NBA power rankings, odds to win title: Thunder, Cavs, Celtics rolling

Posted by author January 29, 2025 NBA

Spread the love

The Oklahoma City Thunder are rolling, the Cleveland Cavaliers have hit a couple of speed bumps, the Boston Celtics are in cruise control and the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets are in a pile-up of losses.

Who is ready to make a playoff push for a better seed? Will the trade deadline be quiet or will some teams make a deal that improves their postseason chances?

The trade deadline is Feb. 6, and after the All-Star Game on Feb. 16, just two months remain in the regular season.

Let’s look at a late January edition of USA TODAY’s NBA power rankings with championship odds courtesy of BetMGM. (Records are through Monday’s games.)

NBA power rankings

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (37-8)

Best team in the NBA, simple as that.

Odds to win title: +240

2. Houston Rockets (31-14)

The Rockets have won eight of their past 10 games, including three in a row over Cleveland (twice) and Boston.

Odds to win title: +4000

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-9)

The recent three-game losing streak, which ended Monday with a victory against Detroit, is of minor concern. Will that slide turn into a major concern?

Odds to win title: +700

4. Memphis Grizzlies (31-16)

Winless in two games against Houston this season, the Grizzlies, who had just won six consecutive games before losing to New York on Monday, get another shot at the Rockets on Thursday.

Odds to win title: +2800

5. Boston Celtics (32-15)

It’s not unusual for defending champions to sleepwalk through portions of the season while still compiling victories.

Odds to win title: +240

6. New York Knicks (31-16)

The Knicks have won four consecutive games and were impressive in a blowout victory over Memphis.

Odds to win title: +1300

7. Denver Nuggets (28-18)

Still trying to figure out if the Nuggets are a contender or pretender. It changes game to game.

Odds to win title: +1200

8. Milwaukee Bucks (26-18)

With Giannis Antetokounmpo playing like an MVP, do the Bucks even need to make a trade deadline deal?

Odds to win title: +2500

9. Los Angeles Lakers (26-18)

Lakers started a six-game trip with victories against Golden State and Charlotte and have a winnable game at Washington up next.

Odds to win title: +4000

10. Indiana Pacers (25-20)

After starting 10-15, the Pacers have won 15 of 20 and are playing more like the team that reached the Eastern Conference finals last season.

Odds to win title: +10000

11. Los Angeles Clippers (26-20)

With little fanfare, the Clippers have moved into the top six in the West.

Odds to win title: +4000

12. Phoenix Suns (24-21)

Still trying to make a big trade deadline deal, the Suns are 8-3 since a four-game losing streak ended earlier this month.

Odds to win title: +4000

13. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-21)

Recent victories against Denver and Dallas are encouraging, but can the Timberwolves eliminate the inconsistency that has them in the play-in game format right now?

Odds to win title: +4000

14. Sacramento Kings (24-22)

Since firing Mike Brown as head coach, the Kings are 11-3.

Odds to win title: +10000

15. Detroit Pistons (23-23)

The Pistons are close to doubling last season’s wins total and are in position to reach the postseason for the first time since 2019.

Odds to win title: +75000

16. Dallas Mavericks (25-22)

Getting Luka Doncic – out since Christmas with a calf injury – back in the lineup will help the Mavericks, who are 6-11 without him the past month.

Odds to win title: +2000

17. Miami Heat (23-22)

Nine of Miami’s next 11 games are on the road. Will Jimmy Butler still be suspended indefinitely by the team or will he be with another franchise by expiration of the Feb. 6 trade deadline?

Odds to win title: +12500

18. Golden State Warriors (22-23)

Getting healthy will help but even then, are the Warriors a playoff team?

Odds to win title: +5000

19. Orlando Magic (24-24)

Paolo Banchero is back but his injury and Franz Wagner’s injury finally caught up to the Magic, who have slipped to seventh place.

Odds to win title: +5000

20. Atlanta Hawks (22-24)

The Hawks have lost five consecutive games including two at home to Toronto.

Odds to win title: +15000

21. San Antonio Spurs (20-23)

The Spurs are 2-7 since a victory against Denver on Jan. 3.

Odds to win title: +25000

22. Portland Trail Blazers (17-29)

A brutal schedule in Portland’s next 10 games includes matchups against Milwaukee and back-to-back road games against Denver.