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NBA Power Rankings: Warriors Keep Winning with Jimmy Butler, Lakers Struggle Without LeBron James

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder have both clinched playoff spots as the No. 1 seeds in the East and West, respectively. LeBron James suffered a groin strain in the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics on Saturday and is expected to miss at least one to two weeks. The Warriors continue to thrive with Jimmy Butler, holding a 12-1 record with him in the lineup. The Grizzlies have climbed to the second seed in the West on a four-game winning streak, and Nikola Jokic recorded the NBA’s first-ever 30-20-20 game against the Suns.

  1. Cleveland Cavaliers
    • 2024-25 record: 55-10
    • Next Games: @ MEM (Mar. 14), vs. ORL (Mar. 16), @ LAC (Mar. 18)
    • The Cavaliers are on a 15-game winning streak—their third double-digit streak of the season. They hold an 8.5-game lead for the No. 1 seed in the East with a month left in the regular season.
  2. Oklahoma City Thunder
    • 2024-25 record: 54-12
    • Next games: @ DET (Mar. 15), @ MIL (Mar. 16), vs. PHI (Mar. 19)
    • The Thunder have clinched the first playoff spot in the West. Chet Holmgren is progressing in his return, recently playing both ends of a back-to-back against Denver. He missed three months with a fractured pelvis but is rounding into form ahead of the playoffs.
  3. Boston Celtics
    • 2024-25 record: 47-19
    • Next games: @ MIA (Mar. 14), @ BKN (Mar. 15), vs. BKN (Mar. 18)
    • Kristaps Porzingis has missed the last seven games due to illness, with no timeline for his return. However, Jrue Holiday returned last Saturday against the Lakers after missing 10 days with a finger injury.
  4. Denver Nuggets
    • 2024-25 record: 42-24
    • Next games: vs. LAL (Mar. 14), vs. WAS (Mar. 15), @ GS (Mar. 17)
    • Nikola Jokic is having an MVP-caliber season and recently made history with the league’s first 30-20-20 game in a win over the Suns.
  5. Los Angeles Lakers
    • 2024-25 record: 40-23
    • Next games: @ MIL (Mar. 13), @ DEN (Mar. 14), vs. PHX (Mar. 16)
    • LeBron James will miss 1-2 weeks with a left groin strain suffered against the Celtics. Several key players, including Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Dorian Finney-Smith, have also missed time during the last couple weeks due to injuries.
  6. Memphis Grizzlies
    • 2024-25 record: 42-24
    • Next games: vs. CLE (Mar. 14), vs. MIA (Mar. 15), @ SAC (Mar. 17)
    • The Grizzlies have won four straight and currently hold the No. 2 seed in the West. Jaren Jackson Jr. remains out with an ankle sprain, but Ja Morant and Desmond Bane have helped the team regain its rhythm.
  7. New York Knicks
    • 2024-25 record: 42-23
    • Next games: @ GS (Mar. 15), vs. MIA (Mar. 17), @ SA (Mar. 19)
    • The Knicks are well-positioned to secure home-court advantage in the first round, holding a three-game lead for the No. 3 seed in the East. However, Jalen Brunson will miss the next few weeks with an ankle injury.
  8. Golden State Warriors
    • 2024-25 record: 37-28
    • Next games: vs. NYK (Mar. 15), vs. DEN (Mar. 17), vs. MIL (Mar. 18)
    • The Warriors are on a five-game winning streak and are 12-1 with Jimmy Butler. Jonathan Kuminga is expected to return this week after spraining his ankle in January. They currently hold the No. 6 seed and aim to avoid the play-in tournament.
  9. Houston Rockets
    • 2024-25 record: 41-25
    • Next games: vs. DAL (Mar. 14), vs. CHI (Mar. 15), vs. PHI (Mar. 17)
    • The Rockets have won four straight, but Amen Thompson will miss a few weeks with a sprained ankle. Fred VanVleet is expected to return soon from his own ankle injury.
  10. Milwaukee Bucks
    • 2024-25 record: 36-28
    • Next games: vs. LAL (Mar. 13), vs. IND (Mar. 15), vs. OKC (Mar. 16)
    • The Bucks have lost three straight after an 8-1 stretch and are tied with the Pacers and Pistons for the No. 4-6 seeds in the East.
  11. Minnesota Timberwolves
    • 2024-25 record: 38-29
    • Next games: ORL (Mar. 14), vs. UTAH (Mar. 16), vs. IND (Mar. 17)
    • The Bucks have lost three straight after an 8-1 stretch and are tied with the Pacers and Pistons for the No. 4-6 seeds in the East.
  12. Detroit Pistons
    • 2024-25 record: 37-29
    • Next games: vs. OKC (Mar. 15), @ NO (Mar. 17), @MIA (Mar. 19)
    • The Pistons are one game behind the No. 4 seed in the East and are pushing to host a first-round playoff series after finishing last season with the league’s worst record.
  13. Indiana Pacers
    • 2024-25 record: 36-28
    • Next games: @ PHI (Mar. 14), @ MIL (Mar. 15), @ MIN (Mar. 17)
    • Tyrese Haliburton has returned to All-Star form since the break and hit a game-winning four-point play against the Bucks on Tuesday.
  14. LA Clippers
    • 2024-25 record: 36-30
    • Next games: @ ATL (Mar. 14), vs. CHA (Mar. 16), vs. CLE (Mar. 18)
    • The Clippers have won four of their last five, highlighted by a Kawhi Leonard game-winner and a 50-point performance from James Harden.
  15. Sacramento Kings
    • 2024-25 record: 33-31
    • Next games: @ PHX (Mar. 14), vs. MEM (Mar. 17), @ CLE (Mar. 19)
    • The Kings have lost three of their last four and are fluctuating between the No. 8 and 9 seeds in the West. Domantas Sabonis remains out with a hamstring injury.
  16. Dallas Mavericks
    • 2024-25 record: 33-34
    • Next games: @ HOU (Mar. 14), vs. PHI (Mar. 16), @ IND (Mar. 19)
    • Kyrie Irving’s torn ACL has derailed the Mavericks’ season, leaving them fighting to stay in the play-in race currently holding the 10th seed in the West.
  17. Atlanta Hawks
    • 2024-25 record: 32-34
    • Next games: vs. LAC (Mar. 14), @ BKN (Mar. 16), @ CHA (Mar. 18)
    • The Hawks have won four straight and hold the No. 7 seed in the East. However, injuries to Trae Young (quad) and Caris LeVert (finger) remain concerns.
  18. Orlando Magic
    • 2024-25 record: 30-36
    • Next games: @ NO (Mar. 13), @ MIN (Mar. 14), @ CLE (Mar. 16)
    • The Magic are in the No. 8 seed in the East and are focused on securing a play-in spot.
  19. Phoenix Suns
    • 2024-25 record: 30-36
    • Next games: vs. SAC (Mar. 14), vs. SAC (Mar. 16), vs. TOR (Mar. 17)
    • The Suns are three games behind Dallas for the final play-in spot and need a strong finish to keep their postseason hopes alive.
  20. Miami Heat
    • 2024-25 record: 29-36
    • Next games: vs. BOS (Mar. 14), @ MEM (Mar. 15), @ NYK (Mar. 17)
    • The Heat have lost five straight and are 4-10 since the trade deadline, struggling to stay in the playoff race.
  21. Chicago Bulls
    • 2024-25 record: 27-38
    • Next games: vs. BKN (Mar. 13), @ HOU (Mar. 15), @ UTAH (Mar. 17)
    • Josh Giddey has been stellar since the All-Star break but will miss time with a sprained ankle. The Bulls are the No. 10 seed in the East, three games behind the No. 8 spot.
  22. San Antonio Spurs
    • 2024-25 record: 27-37
    • Next games: vs. CHA (Mar. 14), vs. NO (Mar. 15), @ LAL (Mar. 17)
    • De’Aaron Fox is out for the season after undergoing surgery for tendon damage in his left pinkie.
  23. Portland Trail Blazers
    • 2024-25 record: 28-39
    • Next games: vs. TOR (Mar. 16), vs. WAS (Mar. 17), vs. MEM (Mar. 19)
    • The Blazers have lost five straight and are six games out of the final play-in spot.
  24. Toronto Raptors
    • 2024-25 record: 23-43
    • Next games: @ UTAH (Mar. 14), @ POR (Mar. 16), @ PHX (Mar. 17)
    • The Raptors have won five of their last six but remain five games out of the play-in tournament.
  25. Philadelphia 76ers
    • 2024-25 record: 22-43
    • Next games: vs. IND (Mar. 14), @ DAL (Mar. 16), @ HOU (Mar. 17)
    • The 76ers are looking to keep their top-six protected first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft.
  26. Brooklyn Nets
    • 2024-25 record: 22-43
    • Next games: vs. BOS (Mar. 15), vs. ATL (Mar. 16), @ BOS (Mar. 18)
    • The Nets beat the Lakers without LeBron James on Monday.
  27. New Orleans Pelicans
    • 2024-25 record: 18-48
    • Next games: @ SA (Mar. 15), vs. DET (Mar. 17), @ MIN (Mar. 19)
    • The Pelicans will use the remainder of the season to evaluate their roster and prepare for the offseason.
  28. Charlotte Hornets
    • 2024-25 record: 16-49
    • Next games: @ SA (Mar. 14), @ LAC (Mar. 16), vs. ATL (Mar. 18)
    • The Hornets currently have the third-worst record in the NBA and would want to stay bottom three to improve their lottery odds.
  29. Utah Jazz
    • 2024-25 record: 15-51
    • Next games: vs. TOR (Mar. 14), @ MIN (Mar. 16), vs. CHI (Mar. 17)
    • The Jazz currently have the second-worst record in the NBA and would want to stay bottom three to improve their lottery odds.
  30. Washington Wizards
    • 2024-25 record: 13-51
    • Next games: @ DEN (Mar. 15), @ POR (Mar. 17), @ UTAH (Mar. 19)
    • The Wizards currently have the worst record in the NBA.
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