NBA Power Rankings: Celtics and Clippers riding high into the new year

Some teams across the NBA are looking to ring in the new year with continued success, while others are hoping to re-up resolutions for 2025.

After slow starts, the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets are looking to leave 2024 behind and hop into a second-half surge to contend for the playoff picture.

Other teams, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, are hoping to continue their dominant starts, having declared early command of their respective conferences.

But watch out — there might be good early tidings for the surging New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, who are coming off solid December campaigns.

Here is where all 30 teams stack up in the first power rankings of 2025!

Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Chris Herring and Kevin Pelton) think teams belong this season.

Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 30 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 20 | Nov. 27 | Dec. 4 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 18 | Dec. 25

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

One of the best benches in the league just got a little deeper. Cleveland, which ranks No. 7 in the NBA in bench scoring with 38.5 points per game, recently welcomed back Max Strus to the rotation after the reserve wing missed the first 27 games of the season with an ankle injury. Strus’ production was meager in his first four games — just 4.8 points on 30.4% shooting and 3.8 rebounds. However, if he can start to look like the guy who put up career-best numbers last season in his first year with the Cavs, the ceiling can go even higher for the NBA’s No. 1 team. — Dave McMenamin

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Rookie guard Ajay Mitchell, a second-round pick on a two-way deal, is one of four Oklahoma City players to play in every game this season. Entering Tuesday, Mitchell ranked second in the rookie class in total plus-minus (plus-124) and was averaging 6.3 points on .513/.467/.808 shooting splits in 16.3 minutes. Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lauded Mitchell’s efforts, saying: “Regardless of his situation and the lack of hype around him [and] his name, he affects winning basketball at a very high level.” — Tim MacMahon

3. New York Knicks

• 2024-25 record: 23-10

• Previous ranking: 6

• Next games: vs. UTAH (Jan. 1), @ OKC (Jan. 3), @ CHI (Jan. 4), vs. ORL (Jan. 6)

The Knicks will open 2025 on an Eastern Conference-best eight-game winning streak. But the turn of the calendar figures to bring more challenges for New York, which played one of the easiest slates through its first 30 games. Going forward, the new-look Knicks — who, even with the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, have managed the league’s second-most efficient offense — have the East’s toughest remaining schedule the rest of the regular season. — Chris Herring

4. Memphis Grizzlies

With Ja Morant missing the game due to a right AC sprain, Memphis suffered its worst loss of the season Sunday to Oklahoma City. The Grizzlies haven’t yet announced a timetable for Morant’s return as they wrap up a five-game road trip with three matchups against West opponents. The lineup of Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaylen Wells, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey has looked promising (plus-57), but that group hasn’t been on the floor long enough together to develop any real cohesion. — Michael Wright

5. Houston Rockets

• 2024-25 record: 21-11

• Previous ranking: 5

• Next games: vs. DAL (Jan. 1), vs. BOS (Jan. 3), vs. LAL (Jan. 5), @ WAS (Jan. 7)

Coming off consecutive home losses for the first time this season after blowing double-digit leads in the second halves against the Wolves and Heat, Houston’s homestand continues against stiff competition: Dallas, Boston and the Lakers. Clutch performance has been an issue lately, especially on offense, where the Rockets have struggled to score late in their past two losses that were within five points over the last five minutes. The Rockets will be short-handed against the Mavericks as Amen Thompson received a two-game suspension for his on-court altercation with Tyler Herro. — Wright

6. Boston Celtics

• 2024-25 record: 24-9

• Previous ranking: 2

• Next games: @ MIN (Jan. 2), @ HOU (Jan. 3), @ OKC (Jan. 5), @ DEN (Jan. 7)

After starting the season 16-3, Boston has gone 8-6 in December behind a series of nagging injuries and a teamwide shooting slump. The Celtics continue to average what would be a record 50.7 3-point attempts but shot only 34.4% on them in December, which ranked 23rd in the league for the month. Still, the Celtics ranked seventh in both offense and defense for the month, showing that there’s little reason to doubt this team’s high-level ceiling. — Tim Bontemps

7. Dallas Mavericks

• 2024-25 record: 20-13

• Previous ranking: 7

• Next games: @ HOU (Jan. 1), vs. CLE (Jan. 3), @ MEM (Jan. 6), vs. LAL (Jan. 7)

The Mavs intend to be conscious of managing Kyrie Irving’s workload during Luka Doncic’s absence due to a left calf strain. Dallas wants to guard against wearing down the 32-year-old Irving, which factored into the decision to sit him in Monday’s road loss in Sacramento with right shoulder soreness. Irving had 35.0 points in 38.5 minutes in a four-day, three-game stretch that started on Dec. 25, when Doncic was injured in the second quarter in a loss against Minnesota. — MacMahon

8. Orlando Magic

• 2024-25 record: 20-14

• Previous ranking: 9

• Next games: @ DET (Jan. 1), @ TOR (Jan. 3), vs. UTAH (Jan. 5), @ NYK (Jan. 6)

How many injuries can the Magic withstand? Already without leading scorers Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, Orlando saw Franz’s brother, Moritz Wagner, suffer a season-ending ACL tear — and saw Jalen Suggs exit Sunday’s game with a wrist sprain. Yet the Magic still rallied to beat Brooklyn, snapping a two-game losing streak. Fortunately for Orlando, Suggs’ injury won’t likely cause him to miss additional time. Still fourth in the East standings, the short-handed Magic have seen their advantage drop to just 1.5 games over Atlanta. — Kevin Pelton

9. Los Angeles Lakers

• 2024-25 record: 18-14

• Previous ranking: 12

• Next games: vs. POR (Jan. 2), vs. ATL (Jan. 3), @ HOU (Jan. 5), @ DAL (Jan. 7)

It wasn’t just the trade — sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks to the Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton — that was a boon for the Lakers. It was the timing of it. Vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka completed the deal 39 days before the Feb. 6 deadline. “There’s a real value in creating cohesion and continuity and connectedness,” coach JJ Redick said of the late-December swap. “And the more time you have to do that, the better I think your chances are when you get to April and May and hopefully June.” — McMenamin

10. Denver Nuggets

• 2024-25 record: 18-13

• Previous ranking: 10

• Next games: vs. ATL (Jan. 1), vs. SA (Jan. 3), @ SA (Jan. 4), vs. BOS (Jan. 7)

Denver’s defense is suffering, and Aaron Gordon (calf) is missed dearly in that department. But Michael Malone’s team has won seven of its past 10 games as Russell Westbrook continues to give the Nuggets a spark and shows improved chemistry with centerpiece Nikola Jokic. Westbrook has scored in double figures in seven of his past eight games. On Monday, he became just the third player in history with a triple-double and no turnovers, joining Jokic and Domantas Sabonis as the only players to do that since turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78. — Ohm Youngmisuk

11. LA Clippers

Could this be the week that Kawhi Leonard makes a return? He has been working his way back in practices, and Saturday’s game against the Hawks at home could be a possibility. Leonard will not be cleared to return until the team sees that the inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee is gone, so the Clippers are being incredibly cautious with their star. Ty Lue has the Clippers in the playoff conversation and will get his franchise star back as the team enters the second half. — Youngmisuk

12. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have been up-and-down since their NBA Cup championship win in Las Vegas, losing three out of five games prior to Tuesday’s win over the Pacers while dealing with injuries and an illness that saw several players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton miss games. But after missing four games, Antetokounmpo is back, scoring a team-high 30 points against Indiana, and the Bucks can focus on getting back on track for the new year. — Jamal Collier

13. Minnesota Timberwolves

• 2024-25 record: 17-15

• Previous ranking: 14

• Next games: vs. BOS (Jan. 2), @ DET (Jan. 4), vs. LAC (Jan. 6), @ NO (Jan. 7)

Donte DiVincenzo scored 20 points in back-to-back games against the Rockets and Spurs, his first 20-point games since joining Minnesota this season. The Wolves won three in a row to follow a three-game losing streak before dropping Tuesday’s matchup with the Thunder. Despite a healthy roster, the Wolves have been struggling all season to find their footing, and this week doesn’t get any easier as they return home to host the Celtics. — Collier

14. Atlanta Hawks

• 2024-25 record: 18-15

• Previous ranking: 19

• Next games: @ DEN (Jan. 1), @ LAL (Jan. 3), @ LAC (Jan. 4), @ UTAH (Jan. 7)

It was a solid final two weeks of 2024 for the Hawks, who are on a four-game winning streak, averaging 128.5 points. Their most eye-popping stretch in that run: a 50-point fourth quarter — Atlanta’s highest-scoring period of the season — in a come-from-behind victory over the Bulls on Dec. 26. In all, the Hawks went 8-4 in December. — Herring

15. Miami Heat

• 2024-25 record: 16-14

• Previous ranking: 15

• Next games: vs. NO (Jan. 1), vs. IND (Jan. 2), vs. UTAH (Jan. 4), @ SAC (Jan. 6), @ GS (Jan. 7)

One of the biggest stories in the NBA is the ongoing drama surrounding Jimmy Butler. The five-time All-NBA selection has been out of action since leaving in the first quarter of Miami’s loss to Oklahoma City on Dec. 20 with an illness. But Butler is expected to return to the court for Wednesday’s game against New Orleans, and his status will be closely monitored all the way up to the Feb. 6 deadline. — Bontemps

16. Golden State Warriors

• 2024-25 record: 16-16

• Previous ranking: 13

• Next games: vs. PHI (Jan. 2), vs. MEM (Jan. 4), vs. SAC (Jan. 5), vs. MIA (Jan. 7)

The Warriors’ slide continues as they have lost 13 of their past 17 games, highlighted by a second crushing loss to the Cavaliers on Monday. While Stephen Curry admits that the Warriors have been just “mid” this season, there have been a couple of bright spots in the past week. Jonathan Kuminga scored a career-high 34 points in consecutive games, with the latter coming in a win over Phoenix with Curry and Draymond Green playing alongside him. That’s significant because it shows Kuminga might be starting to figure out how to play his best with the two superstars after his two previous career-high games came with the two stars out. Dennis Schroder also made his first big winning plays as a Warrior in the final 1:23 of the win over Phoenix with a 3-pointer, securing a crucial loose ball and sinking late free throws. — Youngmisuk

17. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are starting to realize their potential, which makes the three losses on their most recent road trip sting even more. San Antonio squandered two fourth-quarter leads against the Knicks and Wolves after starting the road trip with a heartbreaking loss in Philadelphia. Entering Tuesday, the starting lineup San Antonio envisioned before the start of the season (Chris Paul, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan and Victor Wembanyama) has played only eight games together, posting a net rating of 11.9. Now that the roster is healthy, the Spurs might tweak lineups to look for the best fit. — Wright

18. Phoenix Suns

For the first couple months of the season, Suns fans could point to the fact that their team was 13-2 with Kevin Durant in the lineup as proof that they have a chance to win big as long as he is healthy. However, that solace has dissipated in the past couple of weeks. Durant has been on the court for the Suns’ past eight games and they’ve gone just 2-6, falling to No. 11 in the West. Seemingly just as Durant returned, Devin Booker went on the mend, missing the past five games with a groin strain. — McMenamin

19. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers had a three-game stretch against two of the best teams in the NBA, losing to the Thunder and splitting a home-and-away with the Celtics that included a vintage Tyrese Haliburton performance where 18 of his 31 points came from the paint. Indiana has rebounded from a slow start to currently be in the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference, but it needs Haliburton to keep breaking down defenses in the paint as opposed to relying on his outside shot. — Collier

20. Philadelphia 76ers

• 2024-25 record: 13-17

• Previous ranking: 23

• Next games: @ SAC (Jan. 1), @ GS (Jan. 2), @ BKN (Jan. 4), vs. PHX (Jan. 6)

For the many issues that Philadelphia has had over the opening two months of the season, perhaps the most confounding is Tyrese Maxey’s struggles. Maxey winning last week’s Player of the Week award feels significant for the 76ers — and is a huge part of why Philadelphia is now riding a season-high four-game winning streak heading into a back-to-back in Sacramento and Golden State. — Bontemps

21. Brooklyn Nets

• 2024-25 record: 12-20

• Previous ranking: 24

• Next games: @ TOR (Jan. 1), @ MIL (Jan. 2), vs. PHI (Jan. 4), vs. IND (Jan. 6)

Brooklyn made its second trade in as many weeks, dealing veteran wing Dorian Finney-Smith to the Lakers for point guard D’Angelo Russell and three second-round picks. Before that, the Nets — who were widely perceived to be chasing a top pick in the upcoming draft but winning at a higher clip than anticipated — opted to deal starting point guard Dennis Schroder to the Warriors. Ultimately, depending on the nature of the market, Brooklyn could try to flip Russell, whose contract is expiring, for more picks ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. — Herring

22. Chicago Bulls

Josh Giddey’s best game as a Bull — a 23-point, 15-rebound and 10-assist triple-double over the weekend — also came with a few defensive stops that led to a win over the surging Bucks. It was the kind of encouraging sign the Bulls are looking for from their young, rebuilding team, which is putting together a record comparable to last season’s team that was supposed to be competitive. The Bulls were an identical 14-18 through 32 games last season. — Collier

23. Detroit Pistons

• 2024-25 record: 14-18

• Previous ranking: 22

• Next games: vs. ORL (Jan. 1), vs. CHA (Jan. 3), vs. MIN (Jan. 4), vs. POR (Jan. 6)

An impressive West Coast trip saw the Pistons win the first three games before dropping the conclusion Saturday in Denver. Detroit survived a late Lakers surge to win last week, then rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final four minutes to beat Sacramento on Jaden Ivey’s late four-point play. The Pistons head into 2025 having already matched their 2023-24 total of 14 wins with 50 games to spare and have raised expectations to the point where a play-in appearance looks realistic. The Pistons are currently tied for the 10th and final spot in the East. — Pelton

24. Sacramento Kings

• 2024-25 record: 14-19

• Previous ranking: 20

• Next games: vs. PHI (Jan. 1), vs. MEM (Jan. 3), @ GS (Jan. 5), vs. MIA (Jan. 6)

Five consecutive losses, capped by the Pistons rallying from a 10-point deficit in the final minutes to win in Sacramento, cost Mike Brown his job. Three of the five losses came by four points or fewer, a consistent theme for the Kings. Despite the presence of a former Clutch Player of the Year in De’Aaron Fox, the Kings have found relying on late heroics a fickle formula, having lost 13 games that reached clutch time (tied for most with Charlotte). Interim coach Doug Christie got a more comfortable first win Monday, beating the Mavericks without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving by 10. — Pelton

25. Portland Trail Blazers

An encouraging three-day span after Christmas saw the Blazers come back to beat Utah on a Scoot Henderson buzzer-beater, then defeat a Dallas team playing without Luka Doncic at home. In probably the best two-game stretch of Henderson’s career, he totaled 37 points, 16 assists and 7 steals on 14-of-27 shooting. Alas, Henderson had just six points Monday as the Blazers lost their final game of 2024 by 22 points to Philadelphia. Consistency remains the biggest challenge for a young Portland team. — Pelton

26. Utah Jazz

• 2024-25 record: 7-24

• Previous ranking: 26

• Next games: @ NYK (Jan. 1), @ MIA (Jan. 4), @ ORL (Jan. 5), vs. ATL (Jan. 7)

The Jazz are second from last in the Western Conference, and guard Collin Sexton could be a quality addition for a team looking to add a scoring punch before the trade deadline. He’s averaging 17.4 points per game on 60.4% true shooting, including a career-best 42.4% from 3-point range. Sexton, 26, is due to make $19.2 million next season in the final year of his contract. — MacMahon

27. Charlotte Hornets

A humbling, hard-to-believe stat for Charlotte: It has lost twice in the past two weeks to the Wizards, who have one of the worst point differentials in modern NBA history and have gone 1-23 against the rest of the league since the start of November. The struggling Hornets haven’t had their preferred starting five together more than twice all season. But the bright side: It gives coach Charles Lee something to aspire to in 2025 as the team seeks a sense of continuity. — Herring

28. Toronto Raptors

Toronto expected to take its fair share of losses as it embarked on a full-scale rebuild following last season’s teardown. But the fact the Raptors haven’t had a single game with their expected starting five available this season is another disappointment as they are unable to fully assess this group. However, it has also played a part in Toronto currently sitting in the top five in lottery odds — which could be the best thing to happen to this group long term. — Bontemps

29. New Orleans Pelicans

• 2024-25 record: 5-28

• Previous ranking: 29

• Next games: @ MIA (Jan. 1), vs. WAS (Jan. 3), @ WAS (Jan. 5), vs. MIN (Jan. 7)

New Orleans has lost 19 times over a 20-game span for the first time since the 2004-05 season after Monday’s setback against the Clippers, which gave the club its 10th straight loss and ties the fifth-longest losing streak in franchise history. However, the Pels received positive news over the weekend as Zion Williamson returned to practice in a limited capacity. It’s likely the team won’t be in any hurry to get Williamson back on the floor given where it sits in the standings. — Wright

30. Washington Wizards

• 2024-25 record: 5-25

• Previous ranking: 30

• Next games: vs. CHI (Jan. 1), @ NO (Jan. 3), vs. NO (Jan. 5), vs. HOU (Jan. 7)

After beating Charlotte for a second time in seven days last week, the Wizards took the Knicks to overtime last Saturday before losing and were competitive with New York for three quarters in a rematch on Monday. It was more experience for the Wizards’ young players, but Washington had a scary moment when rookie Bub Carrington had to be taken off the floor in a wheelchair in Monday’s game. He is listed as questionable for the Wizards’ next game. — Youngmisuk