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30 Words for 30 Teams: Cavs return to top tier in NBA Power Rankings

Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Welcome to theScore's biweekly NBA Power Rankings, where you'll find roughly 30 words on all 30 teams every other Tuesday throughout the season.

1. Houston Rockets (previous rank: 1)

The Rockets are the biggest threat to the Warriors' throne since Kevin Durant's arrival last season. They've won 10 straight and own the league's best record.

2. Golden State Warriors (2)

The Warriors haven't been their usual dominant selves, looking lackadaisical in a couple of blowout losses. However, they remain one of two teams in the top five on both ends of the floor.

3. Toronto Raptors (3)

Unquestionably the East's best team, Toronto is fourth in both offense and defense and has won seven straight games - six of them by 15-plus points.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (13)

Has the tide turned in Cleveland? It didn't take long for the Cavaliers to look like a fully functional franchise again. Their overhauled roster has won two games against legitimate playoff teams.

5. Boston Celtics (4)

The Celtics lost the top spot in the East and looked less than stellar heading into the All-Star break. They won't have much time to fix their 21st-ranked offense.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves (5)

The Timberwolves' inconsistency makes it awfully difficult to rank them. Their Tom Thibodeau-run defense has been shockingly bad at times.

7. San Antonio Spurs (6)

Is this the year the Spurs miss the 50-win mark? A model of consistency for nearly two decades, San Antonio has struggled to stay healthy all season.

8. Utah Jazz (16)

No, Jazz fans, you're not dreaming. After a slow start, Utah has won 11 straight and is getting a huge boost from super-rookie Donovan Mitchell.

9. Oklahoma City Thunder (10)

After losing Andre Roberson, the Thunder's elite defense is below average. They ranked fifth prior to his injury and are 18th over their last 10 games.

10. Washington Wizards (7)

The Wizards continue to stay afloat without John Wall by sharing the ball, averaging 28.3 assists (third) over the past two weeks. Winners of two in a row and seven of nine, they visit the surging Cavs next.

11. Indiana Pacers (12)

Indiana has won three straight and is ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency over that stretch. They can keep that up for at least another week, as they face the bottom-feeding Hawks and Mavs.

12. Denver Nuggets (8)

The Nuggets' high-powered offense has led them to nine wins in 12 games, including an upset victory over the Warriors. Five of their next seven are against teams in the playoff picture.

13. Philadelphia 76ers (18)

Who can stop The Process? The Sixers are rolling, thanks in large part to Joel Embiid's dominance and health. With the easiest remaining schedule, the strong defensive team should be able to build on its five-game win streak.

14. Portland Trail Blazers (11)

With Damian Lillard leading the way, Portland's on pace to make the postseason for a fifth straight year. The All-Star's production saw a post-break bump after he was snubbed the past two years. Will he be as motivated this time around?

15. Milwaukee Bucks (9)

The Bucks have done a good job of taking care of inferior opponents, but their next eight are against clubs in the playoff picture, including the Pacers and Wizards. Can they leapfrog them for home-court advantage?

16. New Orleans Pelicans (15)

The Pelicans have posted the fastest pace in the league over the past two weeks and averaged more than 130 points over their three-game win streak while ranking fourth in defensive rating. That production isn't sustainable.

17. Los Angeles Clippers (19)

The Clippers have made it clear they intend to make a playoff push despite trading away their best player. The Lou Williams-led club will be tested in matchups with the Warriors, Nuggets, and Rockets over the next week.

18. Detroit Pistons (17)

The Pistons have come back down to earth after the initial high of going all-in for Blake Griffin. They could gain some ground in the playoff hunt over the next few weeks when they face nine straight conference rivals.

19. Miami Heat (14)

The Dwyane Wade reunion is the only positive in South Beach right now. The Heat almost snuck into the third seed but dropped to eighth after losing seven of eight.

20. Charlotte Hornets (20)

The Hornets are mired in mediocrity, as they sit 5.5 games back of the final playoff spot but have also won too many games to land a high draft pick. Where do they go from here?

21. Los Angeles Lakers (21)

The Lakers quietly went on a run over the last six weeks, winning 10 of 14. They managed that without Lonzo Ball, and with LaVar cooped up in Lithuania. But nothing good lasts forever, as LaVar is making noise yet again.

22. New York Knicks (22)

Every season is the same for the Knicks. They get off to a passable start since they play at home a lot, everyone gets hyped about their playoff chances, then it all falls apart after New Year's. Poor Kristaps Porzingis.

23. Chicago Bulls (26)

Things are looking up for the Bulls. They received a first-rounder for Nikola Mirotic, the young pieces they got for Jimmy Butler are thriving, they beat Butler (and Tom Thibodeau), and they could still get a decent lottery pick.

24. Dallas Mavericks (25)

You have to give the Mavericks credit for always being a tough out, but they just can't close out games. They have a league-worst 28 clutch time losses this season - five more than the 29th-ranked Nets.

25. Brooklyn Nets (23)

The Nets' lack of talent and abundance of injuries have finally caught up with them. Yes, the players work hard and play up-tempo, but they also just straight-up lack skill. Jahlil Okafor is still unplayable.

26. Memphis Grizzlies (24)

The Grizzlies sat Tyreke Evans for weeks and told him he'd be traded, then they reportedly refused to trade him for two second-rounders, even though he's an impending free agent they can't afford. Now, he's awaiting a buyout that might not come as he plays for a team that dropped nine of its last 10.

27. Orlando Magic (30)

D.J. Augustin is their starting point guard in 2018.

28. Atlanta Hawks (28)

The 2017-18 Hawks will make for an impossible Sporcle quiz one day for NBA geeks. Who are Isaiah Taylor, Josh Magette, Tyler Cavanaugh, and Andrew White, and why are they all on the same team?

29. Sacramento Kings (29)

Kings fans will cherish Bogdan Bogdanovic's stellar performance in the Rising Stars game until the franchise somehow loses him in a signature stroke of Kings mismanagement.

30. Phoenix Suns (27)

De facto general manager Devin Booker will be busy in the coming weeks. Along with producing inflated numbers in lopsided blowouts, he'll need to scout heavily during March Madness and figure out which veteran free agents would help this 18-41 team make the playoffs next year.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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