12. Cleveland Cavaliers
2023-24 record: 44-2826. Toronto Raptors
2023-24 record: 23-4927. Portland Trail Blazers
2023-24 record: 19-53
Take a look at some of the top performances from the Boston Celtics in the recent week.
Currently, the Warriors hold the No.10 spot in the standings, with only one game separating them from the Rockets, who have a nine-game winning streak. Despite their recent defeat against the Timberwolves, the Dubs bounced back with a victory against the Heat, thanks to Klay Thompson scoring 28 points. As the regular season winds down with 11 games remaining, the Warriors are in a favorable position with the easiest remaining schedule among Western Conference teams fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament. This upcoming stretch will be crucial for the Warriors to avoid missing out on the playoffs entirely, with their matchup against the Rockets on April 4 being a must-watch game.9. Sacramento Kings
2023-24 record: 42-3023. Utah Jazz
2023-24 record: 29-431. Boston Celtics
2023-24 record: 57-15
The upcoming matches are: facing IND on March 27th, playing against BKN on March 29th, competing against MIN on March 31st, and finally playing at home against ATL on April 1st.
Upcoming matches: At Washington on March 27th, against Chicago on March 29th, against Los Angeles Lakers on March 31st, and at Indiana on April 1st.
Upcoming matches: against Houston on March 27th, against Phoenix on March 29th, at New York on March 31st, at Philadelphia on April 2nd.
Luka and Kyrie dominate in Mavericks’ top plays of the week.
Chet Holmgren’s powerful and impressive dunks are highlighted in the top plays from the Oklahoma City Thunder.16. Los Angeles Lakers
2023-24 record: 40-32
Previous ranking: 4
- Center Daniel Gafford has thrived alongside Luka Doncic since arriving in Dallas at the trade deadline. Gafford was shooting 77.6% from the floor for the Mavericks entering Tuesday night’s game in Sacramento, with Doncic assisting on 42 of his 97 field goals. That’s more assists than any of Gafford’s Wizards teammates delivered to him during his 45 games for Washington this season. Dallas, now No. 7 in the West, is 11-1 in games Gafford has started. — MacMahon
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Upcoming schedule: against Indiana on March 27th, at Brooklyn on March 29th, at Minnesota on March 31st, and against Atlanta on April 1st.
The Knicks continue to rack up wins while their injured starting frontcourt of Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson remains sidelined. Coach Tom Thibodeau said before Monday’s win over the Pistons that Robinson’s return is imminent, and he likely will be back on the court before his injured teammates. Robinson, who has been out since Dec. 8, would give New York 48 minutes of high-level center play, as Isaiah Hartenstein has been outstanding in his place as the team’s starting center for the past three months, averaging 9.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game . — Bontemps
The top plays of the week for the Sacramento Kings.
Top highlights from the Sacramento Kings in the past week.8. Dallas Mavericks
2023-24 record: 43-29
Take a look at some of the top performances from the Dallas Mavericks in the previous week.
- 10. LA Clippers
2023-24 record: 44-27 -
The Wizards have been on a three-game winning streak, defeating Sacramento, Toronto, and Chicago. This is their longest stretch of consecutive wins so far this season, despite not having injured point guard Tyus Jones (back) or rookie Bilal Coulibaly, who will miss the rest of the season due to a right wrist injury. During these wins, Richaun Holmes has been dominant on the boards, securing at least 14 rebounds in each game. As they vie with the Pistons for the worst record in the league this season, the Wizards’ focus will once again be on the crucial date in June.
19. Golden State Warriors
2023-24 record: 37-34
Upcoming matchups: against Toronto on March 27th, against San Antonio on March 29th, against Oklahoma City on March 31st, and against Miami on April 2nd.
2023-24 record: 16-56
As the NBA approaches the final three weeks of the season, a unique form of March Madness appears to be unfolding. Check out the rankings of all 30 teams for this week.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored only 12 points in the Thunder’s loss to the Bucks on Sunday, marking just the fourth time this season that he did not score more than 20 points. The Thunder had a 1-3 record in those games. Chet Holmgren also struggled, scoring just six points while shooting 1-of-10, his worst performance of the year. The Thunder have a record of 8-11 when Holmgren shoots below 50% and a record of 42-10 when he shoots at least 50%. — MacMahon
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Unless they have an unexpected collapse in their final 11 games, the Hawks are most likely going to secure a spot in the 9-10 play-in game. With a 5.5 game lead over the Nets, Atlanta surprised the audience on Monday by coming back from a 30-point deficit against the Celtics. This was tied for the fourth-largest comeback in the NBA over the past 25 seasons and the only 30-point comeback in the last two seasons. According to research from ESPN Stats & Information, teams had only managed to win 5 out of 2,606 games (.002) when they were trailing by 30 or more points in the last 25 years.
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Previous ranking: 28
Anthony Davis was on the court for a total of 52 minutes and 51 seconds during Tuesday’s intense game against Milwaukee that went into double overtime. This marked the longest amount of time he has ever played in a game, and the most by any Lakers player since Kobe Bryant in 2012. Despite their impressive win, the team will have to face the Grizzlies in Memphis the following night for the second half of a back-to-back. “I really enjoyed myself,” Davis expressed. “Let’s come back and do it again tomorrow.” — McMenamin
Previous ranking: 30
As the regular season approaches its final 10 games, there is speculation about whether Toronto will secure their top-6-protected lottery pick. Last year, the Raptors traded the pick to San Antonio in exchange for center Jakob Poeltl. Currently, Toronto is in sixth place for the lottery, with Memphis just one win ahead in seventh. This information was reported by Bontemps.
The Detroit Pistons have lost seven games in a row, with the last five being by a margin of at least ten points. This marks their fourth streak of six or more consecutive losses this season. They currently hold a two-game lead over the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the NBA, a title they are on track to earn for the second consecutive year. Out of their remaining ten games, only two will be played at home.
Previous ranking: 2
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Take a look at some of the top performances from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the previous week.
- Previous ranking: 21
Following a strong victory against the Thunder on Sunday, the Bucks suffered a disappointing loss to the Lakers on Tuesday, despite initially holding a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter. However, there is a positive outcome as the Bucks remain in second place in the Eastern standings. According to stats, when Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Damian Lillard are on the court together, Milwaukee has a plus-16.8 margin per 100 possessions, making them the top three-man lineup in the NBA this season. — Collier
2023-24 record: 14-58
The Spurs had a difficult start to the season with seven consecutive losses without Victor Wembanyama. However, they have turned things around and won their last two games without their talented rookie. One of those wins was against the Suns on Monday night with a final score of 104-102. In fact, the Spurs have beaten the Suns three times out of their 16 total wins this season. The game was secured by a 3-pointer made by Jeremy Sochan, who had previously missed all 14 of his attempted 3-point shots in the last three games. – Lopez
The most exciting moments from the Kings’ week are showcased in Keon Ellis’ impressive slam dunk. 24. Memphis Grizzlies
2023-24 record: 24-48
Previous ranking: 9
Upcoming matchups: against Phoenix on March 27th, against Minnesota on March 29th, against Cleveland on March 31st, against San Antonio on April 2nd.
2023-24 record: 34-38Previous ranking: 23
| DAL | DEN | DET | GSW |
The teams included in the list are Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, and Golden State.
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
“Noah, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix”
The teams included are Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah, and Washington.
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Please see our panel’s ranking of all 30 teams from best to worst during the regular season. We will evaluate which teams are performing well and have the potential to win a championship.
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Upcoming matches: against Portland on March 27th, against Boston on March 28th, against Milwaukee on March 30th, and play against Chicago on April 1st.
The Kings’ attack is not as powerful as it was in the previous season, as it currently holds the 13th spot compared to last season’s top rank of No. 1. However, their defense has improved significantly, jumping from 25th place last season to 14th now. If they can sustain this level, they will peak just at the perfect moment. – Andrews
Upcoming matches: against Golden State on March 27th, against LA Clippers on March 29th, against Memphis on March 30th, and against Portland on April 1st.
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The Phoenix Suns have 10 games left in their schedule, and these games are against teams that collectively have a .647 winning percentage. This makes it the most challenging final stretch compared to any other team in the league. While Monday’s game against the Spurs, who were missing Victor Wembanyama, was expected to be an easy win before facing this tough lineup, the Suns ended up losing 104-102. “We didn’t perform well,” Bradley Beal told reporters after the game. Currently, the Suns are holding onto the 8th spot in the Western Conference, but the Lakers, who have the tiebreaker, are right behind them. – McMenamin
Indiana’s powerful offense has been crucial to their achievements this year, and they have their sights set on becoming the second team in NBA history to score 100 or more points in every game of the regular season. They have already achieved this feat in 73 of their games, putting them in the same elite category as the 1981-82 Nuggets. The Pacers are currently in the 6th spot in the Eastern Conference, with a one-game lead over the Heat to secure a spot in the playoffs without having to participate in the play-in tournament. — Collier
28. Charlotte Hornets
2023-24 record: 17-54-
The upcoming matchups are: against Los Angeles Clippers on March 27, at Cleveland on March 29, at Toronto on March 31, and against Oklahoma City on April 2.
- 7. New York Knicks
2023-24 record: 43-28
11. Orlando Magic
2023-24 record: 42-29
Center/forward Brandon Clarke is close to returning to the court for the first time this season. He has been recovering from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered on March 3, 2023, but is now on the brink of making his debut. Clarke has been a key contributor off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies in his first four seasons, averaging 10.7 points on 60.4% shooting in 21.3 minutes per game. He recently signed a four-year, million contract extension. With no chance of making the playoffs, the Grizzlies will now focus on the upcoming draft and use their lottery pick to try and bounce back from a disappointing season.18. Philadelphia 76ers
2023-24 record: 39-33.jpg?w=1170&ssl=1)
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Upcoming matches: at Memphis on March 27th, at Indiana on March 29th, at Brooklyn on March 31st, at Toronto on April 2nd.17. Houston Rockets
2023-24 record: 36-35
Upcoming matches: against Cleveland on March 27th, against Golden State on March 29th, against Los Angeles Clippers on March 31st, against Boston on April 1st.
The Houston Rockets have won nine games in a row and are closely chasing the Golden State Warriors, who are at risk of being eliminated from the playoff race.
Chet Holmgren’s showcase slam highlights the best of OKC- However, as some teams drop, others emerge.
- Previous ranking: 22
After the trade deadline, the Jazz have had unfavorable performance in the NBA with a record of 3-16, the worst defensive rating of 123.2, and a net rating of minus-10.2. During this time, Lauri Markkanen has been absent for eight of the 19 games due to a right quadriceps contusion, as the team, who is obligated to give a top-10-protected pick to Oklahoma City, has dropped down to a comfortable position in the top 10 of the draft lottery odds. In the 11 games where he has played, Markkanen has only been successful in 40% of his shots compared to 50.1% before the deadline.
The upcoming matches are as follows: against Detroit on March 27th, at Denver on March 29th, against Chicago on March 31st, and against Houston on April 2nd.
- 4. Oklahoma City Thunder
2023-24 record: 50-21 - Previous ranking: 6
By mid-March, Cleveland held the second seed in the Eastern Conference. However, with only 10 games remaining, the Cavs are facing the possibility of dropping to fifth place due to the surge of New York and Orlando. In the month of March, they have a record of 5 wins and 7 losses, largely due to the absence of Donovan Mitchell who is recovering from a knee injury and a fractured nose. There is currently no confirmed date for his return.
Since the controversial purposeful loss on December 27th, Brooklyn has a disappointing record of 12-30. As the regular season draws to a close, it seems that the Nets are simply going through the motions. Mathematically, there is still a chance for the Nets to surpass the Hawks for the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference’s play-in tournament. However, with a 5.5 game deficit and only 10 games left to play, it would take an incredible turn of events or a major collapse by Atlanta for the Nets to make it happen. – Bontemps
- The Pelicans kicked off a vital six-game stretch at home on Tuesday evening against the Thunder. In competition with the Clippers for fourth place and the advantage of playing at home in the first round, New Orleans will rely on strong performances from Zion Williamson, who has maintained an average of 26 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in the Pelicans’ last 10 games (with 7 wins), especially since Brandon Ingram is struggling with a bone contusion in his left knee.
- 14. Indiana Pacers
2023-24 record: 41-32
As the 76ers prepare for James Harden’s return on Wednesday, the team is still dealing with injuries. Buddy Hield left Monday’s game against Sacramento with a sprained ankle, Kelly Oubre Jr. missed the game due to a shoulder injury sustained in the previous game against the Clippers, and Joel Embiid remains out with no set timeline for his return. The 76ers are also competing with the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat to avoid the play-in tournament and facing either the Celtics or Bucks in the first round. – Bontemps
Previous ranking: 20-
In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers have dropped in the standings due to Joel Embiid’s knee injury. They were previously positioned behind the top-ranked Boston Celtics, but now with the effects of the injury, they are battling to avoid participating in the play-in games. In contrast, the third-ranked Cleveland Cavaliers need to be wary as the New York Knicks are recovering from injuries and the Orlando Magic are improving in performance.
13. Phoenix Suns
2023-24 record: 42-30The game between Thunder and Celtics starts at 7:30 p.m.
The upcoming game between the Cavaliers and the Suns is scheduled for 10 p.m. 30. Detroit Pistons
2023-24 record: 12-603. Milwaukee Bucks
2023-24 record: 46-26
22. Brooklyn Nets
2023-24 record: 27-45- 2. Denver Nuggets
2023-24 record: 51-21 - 6. New Orleans Pelicans
2023-24 record: 44-28
Upcoming matches: Against Utah on March 27th, hosting New York on March 29th, hosting Golden State on March 31st, and playing at Denver on April 2nd.
Due to an ankle injury, Jamal Murray has been absent for two consecutive games, while Nikola Jokic also sat out a game against Portland due to a lower back and left hip problem. This is part of the Nuggets’ efforts to keep their star players healthy for the upcoming postseason. However, Denver has been performing well, winning 15 out of 17 games since the All-Star break. They will face Phoenix on Wednesday, with the opportunity to seek revenge for a previous overtime loss to the Suns on March 5. Following that, they will play against Minnesota for the second time in 10 days, giving Denver the chance to widen the gap between them and the Wolves in the standings with just a couple of weeks left in the regular season.
- Previous ranking: 8
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The Clippers’ unexpected drop continues in the Western Conference. Despite initially being in first place in early February, the Clippers slipped to fifth place on Monday night due to losing six out of nine games. Additionally, New Orleans has the upper hand in the season tiebreaker against them. The team has displayed apathy at times, and both James Harden and Paul George have expressed concerns about the Clippers lacking a clear identity. Head coach Ty Lue acknowledged that the team’s current identity is “weak” and has challenged both the leaders and the team as a whole to show more dedication. Their standing in the West may deteriorate further as they face challenges on the road, including Harden’s return to Philadelphia on Wednesday and then traveling to Orlando, Charlotte, and Sacramento before returning home to battle the Nuggets. — Youngmisuk
The recent defeat to the Warriors has resulted in the Heat being in a tie with the 76ers for the lead in the play-in tournament race. With a 2-1 advantage in the season series against the Sixers, the upcoming game on April 4 will be crucial for Miami. Despite a previous low-scoring loss against the Pelicans, the Heat responded strong with a 121-point game on Sunday, which has only happened three times since the All-Star break. Miami has a strong record of 11-3 when scoring 120 points or more this season.
Upcoming matches: At Oklahoma City on March 27th, at Utah on March 29th, versus Dallas on March 31st, and at Minnesota on April 2nd.
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Previous rankings were released on the following dates: Post-Finals, November 1, November 8, November 15, November 22, November 29, December 6, December 13, December 20, December 27, January 3, January 10, January 17, January 24, January 31, February 7, February 14, February 28, March 6, and March 13.
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Even though the Hornets have already been eliminated and are on a five-game losing streak, rookie Brandon Miller is still playing exceptionally well. In the last 27 games, he has scored at least 10 points in 26 of them. The only exception was a game against Philadelphia on March 16 where he only scored six points and was ejected for a flagrant 2 foul. In the three games following that, Miller has made nine 3-pointers and is third on the team in average 3-pointers made per game.
15. Miami Heat
2023-24 record: 39-33
Anthony Edwards’ dunk off a missed shot stands out as one of the top plays for the T-Wolves.
- Previous ranking: 19
- Previous ranking: 17
Who could have predicted that the Rockets currently hold the longest active winning streak in the NBA? Jalen Green has been the standout player, averaging an impressive 29 points per game during the nine-game stretch, as the Rockets fight for a spot in the play-in tournament. An overlooked contributor to the team’s success has been backup center Jock Landale, who has been putting up solid numbers of 11.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game since Alperen Sengun’s injury. In the 166 minutes Landale has played, the Rockets have outscored their opponents by 92 points, making him the second-highest ranked player in plus-minus behind Green (plus-131).
Previous ranking: 1020. Atlanta Hawks
2023-24 record: 32-39
Upcoming matchups: against Brooklyn on March 27, against Detroit on March 29, against Miami on March 31, and against Milwaukee on April 2.
- All times Eastern
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On Saturday, Jonathan Isaac played for 23 minutes in the Magic’s loss against the Kings, marking the third longest game he has played in this season. This is an important development as the Magic continue to climb up the Eastern Conference standings. Additionally, Isaac achieved a personal record of 25 points, his first 20-point game since December 15, 2019. This season, Isaac has already shown his value on the defensive end. According to Second Spectrum, he has held opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 41.4% when contesting shots, making him the best in the NBA among players who have contested over 200 shots.
As the 2023-24 NBA regular season nears its end, the competition to avoid the play-in tournament is intensifying in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
The Bulls had an opportunity to even out their record, but they lost three consecutive games, including a defeat to the depleted Wizards at their own home on Monday night. This loss has been categorized as one of the most disappointing of the season, joining two other losses to the Pistons. Their record against top-ranked teams in their conference is also not impressive, as they have only won 3 out of 13 games against the top five teams in the East. It seems that the Bulls have reached their peak and will likely end up with a 9-10 play-in berth.
Upcoming matches: Playing against PHI on March 27th, playing against ORL on March 29th, playing against CHA on March 31st, and playing against SAC on April 2nd.
Upcoming matchups: against San Antonio on March 27th, against Houston on March 29th, at Sacramento on March 31st, and against Cleveland on April 2nd.April 10
Mavericks at Heat, 7:30 p.m.
The Timberwolves and Nuggets will face off at 10 p.m.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
2023-24 record: 49-22-
The victories are currently symbolic for Portland during this time of the season. Despite putting up a strong performance against the Nuggets, Clippers, and Bulls last week, the Trail Blazers were unable to secure any wins. However, there is a silver lining. Even without Deandre Ayton and Jerami Grant, their young team showed glimpses of potential. They made basketball history by starting five rookies last Saturday against the reigning NBA champions, resulting in a close 114-111 loss. Rookie Scoot Henderson has been averaging 20 points and six assists with a 40% 3-point shooting over the past four games. These positive signs give Portland hope as they finish out the season.
Previous ranking: 3 2024 NBA playoffs tracker
, T.Despite Boston’s loss to Atlanta, the Celtics’ season has been impressive with a record of 49-3 when making more than one-third of their 3-pointers. This is the third-best percentage in NBA history after the 1987-88 Lakers (27-0) and the 2016-17 Warriors (54-2). While the Celtics have secured the best record in the Eastern Conference, they are still striving for the top overall seed in the playoffs, with a magic number of five, to have home court advantage in any potential Finals game.
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Upcoming matches: against Orlando on March 27th, against Charlotte on March 29th, at San Antonio on March 31st, and against Dallas on April 2nd.
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The Wolves have dropped to third place in the Western Conference, but they have an opportunity to catch up in a crucial game against Denver on Friday evening. A notable improvement for Minnesota since the All-Star break has been their explosive performance on offense in the final quarter. Based on findings from ESPN Stats & Information, the team has gone from ranking 26th in fourth-quarter offensive efficiency before the break to now holding the top spot since the start of the second half.
The performances of Derrick White in the highlights of the week for the Celtics were exceptional.
Previous ranking: 27-
- 2. Denver Nuggets
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