We’re officially near the middle of the 2024-2025 NBA season, and the competition has gone up a notch since the turn of 2025. A few stars who were injured to start the year have now suited up for their respective NBA teams, aiming to improve their records and rankings, giving themselves a position to sneak into the play-in or the playoffs.
Let’s also not forget that the trade deadline is merely a month away. All the salivating drama has started to come forward from a few teams, providing intense coverage on the would-be destinations for some of the league’s stars.
Let’s take a quick look at the ranking for all 30 NBA teams after week 12 of nonstop action.
Who are the top-ranking NBA teams after week 12 of games?
30. Washington Wizards (28)
Losers of six straight, this Wizards team should consider trading some of their veterans before the trade deadline in February and give their youngins some additional reps to hasten their experience. The mighty Thunder squad walloped them by 41 points to conclude a 0-4 week.
29. Charlotte Hornets (30)
Two of the Hornets’ scheduled four games this week were postponed due to the ongoing LA wildfires. As a result, they had back-to-back games against the underwhelming Suns in week 12. They miraculously pulled off an 11-point win in their first battle with Phoenix before falling short in their next game, 120-113. They are just 1-9 in their last 10 games.
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28. Toronto Raptors (27)
The Raptors went 0-4 this week, losing to Milwaukee, New York, Cleveland, and Detroit. Despite having Immanuel Quickley back in the lineup, the losses kept piling up for this team. It certainly looks like they’ll compete with the Hornets and the Wizards at the bottom part of the rankings until the NBA season ends in April.
27. New Orleans Pelicans (29)
Zion Williamson finally made his season debut in week 12, and for a night, the Pelicans fairly looked like a playoff-caliber team. After a day or two, news broke out that he was suspended for a game due to being late on a team flight. It seems like he’s mastered the art of not playing after all those games sitting on the bench. Doesn’t matter, though, as the Pelicans have essentially no chance for a play-in spot this season.
26. Utah Jazz (26)
Without Lauri Markkanen, it was generally expected that the Jazz would go 0-4 in week 12, which they did. But, even with a winless week, the team’s performance was quite encouraging. All of their losses only came in single digits, no blowouts.
25. Brooklyn Nets (25)
Without Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas, the Nets ended up with a 0-4 record this past week. They lost to the Pacers, Pistons, Nuggets, and Jazz. Even with an extended leash due to the absence of their scorers, Ben Simmons still failed to show up for the Nets.
Also Read: NBA Power Rankings: All 30 NBA Teams Ranked From WORST To FIRST After Week 11
24. Portland Trail Blazers (24)
Even though the Blazers were competitive in week 12, they only compiled a 1-4 record, with their lone win coming against the hapless Pelicans. It’s quite hard to predict the direction of this team. They do have the right mix of veterans and young players on the roster, but the losses keep piling up.
23. Philadelphia 76ers (21)
The Sixers lost to the Suns, Magic, and Pelicans this past week. Their only win was against the cellar-dwelling Wizards. To be fair, they were without Joel Embiid, who continues to miss games due to his injury woes. Paul George has been mostly on and off this season so far for Philly.
22. San Antonio Spurs (15)
There’s no other way to put it: the Spurs have struggled since 2025 rolled around. They have lost three straight games and only went 4-6 in their last 10 games. As a result, their weekly rankings in the NBA have been all over the place so far this season.
21. Golden State Warriors (17)
The Warriors won against the Pistons this past week but lost to the Heat and the surging Pacers. They are just 4-6 in their last 10 games and have fallen outside the top 10 in the Western Conference standings. Steph Curry needs help, and their management should hope for a miracle before the trade deadline in order to salvage this season.
20. Chicago Bulls (22)
Going 2-2 was somewhat impressive for the Bulls. They posted wins against the Spurs and Wizards, while their losses came from the Kings and the Pacers. Zach LaVine has been electric so far since the turn of 2025. No doubt that his draft stock has gone high, and teams are starting to see his value.
19. Atlanta Hawks (16)
Trae Young delivered what could be the best game-winning buzzer-beater of the 2024-2025 NBA season against the Utah Jazz. He’s having a very good season despite his scoring numbers being down. The Hawks do have a good chance for a secured playoff spot in April, given how the rest of the teams in the East are performing this season.
18. Phoenix Suns (23)
Winners of three straight, it looks like the starting lineup switch they made last week is paying off if we’re looking at the small sample size. Bradley Beal, unexpectedly, is thriving in a sixth-man role and has played well with their bench guys. This team still has a long way to go, though, if we’re talking about them as serious players in the weekly NBA rankings.
17. Detroit Pistons (20)
Going 8-2 in their last 10 games, it’s hard not to root for this Pistons team. They’ve been through a lot in the last few years, including an atrocious 14-68 record last season. Winning 20 games well before the all-star break is such an accomplishment for this team. A top-six finish in April might be a realistic goal right now. And they know they can do it.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves (19)
The biggest problem for this Wolves team is that they are playing horrendously at home and on the road. While they managed to compile a 6-4 record in their last 10 games, they weren’t impressive, and their progress as a team was minimal. But they did come out week 12 with a 3-1 slate. Not too bad.
15. Sacramento Kings (18)
Perhaps the coaching change was necessary, as the Kings are now on a seven-game winning streak. Their offense looks much more fluid under the guidance of Doug Christie. Domantas Sabonis is playing with joy again. Who would’ve thought this team has what it takes to clamp down on the mighty Celtics after how they started this season? Well, they convincingly did shut the C’s in week 12.
14. Los Angeles Clippers (10)
The Clippers had a two-game slate this past week but lost both games to the Nuggets and the Wolves. Kawhi Leonard asked for time off due to the wildfires plaguing California, which have threatened the safety of his family. According to multiple reports, his family is safe, and he’ll be back in action in week 13.
13. Milwaukee Bucks (12)
The Bucks won against San Antonio, Toronto, and Orlando before being outclassed thoroughly by the Knicks to cap off week 12. They have won 6 out of 10 but need to do a lot better before February’s all-star break in order to break into the top four in the East.
12. Miami Heat (13)
It’s quite odd to see that the Heat are thriving sans Jimmy Butler, who remains out due to suspension. Tyler Herro inadvertently invited some controversy about his comments that the team has enough to win games despite not having their star on the team. This team’s rankings will be tested heavily in week 13 as they are up against playoff-caliber NBA teams such as the Clippers, Lakers, and Nuggets.
11. Dallas Mavericks (11)
The Mavs are still without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving but somehow managed to come out of week 12 with a 2-2 slate. It should have been 3-1, but they inexplicably surrendered a 19-point lead in the 4th quarter against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. The good news is that Doncic has been seen ramping up his on-court workouts recently. He may be available soon for the Mavs.
10. Los Angeles Lakers (10)
It’s been a tough week in LA, but it’s not due to how they performed on the court. The LA wildfires devastated communities within the area, and the Lakers had two out of their three games postponed this week. Their lone game ended in a loss against a Luka-Kyrie-less Mavs. This is more than basketball, though. Prayers to all those who were affected by this tragedy.
9. Indiana Pacers (14)
It’s a welcomed sight that the Pacers are back inside the top 10 of the NBA weekly rankings. There was so much hope for them, but it’s safe to say that they were atrocious at the start of the season. However, it looks like they’ve turned the leaf around, as they are currently on a six-game winning streak.
8. Orlando Magic (8)
Paolo Banchero is back, and he has not lost a step despite missing more than 30 games since October. Even though the Magic only went 4-6 in their last 10 games, their optimism never wavered. They know that once Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs return from their injury woes, they have what it takes to be a party wrecker in the East this season.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (6)
While the Grizzlies managed to come out with a 2-1 slate in week 12, it feels like this team’s still missing something on the court. They are only 5-5 in their last 10 games despite having a healthy Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr in the lineup. Maybe a trade for Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine, or another star can elevate the team’s performance?
6. Denver Nuggets (7)
Who would’ve thought that Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic would mesh this well for the Nuggets? Both former league MVPs just recorded a 25-point triple-double in the same game. Crazy, right? Westbrook has brought his intensity and leadership to the Nuggets, and the team has willingly embraced his tenacity on the court.
5. Houston Rockets (5)
The Rockets are on a three-game winning streak and are sitting comfortably at the second spot in the Western Conference standings. It’s quite clear now that this team is the real deal and will be a problem for teams in the postseason. However, they do need to compile some serious winning streaks in order to gain some ground in the NBA weekly rankings before the February all-star break.
4. New York Knicks (4)
The Knicks were tested heavily in week 12. While a 2-2 slate isn’t bad, it definitely showed them that they still have a lot to improve. The wins against the Raptors and the Bucks were nice, but the losses against the Magic and the Thunder were quite alarming. Plus, they do need to trust their bench more. They can’t have OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges hoisting bricks all game. Somebody else needs to stand up whenever their stars are having an off day.
3. Boston Celtics (3)
The Celtics aren’t cruising as they’d hoped like they did last season. We don’t necessarily know if that’s good or bad, but maybe they aren’t too worried about their regular-season record this time around after they won it all in 2024. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games. Are they worried that the top two teams in the weekly NBA standings have surpassed them in terms of production on the court this season? Perhaps not yet.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
The battle between the top two teams in each conference certainly did not disappoint. Well…the Thunder were probably disappointed with the result. They lost the hotly contested game against the Cavs in week 12. But they shouldn’t be too hard on themselves. If Chet Holmgren had been available, maybe the results would have been different. Who knows? One thing’s for sure: the Thunder owns the loaded Western Conference this season.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (2)
Even though the Cavs ended the week with a loss against the surging Pacers, they moved to the top spot in this week’s NBA rankings due to their impressive win against the Western Conference-leading Thunder. They are on pace to win a mind-boggling 70 games this season. The Cavs are 9-1 in their last 10 games. Week 13 should be a fun one for them as they will be pitted against the Pacers, Thunder, and Timberwolves. Should they surpass those with flying colors, then there’s no doubting this Cavaliers team anymore.
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