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The 2024-25 regular season is officially over. Like most years, Sunday's finale had a March Madness feel. Several high-stakes games were played at the same time. 10 teams were sent home for the year and only 20 remain as this week will see the play-in tournament play out to complete the full NBA playoff picture.
It's only fitting that the LA Clippers and Golden Staten Warriors fought it out on a national stage. As the last game left, the Clippers outlasted the Warriors to clinch a playoff spot. That sends Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler to the risky play-in range.
In a season filled with shocking mid-season moves, the Denver Nuggets fired Michael Malone with less than a week left in the regular season. The most accomplished head coach in franchise history was booted as they believed they had a chance at a playoff run.
This past week also featured Luka Doncic's return to Dallas for the first time since he was shockingly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Emotions were high and he scored a season-high 45 points in a blowout win. Dallas Mavericks fans spent the whole game chanting for GM Nico Harrison to get fired.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, Thunder Wire will conduct weekly NBA power rankings. Here is the latest edition for the Apr. 7-13 week:
30. Utah Jazz (17-65)
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Previous Ranking: 30
Basketball gods, please give the Jazz a high draft pick. They've been directionless for years and are reaching a point where the constant bad years aren't worth it. Utah bottomed out for the first time this season and put out a bad product hoping to add a premier talent like Cooper Flagg.
29. Washington Wizards (18-64)
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Previous Ranking: 29
It's only fitting for the Wizards to get the NBA's second-worst record. All this was intentional as they started over last season. Washington enters the draft lottery with high odds to land another blue-chip prospect. Alex Sarr had a decent year considering the circumstances but this year's class is infinitely better.
28. Charlotte Hornets (19-63)
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Previous Ranking: 28
The Hornets are back in familiar territory. Let's face it, they've been a historic loser for most of their franchise history. Nothing is going to change in Charlotte with the current regime. At this point, LaMelo Ball likely won't be the franchise savior they hoped for as constant injuries and bad playstyle have hampered him. Just a bad culture there.
27. New Orleans Pelicans (21-61)
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Previous Ranking: 27
In all likelihood, the Pelicans will clean the house. They need a fresh start after a disastrous season. Even accounting for injuries, there's no reason for them to be as lifeless as they were all year. Zion Williamson is another one of these franchise players whose durability is a major concern and it's reached a point of patience running thin.
26. Philadelphia 76ers (24-58)
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Previous Ranking: 26
Mission accomplished. The Sixers will end the season with top-five lottery odds. The percentages favor them to keep their top-six protected pick. They pivoted to that being their top goal once they realized Joel Embiid wouldn't be healthy enough to salvage their season. Philly needs a shot in the arm and a blue-chip prospect could just be that to save one of the NBA's worst situations with an expensive and old roster.
25. Brooklyn Nets (26-56)
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Previous Ranking: 25
The Nets will need some lottery luck. They're starting from the ground up with prospects. Jordi Fernandez did an excellent job as a head coach by squeezing every drop of juice from his roster. That's both a blessing and a curse as it could jeopardize Brooklyn's chances to add its first top player. The roster leaves a lot to desire filled with journeymen and non-NBA players.
24. Toronto Raptors (30-52)
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Previous Ranking: 24
Everything said about the Nets could be said about the Raptors, too. They wanted to be bad but a solid coach and a better roster made it impossible to be a basement dweller. They can at least get excited about Brandon Ingram. He was added at the trade deadline but an ankle sprain has delayed his debut until next season. He has an injection to help with the rehab process.
23. San Antonio Spurs (34-48)
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Previous Ranking: 23
The Spurs entered the season with postseason aspirations. Instead, injuries derailed that. Victor Wembanyama was the headliner in that unfortunate department as a blood clot cost him the post-All-Star break. At least San Antonio will likely take home another Rookie of the Year award with Stephon Castle. He's played better in recent months with a bigger role.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (36-46)
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Previous Ranking: 22
The Trail Blazers didn't make the postseason but played their best stretch in years. They have a solid mix of young players and veterans. Deni Avdija was better than anybody could've expected. Shaedone Sharpe and Scoot Henderson took steps in the right direction. For their positive momentum, Chauncey Billups was rewarded with an extension on the final day of the season.
21. Phoenix Suns (36-46)
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Previous Ranking: 21
The Suns were finally put out of their misery. Their postseason hopes were on life support this past week and the short-handed Thunder finally pulled the plug. Phoenix ended one of the most disappointing seasons the NBA has seen in recent years. Expect Kevin Durant to likely be traded this offseason as the Suns are in a wasteland occupied by a terrible and expensive roster with a delusional owner.
20. Miami Heat (37-45)
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Previous Ranking: 20
The Heat have played better in these last two weeks. They're back in a familiar spot as a play-in team. In a preview to their 9th vs. 10th matchup this week, they lost to the Bulls despite Tyler Herro's 30 points. It was a nice tune-up for their upcoming week's rematch with their season on the line. Miami hopes for the opposite result.
19. Sacramento Kings (40-42)
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Previous Ranking: 18
The Kings limp their way into the play-in tournament. The beauty is that they only need to get hot for two games to make the playoffs. The ugliness is that they've been a walking carcass of a franchise that refuses to stay dead. Sacramento will need everything to go right in its play-in games, including DeMar DeRozan to step up as a clutch player.
18. Atlanta Hawks (40-42)
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Previous Ranking: 20
The Hawks are back in the play-in tournament. This is a spot they should be used to. Atlanta has had another solid season with a good mixture of veterans and youth. Zaccharie Risacher doesn't get the same love as other rookies but he scored a career-high 38 points in a win over the Nets.
17. Chicago Bulls (39-43)
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Previous Ranking: 17
The Bulls are another team stuck in play-in purgatory. At least they've played a fun brand of basketball since Zach LaVine was traded. One player they should be excited about is Josh Giddey. He turned a self-gamble into an incoming handsome extension. He's been a triple-double machine since the All-Star break and will get a chance to lead Chicago to a playoff spot.
16. Dallas Mavericks (39-43)
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Previous Ranking: 16
A nightmarish season added its latest chapter. The Mavericks welcomed back Luka Doncic in their blowout loss to the Lakers. It was the first time he returned to Dallas since he was shockingly traded. Emotions filled the arena as the superstar cried during his tribute video and the crowd chanted for Nico Harrison to be fired. It's been two months since the deal went down. The ramifications of it will be felt for the next decade.
15. Orlando Magic (41-41)
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Previous Ranking: 15
Stuck in the play-in range, the Magic have gotten hot at the right time. They've won five of their last six games. Even with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner back, Orlando has struggled to produce points with one of the worst offenses. They can salvage their season with a play-in win and be a possible first-round threat.
14. Detroit Pistons (44-38)
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Previous Ranking: 14
The Pistons put the final touches to their best regular season in a decade. Cade Cunningham's ascension headlined their turnaround as he will likely earn All-NBA nods. They'll face off against the Knicks in the first round. That could be an exciting series. Detroit has revamped its culture from a known loser to a pesky opponent.
13. Memphis Grizzlies (48-34)
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Previous Ranking: 13
It's been a tumultuous month for the Grizzlies. They fire Taylor Jenkins and Ja Morant is back into getting in trouble with the NBA for his celebration gestures. On the actual court, they've slid down the standings and are stuck in the play-in tournament. Such a disappointment considering they flirted with the second seed for most of the season. Memphis must advance past the play-in if it wants to make the playoffs.
12. Indiana Pacers (50-32)
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Previous Ranking: 11
The Pacers' first-round opponent is set. Prepare for the Bucks. They'll have a homecourt advantage with the fourth seed. Indiana has gone under the radar all season. It might not play the most stylish brand of basketball but it has been an upper-echelon squad for most of the year with a good group of players led by Tyrese Haliburton.
11. Denver Nuggets (50-32)
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Previous Ranking: 8
Talk about shocking. Wow. This season was filled with several jaw-dropping mid-season transactions. The Nuggets had the last one. Days before the playoffs, they fired Michael Malone and Calvin Booth. David Adelman will be the interim coach. This is an unprecedented move. Nobody has ever been fired this late in the regular season. This is a Hail Mary attempt by Denver to salvage Nikola Jokic's best season. Just an unreal move that caught the entire NBA world's attention.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
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Previous Ranking: 12
The Bucks enter the playoffs with a hot streak with eight straight wins. Even without Damian Lillard, Milwaukee's role players have stepped up to support Giannis Antetokounmpo. They'll face the Pacers in the first round. That should be an exciting series considering how their four games went in the regular season. Hopefully, Lillard will be cleared of his blood clots by then.
9. New York Knicks (51-31)
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Previous Ranking: 7
The Knicks will be the popular choice as an upset elimination. It's easy to see why. They went winless in 10 games against the Thunder, Cavaliers and Celtics. While Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have lived up to their hype on offense, their defense has taken a step back from last year. New York enters the playoffs with little momentum. Expect a lot of folks to pick the Pistons in their playoff series.
8. Golden State Warriors (48-34)
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Previous Ranking: 6
In a pseudo-playoff matchup, the Warriors couldn't do enough in a win-and-you're-in game against the Clippers in the regular-season finale. Stephen Curry had 36 points and Jimmy Butler had 30 points but Golden State still fell at home and will now be in the dangerous play-in tournament. It hopes to beat the Grizzlies and get a favorable playoff matchup against the Rockets.
7. LA Clippers (50-32)
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Previous Ranking: 10
The Clippers enter the playoffs with all of the momentum. James Harden had 39 points and Kawhi Leonard had 33 points to avoid the play-in and clinch a first-round date against the Nuggets. The two multi-time All-Star players have played their best basketball over the last month. LA could be a threat to make the second round with its current setup.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
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Previous Ranking: 9
Lady luck was on the Timberwolves' side. A consequential 16th technical foul was rescinded for Anthony Edwards. That helped him dodge a one-game suspension in the finale against the Jazz. Turns out, Minnesota needed him as it barely avoided a doomsday loss. They will face the Lakers in the first round in an electric series filled with star names.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (50-32)
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Previous Ranking: 5
Looking for a demoralizing second win over the Thunder, the Lakers played their top players. They didn't get the result they wanted but can explain it away with Luka Doncic's ejection. Despite a split, they sent their message to the title favorite. Los Angeles enters the playoffs as a popular choice to make the NBA Finals with LeBron James and Doncic being the best superstar duo on the field.
4. Houston Rockets (52-30)
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Previous Ranking: 4
With the second seed locked up, the Rockets spent most of their week resting their starters. They threw a curveball in their finale against the Nuggets when they played their regular players. It took a while, but a hot finish to the season has given Houston the national credit it's earned. They might not have a bonafide All-Star player but will be a tough out in the playoffs because of their defense.
3. Boston Celtics (61-21)
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Previous Ranking: 1
The Celtics are primed for their title defense. They coasted through the regular season but turned it up a notch in this final month. These top three teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. That said, Jaylen Brown's knee problems must be unsettling to hear. He recently had an injection for pain tolerance. He must be healthy in the playoffs if Boston wants to repeat as NBA champions.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18)
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Previous Ranking: 3
The Cavaliers have been the best or second-best team in the NBA record-wise. They'll enter the playoffs as the runaway first seed. If they go deep, it'll be because their offense carries them through the gauntlet. Evan Mobley has taken the next leap as a scorer this year.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14)
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Previous Ranking: 2
Putting the finishing touches of an MVP campaign, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points in a statement win over the Lakers. That was his final game of the year as he sat out the Thunder's final three games. They will enter the playoffs as the title favorite with the best record and best point differential ever. Anything short of a championship can be viewed as a disappointment.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: NBA Power Rankings: Regular season sets playoffs, play-in tournament
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