Though the Western Conference standings look like a three-team race between the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers, the rising Phoenix Suns aren’t far behind. Chris Paul, Devin Booker & Co. have won 11 of their past 13 games.
In the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets just keep winning. After sweeping at Staples Center — and their entire five-game West road trip — the Nets have run their win streak to a season-best six games.
Where do the Suns and Nets check in? Let’s dive into our Week 10 rankings.
Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Mid American Herald’s Tim Bontemps, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Eric Woodyard, Royce Young and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.
Previous rankings: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9
1. Utah Jazz
2020-21 record: 24-6
Previous ranking: 1
The Jazz, who have played a league-low 20 clutch minutes this season, considered their loss to the Clippers a valuable learning experience. “Their abilities to cause problems both offensively and defensively throughout games are what we’re going to have to compete against and have to beat to get to our ultimate goal,” said Mike Conley, who returned after missing six games due to hamstring tightness. “For us to play the game that we did tonight, and be able to finish the way we did and execute down the stretch against a great team like this, I think it’s a great lesson.” — MacMahon
This week: CHA, LAL, @MIA, @ORL
2. LA Clippers
2020-21 record: 22-10
Previous ranking: 3
The Clippers started last week without Kawhi Leonard (leg contusion) and Paul George (swollen toe) before losing Nicolas Batum to a concussion. They finally got all three starters back on Friday and stopped a red-hot Jazz. But the Clippers continue to keep an eye on the big picture as they ease George back on a minutes restriction that kept him out of the final minutes of a tight loss to Brooklyn. At 22-10, the Clippers are still where they want to be — they continue to build chemistry and try to stay healthy. The Clippers’ defense needs to catch up to the offense and should get better as Leonard and George get back into the swing of things. — Youngmisuk
This week: WAS, @MEM, @MEM, @MIL
3. Los Angeles Lakers
2020-21 record: 22-9
Previous ranking: 2
The defending champions look vulnerable for the first time, having lost three out of four games since Anthony Davis suffered a calf strain and aggravated tendinosis in his right leg and starting point guard Dennis Schroder was sidelined because of COVID-19 contact tracing. Nevertheless, LeBron James said he’s up to the task. “We’re in the winning business, and I’ve always been a winner,” James said. “So, it’s time to click into that.” — McMenamin
This week: WAS, @UTA, POR, GSW
4. Brooklyn Nets
2020-21 record: 20-12
Previous ranking: 7
Not that anyone in the league needed a message that the Nets are scary-loaded, but their long weekend trip to Los Angeles served as a potent reminder. Without Kevin Durant, the Nets took down the Lakers on Thursday (sans Anthony Davis) and the full-strength Clippers at Staples Center on Sunday. And there are at least some signs Brooklyn could be a better defensive team, with its games in L.A. as evidence. That’s six straight for the Nets, with Durant coming back soon and a schedule that could run their win streak into double figures. — Young
This week: SAC, ORL, DAL
5. Phoenix Suns
2020-21 record: 19-10
Previous ranking: 5
While the Jazz have taken the Western Conference by storm, the Suns are on quite a roll, as well. After falling to 8-8 on Jan. 27 after dropping games following a weeklong postponement of play, the Suns have won 11 of 13. In its past two games, Phoenix has scorched the nets from deep. Against the Pelicans on Friday, Phoenix tied a franchise record with 22 3-pointers. The following night against Memphis, the Suns passed that mark with 24 triples against the Grizzlies. — Lopez
This week: POR, CHA, @CHI, @MIN
6. Philadelphia 76ers
2020-21 record: 20-11
Previous ranking: 4
Philadelphia might have dropped a couple of games this week, but the real news here is the sudden arrival of an aggressive version of Ben Simmons. If the Sixers’ do-it-all point guard is going to add scoring in bunches to his repertoire — something he did without Joel Embiid on Monday in Utah (42 points) and with him Sunday in Tampa (28 points) — it’s going to make Philadelphia way more dangerous down the road. — Bontemps
This week: @TOR, DAL, CLE
7. Milwaukee Bucks
2020-21 record: 18-13
Previous ranking: 6
With a 98-85 victory over Oklahoma City on Friday, the Bucks were able to snap a five-game skid. Milwaukee built off that win two days later behind 70 combined points from Giannis Antetokounmpo (38) and Khris Middleton (32). They each had at least 30 points in the same game for the seventh time, the second-most such games by a pair of teammates in Bucks history, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob Dandridge did it more times (11). — Woodyard
This week: MIN, NOP, LAC
8. Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21 record: 18-11
Previous ranking: 9
“Dame Time” doesn’t have an actual statistical definition, but clutch time does. In those moments — when the score is within five points in the final five minutes of regulation and overtime — Damian Lillard continues to rise to the occasion. He’s second in the league in clutch-time points and is doing it on an absolutely absurd 61.5% from the floor and 58.8% from 3. He’s 24-for-24 from the free throw line and is third in assists (15), and his team is 12-4, which is tied for the most clutch-time wins in the NBA. — Young
This week: @PHX, @DEN, @LAL
9. Denver Nuggets
2020-21 record: 16-14
Previous ranking: 8
Injuries and inconsistency continue to slow down the Nuggets. After a big win over the Lakers on Valentine’s Day, the Nuggets dropped three of four road games, with their only win coming on the strength of Jamal Murray‘s incredible 50-point explosion against Cleveland. They lost a game they thought they should’ve had at Washington. JaMychal Green and Gary Harris are injured, and Nikola Jokic had to play through a thumb issue. The Nuggets hit the road for four more games before the All-Star break. — Youngmisuk
This week: POR, WAS, @OKC
10. San Antonio Spurs
2020-21 record: 16-11
Previous ranking: 10
The Spurs have not played since Feb. 14 because of positive COVID-19 tests among the squad. The NBA said the Spurs had four players test positive and had their games postponed through Monday’s scheduled contest against the Pacers. San Antonio was on a roll prior to the positive tests, having won five of its past six games. — Lopez
This week: @OKC, NOP
11. Indiana Pacers
2020-21 record: 15-14
Previous ranking: 11
The Pacers split a pair of overtime games versus Chicago and Minnesota this week before Saturday’s game in Houston was postponed. Domantas Sabonis put up 36 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in Wednesday’s win over the Timberwolves, becoming the first Pacers player with 30 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists since the franchise joined the NBA in 1976, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. — Woodyard
This week: GSW, @BOS, @NYK
12. Boston Celtics
2020-21 record: 15-15
Previous ranking: 12
An ugly season in Boston got a lot worse Sunday, when the Celtics blew a 24-point lead to the Pelicans in the second half before eventually losing in overtime to fall back to .500. Their uneven performances all season, Marcus Smart‘s likely absence until after the All-Star break and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge’s saying, “Our roster is obviously not good” in a radio interview Thursday are only going to increase speculation about a potential trade. — Bontemps
This week: @DAL, @ATL, IND, WAS
13. Golden State Warriors
2020-21 record: 16-15
Previous ranking: 13
The Warriors’ season took more roller-coaster turns than usual this week. A 19-point comeback win over the Heat on Wednesday without Draymond Green (ankle) was arguably the team’s best win of the season, but back-to-back late meltdowns in Orlando and Charlotte followed. Stephen Curry missed the loss to the Hornets due to illness, but the Warriors are optimistic about getting James Wiseman (wrist) and Kevon Looney (ankle) back this week, maybe as early as Tuesday against the Knicks. — Friedell
This week: @NYK, @IND, CHA, @LAL
14. Toronto Raptors
2020-21 record: 16-15
Previous ranking: 17
After a perfect week against fellow East rivals the 76ers and the Bucks (twice), the Raptors have officially climbed over .500 after their disastrous 2-8 start. Since then, the Raptors have gone 14-7, good for the second-best record in the East (behind Brooklyn’s 15-6). Suddenly, Toronto is a team to be reckoned with in the East once again. — Bontemps
This week: PHI, @MIA, HOU, CHI
15. New York Knicks
2020-21 record: 15-16
Previous ranking: 15
New York just keeps on winning. No, it’s not pretty. No, it’s not flashy. But the Knicks play hard, they play defense and they’re third in the NBA in defensive rating. Tom Thibodeau has done an impressive job in his first season on the sideline at Madison Square Garden, and as a result, the Knicks currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Julius Randle, who is one of many deserving contenders for a reserve spot on this year’s All-Star team, should also get plenty of credit for the Knicks remaining far above water at this point in the season. — Bontemps
This week: GSW, SAC, IND, @DET
16. Dallas Mavericks
2020-21 record: 13-15
Previous ranking: 14
Kristaps Porzingis has found his rhythm offensively, averaging 22.8 points on .500/.423/.903 shooting splits in February. But Porzingis’ defensive struggles are a major problem for the Mavs, who rely on him to protect the rim, a role he excelled in last season. He has the worst defensive rating (119.5) of any player in the league who averages at least 20 minutes per game — and it has shot up to 128.2 this month. “He’s had to play his way into shape, and it just hasn’t been the same,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s a work in progress.” — MacMahon
This week: MEM, BOS, @PHI, @BKN
17. Charlotte Hornets
2020-21 record: 14-15
Previous ranking: 16
Terry Rozier hit some clutch shots down the stretch in Saturday’s comeback win over the Warriors, including the buzzer-beater that brought Charlotte all the way back. The Hornets had two games postponed because of COVID-19 protocols and now face one of their toughest stretches of the season with six straight road games to close the season’s first half. — Friedell
This week: @UTA, @PHX, @GSW, @SAC
18. Memphis Grizzlies
2020-21 record: 13-13
Previous ranking: 20
Justise Winslow finally made his Grizzlies debut in Saturday night’s loss, more than a year after Memphis traded for him. Winslow, who had a back injury when the trade was made and then displaced his left hip during a practice in the bubble, unsurprisingly looked rusty (nine points on 3-of-14 shooting). “This guy has a bright future with us,” coach Taylor Jenkins said. “He’ll be back to normal Justise very, very soon.” — MacMahon
This week: @DAL, LAC, LAC, @HOU
19. Miami Heat
2020-21 record: 13-17
Previous ranking: 19
Jimmy Butler and Kendrick Nunn combined for 51 points as Miami pulled off a solid road win on Saturday night over the Lakers. That was the bright spot of a week that included a loss to a Clippers team playing without several starters, including Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and a loss to the Warriors that came after blowing a 19-point lead. The good news for the Heat is after Monday’s game against the Thunder, they get four straight at home, including a Friday showdown with the Jazz. — Friedell
This week: @OKC, TOR, UTA, ATL
20. Atlanta Hawks
2020-21 record: 13-17
Previous ranking: 21
Hawks point guard Trae Young had 35 points and 15 assists in Sunday’s win over the Nuggets. According to Mid American Herald Stats & Information research, it was Young’s 42nd career game with at least 25 points and 10 assists, most in the NBA since his debut. Also, he tied Luka Doncic with his fifth 30-point, 15-assist game by a player age 22 or younger. Only Oscar Robertson (eight) has more. — Lopez
This week: @CLE, BOS, @OKC, @MIA
21. New Orleans Pelicans
2020-21 record: 13-17
Previous ranking: 22
What a wild 48 hours for the Pelicans. On Friday night, they entered the fourth quarter up 11 but managed to lose to the Suns by 18. According to research by the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the largest defeat in the shot-clock era for a team entering the fourth quarter up double digits. So how did New Orleans respond? By setting the franchise record by coming back from 24 points down to defeat the Celtics on Sunday afternoon. — Lopez
This week: @CLE, BOS, @OKC, @MIA
22. Chicago Bulls
2020-21 record: 13-16
Previous ranking: 25
Chicago won three games this week — over Indiana, Detroit and Sacramento — but dropped Friday’s game at Philadelphia behind a 50-point performance from Joel Embiid. Zach LaVine continues to play at an elite level, scoring 38 points during Saturday’s win over Sacramento. LaVine has 281 points in his past eight games; the only other Bulls player with that many points over an eight-game span is Michael Jordan. — Woodyard
This week: @HOU, MIN, PHX, @TOR
23. Sacramento Kings
2020-21 record: 12-18
Previous ranking: 18
The good: Tyrese Haliburton had perhaps his finest game as a pro with 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. The bad: The Bucks beat the Kings in Haliburton’s showcase performance, extending the Kings’ losing streak to seven. — McMenamin
This week: @BKN, @NYK, @DET, CHA
24. Orlando Magic
2020-21 record: 13-18
Previous ranking: 26
After being ravaged by injuries for most of the year, the Magic have finally stabilized and are riding a three-game winning streak into Tuesday’s game with the Pistons. Nikola Vucevic‘s strong play continued in a comeback win Friday over the Warriors, as the big man racked up a triple-double. Evan Fournier, meanwhile, has had a huge week since returning from back spasms, combining for 76 points, 16 assists and 14 rebounds over his past three games. — Friedell
This week: DET, @BKN, UTA
25. Houston Rockets
2020-21 record: 11-17
Previous ranking: 23
Center Christian Wood said he hopes to return from his sprained right ankle before the All-Star break. The Rockets have lost eight in a row since Wood, their leading scorer and rebounder, sprained his ankle for the second time. Houston averages 111.3 points per 100 possessions with Wood on the floor and only 103.1 when he’s off it. — MacMahon
This week: CHI, @CLE, @TOR, MEM
26. Washington Wizards
2020-21 record: 10-17
Previous ranking: 29
This past week was easily the best week of the season for the Wizards. Bradley Beal earned his first starting nod in the All-Star Game after being snubbed last year, and the Wizards have won four straight games, beating Boston, Houston, Denver and Portland. Not only are Beal and Russell Westbrook putting up the kind of numbers Washington envisioned, but Rui Hachimura has been solid and Davis Bertans finally showed some signs of busting out of his slump with 35 points against Denver. And amazingly, the Wizards are within shooting distance of the No. 8 spot in the East. — Youngmisuk
This week: @LAL, @LAC, @DEN, MIN, @BOS
27. Oklahoma City Thunder
2020-21 record: 12-18
Previous ranking: 24
As the Thunder transition their roster, there’s opportunity for young players to not just play but to experiment with roles and responsibilities. And one player who has quietly made a dramatic leap forward this season is Hamidou Diallo. The former dunk champion has played all over the floor this season but has improved across the board. He’s averaging career highs basically everywhere and is making a nightly impact. As the Thunder evaluate their young talent, Diallo has the look of a player possibly just scratching the surface of his potential. — Young
This week: MIA, SAS, ATL, DEN
28. Cleveland Cavaliers
2020-21 record: 10-21
Previous ranking: 27
The Cavs’ losing streak stretched to 10 games with a loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday. A silver lining: In the Thunder defeat, Jarrett Allen went 11-for-11 for the field, finishing with 26 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks. — McMenamin
This week: ATL, HOU, @PHI
29. Detroit Pistons
2020-21 record: 8-22
Previous ranking: 28
Detroit was hit with another blow during its loss to the Grizzlies on Friday when Delon Wright suffered a Grade 2 strain of his right groin. Wright is expected to miss two weeks. One of the highlights of the week was Jerami Grant‘s putting up a career-best 43 points Wednesday during the Pistons’ loss to the Bulls. After winning three of four, Detroit has dropped three straight. — Woodyard
This week: @ORL, @NOP, SAC, NYK
30. Minnesota Timberwolves
2020-21 record: 7-24
Previous ranking: 30
The Wolves saw this season as a developmental steppingstone to prepare for a sustained run of success with a young core, but without the results and progression, they parted ways with coach Ryan Saunders on Sunday. It’s a tough spot for the franchise, with Saunders a part of their fabric, but the Wolves are searching for a new direction. But at least Wolves fans have Anthony Edwards‘ dunk of the year contender, which probably will serve as the primary highlight of the Wolves’ season. — Young
This week: @MIL, @CHI, @WAS, PHX
