NBA team power rankings and odds: Bucks climb after beating Thunder for Cup title

Posted by author December 20, 2024 NBA

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The Milwaukee Bucks are on a roll and looking like a title contender, especially after their NBA Cup championship over Oklahoma City.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are crushing it, and the Bucks have won 13 of their past 16 games (though the Cup title game did not count in the standings).

The hottest team in the league, Milwaukee has moved up in the Eastern Conference – fifth place just 1½ games behind third-place New York – and climbed into the top six in the USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings with its recent success.

Here are the post-NBA Cup power rankings (records and stats through games of Dec. 18 and championship odds courtesy of BetMGM):

NBA power rankings

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (23-4)

The Cavs own the best record.

2. Boston Celtics (21-5)

At 19 made 3-pointers per game, the Celtics are on pace to break the league record for 3s per game, surpassing the mark owned by the 2020-21 Utah Jazz (16.7 per game).

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (20-5)

The Thunder are No. 1 in net rating, outscoring opponents by 12.1 points per 100 possessions.

4. Memphis Grizzlies (18-9)

The Grizzlies are the only team in the top six in offensive and defensive rating.

5. Dallas Mavericks (17-9)

Luka Dončić is averaging a career-high 2.1 steals.

6. Milwaukee Bucks (14-11)

Antetokounmpo and Lillard are the highest-scoring duo in the league at 58.4 points per game.

7. Houston Rockets (17-9)

Seven players average at least 10 points led by Jalen Green (19.0 ppg) and Alperen Sengun (18.6 ppg).

8. New York Knicks (16-10)

Karl-Anthony Towns leads the league in rebounding at 13.9 per game, which would also set a career high (previous season best is 12.4 in 2018-19).

9. Orlando Magic (17-11)

The Magic top the NBA in blocks per game at 6.9.

10. Miami Heat (13-11)

The Heat have won four of their past five games, including victories against the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-11)

With a marked increase in 3-point attempts per game, Anthony Edwards is shooting a career-best 42.4% on 3s.

12. Denver Nuggets (14-10)

Nikola Jokic: 30.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game and 55.8% shooting from the field.

13. Phoenix Suns (14-11)

The Suns are 13-2 with Kevin Durant in the lineup.

14. Atlanta Hawks (14-13)

Dyson Daniels, acquired from New Orleans in the offseason, averages a league-best 3.0 steals, and teammate Trae Young leads the league in assists per game (12.1).

Championship odds: +12500

15. Golden State Warriors (14-11)

The Warriors are No. 2 in rebounds per game (47.8) with seven players averaging at least 4.3.

16. Los Angeles Clippers (15-12)

James Harden is 17th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and should pass Tim Duncan, Dominique Wilkins, Oscar Robertson and Hakeem Olajuwon by season’s end.

Championship odds: +10000

17. Los Angeles Lakers (14-12)

The Lakers are fourth in free throws made (18.8) and fourth in free throws attempted per game (24.1).

18. Sacramento Kings (13-14)

Kings guard De’Aaron Fox is ninth in points per game (26.2) and fourth in clutch points per game (4.3) – points scored in the game’s final five minutes with the score within five.

Championship odds: +10000

19. San Antonio Spurs (13-13)

Spurs center Victor Wembanyama leads the league in blocks at 3.5 game.

Championship odds: +25000

20. Chicago Bulls (12-15)

The Bulls are sixth in points per game (118.9), which is on pace for the franchise record.

Championship odds: +100000

21. Indiana Pacers (12-15)

Tyrese Haliburton is fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio with 4.2 assists per 1.0 turnovers a game.

Championship odds: +12500

22. Detroit Pistons (11-16)

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham is the only guard averaging at least 23.0 points, 9.0 assists and 7.0 rebounds.

Championship odds: +100000

23. Brooklyn Nets (10-16)

The Nets are fourth in 3-point shooting percentage (38.5%) and fifth in 3s made per game (15.4).

Championship odds: +100000

24. Philadelphia 76ers (8-16)

Against Charlotte on Dec. 16, Tyrese Maxey became the fourth 76er to record at least 40 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals joining Julius Erving, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson.

25. Toronto Raptors (7-20)

The Raptors have lost nine games by five points or fewer, including six games by three points or fewer.

Championship odds: +100000

26. Charlotte Hornets (7-19)

The Hornets have lost 10 of their past 11 games.

Championship odds: +100000

27. Utah Jazz (5-20)

The Jazz possess the worst defense, allowing 120.7 points per 100 possessions.

Championship odds: +100000

28. Portland Trail Blazers (8-18)

The Blazers have lost six consecutive games and 10 of their past 12.

Championship odds: +100000

29. New Orleans Pelicans (5-22)

The Pelicans are one of three teams with only one road victory.

Championship odds: +50000

30. Washington Wizards (3-21)

The Wizards are last in offensive rating at 103.7 points per 100 possessions – way behind the No. 1 team’s 120.6 points per 100 possessions.

Championship odds: +100000

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