As we head into the final stretch of the season, there’s a lot of movement going on in the rankings. Teams that looked very solid just a few weeks ago are tumbling… including the Timberwolves.
NBA Power Rankings: The Late March Madness Edition
As we round third and head for home in the NBA regular season, we’re officially in that part of the schedule where every game matters, every rotation gets scrutinized, and fanbases across the league are one emotional meltdown away from yelling “Fire the coach!” after a second-quarter turnover. It’s beautiful chaos. And nowhere is that chaos more evident than with our old friends: the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Minnesota came into last week hotter than a waffle iron on brunch Sunday—winners of eight straight and somehow convincing us they had turned a corner. They had favorable matchups. Momentum. But alas, the basketball gods giveth, and they taketh away. After dropping three of their last four (including two soul-crushers to Indiana and New Orleans), the Wolves now find themselves clinging to the bottom of the power rankings’ top 10 like Jack clinging to that Titanic door. Scoot over, Rose.
Let’s jump in.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (59–12) Last week: 1
They’re like the 2014 Spurs reincarnated but with better TikTok presence. OKC has been absurdly consistent, with another six-game win streak in the bag. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will likely be the MVP, and the Thunder have a stranglehold on the one-seed that’s about as tight as a TSA pat-down.
2. Boston Celtics (53–19) Last week: 3
The Celtics are back to wrecking teams like it’s November. Tatum’s ankle tweak is concerning, but Boston’s depth is ridiculous. They’ve managed to overtake Cleveland in the rankings, even though they likely won’t be able to catch them in the standings.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (57–14) Last week: 2
A four-game skid? From this Cavs team? It’s like watching your valedictorian flunk gym. They’re still in great shape for the East, but the OKC-Cleveland Finals dream just got a little wobblier.
4. Houston Rockets (46–26) Last week: 4
Nine wins in a row before Denver snapped the streak, but the Rockets are like that indie band nobody paid attention to until they started selling out arenas. You don’t want to see them in April.
5. Indiana Pacers (42–29) Last week: 11
Obi Toppin called. He wants his spot in the three-point contest. Five straight wins, including a thorough dismantling of Minnesota, have the Pacers surging. Haliburton’s back. Siakam’s heating up. This team is sneaky dangerous, just like they were last spring.
6. Golden State Warriors (41–30) Last week: 5
They’re treading water without Steph, but the Jimmy Butler acquisition is clearly one of the best midseason moves. When fully healthy, the Dubs still give you that “ugh, we might be in trouble” feeling if you’re playing them in Round 1.
7. Los Angeles Clippers Last week: Not Ranked
The Clippers have finally decided to care. Eight wins in their last ten, nearly stole one from OKC, and Kawhi has that sleepy-eyed Terminator look again. Don’t count them out.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (40–31) Last week: 10
I still can’t figure out what this team is. But with Giannis and Dame healthy, they’re like the “John Wick” franchise—maybe inconsistent at times, but still lethal when it counts.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (41–32) Last week: 6
The Wolves are basically that friend who’s great at parties for 90 minutes and then disappears without saying goodbye. The eight-game winning streak feels like a fever dream now. But let’s not pretend they’re toast—this team has the feasiest remaining schedule of all Western Conference teams, the defense is legit when locked in, and Anthony Edwards still owns the best highlight reel of anyone in the league. Just… maybe skip the last four minutes of close games if you value your sanity.
10. Detroit Pistons (40–32) Last week: 12
Credit where it’s due: they’re beating the teams they should. Nothing flashy, nothing chaotic, just solid execution from a young core that’s starting to figure it out. Cade Cunningham deserves more love.
11. Denver Nuggets (45–28) Last week: 8
Denver feels… off. Six losses in ten, blowouts to bad teams, and Jokic looks like he’d rather be watching Serbian soap operas than grinding through this stretch. They’ll still be a problem in the playoffs, but right now? Not pretty.
12. New York Knicks (44–26) Last week: 9
The injury bug bit hard, and the Knicks are wobbling. They’ve got the third-best record in the East, but it feels like they’re one more Thibs-induced injury away from crisis mode.
Falling Out: Memphis Grizzlies (43-28) Last week: 7
Free fallin’ like a Tom Petty hook. They’ve lost four of five, the schedule’s brutal, and they might be in need of a vibe exorcism.
Closing Thought:
Three weeks to go and nothing’s locked other than the Thunder, Cavs, and Celtics spots at the tip top. We’re seeing the usual suspects round into form, a few upstarts make noise, and the middle of the pack self-implode on a nightly basis. The Wolves could still make a run. The Clippers might sneak into a top-5 seed. The Knicks might be playing with five G-Leaguers by April.
Buckle up. It’s chaos season.