NBA Power Rankings: Dallas dances out West, Celtics separate from pack

11. New Orleans Pelicans
2023-24 record: 35-24

• Previous ranking: 8

• Next games: @ IND (Feb. 28), vs IND (Mar. 1), @ TOR (Mar. 5)

Just how good has Herbert Jones' shooting been this season? At .508/.423/.850, Jones is one of six players shooting at least 50% overall, 40% from 3 and 85% from the free throw line, along with Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler and Grayson Allen. For an All-Defense-caliber player, that type of offensive efficiency will be critical for a Pelicans team hoping to make significant noise in the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18. -- Lopez

12. Miami Heat
2023-24 record: 33-25

• Previous ranking: 18

• Next games: @ DEN (Feb. 29), vs. UTA (Mar. 2), vs. DET (Mar. 5)

Miami is starting to hit its stride, winning eight of its past 10 games, including a 121-110 decision over Sacramento on Monday night without Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jovic because of suspensions and Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro and Josh Richardson because of injuries. Rookie guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. continued his strong campaign with 26 points versus the Kings for his seventh 20-point game (fourth among rookies this season). Perhaps more important, it was Jaquez's fourth game without Butler, giving the Heat a boost when their star has to sit. -- Lopez

13. Philadelphia 76ers
2023-24 record: 33-25

• Previous ranking: 12

• Next games: vs. CHA (Mar. 1), @ DAL (Mar. 3), @ BKN (Mar. 5)

It was a welcome sight to see Joel Embiid on the sidelines with his teammates for Sunday's game against the Bucks. But until Embiid is able to get back on the court -- if he can at all -- it's hard to take Philadelphia seriously as a threat in the East. The clear goal now for the 76ers, who are 4-7 without Embiid, is to simply remain out of the play-in mix. Sitting only two games in the loss column ahead of the Pacers in seventh and the Magic in eight, it won't be an easy feat -- even if Embiid is able to return sometime in March. -- Bontemps

14. Sacramento Kings
2023-24 record: 33-24

• Previous ranking: 13

• Next games: @ DEN (Feb. 28). @ MIN (Mar. 1), vs. CHI (Mar. 4)

The Kings find themselves bouncing in and out of the seedings for the play-in tournament -- a testament both to how close the middle and bottom of the Western Conference play-in picture is and how disappointing this season has been in Sacramento. With 25 games left, the Kings are just a half-game from sixth in the standings but also only four games from 11th. -- Andrews

15. Indiana Pacers
2023-24 record: 33-26

• Previous ranking: 15

• Next games: vs. NO (Feb. 28), @ NO (Mar. 1), @ SA (Mar. 3), @ DAL (Mar. 5)

The Pacers have won four of their past six games. They were riding a three-game winning streak before losing to the Raptors on Monday. Myles Turner has largely been the reason for their recent success, averaging 21.4 points and 8.6 rebounds since the break. The Pacers begin this week with back-to-back games against the Pelicans -- at home on Wednesday then in New Orleans on Friday to begin a trip that also includes stops in San Antonio and Dallas this week. -- Collier

16. Los Angeles Lakers
2023-24 record: 31-28

• Previous ranking: 16

• Next games: @ LAC (Feb. 28), vs. WAS (Mar. 29), vs. DEN (Mar. 2), vs. OKC (Mar. 4)

LeBron James missed L.A.'s first game out of the break after receiving treatment on his left ankle. James said "the hope" is that the treatment -- for which he declined to provide details -- will keep his ankle healthy enough to play the rest of the regular season and the playoffs without missing significant time. He called the care "beneficial," and the early returns back that up: James has averaged 29 points on 61% shooting, 10.5 assists and 7 rebounds in his first two games back in the lineup for a Lakers team that has won seven out of its past 10. -- McMenamin

17. Orlando Magic
2023-24 record: 33-26

• Previous ranking: 14

• Next games: vs. UTA (Feb. 29), vs. DET (Mar. 3), @ CHA (Mar. 5)

Orlando forward Jonathan Isaac has been limited to just 590 minutes in 40 games this season as he returns from multiple injuries that ravaged his past three campaigns. But when he has played, the 26-year-old has shown the tantalizing defense that made him the No. 6 pick in the 2017 draft. The Magic are allowing a ridiculous 101.1 points per 100 possessions when Isaac is on the court. Isaac also leads the NBA in effective field goal percentage (eFG%) allowed as the closest defender (44.6%) among players to defend 200-plus shots, according to Second Spectrum. If Isaac can stay healthy, the floor on the Magic's defense, which already ranks fifth in the league, is even higher. That would be quite a boost as they endeavor to qualify for their first postseason since 2020. -- Lopez

18. Golden State Warriors
2023-24 record: 30-27

• Previous ranking: 17

• Next games: @ NY (Feb. 29), @ TOR (Mar. 1), @ BOS (Mar. 3)

The Warriors have won 10 of their past 12 outings, and with Chris Paul having made his return on Tuesday, they're healthy. The big question for Golden State now is, how will they manage their newfound depth? Klay Thompson and Paul are coming off of the bench -- an extremely lethal backcourt for the second unit -- but how does Steve Kerr fit everyone else in? The coach likes to play about nine players, sometimes 10. So, who is going to fall out of the rotation? -- Andrews

19. Chicago Bulls
2023-24 record: 27-31

• Previous ranking: 20

• Next games: vs. CLE (Feb. 28), vs. MIL (Mar. 1), @ SAC (Mar. 4)

The Bulls learned last week they will be without Patrick Williams for the rest of the season due to foot surgery, depleting a rotation already leaning heavily on DeMar DeRozan and Coby White, who rank first and second, respectively, in the NBA in total minutes this season. Chicago's next three opponents are all likely playoff teams, as it hosts Cleveland and Milwaukee before traveling to Sacramento on Monday for the start of a three-game trip. -- Collier

20. Utah Jazz
2023-24 record: 27-32

• Previous ranking: 19

• Next games: @ ORL (Feb. 29), @ MIA (Mar. 2), vs. WAS (Mar. 4)

Rookie forward Taylor Hendricks, the No. 9 pick, has shown progress since the Jazz's trade-deadline moves opened up a rotation role for him. He had season highs of 12 points and nine rebounds in Thursday's loss to the Hornets, against whom the Jazz were plus-10 in his 26 minutes. Utah, quickly falling out of the play-in race, was plus-12 in Hendricks' 26 minutes in Sunday's win over the Spurs. -- MacMahon

21. Atlanta Hawks
2023-24 record: 26-32

• Previous ranking: 21

• Next games: @ BKN (Feb. 29), @ BKN (Mar. 2), @ NY (Mar. 5)

With Hawks guard Trae Young out at least four weeks after he had surgery on a torn ligament in his left pinkie finger, a major burden will be placed on Dejounte Murray to lead the Hawks through the rest of the regular season. Since they became teammates last season, Murray has played in 13 games without Young and averaged 25.7 points, 8.6 assists and 5.9 rebounds (up from his 20.4 points, 5.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds with Young). But the Hawks, still fighting to remain in the play-in, are 6-7 in those games, including a 3-3 mark this season. -- Lopez

22. Houston Rockets
2023-24 record: 25-33

• Previous ranking: 22

• Next games: @ PHX (Feb. 29), @ PHX (Mar. 2), vs. SA (Mar. 5)

Jabari Smith Jr., one of the Rockets' three top-four lottery picks selected in the past three drafts, followed up a 22-point, 16-rebound performance in Friday's win over the Suns with 20 points and 17 rebounds in Sunday's loss to the Thunder. Smith, 20, became the youngest player in NBA history to post consecutive games with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds and three made 3s. The Rockets entered Tuesday ninth in the lottery standings but will send their own pick to Oklahoma City unless it lands in the top four. Houston owns Brooklyn's unprotected pick, and the Nets sit at eighth in the lottery odds. -- MacMahon

23. Toronto Raptors
2023-24 record: 22-36

• Previous ranking: 24

• Next games: vs. DAL (Feb. 28), vs. GS (Mar. 1), vs. CHA (Mar. 3), vs. NO (Mar. 5)

It looked like Toronto's season was essentially over, with the focus about to shift solely to the development of the young core of Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. But three wins in a row, coupled with Hawks star Trae Young's finger surgery, have suddenly given the Raptors life. It's still a four-game deficit in the loss column, with a third of the season to go, making the odds long of catching Atlanta. But the postbreak bounce -- in both directions -- at least gives Toronto something to shoot for over the next several weeks. -- Bontemps

24. Brooklyn Nets
2023-24 record: 22-36

• Previous ranking: 23

• Next games: vs. ATL (Feb. 29), vs. ATL (Mar. 2), vs. MEM (Mar. 4), vs. PHI (Mar. 5)

A lot has happened in Brooklyn over the past two weeks, with former coach Jacque Vaughn being fired and replaced by Kevin Ollie after an extended slide heading into the All-Star break culminated in a 50-point loss to Boston. The Nets lost Ollie's first two games after the break and despite brief respite with a win Monday over a depleted Grizzlies team, Brooklyn is still 7-20 dating back to the infamous tank game against the Bucks on Dec. 27. This team has a lot of work to do to make it a competitive race for the final play-in spot in the East. -- Bontemps

25. Memphis Grizzlies
2023-24 record: 20-38

• Previous ranking: 25

• Next games: @ MIN (Feb. 28), vs. POR (Mar. 1), vs. POR (Mar. 2), @ BKN (Mar. 4)

The Grizzlies are an exception to the leaguewide trend of offensive explosion, ranking last in the NBA in offense. Memphis, which has lost 11 of its past 13 games, has been held under 100 points five times during its latest rut, with the team's offensive rating dipping to 105.6 in the 20 games since Desmond Bane went down with a sprained ankle. Bane, who is averaging 24.4 points and 5.3 assists per game, will miss at least another three weeks. -- MacMahon

26. Charlotte Hornets
2023-24 record: 15-43

• Previous ranking: 28

• Next games: vs. MIL (Feb. 29), @ PHI (Mar. 1), @ TOR (Mar. 3), vs. ORL (Mar. 5)

Even though LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams remain out, the Hornets have still managed to play their best basketball of the season, winning five of their past seven games after a 10-game losing streak. Trade acquisitions such as Tre Mann, Grant Williams, Seth Curry and Vasilije Micic have rejuvenated the Hornets for now. Nick Richards also has been strong on the glass, averaging 10 rebounds in the past four games. -- Youngmisuk

27. Portland Trail Blazers
2023-24 record: 15-42

• Previous ranking: 26

• Next games: @ MEM (Mar. 1), @ MEM (Mar. 2), @ MIN (Mar. 4)

The Trail Blazers are riding an eight-game losing streak, their third streak this season of seven losses or more this season. Their most recent loss was to the Hornets -- a game in which they scored just 80 points. The one bright spot has been Deandre Ayton, who has scored 48 points over the past two games. But Portland's primary players can't string together enough good performances at the same time, making it hard for them to make consistent progress. -- Andrews

28. San Antonio Spurs
2023-24 record: 11-48

• Previous ranking: 27

• Next games: vs OKC (Feb. 29), vs. IND (Mar. 3), @ HOU (Mar. 5)

In his first three games after the All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama had five blocks in each of them. He became the first rookie to record five blocks in three straight games since Shaquille O'Neal did it in 1993. Sunday was also Wembanyama's sixth game with 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks, the most of any player in the league. Only one rookie had led the league in blocks since the stat became official in 1973-74: 7-7 Manute Bol in 1984-85. At this rate, Wembanyama is well on his way to becoming the second. -- Lopez

29. Detroit Pistons
2023-24 record: 9-49

• Previous ranking: 29

• Next games: vs. CLE (Mar. 1), @ ORL (Mar. 3), @ MIA (Mar. 5)

Cade Cunningham has scored 30 points in 16 career games, yet the Pistons are 1-15 in those games, including a loss this past Monday against the Knicks in which an official acknowledged a missed call in the game's closing seconds. It was salt in the wound for Detroit, which had dropped six games in a row before a win against the Bulls on Tuesday. The Pistons have a few days to regroup before hosting the Cavs in Detroit and heading south for a two-game road trip against the Magic and Heat. -- Collier

30. Washington Wizards
2023-24 record: 9-49

• Previous ranking: 30

• Next games: @ LA (Feb. 29), @ LAC (Mar. 1), @ UTA (Mar. 4)

Washington tried shaking things up out of the All-Star break by bringing Jordan Poole off the bench against Denver last week. Poole wasn't thrilled, telling The Washington Post, "If there's any common sense with the situation, you should know how I feel. But I'm just going to come out, do what I can do to help the team, keep it moving." With the thinking that Poole can run the second unit, the guard did have one of his best-scoring games of the season on Sunday, scoring 31 against Cleveland. With rookie Bilal Coulibaly (pelvic injury) and Deni Avdija (heel) injured, the Wizards will lean on Poole. Before the All-Star break, Avdija was heating up, scoring 20 or more points in three straight games before a 43-point outburst against New Orleans on Feb. 14. -- Youngmisuk