Coming out of the All-Star Break, the top teams are beginning to establish themselves. Where does that leave the Wolves who are floundering in the play-in bubble?
NBA Power Rankings: Contenders Separate from the Pack as the Playoff Race Heats Up
With the All-Star Break officially behind us, we’re into the final stretch of the regular season, where every game feels a little more urgent. This is when we start to see the real contenders separate from the pack, while some teams are just trying to hang on and avoid free fall (cough Minnesota cough).
The big picture? We’ve got a cluster of elite teams at the top, a few up-and-comers making noise, and some squads that are desperately trying to keep things from completely unraveling.
Where do the Wolves stand in all of this? Keep scrolling—if you don’t see them right away, well… you already know how this one goes.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (47-10) | Last Week: #3
This could’ve easily gone to Oklahoma City, but let’s give some love to the league’s best record and a team that just embarrassed the Knicks by 37 points. The Cavs have won 11 of their last 12 and are rolling through anyone in their path.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (46-10) | Last Week: #1
Yeah, I’m still bitter about Sunday night’s game against the Wolves, but you can’t deny that OKC has been dominant. They’ve won 9 of their last 10 and are showing zero signs of slowing down.
They might be the most well-balanced team in the NBA, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is solidifying his MVP case.
3. Boston Celtics (41-16) | Last Week: #2
The Celtics drop a spot not because they’ve played poorly, but because Cleveland and OKC have just been better.
Boston has still won 9 of their last 10, but that ugly loss to an undermanned Mavericks team sticks out. Regardless, they’re the best team in the East unless Cleveland proves otherwise in the playoffs.
4. Denver Nuggets (37-20) | Last Week: #4
The Nuggets’ nine-game winning streak ended in a blowout loss to the Lakers, but Nikola Jokic and company are still rising in the standings. They’re playing like the second-best team in the West, and if OKC ever stumbles, Denver will be right there to take advantage.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (34-21) | Last Week: #6
The Lakers are climbing, but can we trust them?
Luka Doncic has been great, LeBron is still LeBron, and they just smoked Denver… but they’ve also lost to Utah and Charlotte recently.
Basically, the Lakers have two modes: title contender or total mess. There is no in-between.
6. Memphis Grizzlies (37-20) | Last Week: #5
Memphis has lost 4 of their last 6, and all of those losses came against solid teams (Thunder, Cavs, Pacers, Clippers).
That’s the problem—the Grizzlies can bully lower-tier teams, but they don’t win big matchups. Until they prove they can, they stay at #6.
7. New York Knicks (37-20) | Last Week: #7
The Knicks losing back-to-back games to Boston and Cleveland isn’t shocking, but that 37-point beatdown at the hands of the Cavs was a reality check.
This is a good team, but are they elite?
Right now, they look like a rock-solid #3 seed in the East… nothing more, nothing less.
8. Houston Rockets (35-22) | Last Week: #12
They were left for dead after a six-game losing streak, but three wins in their last five have brought them back to life.
Are they trending back up? Maybe. But losing to Utah isn’t a great look, either.
9. Indiana Pacers (32-23) | Last Week: #10
They just beat the Clippers and Grizzlies, and Tyrese Haliburton is cooking again.
This team might not be a contender yet, but they’re a nightmare matchup in the first round for any top seed that takes them lightly.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (32-24) | Last Week: #11
Four straight wins, including a tight one against Minnesota before the All-Star Break.
If they can get their injury situation under control, they could still make a run in the East.
11. Detroit Pistons (31-26) | Last Week: Not Ranked
Wait, what?
The Pistons are in the rankings??
Yes, because they’re on a six-game winning streak and actually look competent for the first time in… years?
Sure, they haven’t beaten anyone great, but winning is winning—and that’s something this team hasn’t done much of in the past decade.
12. Golden State Warriors (30-27) | Last Week: Not Ranked
The Jimmy Butler trade is starting to pay off—the Warriors have won five of their last six and are looking dangerous again.
If they keep this up, nobody will want to see them in the play-in.
Falling Off the Rankings:
- Los Angeles Clippers (31-25) | Last Week: #9
- Minnesota Timberwolves (31-27) | Last Week: #8
The Wolves’ Free Fall
This stings, Wolves fans.
Two weeks ago, they looked like a team on the rise. Now? They’ve lost four of their last five and just got bounced from the rankings.
The injuries are a huge factor, but at some point, you have to win games.
- The blown lead vs. OKC on Sunday.
- The blown lead vs. Houston on Friday.
- The blown lead vs. Milwaukee before the break.
See the pattern?
This team has the talent to compete but can’t close games. And now, they’ve got one of the easiest schedules in the league the rest of the way—so there’s no excuse for missing the playoffs.
If they get healthy and take care of business, they can climb back into the rankings.
But if they keep throwing away games, they’ll be watching the play-in from home.
Final Thoughts
We’re officially in the final stretch of the season, and we’re starting to see clear separation between contenders and everyone else.
- The Cavs, Thunder, and Celtics look like the NBA’s Big 3 right now.
- Denver, the Lakers, and the Knicks are right behind them.
- Houston, Indiana, and Milwaukee are climbing back into the mix.
- And the Wolves?
They’re on the outside looking in.
There’s still plenty of time to turn things around, but they have to start winning.
The opportunities are there—they just need to stop throwing them away.