yet, they’re building something special.
12. Golden State Warriors (18-17)
Last Week: NR
The Warriors refuse to go quietly. They’ve won three of five and remain one of the most dangerous teams on any given night. Steph Curry continues to defy logic, and even if the supporting cast isn’t what it used to be, Golden State is still lurking in the playoff picture. For now, they close out the rankings.
Dropping Out
- Minnesota Timberwolves (17-17) Last Week: 9
- Atlanta Hawks (18-18) Last Week: 12
Big Picture for the Wolves
The Wolves’ absence from the rankings is both disappointing and expected. At 17-17, they’ve shown flashes of brilliance but continue to sabotage themselves with defensive lapses and offensive droughts. Saturday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons—despite a 53-point game from Anthony Edwards—was the latest example of this team’s maddening inconsistency.
Here’s the thing: the Wolves are still just five games out of the second seed in the West. That’s the good news. The bad news? They’ve thrown away far too many winnable games. If they want to be on this list—and in the playoff mix—by February, it starts with figuring out who they are. Here’s hoping they can find some consistency before it’s too late.