The Oklahoma City Thunder remain the hottest team in the NBA with the league’s best record — and the NBA MVP frontrunner in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
They also remain atop The Arizona Republic’s latest NBA power rankings, but there are changes below.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (62-12)
Last week: No. 1 in rankings.
The Thunder have won their last nine games, becoming the first NBA team to reach 60 wins this season. They also have the longest active win streak in the league.
Last week: No. 3 in rankings.
Yes, the Cleveland Cavaliers have won 60 games, but they’re 5-5 in their last 10. The Celtics are 9-1. Beyond that, the Celtics are 23-4 in their last 27 games.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (60-15)
Last week: No. 2 in rankings.
The Cavs lost to the Suns by double digits in Phoenix as part of a season-long four-game skid. The Celtics later blasted the Suns by 30 – without injured Jayson Tatum – in the same arena.
The Rockets are 12-1 in their last 13 games. Still don’t have a win over a team with a winning record during this stretch. The loss was to Denver, but Houston is second in the West.
The Nuggets are 6-6 in their last 12 games. Nice response win over Milwaukee after losing to Chicago at home. Nikola Jokic posted 39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in that one.
Teams 6-10
New York Knicks (47-27): The Knicks are maintaining the East’s third seed despite Jalen Brunson missing 12 games with an ankle injury (7-5 during this stretch).
Los Angeles Lakers (45-29): Austin Reaves posted a second consecutive 30-point game in leading the Lakers past the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis Grizzlies (44-30): The Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins in a surprising move, considering they’re fifth in the West.
Golden State Warriors (43-31): The Warriors have won their last two games, crushing San Antonio on the road, 148-106, Sunday.
Minnesota Timberwolves (43-32): Had an ugly fight in Sunday’s 123-104 win over the Detroit Pistons. Fines and suspensions are incoming.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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