We are officially in the second half of the 2024-2025 NBA season!

This generally means that for the upcoming weeks until the middle of April, more than half of the league’s teams are gearing up for a playoff birth. Week 18 was a bit more intense than the previous ones we’ve covered. The rankings are all over the place, as NBA teams have tried to reach another gear to their level of play to grab a top-six finish in their respective conferences.

Let’s take a look at the rankings for all 30 NBA teams in week 18.

Who are the top-ranking NBA teams after week 18?

30. Washington Wizards (30)

Losers of six straight games, the Wizards’ chances of winning at least 10 games this year are in serious peril. They haven’t even cracked the 10-win mark with 23 games to go before their season ends. Unlike other lottery-bound NBA teams in this rankings, you can give Washington credit for playing their young guys’ heavy minutes to hasten up their development.

29. New Orleans Pelicans (29)

With the play-in tournament basically out of reach at this point of the season, it’s hard to fathom why the Pelicans are still trying to win games. Tied with the Jazz with the worst record in the West, there’s no benefit to gathering wins by playing Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, and CJ McCollum heavy minutes. Don’t risk injuries to an already failed season. Tank for the Flagg, Pelicans.

28. Charlotte Hornets (28)

Winning against the Lakers was arguably the best highlight of the season for LaMelo Ball and company. As fate would have it, their celebration was short-lived after getting thrashed by the Nuggets and the Blazers in week 18. As their play-in hope slips further away with each passing week, it’s safe to say that this is another wasted year for this often cellar-dwelling franchise. Nothing noteworthy has happened, and that may stay that way if they don’t draft well in June.

27. Utah Jazz (27)

Second-year guard Keyonte George had a great week for the Jazz, leading the team to a 1-1 record in week 18. While the win against the Rockets was a morale booster, the loss to the rising Thunder squad truly made this team aware of where they are in terms of their ranking in the NBA. They aren’t going to make the playoffs this year, so they might as well aim for a top-three pick in June.

26. Toronto Raptors (26)

It’s hard to imagine that the Raptors are just eight games behind the tenth-place Bulls for the final play-in spot in the East despite having one of the worst years for this franchise. But with each passing week, this group of young guys led by Scottie Barnes has impressed a few pundits. They ran a wall against the Heat before pulling off an impressive win against the struggling Suns to close out the week.

25. Philadelphia 76ers (25)

It’s not hard to imagine that the Sixers might miss the play-in tournament this season. Joel Embiid has struggled with injuries, and so has Paul George, who was their prized signing in the offseason. It looks like Embiid will explore options about having surgery on his knee once this season is over because none of the ongoing treatments he had this year have worked.

24. Chicago Bulls (23)

Losers of six straight games, the Bulls season is crumbling before our eyes. They truly missed Zach LaVine’s scoring after they traded him for peanuts at the trade deadline. They just went 2-8 in their last 10. If I’m a Bulls fan, I’d be ecstatic about all the recent losses. This team is due for a full rebuild. If they don’t land Cooper Flagg, there are other great prospects in this year’s draft class, such as Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, and VJ Edgecombe, who can help them in the future.

23. San Antonio Spurs (21)

Hearing that Victor Wembanyama was done for the season due to a blood clot on his shoulder was one of the worst news after the all-star weekend. The Spurs went from playoff hopefuls to a lottery team almost overnight. They lost three straight games by double digits in week 18, and as a result, their NBA rankings have dipped. Get well soon, unicorn!

22. Brooklyn Nets (24)

With how their season has gone, it’s hard to believe that the Nets might make the play-in tournament this year. They went 7-3 in their last 10 games and are only a game behind the struggling Bulls for the tenth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. In addition, Cam Thomas is reportedly ramping up his activities and will return soon.

21. Portland Trail Blazers (22)

Going 6-4 in their last 10 games, the Blazers are only 4.5 games behind the Kings for the 10th spot in the West. Deni Avdija is playing well for them and should be seriously considered as a franchise pillar for years to come. Do they have enough to muster some wins down the stretch and improve their rankings before this NBA season is done?

20. Phoenix Suns (19)

It’s hard to comprehend how a lineup that consists of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal only managed to win two games in their last ten. The Suns, currently sitting at the 11th spot in the brutal West, are in serious danger of missing the play-in tournament this season. Their rankings have tumbled as of late due to other NBA teams playing harder than them. Should they miss the postseason, we expect this trio to blow up in the upcoming offseason. Guarantee it.

19. Atlanta Hawks (18)

As ugly as it sounds, the Hawks, who are under .500, are currently in the ‘safe spectrum’ when we talk about the play-in tournament in the East. Even the brilliance of Trae Young hasn’t kept this team from losing three straight and a 4-6 record in their last 10 games. The good thing that’s going for Atlanta is the absolute incompetence that’s happening in their conference this season.

18. Sacramento Kings (16)

The Kings’ chances of a top-six finish in the West are slowly slipping away with each passing week. Right now, they are projected to finish this season with a 41-41 record. Trading away De’Aaron Fox was a mistake, as his successor, Malik Monk, cannot simply run the point for Sacramento. Adding LaVine hasn’t moved mountains, either.

17. Miami Heat (15)

Tyler Herro continues to ball out for the Heat, but seriously, what happened to Bam Adebayo’s game? His shooting percentages are all down this season, and he has looked a step below on defense compared to his previous outings. The Heat just went 3-7 in their last 10 games, and it will be a lot tougher from now on because other East teams who are consistently below them in the weekly rankings are trying their best to get a secured play-in spot now that we are past the midway point in the 2024-2025 NBA season.

16. Orlando Magic (17)

After their rollercoaster ride due to Paolo Banchero’s and Franz Wagner’s injuries, the Magic has looked good in the last couple of weeks. They went 5-5 in their last 10 and are just three games behind the Detroit Pistons for the sixth spot in the East. Anthony Black, their lottery pick last season, has played like a stud after the all-star break.

15. Dallas Mavericks (14)

You have to give credit to Kyrie Irving for leading this team after all the injuries and drama they had to endure this season. Even with the injuries to Davis, Lively, and Gafford, the Mavs still find ways to fight for wins. They are a scrappy team. However, they will forever regret trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers. Dallas will be reminded of his brilliance when they visit Doncic and the Lakers in week 19.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves (11)

Anthony Edwards has done everything he can to keep the Wolves afloat in recent weeks. Still, Minnesota only went 4-6 in their last 10 games. Their loss against the West-leading Thunder definitely stings for him and the rest of the team. He’s a star, but not the same tier as Doncic, Jokic, and SGA, yet. People tend to forget that he’s just 23 and has a lot more room to grow.

13. Golden State Warriors (15)

Jimmy Butler and the Warriors are in the honeymoon phase right now. The Dubs have won three straight, with Stephen Curry leading the way and Jimmy doing Jimmy things all over the court. As a result, they made a significant leap in this week’s rankings due to outhustling other NBA teams for scrappy wins. Should we take their names into consideration as legitimate contenders this season?

12. Los Angeles Clippers (10)

Without Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers struggled after the all-star festivities ended. The addition of Ben Simmons hasn’t moved the needle that much because he still hesitates to shoot open jumpers. Don’t be surprised if another team in the West suddenly overtakes them in the standings in the upcoming weeks.

11. Detroit Pistons (12)

There’s no doubt that the Pistons are for real this year. Cade Cunningham is morphing into a legitimate star in the league. They are six games above .500 and are on a six-game winning streak. These guys should be proud of themselves after their horrendous outing last season. Basketball is back in the Motor City!

10. Houston Rockets (7)

The Rockets have no business struggling at the most important time of the season. Going 3-7 in their last 10 games shows that this team still has a lot to improve on the floor. Such a shame because they were at the fourth spot in the weekly NBA rankings not too long ago.

9. Indiana Pacers (9)

The Pacers have been winners of three straight, and they look like the team they were in last year’s campaign. They went 7-3 in their last 10, and it has been a collective effort from their starters and their bench guys.

8. Milwaukee Bucks (13)

Surprisingly, the Bucks have been playing well since the All-Star break. They have won four in a row and gone 6-4 in their last 10. Giannis Antetokounmpo has looked great, even though he was reported to be nursing an injury. Damian Lillard has his moments, and so is Kyle Kuzma. If their chemistry improves, this Bucks team should pose some problems in the East.

7. New York Knicks (6)

The Knicks have lost two straight and have looked uncoordinated after the midseason break. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are firing blanks right now. The best player on the team isn’t even Jalen Brunson. It’s Karl-Anthony Towns. The big man is likely to miss a couple of games in week 19 due to a leg injury.

6. Los Angeles Lakers (7)

How about it, Lakers Nation? This season gets better and better. Luka Doncic is back, and he was in his bag after blowing out Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in Mile High City. After his initial struggles after the trade, Luka woke up from his slump after some words of encouragement from coach JJ Redick and LeBron James. Next in line for them in week 19 is a matchup against Doncic’s former team, the Mavericks, in the Crypto.com arena. Grab your popcorn, folks!

5. Memphis Grizzlies (5)

The Grizzlies went 1-2 in week 18, winning against the Magic and losing to the Pacers and the Cavs. Even though they have been within the top three range in the Western Conference standings since January, this team seems to be missing something on the court. Basically, nobody has talked about them being contenders this season. Can they overcome the disrespect and vault themselves into the top three of the NBA rankings before playoffs?

4. Denver Nuggets (4)

The Nuggets’ nine-game winning streak has come to an end, and you can thank Luka Doncic and the rest of the Lakers for that. Nikola Jokic struggled in that game, even if he recorded another triple-double. He was double-teamed and triple-teamed throughout the game, leading to multiple turnovers. Time to get back on track in week 19.

3. Boston Celtics (3)

The Celtics are on a five-game winning streak and have won 9 out of their last 10. Payton Pritchard is lighting up the scoreboard and should win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award this season. They are back at full strength, which is a scary thought for the rest of the league. They are the remaining champs, after all.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (2)

OKC has won two straight games and is 9-1 in its last 10 games. SGA is playing at an elite level as a pro in his seventh season. Chet Holmgren hasn’t looked 100 percent after his two-month absence but is rounding into form after the all-star break. The optimism is at an all-time high for this young Thunder squad.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (1)

Hate to break it to you, but the Cavs should be considered legitimate contenders this season. They have the best overall record in the entire league for most of this year, and that’s not a fluke. Cleveland is on a seven-game winning streak and has won 9 out of 10, yet not a single player in their team is getting some MVP love from the media. By looking at the improvement they had this season, it’s not a farfetched idea that they may seriously unseat the Celtics as the kings of the East.