PHILADELPHIA — Oklahoma City and Cleveland continue to separate themselves as the NBA’s top two teams.
The Thunder have won 15 straight games, beating the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, 105-92, while the Cavaliers extended their winning streak to 10 by defeating the Charlotte Hornets, 115-105, Sunday.
They’ll get a chance to settle who is the better team when facing each other for the first time this season Wednesday in Cleveland. The Cavs are 18-1 at home.
Until then, The Arizona Republic’s latest NBA power rankings will determine the league’s top team.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (30-5)
Last week: 2nd in rankings.
The Thunder limited Boston to under 40% shooting from the field. The Celtics got the 3s up, but made only 9-of-46 against the league’s best defense. That’s the biggest difference between Cleveland and OKC right now. The Thunder are better defensively and have the MVP frontrunner in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who outplayed Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on his 33-point night.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (31-4)
Last week: 1st in rankings.
The Cavs are having the better season of the two. They have the league’s best offense, are second to OKC in points off turnovers at 20.6 (Thunder first at 23.3) a game. Looking forward to seeing how Evan Mobley plays against OKC. He can be a mismatch problem for anyone. Just went for 34 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes in Friday’s win at Dallas.
3. Boston Celtics (26-10)
Last week: 3rd in rankings.
Still have more faith in Boston when the rubber meets the road, but still too reliant on the 3. The Celtics are attempting an NBA-record 50.2 a game. That’s too much. Entirely too much, but it’s who they are. Boston plays Tuesday at Denver. The Nuggets are 11th in NBA in defending the 3.
4. New York Knicks (24-14)
Last week: 4th in rankings.
Karl-Anthony Towns is listed as questionable for Monday’s game against Orlando to begin a five-game homestand with a right knee patellar tendon injury. He cooked Chicago for 44 points and 16 rebounds, but the Knicks lost. New York leads the NBA in a very unusual stat: number of kicked balls with 27.
5. Houston Rockets (23-12)
Last week: Teams 6-10.
Jalen Green scored 33 points in leading the Rockets past the Los Angeles Lakers, 119-115, Sunday in Houston. He can ball, and so can Amen Thompson. Didn’t think Thompson needed to go WWE on Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro on the takedown, but the young man can play, too. He posted a double-double of 23 points and 16 rebounds against the Lakers.
Teams 6-10
Memphis Grizzlies (23-13) – Memphis went 1-3 in its last four games of a five-game road trip. Still without Ja Morant (shoulder), the Grizzlies return home Monday to face Dallas.
Denver Nuggets (20-14) – Nikola Jokic posted 87 points, 27 rebounds and 19 assists total in back-to-back games against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. The guy is unreal.
Los Angeles Lakers (20-15) – Lesson learned for Max Christie on that late inbound pass to LeBron James that Fred VanVleet stole with 5.7 seconds left and the Lakers down three.
Los Angeles Clippers (20-15) – Kawhi Leonard finally makes his season debut, scoring 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting in a 131-105 win over Atlanta.
Dallas Mavericks (20-15) – The Mavs have lost their past four as Luka Doncic remains out with the left calf strain. Seeing him unable to put weight on that leg trying to stand up watching Cavs-Mavs from bench is concerning.
Dropped out 6-10: Orlando Magic (21-16) and Milwaukee Bucks (17-16).
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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