2025 NBA power rankings: Evaluating all 20 teams in the playoff chase, including the Knicks and Warriors

On offense, the Chicago Bulls were one of the league’s best and a headache for opponents. However, after trading Zach LaVine at the deadline, they have not been the same. It also doesn’t help that they have one of the worst defenses in the league — giving up 119.8 points per game. Yet, despite being close to locking up a losing season, they are a near-lock to reach the play-in this spring.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has again proven why he is among the very best in the sport. Despite the dark cloud that Jimmy Butler created over the team with his contract drama, the Heat remained competitive all season. Yet, oddly enough, after finally moving the unhappy star they have slipped into a slump over the last month. They have hit a new low point with a recent eight-game losing skid that has put their postseason hopes in jeopardy.

The Atlanta Hawks have been a handful for opposing defenses. Led by the face of the franchise Trae Young, the team has been a force on the offensive side of the ball (117.1 PPG). It is why they have had a far better season than many predicted. However, for as good as they are on offense, they are terrible on the defensive side of the ball (giving up 119.6 points per game).

That, along with being hit with an injury wave, Atlanta has struggled in the new year. Fortunately for the Hawks, the East is weak and despite being under .500 they are in little danger of missing the playoffs.

The Orlando Magic got hit with a massive blow early in the season when top stars Paolo Banchero and later Franz Wagner suffered major injuries. It seemed like it would be a death blow. Yet, head coach Jamhal Mosely did a splendid job keeping his team competitive and thriving with elite defense. However, despite the return of their two stars, the Magic have struggled mightily in the news year. Fortunately, for them, they have the best defense in the NBA. But it has not stopped them from slipping into the Play-In portion of the playoff chase.

Also Read: NBA playoffs predictions for the 2024-25 season, including who will win it all next spring

The Dallas Mavericks‘ decision to shockingly trade Luka Doncic before this year’s deadline has led to a steep decline of bad luck for the team. The top player they got back in the deal, Anthony Davis, suffered a serious ab injury in his debut. Then fellow star Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL a few weeks later. It seems like Dallas is headed toward being a lottery team. However, Davis is closing in on a return and could help lead the team to the playoffs this month.

This has been a wild season for the Sacramento Kings. There were high hopes when they added DeMar DeRozan to a talented but underperforming team this summer. When they got off to a slow start, the front office took the bold step of firing head coach Mike Brown. Then they went further when they realized De’Aaron Fox was not in their long-term plans and traded him to the Bulls.

In the deal, they landed two-time All-Star Zach LaVine. While this group has a lot of potential, there have been too many major changes in one season for this group to really evolve into a serious threat in the West. But they are still in a good place to at least make the playoffs for a third straight season.

The Los Angeles Clippers have been an interesting story in the 2024-25 NBA season. To the surprise of no one, Kawhi Leonard began the season in dress clothes due to another injury. However, in his absence, Norman Powell has emerged and earned All-Star honors for the first time. Yet, despite being at full health and adding Ben Simmons from the buyout market in February, the Clippers have struggled at times in March. Similar to the Bucks, this is a good team, but not one being taken seriously as a title contender.

The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the NBA last season. However, things have turned around for Motown’s favorite Bball team in a huge way this year. After a historically bad showing, new head coach JB Bickerstaff has helped turn his team into one of the better units in the East. While they have hit a rough patch early in March, they are in striking distance of locking up a top-six seed in the conference. Their rise back to competitive play has been a true feel-good story this year.

After a surprisingly mediocre start to the season, the Indiana Pacers caught fire early in 2025 and looked like the team NBA pundits expected. Their offense was flying high and Tyrese Haliburton emerged from a season-long slump. Unfortunately, injuries have led to an inconsistent last month and they have slipped down the standings and our latest NBA power rankings.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the best squads in the NBA all of last season. However, they chose to make a bold preseason trade that sent team great Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. The deal has backfired because both Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo have been disappointments in Minnesota. While their defense is still among the best in the NBA (108.9 points against) they are flirting with competing in the Play-In Tournament due to the recent red-hot play of the Warriors.

Also Read: NBA standings – Get a look at the latest win-loss record for all 30 NBA teams

The Milwaukee Bucks have been one of the most fascinating stories in the NBA this season. The team with a pair of superstars and a Hall-of-Fame-worthy coach struggled badly over the first month-plus. Yet, they turned it all around and ended up winning the Emirates Cup during the first half. However, they still don’t feel like an actual title contender. A recent skid where they lost to playoff teams like the Cavaliers, Pacers, and Thunder isn’t a great sign of how they will fair in the playoffs.

Related: Milwaukee Bucks Game Today – TV Channels, Start Time, and Full 2024-2025 Schedule

The Memphis Grizzlies were expected to be far better this season with superstar Ja Morant back. So far, the results have been very good. With their superstar on the floor, they are the best-scoring team in the league (122.7 PPG) and own one of the best records in not just the West but the whole NBA. However, their defense is among the worst in the league and could be a serious Achilles heel come playoff time.

The Los Angeles Lakers were already a good team that was building serious momentum before the Luka Doncic trade. However, with the young superstar, they were evolving into a nasty team that could be a dark horse contender in the West. But a recent groin injury to LeBron James has derailed their hot play. It also sends a worrisome sign that despite adding a top three to the roster, LA still will go only as far as the 40-year-old will take them.

Also Read: Los Angeles Lakers game today – Get time and channel for the next Lakers game

The 2024-25 edition of the Golden State Warriors should be called the rubber band team for how much they have snapped back from good, to bad, to good this season. Fortunately, after trading for Jimmy Butler last month, they are at a very good point and have been one of the best teams in the NBA over the last month. Since the trade deadline, they have won 14 of 16 and are emerging as a team to worry about in the Western Conference playoffs.

Also Read: Golden State Warriors game today – Get time and channel for the next Warriors game

When you have the best player on the planet, Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive squad. Yet, over the first couple of months, the team struggled, and it led to rumors about key members of their championship team being moved. However, over the final months of the season, they have played much better. And future Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook has, arguably, turned into their third-best player.

Yet, the same questions remain. When they take on the best teams in the league this spring, will their defense hold up, and can Jamal Murray recapture his impressive form of their title run?

The Houston Rockets have been one of the best stories in the NBA this season. After showing some very nice growth under Ime Udoka last season, they have continued that momentum and evolved into an elite team in the West. Yet, they hit some bumps in the road last month that included a six-game losing skid. Nevertheless, first-time All-Star Alperen Sengun and his team righted the ship in March and are building new momentum at just the right time.

While they have one of the five best records in the league, there is reason for concern when it comes to the New York Knicks. Their defense is a clear weakness and they continue to come up small against the league’s best teams. Furthermore, Tom Thibodeau’s classic overuse of his starters is resulting in injuries for stars. Fortunately for the Knicks, they have a strong starting five that can help them remain among the NBA’s best until they are fully healthy.

Also Read: New York Knicks game today – Get time and channel for the next Knicks game

The defending champion Boston Celtics don’t have the best record in the NBA. However, the regular season feels like a dress rehearsal for the spring. They continue to mow down the teams they are supposed to beat but have met some resistance from the league’s other top teams. However, unlike the rest of the pack, we know Boston can turn things up to another level when the postseason comes.

Also Read: Boston Celtics game today – Get details on the next Celtics game

The Oklahoma City Thunder have twice been hit by huge injuries this season. However, they have persevered and remain one of the league’s 99-percentile clubs. Their defense has been among the best in the game (107.1 points against per game) throughout the season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to cement his case as the favorite to win the MVP award, and they have only been fully healthy for a few weeks. If they get in a groove over the next few weeks the Thunder could be unstoppable in the postseason.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a surprisingly dominant team this season. There is no better example of how good they have been under new head coach Kenny Atkinson than winning 16 straight and 19 out of 21 recently. They own the best record in the NBA due to having an elite defense and offense. That is why they get the top spot in our latest NBA power rankings.

Related: Highest paid NBA players right now – Running down the 20 best paid in 2024-25