NBA Power Rankings – Why the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and Charlotte Hornets are trending

The Golden State Warriors have won four of their last five games, including a 21-point comeback against the LA Clippers on Friday night. Stephen Curry – despite his 2:16 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night – has found his scoring groove.

While not the same title contenders of previous seasons, the Warriors have regained the look of a team ready to make a little noise in the west.

Who will move up before week 4?

Note: During the regular season, our panel (ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Eric Woodyard, Royce Young and Ohm Youngmisuk) rates all 30 teams from top to bottom and takes stock of the teams that are playing the best basketball now and which teams look the most like title contenders.

Previous ranking: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

1. Los Angeles Lakers
Record 2020-21: 8-3
Previous ranking: 1st

Anthony Davis showed up after Thursday’s disheartening 118-109 loss to San Antonio, calling the Lakers defense “s —” adding that LA has no prayer to repeat itself as champions with such an effort. He returned to the line-up two games later and helped dominate Houston 120-102, recording three blocks. “It wasn’t like I was making it,” Davis explained. “It was the truth; we were really bad defensively. We were bad defensively.” It might have woken up the Lakers. If so, watch out. – – McMenamin

In this week: @HOU, @OKC, NOP

2. LA Clippers
Record 2020-21: 7-4
Previous ranking: 2nd

The Clippers are at full strength for the first time this season, and Marcus Morris Sr. made his season debut last week. But they lost 22 points clear of Golden State in the second half to bring haunted memories of the Florida Bubble back to life. Ty Lue’s defense allowed Zach LaVine to drill 10 3-pointers, burying Stephen Curry nine and Patty Mills eight in three of the last four games. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George score, but defense and banking were inconsistent. – – Youngmisuk

In this week: NOP, @SAC, IND

3. Milwaukee Bucks
Record 2020-21: 6-4
Previous ranking: 5th

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a hard time against Utah on Friday. He missed Saturday’s competition against Cleveland with back pain, but the Bucks still scored a 100-90 win. All six Milwaukee wins this season have earned at least 10 points. – – Woodyard

In this week: @ORL, @DET, DAL

4. Philadelphia 76ers
Record 2020-21: 7-3
Previous ranking: 3rd

On Thursday morning, the Sixers had the best record in the NBA. Four days later, their roster has had a huge hit thanks to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and one exhausted Sixers team has lost two games in a row. Good news: Joel Embiid will be back on the line-up against the tumbling Hawks on Monday night in Atlanta. – – Bontemps

In this week: @ATL, MIA, MIA, @MEM, @OKC

5. Phoenix Suns
Record 2020-21: 7-3
Previous ranking: 7th

Chris Paul continues to protect the ball, averaging just 1.7 sales per game in his last three games, plus 27 assists and only three freebies. Mikal Bridges campaigned for Most Improved Player early on and scored a 34-point win against the Pacers on Saturday night when he best finished his career with six 3-pointers. – – Lopez

In this week: @ WAS, ATL, GSW, IND

6. Boston Celtics
Record 2020-21: 7-3
Previous ranking: 10

The week got off to a great start for Boston, who beat the Raptors and Heat on the street before coming home and beating Washington. But all the good feelings of four straight wins – and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown playing at the All-NBA level – were lost when the team paused half of its squad due to injuries or the league’s health and safety protocols At least for the next few days. – – Bontemps

In this week: @ CHI, ORL, ORL, NYK

7. Indiana Pacers
Record 2020-21: 6-3
Previous ranking: 9th

Despite Saturday’s defeat, Domantas Sabonis continues to shine, scoring 28 points and 22 rebounds against Phoenix. He became the first Pacers player to score 25 points and 20 rebounds in a game since Jermaine O’Neal in 2003. – Woodyard

In this week: @SAC, @GSW, @POR, @PHX, @LAC

8. Miami Heat
Record 2020-21: 4-4
Previous ranking: 6th

Miami had a 2-1 week with 31 points from Tyler Herro in Saturday’s win over the Wizards, but Miami’s short-term future is bleak after Sunday’s game against the Celtics was postponed. Avery Bradley is expected to miss more than Sunday’s game due to the league’s health and safety protocols, and this week’s two-game set with the 76ers has hurdles to overcome as both teams deal with COVID-19 – Deal with problems. – – Friedell

In this week: @PHI, @PHI, DET

9. Utah Jazz
Record 2020-21: 6-4
Previous ranking: 8

Donovan Mitchell has started to warm up after a slightly slow start. He averaged 27.3 points in four games last week, including two performances over 30 points. Mitchell now has 46 career 30-point games, surpassing Karl Malone for the most in any player’s franchise history before his 25th birthday, according to ESPN Stats & Information Research. – – MacMahon

In this week: @CLE, @WAS, ATL, @DEN

10. Dallas Mavericks
Record 2020-21: 5-4
Previous ranking: 14th

Tim Hardaway Jr. earned considerable respect for his professionalism and production in three games during the Mavs winning streak. He responded to a role change with 30 points in the 11-of-14 shooting in his first game off the bench. Hardaway returned to the starting line-up two games later when three Mavs were quarantined, and he had his highest-scoring game in a Dallas uniform with 36 points on the 12-of-20 shooting. – – MacMahon

In this week: NOP, @CHA, @MIL, CHI

11. Brooklyn Networks
Record 2020-21: 5-6
Previous ranking: 4th

With their squad dynamic, no one expected a season without drama, questions, concerns, or problems for the networks. And with Kevin Durant missing three games due to COVID-19 logs and Kyrie Irving missing three games due to personal reasons, the Nets ended the week with a game under .500. They are a way out of any type of panic button, but the past week has been a clear glitch. Assuming they’re back to full strength soon, keep an eye on their next four – Denver at the Knicks, Orlando, and Milwaukee. – – Young

In this week: DEN, @NYK, ORL

12. Portland Trail Blazer
Record 2020-21: 5-4
Previous ranking: 12

Portland’s backyard is rolling. But it’s been a bit staggered lately, with Damian Lillard scoring 39 points against the Wolves one night and CJ McCollum losing 37 points against the Kings one night. Lillard or McCollum have led the blazers in all nine blazer games this season. The Looming Concern: Defensively, the Blazer’s banking units are an issue, which isn’t all that surprising when you consider that Enes Kanter and Carmelo Anthony are two top options. When Anthony and Kanter play together, the Blazers allow 115.9 points per 100 possessions. – – Young

In this week: TOR, @SAC, IND, ATL

13. Denver Nuggets
Record 2020-21: 5-5
Previous ranking: 15th

The nuggets were supposed to get Michael Porter Jr. back from quarantine last week but lost him even longer due to health and safety logs. Though Porter isn’t there and Jamal Murray still doesn’t look like himself, the Nikola Jokic train is in full swing and the Nuggets have now won four of their last five. JaMychal Green delivered strong minutes, and Gary Harris’ offense came to life on this east coast trip. – – Youngmisuk

In this week: @BKN, GSW, UTA

14. Golden State Warriors
Record 2020-21: 6-4
Previous ranking: 22

Stephen Curry shot a career-worst 2-on-16 … and the Warriors won? Sunday’s nail bite over Toronto was a solid end to a Warriors group that has stabilized after a shaky first week of the season. Andrew Wiggins had some fine moments on the grid on either end of the floor and Eric Paschall fit into his goal role in the second unit. Kelly Oubre Jr. however continues to fight from the outside and only shoots 7:50 from a distance. – – Friedell

In this week: IND, @DEN, @PHO

15. San Antonio Spurs
Record 2020-21: 5-5
Previous ranking: 20th

DeMar DeRozan wasn’t with the Spurs in Sunday’s game against the Timberwolves as he left the team for personal reasons, but he scored 38 points on Saturday night and linked his game with the highest score in a San Antonio uniform. On average, he has a career with high assists per game (7.0) and has already scored as many 3-point points in nine games this season as in all of last season in 68 competitions. – – Lopez

In this week: @ OKC, HOU, HOU

16. Orlando Magic
Record 2020-21: 6-4
Previous ranking: 16th

Steve Clifford and his team must feel like a snakebite after young security guard Markelle Fultz tore his ACL apart in Wednesday’s victory over the Cavaliers. Fultz’s injury comes just months after the talented tall man Jonathan ripped Isaac off his ACL in the bladder. With Fultz out, rookie Cole Anthony needs to grow up in a rush when he has more minutes. – – Friedell

In this week: MIL, @BOS, @BOS, @BKN

17. Houston Rockets
Record 2020-21: 3-5
Previous ranking: 17th

James Harden has been in a goal break-in by his standards since returning from an ankle sprain that paused him from a game. He’s averaged 17.8 points in the last four games, three of which were missile losses. According to ESPN Stats & Information Research, Harden’s track has the lowest score in four games since he scored a total of 70 points in the last game of the 2014/15 season and the first three games of the 2015/16 season. – – MacMahon

In this week: LAL, @SAS, @SAS

18. New Orleans Pelicans
Record 2020-21: 4-5
Previous ranking: 13th

To say it was a disappointing week for the pelicans is an understatement. The Pelicans had three very winnable games – six against Indiana by 21 seconds, four against 2:00 against the Donner, and 18 against the Hornets – but all three fell. Stan Van Gundy’s team must work to close the games. And he’s still trying to bring in some of his base defense – something that’s challenging in the timeframe of one season or another. – – Lopez

In this week: @DAL, @lAC, @LAL, @SAC

19. Atlanta Hawks
Record 2020-21: 4-5
Previous ranking: 11

After a hot start, things have cooled significantly for the Hawks, who have now lost four 4-1 right after the start of the season. The Hawks’ free agent acquisitions struggled with injuries: Bogdan Bogdanovic left Saturday’s game with a knee injury; Danilo Gallinari is out with an ankle sprain; Rajon Rondo has only played two games; and Kris Dunn has yet to pass this season. Meanwhile, Trae Young struggled to protect the ball with 19 turnovers in the last three games. – – Lopez

In this week: PHI, @PHX, @UTA, @POR

20. Toronto Raptors
Record 2020-21: 2-7
Previous ranking: 18th

Toronto’s bizarre start to the season continued: a beautiful win in Sacramento on Friday was followed by a clunker at Golden State on Sunday, where the Raptors came back from a large deficit to take the lead late, and Damion Lee tainted seconds and by a point in the final to lose. Still, the Raptors need encouragement from the recently improved play from Pascal Siakam, who averaged 24 points, nearly nine rebounds and more than five assists, while shooting over 50% off the field and hitting 40% of his 3s in four games last week . If Toronto is looking to dig out of this hole, if Siakam keeps playing this is a good start. – – Bontemps

In this week: @POR, CHA, CHA

21. Charlotte Hornets
Record 2020-21: 5-5
Previous ranking: 27

One night after nearly making history against brother Lonzo, LaMelo Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to triple-double in Saturday’s win over the Hawks. Ball’s performance set off a nice exclamation point for a 3-1 week for a Hornets group that were always confident the rookie guard could step in and make an early impression. – – Friedell

In this week: NYK, DAL, @TOR, @TOR

22. New York Knicks
Record 2020-21: 5-5
Previous ranking: 26

After a hot start, the Knicks have begun returning to Earth, with comfortable losses for thunder and nuggets. However, Julius Randle remains the center of the crime. Randle’s seven or more templates per game is a dramatic improvement over his career average of 2.9. If New York settles on the bottom of the East and this improvement continues, then Randle will be a fascinating trading destination before March 25th. – – Bontemps

In this week: @CHA, BKN, @CLE, @BOS

23. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record 2020-21: 5-5
Previous ranking: 19

It’s been a tough 1-3 week for the Cavs in the final four games of their six-game road trip that ended in a 10-point loss to a Bucks team that Giannis Antetokounmpo missed. And Andre Drummond’s 26-point line with 24 rebounds against the bucks might have been a little more shiny Didn’t he do that? against the grizzlies earlier in the week. – – McMenamin

In this week: MEM, UTA, NYK, @WAS

24. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record 2020-21: 5-4
Previous ranking: 28

Wait, is the thunder really doing this again? Last season was supposed to be the start of a rebuilding, but OKC shocked the West all season. After starting 1-3, the Thunder went on a 4-1 road trip with wins against Magic, Pelicans, Knicks and Nets. The outstanding reason: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. On the trip, SGA averaged 20.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists, with a 31-6-7 line against the nets on Sunday. But before Thunder fans dream of yet another overcrowded season, the upcoming schedule could be a reality check. – – Young

In this week: SAS, LAL, CHI, PHI

25. Sacramento Kings
Record 2020-21: 4-6
Previous ranking: 21

Is it too early to play the game where we’re rearranging the 2020 NBA draft? How high would Tyrese Haliburton go? The Iowa State Point Guard, selected by Sacramento as No. 12, has already cracked the Kings starting rotation. In his first action with Sacto’s first unit, Haliburton had 12 points in 5v8 and 8 assists when Luke Walton lost to Portland with a three-guard line-up with De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and the Tower. – – McMenamin

In this week: IND, POR, LAC, NOP

26. Chicago Bulls
Record 2020-21: 4-7
Previous ranking: 29

The bulls have been competitive lately despite not showing up in the overall standings. On a trip to the west coast, Chicago recovered from a 20-point deficit in the first half against Portland and then fell to the Kings, Lakers and Clippers with a total of nine points. Zach LaVine was hot. He scored 45 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists against the Clippers for his sixth 40-5-5 game of his career, breaking with Derrick Rose the fifth most game of its kind in Bulls history. – – Woodyard

In this week: BOS, @OKC, @DAL

27. Memphis Grizzlies
Record 2020-21: 3-6
Previous ranking: 23

The rookie wing Desmond Bane was a bright spot during the Grizzlies’ injured rough start. Number 30 in the draft, Bane is an average of 8.9 points off the bench and shows potential as a 3-and-D role-player. He is 19 out of 39 from afar and ranks second among newbies in 3s. – – MacMahon

In this week: @CLE, @MIN, @MIN, PHI

28. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record 2020-21: 3-7
Previous ranking: 24

The Wolves really wanted to win and made it to the final of the weekend series over the Spurs on Sunday evening. In doing so, they broke an agonizing streak of seven games. Karl-Anthony Towns returned on Saturday, which gave the Wolves a massive boost, but they still lost a narrow overtime game against San Antonio. While the cities sat, they rallied behind 27 points from D’Angelo Russell. It’s too early to make a decision about what season the Wolves will have, but they are most interested in a positive development. And that requires winning every now and then. – – Young

In this week: MEM, MEM

29. Washington Wizards
Record 2020-21: 2-8
Previous ranking: 25

As if a 2-8 start wasn’t bad enough, the Wizards lost Thomas Bryant for the season to a torn ACL. Bryant watched a 2020-21 breakout campaign that saw Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal gazing at him. Westbrook itself faces quad and finger problems. This season feels a lot like last season: Beal is in tears but the young wizards continue to play little defense. – – Youngmisuk

In this week: PHO, UTA, @DET, CLE

30. Detroit Pistons
Record 2020-21: 2-8
Previous ranking: 30

The highlight of Detroit’s week was a 110-105 overtime win over the Sonnen after making his biggest comeback in 25 seasons, 23 points behind in the second quarter. The Pistons took the lead 3-1 this week, but Jerami Grant remains a bright spot, becoming the only Pistons to join Blake Griffin for the past 20 seasons in a row with 30 points and 10 rebounds. – – Woodyard

In this week: MIL, WHAT, @MIA