NBA Power Rankings: Did the Utah Jazz knock off the Los Angeles Lakers for the top spot?

NBA Power Rankings: Did the Utah Jazz knock off the Los Angeles Lakers for the top spot? image

Welcome back to our NBA Power Rankings!

Over a quarter of the way into the NBA season, we've seen plenty of shifting around in our weekly Power Rankings as teams begin to establish their true identity.

Was the Utah Jazz's perfect 4-0 week enough to knock the Los Angeles Lakers out of the top spot for the first time this season? How high did the Milwaukee Bucks rise after four straight wins? Who is the new team that entered the top 10 for the first time this season?

Take a look and see where your favourite team landed.

NBA Power Rankings

10. San Antonio Spurs

#DeRozan

Previous rank: 15

Record: 13-10

Last week: 2-1 (loss vs. MEM, win vs. MIN, win at HOU)

This week: vs. GSW, vs. GSW, at ATL, at CHA

One big thing: The Spurs make their first appearance in the top 10 of our Power Rankings this season, owning the fifth-best record in the Western Conference. With eight different players averaging double figures in scoring, the future of San Antonio is in good hands behind players like Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Derrick White and Lonnie Walker IV, to name a few. With DeMar DeRozan posting All-Star-calibre numbers at 20.5 points, 6.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game, the Spurs look poised to return to the playoffs after snapping their league-record 22-year streak of reaching the postseason last year.

9. Denver Nuggets

Previous rank: 7

Record: 12-10

Last week: 0-2 (PPD vs. DET, loss at LAL, loss at SAC)

This week: vs. MIL, vs. CLE, vs. OKC, vs. LAL

One big thing: Nikola Jokic continued to boost his MVP resume against the Kings, even in a losing effort. The All-Star big man went off for a career-high 50 points to go with 12 assists and eight rebounds, making history along the way. Jokic became the first centre of the 3-point era (1980) to have 50-plus points and 10-plus assists in a game, also marking the first player in franchise history to achieve the feat.

8. Brooklyn Nets

Harden-Durant-Irving

Previous rank: 8

Record: 14-11

Last week: 1-2 (win vs. LAC, loss vs. TOR, loss at PHI)

This week: at DET, vs. IND, at GSW

One big thing: Following a confusing situation in the Nets' loss to the Raptors, Brooklyn will be without star forward Kevin Durant for at least the first two games of the upcoming week due to the league's health and safety protocols. Out of 12 available games since trading for James Harden, the Nets have only played five games with all three of Durant, Harden and Kyrie Irving. They are 4-1 in those five games.

7. Boston Celtics

Previous rank: 6

Record: 12-10

Last week: 2-2 (win at GSW, loss at SAC, win at LAC, loss at PHX)

This week: at UTA, vs. TOR, vs. DET, vs. WAS

One big thing: With Jaylen Brown out of the lineup against the Clippers, All-Star forward Jayson Tatum stepped up in a big way by going for 34 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists, knocking down big shots on offence while defending Kawhi Leonard on defence. Tatum has now scored 30-plus points in three consecutive games against the Clippers dating back to last season.

6. Phoenix Suns

Previous rank: 9

Record: 13-9

Last week: 3-1 (win at DAL, loss at NOP, win vs. DET, win vs. BOS)

This week: vs. CLE, vs. MIL, vs. PHI, vs. ORL

One big thing: The Suns enjoyed the return of Devin Booker, who missed four consecutive games with a hamstring injury prior to this past week. The All-Star guard came up clutch twice for Phoenix in his first week back, hitting a game-winning shot against the Mavericks, followed by a game-sealing shot to close out the Celtics.

5. LA Clippers

#Kawhi

Previous rank: 2

Record: 17-8

Last week: 1-3 (loss at BKN, win at CLE, loss vs. BOS, loss vs. SAC)

This week: at MIN, at CHI, vs. CLE

One big thing: The Clippers closed the week out with a pair of losses, falling to the Celtics and Kings without Paul George (toe) in the lineup. While they maintain a solid record at 17-8, five of the team's eight losses have come without one of George or Kawhi Leonard in the lineup. When the Clippers have both of their All-Stars playing, they boast a much more impressive 15-3 record.

4. Philadelphia 76ers

Previous rank: 4

Record: 17-7

Last week: 2-1 (win at CHA, loss vs. POR, win vs. BKN)

This week: at SAC, at POR, at PHX

One big thing: Embiid continued to terrorize opponents this past week, scoring 30-plus points in all three of Philadelphia's contests. The All-Star centre averaged 34.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game, adding to what has been an MVP-calibre season thus far. 

3. Milwaukee Bucks

Previous rank: 5

Record: 15-8

Last week: 4-0 (win vs. POR, win vs. IND, win at CLE, win at CLE)

This week: at DEN, at PHX, at UTA, at OKC

One big thing: The Bucks are hitting their stride, winning four consecutive games – all by 18 or more points – this past week to put some pressure on the Eastern Conference's top seed. While reigning back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo averaging 24.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game over that stretch plays a huge role in their success, their biggest offseason acquisition in Jrue Holiday coming into his own has also been a difference-maker.

In the last four games, Holiday has found his shooting touch, averaging 17.5 points while shooting 67.4% from the field and 54.5% from 3-point land to go with 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Elevating his play alongside All-Stars Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton has this team looking scary moving forward.

2. Utah Jazz

#Conley

Previous rank: 3

Record: 19-5

Last week: 4-0 (win vs. DET, win at ATL, win at CHA, win at IND)

This week: vs. BOS, vs. MIL, vs. MIA

One big thing: The Jazz are the hottest team in the NBA, winning 15 of their last 16 games. After their 10-game win streak finally came to an end, Utah picked up right where it left off with a perfect 4-0 week.

While All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert have been as good as advertised with the Jazz owning the best record in the league, the revitalized play of veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. has raised this team's ceiling tremendously, averaging 16.5 points, 5.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 45% from the field and 41% from 3.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

#LeBron

Previous rank: 1

Record: 18-6

Last week: 3-0 (win at ATL, win vs. DEN, win vs. DET)

This week: vs. OKC, vs. OKC, vs. MEM, at DEN

One big thing: Even though the Jazz have taken over the No. 1 seed in the West momentarily, it wasn't enough to knock the Lakers out of the top spot after a perfect 3-0 week. In Year 18, LeBron James is looking like the best version of himself that we've ever seen before and that was on display in full as he continued to bolster his MVP resume. He came up with clutch shots in wins over the Hawks and Pistons while dropping a 27-point triple-double in a comeback win over the Nuggets.

The Rest of the NBA

11. Portland Trail Blazers

12. Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry went ballistic in the Warriors' loss to the Mavericks, going for 57 points while converting 11 3s. It was the second time this season that he has eclipsed the 50-point mark, the only player in the league with multiple 50-point games. He also still owns the NBA's scoring record so far this season with his 62-point effort against the Trail Blazers back on Jan. 3.

13. Indiana Pacers

14. Atlanta Hawks

15. Sacramento Kings

The Kings are surging up the Western Conference standings after winning six of their last seven games, coincidingly making the biggest leap of any team in this week's Power Rankings, jumping from No. 26 to No. 15. The backcourt tandem of De'Aaron Fox and rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton have been incredible, while veteran forward Harrison Barnes has also stepped up in the team's recent success.

16. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are slowly chipping away at getting back to .500 following a rough 2-8 start to the season. This past week, star guard Fred VanVleet set a new franchise record by scoring 54 points in the team's win over the Magic, knocking down a career-high 11 3s. His 54 points also marks the most ever by an undrafted player.

17. Dallas Mavericks

In the same contest that Curry scored a remarkable 57 points, Mavericks' All-Star guard Luka Doncic assured his team would keep up with that firepower by scoring a season-high 42 points to go with 11 assists. The win helped Dallas get back in the win column after previously losing seven of their last eight games.

18. New York Knicks

19. Houston Rockets

20. New Orleans Pelicans

21. Miami Heat

22. Charlotte Hornets

23. Cleveland Cavaliers

24. Memphis Grizzlies

25. Chicago Bulls

26. Orlando Magic

27. Oklahoma City Thunder

28. Washington Wizards

29. Minnesota Timberwolves

30. Detroit Pistons

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.