TITLE: Thunder Keep No. 1 Spot as ESPN Releases Final March NBA Power Rankings
SLUG: thunder-retain-top-spot-final-march-nba-power-rankings
CONTENT:
ESPN on Wednesday, Mar. 25, published its last March edition of the NBA Power Rankings, confirming the Oklahoma City Thunder’s grip on the No. 1 position while charting late-season surges across both conferences. Ten clubs have already locked in at least a postseason berth, and teams ranked in the top 20 are now focused on seeding ahead of the regular-season finish line.
Top five
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (54-15)
The reigning champions have won 12 consecutive games and are one victory from securing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Jalen Williams returned Monday in Philadelphia with 18 points and six assists in just 20 minutes, offering a promising sign after an injury-hit season.
2. Detroit Pistons (52-19)
Despite Cade Cunningham’s punctured lung last week, Detroit reclaimed first place in the East behind four straight wins and a restored defensive identity that now ranks second in the league. Daniss Jenkins, fresh off a two-year deal, averaged 26 points on 60 percent shooting in victories over Golden State and Los Angeles.
3. Boston Celtics (47-24)
Jayson Tatum’s usage rate sits at 30.8 percent since his Mar. 6 return, matching his five-year norm. Boston faces Oklahoma City on Wednesday, then Atlanta twice in a six-day span.
4. San Antonio Spurs (51-18)
Victor Wembanyama became the fifth player since 1973-74 to reach 4,000 points and 600 blocks within his first three seasons, joining Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon. San Antonio has won six in a row and 22 of its past 24, eyeing its first 60-win season since 2016-17.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (46-26)
Healthy again, the Lakers climbed to third in the West after winning nine of 10. Coach JJ Redick called his club “a good basketball team” following Monday’s streak-snapping loss in Detroit. Two of the Lakers’ final 10 contests are against the Thunder.
Notable movers
Atlanta Hawks (No. 11, 40-32) are 13-1 over the past month, powered by the league’s second-best offense and a franchise-record 25 three-pointers against Memphis. Tougher tests begin Wednesday against Detroit and three meetings with Boston in six days.
Charlotte Hornets (No. 14, 38-34) kept pace in a four-team Southeast Division race after lopsided wins over Miami and Orlando. The division rivals now occupy identical loss columns entering the season’s final weeks.
Philadelphia 76ers (No. 15, 39-33) anticipate Paul George’s return Wednesday from a 25-game suspension, while Joel Embiid (knee) and Tyrese Maxey (finger) inch closer to action as the team tries to escape the play-in zone.
Sliding teams
Miami Heat (No. 16, 38-34) followed a seven-game winning streak with five straight losses, surrendering at least 120 points in each defeat—the longest such stretch in franchise history.
Orlando Magic (No. 17, 38-34) have dropped six in a row, though two-way forward Jamal Cain has scored in double figures in three of the past four games.
Lottery outlook
Washington Wizards (No. 29, 16-55) and Indiana Pacers (No. 30, 16-56) share the league’s fewest wins. Washington’s 15-game skid virtually guarantees retention of its top-eight-protected pick, while Indiana snapped a 16-game slide Monday but still faces 52.1 percent odds of keeping its pick if it finishes in the top three lottery slots.
The rankings were compiled by an ESPN panel of Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Bobby Marks, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and Zach Kram.
Source: ESPN
