NBA power rankings: Cavaliers, 76ers surprise - but for different reasons

Surprises abound at the top and bottom of the NBA standings, Cleveland’s 15-0 start and 17-1 record among them.

Golden State finding its way without Klay Thompson and with a deep roster has it among the top teams in the Western Conference. Philadelphia’s place near the bottom of the Eastern Conference was not expected. Houston’s surge with a young team is exciting, but can the Rockets keep it up for a full season?

Some things are not surprising such as Boston and Oklahoma City excelling though the first five weeks. San Antonio and Victor Wembanyama starting to figure out how to win – with Gregg Popovich recovering from a stroke – is an encouraging development for the Spurs, and Orlando winning without Paolo Banchero is a great sign for the Magic.

USA TODAY's first NBA power rankings for the 2024-25 season:

NBA power rankings

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-1)

The Cavs became the fourth team in NBA history to win their first 15 games of a season, and they lead the league in offensive rating (122.8), points per game (123.4), true shooting percentage (63.3%), field goal percentage (52%) and 3-point percentage (41.5%).

2. Boston Celtics (15-3)

The Celtics’ starting five isn’t just the best in the league based on the eye test. Of the starting lineups that have played at least 150 minutes, Boston’s starting five of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday have the best net rating at plus-20.1, scoring 125.3 points per 100 possessions and allowing 105.2 points per 100 possessions.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (13-4)

The Thunder, the league’s top-rated defense allowing 103.2 points per 100 possessions, is averaging 12.1 steals per game. The NBA record was set by the 1977-78 Suns, who generated 12.9.

4. Golden State Warriors (12-5)

Stephen Curry and the Warriors are among the top teams in the Western Conference standings, and Curry leads the team in scoring (22.5 points per game) and assists (6.5 per game). Buddy Hield and Andrew Wiggins contribute to a deep offensive attack with each scoring more than 15 points per game.

5. Houston Rockets (13-6)

The Rockets have made their mark as one of the better defensive teams in the league this season. They allow just 103.8 points per 100 possessions (No. 2 in the league) and have also won eight of their past 10 games.

6. Orlando Magic (12-7)

Orlando lost its first four games after Paolo Banchero went down with a torn oblique. Since then, the Magic have won nine of 10, and Franz Wagner (37 points, 11 assists in win vs. the Los Angeles Lakers) has emerged as a legitimate No. 2 option.

7. Memphis Grizzlies (11-7)

Bolstered by the height of their frontcourt depth — led by forward Jaren Jackson Jr. and centers Zach Edey and Jay Huff — the Grizzlies lead the NBA in blocked shots with 7.6 per game.

8. New York Knicks (10-7)

It helps to bolster an already solid starting lineup with offseason additions Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges: the Knicks lead the NBA in games (11) in which all starters score double figures.

9. Los Angeles Clippers (11-8)

James Harden is among the Clippers' leaders in points (20.6) and rebounds (7.3) while leading in assists (8.7) and steals (1.5) as Kawhi Leonard remains out with an injury.

10. Denver Nuggets (9-7)

We know all about center Nikola Jokic’s elite triple-double production but don’t sleep on Michael Porter Jr.’s season: career-best 18.6 points and 2.8 assists per game while grabbing 7.3 rebounds per game and shooting 49.2% from the field and 40.7% on 3s.

11. Dallas Mavericks (10-8)

The Mavericks sought to address 3-point shooting with the addition of Thompson, but the Mavericks are 20th at 34.8% on 3s and 21st in made 3s per game (12.2). If the Mavs want to get back to the West finals and NBA Finals, that needs to improve.

12. Phoenix Suns (10-7)

How important is Kevin Durant to the Suns’ success? The Suns are 9-1 with Durant in the lineup and 1-6 in the games he missed with a strained calf.

13. San Antonio Spurs (10-8)

The Spurs have a top-10 defense (No. 9), allowing 110.8 points per 100 possessions. Wembanyama is anchoring the defense – and Chris Paul is helping make a difference as the Spurs navigate this portion of the season without Hall of Fame coach Popovich.

14. Milwaukee Bucks (9-9)

The Bucks are starting to put a few things together after a 2-8 start. They have now won five consecutive games, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, this week’s Eastern Conference player of the week, is averaging 33.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in his past nine games.

15. Los Angeles Lakers (10-7)

Anthony Davis, LeBron James and the Lakers won six straight games before losing three consecutive games. Davis leads the team in points (29.8), rebounds (11.4), blocks (2.1) and steals (1.3).

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (8-9)

The Timberwolves, who have lost three in a row, continue to work on team chemistry since trading for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Rudy Gobert displayed a level of frustration when Randle didn’t pass him the ball in the paint against the Raptors. That is worth monitoring going forward.

17. Miami Heat (7-8)

Jimmy Butler had 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists while leading the Heat in a 123-118 overtime victory against the Mavericks on Sunday. It was Miami’s first game after five days off.

18. Sacramento Kings (8-10)

The Kings have three players scoring at least 20 points per game – De’Aaron Fox (28.1 ppg), DeMar DeRozan (22.6) and Domantas Sabonis (20.0).

19. Brooklyn Nets (8-10)

The Nets have won three of their past four games after losing three straight. The Nets are waiting for the return of Dennis Schroder, Dorian Finney-Smith and Bojan Bogdanovic, who all missed some time over the weekend with lower leg injuries.

20. Detroit Pistons (8-11)

We’re starting to see what Cade Cunningham can become as he’s posting career highs in points (23.5), assists (8.9) and rebounds (7.2). A slight increase in efficiency will make Cunningham even more dangerous offensively.

21. Indiana Pacers (8-10)

Before their victory over Washington on Sunday night, the Pacers had dropped five of their previous six games, giving Indiana its worst winning percentage (.375) since the end of the 2022-23 season.

22. Chicago Bulls (8-11)

The Bulls get after it offensively – No. 1 in pace, No. 2 in 3-pointers made per game, No. 3 in 3-point field goal percentage and No. 5 in assists. But they are 25th defensively and have lost eight games by 10 or more points.

23. Portland Trail Blazers (7-11)

The Trail Blazers have been among the league’s most careless teams with the ball, ranking 29th in turnovers per game (17.3). Not surprisingly, opponents are averaging 20.9 points per game on those giveaways — 28th in the NBA.

24. Atlanta Hawks (7-11)

The Hawks lead the Eastern Conference in assists per game (29.1) and have recorded nine straight games of at least 25 assists. With 32 assists Monday against the Mavericks, they tied the franchise record for the longest streak with 25 or more.

25. Charlotte Hornets (6-11)

LaMelo Ball leads the Hornets in points (31.0 per game) and assists (6.9) and he scored a career-high 50 points in a loss to the Bucks on Saturday. Grant Williams also suffered an ACL injury, a significant blow to Charlotte’s depth.

26. Toronto Raptors (4-14)

The Raptors lost seven consecutive games before winning two of their past four games. Scottie Barnes added much-needed offense with 17 points against Minnesota in his return from an injury.

27. Utah Jazz (4-12)

The Jazz's early-season struggles have landed them at the bottom of the West standings, but they recently snapped a four-game losing streak with a 121-106 win against the Knicks on Saturday.

28. Philadelphia 76ers (3-13)

Injuries (Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey), chemistry (several new players) and Embiid’s suspension have played a role in Philadelphia’s poor start – 28th offensively, 18th defensively and 27th in net rating at minus-8.6 points per 100 possessions.

29. New Orleans Pelicans (4-14)

The Pelicans — who’ve seen injuries to key players Dejounte Murray, Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III, among others — had already accrued 86 total games missed due to injury or illness.

30. Washington Wizards (2-14)

The Wizards rank second-to-last in offensive rating (105.1), dead last in defensive rating (118.8) and dead last in net rating (minus-13.7), and they have lost 12 consecutive games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings: Which teams should be giving thanks?