NBA Power Rankings: The Raptors reign continues, the Lakers make a jump

Last week's ranking: 4

Overall record: 12-8

Last week: 1-3 (win at Knicks, loss at Bucks, loss at Warriors, loss vs Clippers)

This week: vs. Magic, vs. Nuggets, at Spurs

The Blazers weren't dropped in this weeks' rankings because of who they lost to, it was how they lost those games. On the road in Milwaukee is no doubt a tough game, but they were blown out by 43 and were never really in the game. Then they travelled to Golden State, one of the loudest arenas in the NBA without question, but were beat by 28. After losing two games by a combined 71 points, they suffered a close home loss to the Clippers to finish off a rough week.

In just seven days, the Blazers went from the best record in the Western Conference to sixth place and if that doesn't show you how brutal the West can be than I don't know what will. They face the Magic, who are coming off of a nice road win over the Lakers, then two very talented Western Conference foes to follow so Portland will certainly have their chance to redeem themselves next week.

Last week's ranking: 11

Overall record: 13-7

Last week: 3-1 (loss at Bucks, win at Timberwolves, win vs. Magic, win at Thunder)

This week: vs. Lakers, at Blazers

After allowing the Bucks to complete a fourth-quarter comeback earlier in the week, the Nuggets responded well by winning three-straight games. They took care of business against the Timberwolves and Magic and handled the Thunder in an impressive win on the road. Jamal Murray had a big week for Denver, averaging 18.3 points, 6.8 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game. He also had this insane finish in the win over OKC:

THE JAMAL MURRAY CIRCUS MADE A STOP IN OKC pic.twitter.com/xNxUDu6RBC

- Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 25, 2018

Last week's ranking: 7

Overall record: 12-7

Last week: 2-2 (win vs. Mavericks, win at Spurs, loss at Clippers, loss vs. Knicks)

This week: vs. Raptors, at Nets, at 76ers

After winning their first two games of the week, the Grizzlies failed to close two close games over the weekend. The home loss to the Knicks on Sunday was an extreme surprise, considering it was only their second loss at the FedEx Forum this season. However, Mike Conley Jr. and Marc Gasol keep proving that if they can stay healthy, this team will win games. They'll continue to be tested next week with a home game against the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors, and finish the week with a tough road game against the 76ers.

If they want to show everyone that they're legit, it will start by winning one of those two games.

Last week's ranking: 8

Overall record: 14-8

Last week: 3-1 (win vs. Suns, win vs. Pelicans, loss vs. Cavaliers, win at Nets)

This week: vs. Knicks, vs. Wizards, vs. Grizzlies

Since trading for Jimmy Butler, the 76ers are 6-2 and there's no coincidence there. He played hero again when he buried a game-winner to complete the comeback against the Nets on Sunday, already his second game-winning shot in a Sixers uniform. They suffered their first home loss of the season against the Cavaliers, of all teams, but they're still humming along. Joel Embiid has been dominant, averaging 27.9 points and 13.3 rebounds per game and Ben Simmons has been running the show as expected.

JIMMY BUTLER ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? pic.twitter.com/TslSdPq8UP

- Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 26, 2018

Their sole issue has been their depth, but their starters have managed to get the job done anyway. With three home games next week, don't be surprised to see this team continue to rise on this list.

Last week's ranking: 9

Overall record: 11-8

Last week: 2-1 (win at Cavaliers, win vs. Jazz, loss vs. Magic)

This week: at Nuggets, vs. Pacers, vs. Mavericks, vs. Suns

It was only a matter of time before the Lakers hit their stride. LeBron James has been playing MVP-caliber basketball, averaging 28.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. He was incredible in his return to Cleveland dropping 32 on his former team and Brandon Ingram stepped up against Utah but their comeback fell short at home against the Magic. Regardless of that loss, Los Angeles has won seven of their last nine, which explains their climb in this week's rankings.

Last week's ranking: 3

Overall record: 12-7

Last week: 2-2 (loss at Kings, win at Warriors, win vs. Hornets, loss vs. Nuggets)

This week: vs. Cavaliers, vs. Hawks

A brutal home loss to the Kings was overlooked after the Thunder crushed the defending champion Warriors on national television on Wednesday. They carried that momentum into a victory over the Hornets but couldn't overcome Russell Westbrook's shooting woes (1-for-12 from three) against the Nuggets. Their 2-2 week dropped them down two spots from a week ago, but the Thunder are still in a significantly better position than you would have expected after they started the season 0-4.

Last week's ranking: 6

Overall record: 13-6

Last week: 3-1 (win at Hawks, lost at Wizards, win vs. Grizzlies, win at Blazers)

This week: vs. Suns, at Kings, at Mavericks

The Clippers red-hot start continued with a 3-1 week and a pair of quality wins. They fell short on the road against the Wizards but they battled their way into two close wins to close out the weekend. They defeated the Grizzlies in overtime on another big double-double from Montrezl Harrell with 22 points and 11 rebounds off the bench to take first place in the Western Conference. Then, they held on to first place with a clutch four-point win over the Blazers on the road and boast a half-game lead over the Warriors.

LA has found a way to make it work without one dominating score as Harrell (15.9 ppg), Tobias Harris (20.8 ppg), Danilo Gallinari (18.6 ppg), Lou Williams (18.6 ppg) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (10.4 ppg) are all averaging double-figures. They're finding ways to win games and through the first quarter of the season, this team has undeniably been one of the league's best.

Last week's ranking: 5

Overall record: 14-7

Last week: 2-1 (loss vs. Thunder, win vs. Blazers, win vs. Kings)

This week: at Raptors, at Pistons

After losing four games two weeks ago, the Warriors got off to a rough start this past week when they got blown out at home by the Thunder. They responded from that performance by defeating the Blazers by 28 points and just barely sliding past the Kings off of a Klay Thompson buzzer-beater and 44 points from Kevin Durant. This 2-1 week was big in getting the Warriors back on track, as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green's returns are reportedly in the near future.

The game winner! pic.twitter.com/hV6ROIweQd

- Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 25, 2018

Last week's ranking: 2

Overall record: 14-5

Last week: 3-1 (win vs. Nuggets, win vs. Blazers, loss vs. Suns, win vs. Spurs)

This week: at Hornets, vs. Bulls, at Knicks

The Bucks started the week with a solid win over the Nuggets and followed that performance by absolutely destroying the Blazers by 43. If it weren't for a Jamal Crawford buzzer-beater in a shocking home loss to the Suns, the Bucks could have had a perfect 4-0 week. They finished the week off with a comeback home victory over the Spurs and remain runner-ups to the Raptors in both these power rankings and the Eastern Conference standings.

Last week's ranking: 1

Overall record: 17-4

Last week: 4-0 (win at Magic, win at Hawks, win vs. Wizards, win vs. Heat)

This week: at Grizzlies, vs. Warriors, at Cavaliers

Another perfect week for the hottest team in the NBA. Danny Green's game-winner got the week off to a great start and the Raptors made their other games look easy against three other Eastern Conference opponents. Toronto has been battle-tested already, but their first two matchups this week will most certainly test their talent.

The Grizzlies have been one of the league's best and most surprising teams and they've only lost two games at home. By the time they take on the Warriors on Thursday, Golden State could have Stephen Curry back. It's their second consecutive week in the top spot of the power rankings, but they surely have their work cut out for them if they want to retain this spot next week.

11. Indiana Pacers

12. Detroit Pistons

13. Dallas Mavericks

14. Sacramento Kings

Despite just a 2-2 week, the Kings made a pretty big leap on this list. They beat the Thunder in a tough road game and a 25-point effort from Buddy Hield, grabbed a win over the Jazz and were a Klay Thompson last-second tip-in away from a perfect 3-1 record. The second half of their back-to-back didn't treat them well in a loss to Utah, but the raw talent on this team has made them one of the most fun to watch so far this season.

Taking notice 👑 pic.twitter.com/5Lxh0NHSkV

- Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) November 25, 2018

Hield, De'Aaron Fox, Willie Cauley-Stein and Marvin Bagley III are all showing extremely promising potential and Bogdan Bogdanovic is starting to get back in the swing of things since returning from injury. The Kings are going to bring it night in and night out as these young guns have all kinds of energy to fly up and down the court.

15. Charlotte Hornets

16. Boston Celtics

Just when you thought the Celtics were going to turn things around after defeating the Raptors last week, they go and lose three out of four this week. They let Kemba Walker single-handedly beat them with a 43-point performance for the Hornets, then let Trey Burke go for 29 points to lose at home to the Knicks, followed by a 20-point night for JJ Barea off the bench to lose to the Mavericks.

Until everyone's preseason Eastern Conference favourite figures things out, they'll keep sliding on this list.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves made good progress this week, jumping up five spots. They lost their first game of the week against the Nuggets but responded by taking care of business against the Nets and the Bulls. Derrick Rose, an early Sixth Man of the Year contender, gave them 25 points in the win over the Nets and Karl-Anthony Towns was a beast their victory over the Bulls, going for 35 points, 22 rebounds and six assists.

35 points
22 rebounds
6 assists

23 years old

SHEESH, @KarlTowns

A @budweiserusa Legendary Moment pic.twitter.com/6O1x4a8x3t

- Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) November 25, 2018

Minnesota is now 5-2 since acquiring Robert Covington and Dario Saric, explaining their jump up on this list.

18. New Orleans Pelicans

19. Houston Rockets

20. San Antonio Spurs

21. Washington Wizards

22. Utah Jazz

The Jazz dropping seven spots was the biggest change, positive or negative, in this week's rankings. They went 1-3 this week, getting blown out by the Pacers and losing close games to the Kings and Lakers. Their offence has stalled, ranking in the bottom five in offensive rating and their defence that was so great in last year's impressive run is also in the bottom half of the league.

It doesn't help that their young star Donovan Mitchell has had trouble staying healthy, leaving the Lakers loss with a rib injury and missing Sunday's contest versus the Kings, but with nearly the exact same roster as a season ago there is no excuse for their poor performance so far.

23. Orlando Magic

24. New York Knicks

25. Brooklyn Nets

26. Miami Heat

27. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers had two wins going into this week, then matched their season win-total with two upsets. Collin Sexton dropped 23 points versus the 76ers to pick up their first road win of the season and also hand the Sixers their first home loss of the season. He followed that performance with a career-high 29 points in a duel with James Harden to defeat the Rockets. It didn't lead to a huge jump in the rankings, but they're no longer in last!

A new career-high for @CollinYoungBull Sexton: 29 POINTS! 😤

Watch all of his buckets from last night's W.#CavsRockets || #BeTheFight pic.twitter.com/iRq1iSiHeq

- Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 25, 2018

28. Phoenix Suns

29. Chicago Bulls

30. Atlanta Hawks