The only teams ahead of the Rockets in the power rankings were the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Rockets are back in action t

The Thunder have won 15 straight games and look like the clear title favorites at the top of the NBA power rankings.

The Thunder took down the reigning champion Boston Celtics behind a near-perfect second half and stifling defense down the stretch. With a 30-5 overall record, there’s hardly any holes to poke in Oklahoma City across the board.

Two teams have opened up big leads in their respective conferences while others jockey for playoff position as midseason approaches.

Here are the USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings at the turn of the calendar, with resolutions each team should carry into 2025.

Here is where all 30 teams stack up in the first power rankings of 2025! Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Chris Herring and Kevin Pelton) think teams belong this season.

The Houston Rockets have dropped their last two games after winning four in a row following their elimination from the NBA Emirates Cup in the semifinal against

Out East, the Cleveland Cavaliers have won 10 in a row. It's only fitting that the league's best two teams are red-hot as they prepare to square off on national television this up

The Oklahoma City Thunder reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the latest power rankings after defeating the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.