Power Rankings: Lakers, Cavs climb into Top 5

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The 2024-25 season is underway, and we can finally dive into some real film and real data. It’s early, but every game counts.
After just six days, only four teams — the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder — remain undefeated, all 3-0. The Cavs and Lakers could be surprises there, though Cleveland had a soft schedule in Week 1 and will be tested more this week (see below).
One of those tests is the only Week 2 game between those four undefeated teams. The Cavs will host the Lakers on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, League Pass).
There will be two games between the five teams that have yet to win a game. Both of those involve the 0-2 Utah Jazz, who will host the 0-2 Sacramento Kings on Tuesday and visit the 0-2 Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
It’s the time of year when we must remember that teams are better or worse than we thought they’d be. It’s also the time of year when the Power Rankings will change pretty dramatically from week to week.
Of course, the top two spots remain the same. It’s Boston and Oklahoma City, and then it’s everybody else.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
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East vs. West
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Movement in the Rankings
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Week 2 Team to Watch
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Previously…
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
The league averaged 111.5 points scored per 100 possessions and 101.4 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes in Week 1.
NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, contact him via Bluesky.
Record: 3-0
OffRtg: 129.0 (1) DefRtg: 113.1 (15) NetRtg: +16.0 (4) Pace: 97.3 (28)
The Celtics picked up right where they left off, celebrating banner No. 18 by destroying the Knicks on opening night.
Three takeaways
A year ago, the Celtics’ first November game was a 51-point win over the Pacers, who they’d eventually meet in the (more competitive) conference finals. Their first November game this year is in Indiana, where they lost twice last season.
Week 2: vs. MIL, @ IND, @ CHA, @ CHA
Record: 3-0
OffRtg: 109.2 (18) DefRtg: 90.8 (1) NetRtg: +18.4 (3) Pace: 105.0 (4)
The Thunder have kept pace with the champs, becoming just the 11th team in NBA history to win each of its first three games by at least 15 points.
Three takeaways
Only one team in NBA history — the 1971-72, 69-13 Lakers — has won its first four games by at least 15 points. The Thunder can be the second on Wednesday when we get our first Holmgren-Wembanyama matchup of the season. The two young bigs combined to shoot just 7-for-25 (28%) in their first meeting last November, but were then a combined 33-for-60 (55%) over the next two games, with Victor Wembanyama missing the final meeting of the season.
Week 2: vs. SAS, @ POR, @ LAC
Record: 3-0
OffRtg: 120.1 (4) DefRtg: 114.6 (20) NetRtg: +5.6 (6) Pace: 100.8 (15)
The Lakers clearly had the most impressive Week 1, beating the Wolves, Suns and Kings (with a rest disadvantage). It’s their first 3-0 start in 14 years.
Three takeaways
Having played their first three games at home, the Lakers now head out on a five-game trip that begins with tough games in Phoenix and Cleveland. LeBron James is 19-3 all-time (9-2 on the road) against the Cavs.
Week 2: @ PHX, @ CLE, @ TOR
Record: 3-0
OffRtg: 125.5 (2) DefRtg: 105.2 (4) NetRtg: +20.3 (2) Pace: 102.2 (12)
The Cavs had a soft schedule in Week 1, but they took care of business and became the first team since the 2017-18 Clippers with three double-digit wins in its first three games of the season. (The Thunder joined them one night later.)
Three takeaways
The competition gets tougher this week, and no team held the Cavs to fewer points per 100 possessions last season than the Knicks, who won two of the three meetings.
Week 2: @ NYK, vs. LAL, vs. ORL, @ MIL
Record: 1-1
OffRtg: 123.4 (3) DefRtg: 121.7 (29) NetRtg: +1.7 (11) Pace: 94.3 (30)
The Knicks’ mixed results in Week 1 were probably more about the opponents — the difference between the Celtics and everybody else — than the Knicks themselves.
Three takeaways
The Knicks’ early-season tests continue with a visit from the Cavs on Monday. They’ve won nine of their last 11 games against Cleveland, including a 4-1, first-round series in 2023 in which they dominated the glass.
Week 2: vs. CLE, @ MIA, @ DET
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 112.2 (13) DefRtg: 109.8 (10) NetRtg: +2.4 (10) Pace: 98.8 (25)
The Wolves had a disappointing start to the season, losing in L.A. on Tuesday. But they only have to look back a year, when they lost the opener in Toronto, to know that the first game doesn’t mean much. They followed up the defeat with wins over Sacramento and the Raptors.
Three takeaways
The first Western Conference finals rematch is a rest-advantage game for the Wolves on Tuesday. They were 12-3 (7-1 at home) in rest-advantage games last season.
Week 2: vs. DAL, vs. DEN, @ SAS
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 110.9 (14) DefRtg: 108.3 (6) NetRtg: +2.6 (9) Pace: 100.5 (18)
A 2-1 start isn’t bad considering the strength of the Suns’ schedule, and they were at a rest disadvantage when they beat the Mavs on Saturday.
Three takeaways
Beal is listed as questionable for the Suns’ game against the Lakers on Monday. The Suns will have rest advantages against the Clippers on Thursday (their second Intuit Dome game in the first nine days of the season) and against the Blazers two nights later.
Week 2: vs. LAL, @ LAC, vs. POR
Record: 1-1
OffRtg: 109.9 (16) DefRtg: 110.4 (11) NetRtg: -0.5 (12) Pace: 101.0 (14)
The Mavs were 11-2 last season when Luka Dončić scored at least 40 points. This season, they’re 0-1, because he didn’t get enough help in Phoenix on Saturday.
Three takeaways
The Mavs’ longest homestand of the season (five games over nine days) begins Thursday with a visit from the Rockets and includes three games against the Eastern Conference. They were just 8-7 at home vs. the East last season.
Week 2: vs. UTA, @ MIN, vs. HOU, vs. ORL
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 107.4 (23) DefRtg: 103.2 (3) NetRtg: +4.2 (7) Pace: 100.7 (17)
The Clippers are not waiting on Kawhi Leonard. They picked up two quality wins in Week 1, beating the Nuggets and Warriors (with a rest disadvantage) on the road. Their lone loss (vs. Phoenix on Wednesday) came in overtime.
Three takeaways
The Clippers’ longest homestands are two five-game stands, one early in the season and the other late. The first begins with a visit from the Blazers on Wednesday and continues with their second home game against the Suns in nine days.
Week 2: vs. POR, vs. PHX, vs. OKC
Record: 0-2
OffRtg: 97.4 (30) DefRtg: 109.3 (9) NetRtg: -11.9 (28) Pace: 97.3 (29)
The Nuggets are off to a rough start and (surprise!) bench minutes have been a problem.
Three takeaways
The Nuggets now head out on a three-game trip that concludes with a big game in Minnesota on Friday. They won three of their five games at the Target Center last season, though the last one was a 45-point loss in Game 6 of the conference semis.
Week 2: @ TOR, @ BKN, @ MIN, vs. UTA
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 112.6 (11) DefRtg: 114.5 (19) NetRtg: -1.9 (14) Pace: 105.8 (2)
The Grizzlies lost their most important game of Week 1 (Friday in Houston), but won their other two and, more importantly, Jaren Jackson Jr. is back.
Three takeaways
The Grizzlies are one game into a stretch of six straight against the Eastern Conference and two games into their first stretch of five games in seven days. They’ll have a rest advantage against Brooklyn on Wednesday but will be at a disadvantage the following night against the Bucks.
Week 2: vs. CHI, vs. BKN, vs. MIL, @ PHI
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 114.3 (7) DefRtg: 107.0 (5) NetRtg: +7.4 (5) Pace: 100.2 (20)
The Magic’s first week might be a good illustration of the East-West discrepancy this season. After comfortable wins over the Heat and Nets, they got clobbered by the Grizzlies on Saturday.
Three takeaways
Orlando will play two big games within the Eastern Conference this week, hosting the Pacers on Monday and visiting the Cavs four nights later. As they lost their first-round series to Cleveland in seven games, the two teams combined to score just 102.5 points per 100 possessions.
Week 2: vs. IND, @ CHI, @ CLE, @ DAL
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 117.4 (5) DefRtg: 95.9 (2) NetRtg: +21.5 (1) Pace: 105.2 (3)
The Warriors have the two biggest wins for any team this season, beating the Blazers and Jazz by 36 and 41 points, respectively. But they lost their home opener on Sunday and lost Stephen Curry to an ankle injury along the way.
Three takeaways
The road team won all three games between Golden State and New Orleans last season, with the Pelicans’ 141 points on 99 possessions in January being the most efficient performance the Warriors (who were without Draymond Green) allowed all year. They’ll play a back-to-back at Chase Center on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Week 2: vs. NOP, vs. NOP, @ HOU
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 107.4 (23) DefRtg: 113.5 (17) NetRtg: -6.1 (23) Pace: 100.2 (19)
No Joel Embiid. No Paul George. But the Sixers got off the schneid with an overtime win in Indiana on Sunday … despite some efforts in self-sabotage.
Three takeaways
It’s unclear if Embiid or George will be available this week, but the Sixers have two days off before hosting the Pistons on Wednesday and another two days off before facing the Grizzlies over the weekend.
Week 2: vs. DET, vs. MEM
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 106.5 (25) DefRtg: 114.8 (21) NetRtg: -8.2 (26) Pace: 98.6 (26)
The Pacers’ high-powered offense has yet to get in gear, and the defense has only been good enough to get a six-point win over the Pistons.
Three takeaways
The Pacers were 1-2 against the Magic last season, with the road team winning all three games. The two teams — one a top-three offense and the other a top-three defense last season — will meet twice in the next 10 days.
Week 2: @ ORL, vs. BOS, @ NOP
Record: 1-1
OffRtg: 108.2 (20) DefRtg: 113.3 (16) NetRtg: -5.1 (20) Pace: 97.8 (27)
If you thought the Heat were looking like the No. 8 seed for a third straight season, their Week 1 results — a loss to the Magic and a win in Charlotte — probably didn’t change your mind.
Three takeaways
The Heat’s next four opponents currently rank in the bottom five defensively. The home team won all three of last season’s meetings with the Knicks, who will be in Miami on Wednesday.
Week 2: vs. DET, vs. NYK, @ WAS (Mexico City)
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 107.8 (22) DefRtg: 110.4 (12) NetRtg: -2.6 (16) Pace: 102.3 (11)
Dejounte Murray had a solid debut with the Pelicans, but fractured his left hand in the process and is out until late November (at the earliest). That simplifies things offensively, but (with Trey Murphy III also out) leaves them a little thin on the bench.
Three takeaways
The last two games of the Pelicans’ four-game trip (in San Francisco on Tuesday and Wednesday) are the start of their only stretch of five games in seven days.
Week 2: @ GSW, @ GSW, vs. IND, vs. ATL
Record: 0-2
OffRtg: 116.3 (6) DefRtg: 119.2 (27) NetRtg: -2.9 (17) Pace: 104.0 (6)
The Kings had fourth-quarter leads in both of their games (against good teams) last week, but are 0-2 with a softer schedule coming this week.
Three takeaways
The Kings’ next four games are against teams that had losing records last season, and their rest-advantage loss in L.A. on Saturday was the start of three straight games where their opponent is playing the second game of a back-to-back. They’ll have a rest advantage again when they host the Blazers on Monday.
Week 2: vs. POR, @ UTA, @ ATL, @ TOR
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 113.0 (10) DefRtg: 115.9 (23) NetRtg: -2.9 (18) Pace: 102.7 (9)
Yikes! After beating the shorthanded Sixers on Wednesday, the Bucks lost to Chicago (at home) and Brooklyn by double-digits. Their schedule gets much tougher this week.
Three takeaways
The Bucks will be at a rest disadvantage when they visit the Celtics on Monday, with the home team having won all four meetings last season. They’ll have rest advantages in games against the Grizzlies and Cavs later in the week.
Week 2: @ BOS, @ MEM, vs. CLE
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 112.2 (12) DefRtg: 117.4 (25) NetRtg: -5.2 (22) Pace: 103.5 (8)
The Hawks took care of business against the Nets and Hornets, though both games may have been a little too close for comfort. Then they got swamped in the fourth quarter in Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Three takeaways
The Hawks had a rest advantage when they lost in Oklahoma City on Sunday. They’ll be at a disadvantage Monday night against the Wizards, having gone 3-8 (3-4 at home) in rest-disadvantage games last season, with one of those three home losses having come (by 28 points) against Washington.
Week 2: vs. WAS, @ WAS, vs. SAC, @ NOP
Record: 1-1
OffRtg: 108.5 (19) DefRtg: 113.6 (18) NetRtg: -5.1 (21) Pace: 100.0 (21)
The Spurs split games against the Mavs and Rockets, giving them as many wins against the other Texas teams as they had all of last season (1-7).
Three takeaways
The Spurs will host the Rockets again on Monday, then travel to Oklahoma City, where they lost two games by a total of 74 points last season.
Week 2: vs. HOU, @ OKC, @ UTA, vs. MIN
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 113.0 (9) DefRtg: 109.0 (8) NetRtg: +4.0 (8) Pace: 100.0 (21)
The Rockets got a good (and comfortable) win over the Grizzlies on Friday, but that was sandwiched by losses to the Hornets (in which they led by 18 points) and Spurs.
Three takeaways
The Rockets will play in San Antonio again on Monday before finishing their three-game trip in Dallas. The Mavs were responsible for three of the 17 times the Rockets allowed more than 125 points per 100 possessions last season.
Week 2: @ SAS, @ DAL, vs. GSW
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 105.9 (26) DefRtg: 116.8 (24) NetRtg: -10.9 (27) Pace: 101.3 (13)
With 22 of their first 25 games against teams that had winning records last season, the Raptors probably weren’t complaining when the Sixers were without Joel Embiid and Paul George on Friday. They took care of business against their shorthanded opponent to get their only win of Week 1.
Three takeaways
The Raptors’ first game against a team that had a losing record last season is Wednesday in Charlotte, with the Hornets being one of two teams that the Raptors beat three times in ’23-24. Barrett is listed as questionable for their game against the Nuggets on Monday.
Week 2: vs. DEN, @ CHA, vs. LAL, vs. SAC
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 102.1 (28) DefRtg: 108.8 (7) NetRtg: -6.7 (24) Pace: 110.3 (1)
The Bulls are 1-2, but the one win was in Milwaukee, with the Bulls having lost 25 of their previous 30 games against the Bucks.
Three takeaways
The Bulls will continue to alternate home and road games for the next 17 days. With the Milwaukee win, they’re 1-0 against 2024 East playoff teams, having gone 10-20 against them last season. They’re set to host the Magic (who’ve seen the second-biggest jump in 3-point rate) on Wednesday.
Week 2: @ MEM, vs. ORL, @ BKN
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 113.1 (8) DefRtg: 115.1 (22) NetRtg: -1.9 (13) Pace: 99.3 (23)
The Hornets have trailed all three of their games by at least 14 points. They got a nice comeback win in Houston on Wednesday, but the comebacks fell short against the Hawks and Heat.
Three takeaways
Their rest-disadvantage loss to the Heat on Saturday was the start of a four-game homestand that concludes with a weekend back-to-back against the Celtics. First, they’ll host the Raptors, with all four Charlotte-Toronto meetings last season having been within five points in the last five minutes.
Week 2: vs. TOR, vs. BOS, vs. BOS
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 108.1 (21) DefRtg: 113.0 (14) NetRtg: -4.8 (19) Pace: 102.5 (10)
The Blazers lost Game 1 by 36 points, lost Game 2 by two, and won Game 3 by 22. So at that rate of progression, they’ll win the final game of the season by 2,313 points.
Three takeaways
Having played their first three games at home, the Blazers will now play six of their next seven on the road, and they’ll be at a rest disadvantage in Sacramento on Monday. They were 5-4 (3-1 on the road) in rest-disadvantage games last season.
Week 2: @ SAC, @ LAC, vs. OKC, @ PHX
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 109.6 (17) DefRtg: 111.9 (13) NetRtg: -2.3 (15) Pace: 100.8 (15)
The Nets were somewhat competitive in road losses to the Hawks and Magic, and new coach Jordi Fernandez got his first win against the Bucks on Sunday.
Three takeaways
The Nets have a league-high 15 rest-advantage games this season, with the first of the 15 against the Nuggets on Tuesday. But that’s also the start of their first stretch of five games in seven days, with both rest-disadvantage games in that stretch coming against the Grizzlies.
Week 2: vs. DEN, @ MEM, vs. CHI, vs. DET
Record: 0-3
OffRtg: 110.8 (15) DefRtg: 118.1 (26) NetRtg: -7.3 (25) Pace: 99.0 (24)
The Pistons impressively erased a 23-point deficit and almost handed Boston its first loss on Saturday, but they’re 0-3 for the seventh time in the last 15 years.
Three takeaways
They’ll get three more chances to get a win against that group this week. Three of their four losses to the Heat last season were within five points in the last five minutes, and they’ll be in Miami on Monday.
Week 2: @ MIA, @ PHI, vs. NYK, @ BKN
Record: 0-2
OffRtg: 101.0 (29) DefRtg: 121.6 (28) NetRtg: -20.7 (30) Pace: 104.0 (6)
For the first time in 10 years (since the 2014-15 season), the Jazz are off to an 0-2 start.
Three takeaways
The Jazz’s first road game is Monday in Dallas, where they lost a game by 50 points last season.
Week 2: @ DAL, vs. SAC, vs. SAS, @ DEN
Record: 0-2
OffRtg: 105.3 (27) DefRtg: 122.4 (30) NetRtg: -17.1 (29) Pace: 104.3 (5)
The Wizards have played two of the four teams that are 3-0, and this is the first time in 31 years (since 1993) that they’ve begun their season with two double-digit losses.
Three takeaways
The last time the Wizards were in Atlanta was one of the three times last season that the Hawks scored less than a point per possession. The two teams play a home-and-home set before the Wizards head to Mexico City to face the Heat.
Week 2: @ ATL, vs. ATL, vs. MIA (Mexico City)