NBA Power Rankings: Watch Out for Jalen Brunson and the Surging Knicks

Early in ESPN’s broadcast of the New York Knicks–Golden State Warriors game Monday night a debate broke out over Jalen Brunson’s place among the NBA’s elite. Using a quote from Kings coach Mike Brown, who after Brunson torched Sacramento for 42 points on 61% shooting Saturday noted that the Sacramento Kings blitzed Brunson more than any player other than Stephen Curry, the question was asked: Is Brunson on Curry’s level?

The answer, frankly, doesn’t matter. That there’s even a comparison is praise enough. Brunson validated the early game banter, torching the Warriors for 34 points. It was Brunson’s third straight game scoring 34 or more points. He is averaging 40.3 points per game on this current road trip, connecting on 51.7% of his shots.

“You almost come to expect [it],” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. “It’s every night and it’s big play after big play. Every time we need a big bucket he comes up with it.”

As the Knicks barrel toward a critical postseason, Brunson will need to continue to come up with those big buckets. The playoffs have not been kind to New York recently. The Atlanta Hawks ousted the Knicks in five games in 2021. Then New York advanced past the first round last season but was eliminated by the Miami Heat in the conference semifinals. Brunson was a workhorse last year, averaging 40 minutes per game in the postseason. But his efficiency numbers dipped, most notably from the three-point line, falling from 40% in the regular season to 32.5% in the playoffs.

The Knicks were widely praised for the midseason maneuvering that added OG Anunoby, Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks to the roster. But in the playoffs, when rotations tighten and the game slows down, stars matter more. Julius Randle, who has struggled mightily in the playoffs as a Knick, needs to be better. And to advance past the Boston Celtics or Milwaukee Bucks, Brunson will often have to be the best player on the floor.

Can the Knicks do it? In a month, we’ll find out.

On to Sports Illustrated’s latest NBA power rankings.

---

1. Denver Nuggets

Last week: 1

Nikola Jokić’s MVP case continues to strengthen. Even with a couple of subpar scoring games in the last week, Jokić is averaging 26.5 points per game this month on 58.6% shooting. Denver, meanwhile, has lost only twice since the All-Star break: an overtime thriller against Phoenix and a buzzer-beating loss in Dallas. The Nuggets are playoff ready.

2. Boston Celtics

Last week: 2

At this point the Celtics just look bored. Boston emptied the bench for a blowout win in Washington—Sam Hauser knocked down 10 threes in two-plus quarters of that one—and sat Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday in a 25-point drubbing of Detroit. A real test—we think—will come Wednesday, when the new-look Bucks come to town.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week: 3

As if Oklahoma City needed more weapons, an efficient Josh Giddey has entered the chat. Giddey is connecting on 55% of his shots this month, including 33% from three while providing solid rebounding (5.9 boards per game) and playing (4.1 assists). Giddey’s primary role is as a facilitator in the Thunder offense but if he’s shooting high percentages, look out.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

Last week: 5

Anthony Edwards. Yeesh. Edwards’s posterizing of John Collins was one of the many ways Edwards has propped up the Wolves’ floundering offense of late. Over the last three games—all wins—Edwards is averaging 33.3 points on 55.6% shooting. With Karl-Anthony Towns still weeks away (at least) from a return, Minnesota will need excellence from Edwards every night.

Anthony Edwards with the dunk of the year pic.twitter.com/4mSVgBn9TB

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) March 19, 2024

5. Milwaukee Bucks

Last week: 4

After an early surge in the first weeks of the Doc Rivers Era, Milwaukee’s defense has become leaky again, ranking 19th in efficiency since the All-Star break. Are we talking enough about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s MVP candidacy? Giannis is tracking to become the first player in NBA history to average 30-plus points on 60-plus percent shooting. In March, he is averaging 33.2 points per game. Wednesday’s matchup in Boston is a big chance for Antetokounmpo to grab the attention of voters.

6. New Orleans Hornets

Last week: 7

Zion Williamson since the All-Star break: 23.3 points per game (in an economical 32.3 minutes per game) on 57% shooting, making criticism of his weight a distant memory. The Pelicans are 15–5 in their last 20 games, tied for third in the NBA in win percentage. Want more? Since the new year, New Orleans is ranked third in net rating (7.3), fifth in offensive rating (118.7) and fifth in defensive rating (111.3). The Pels are for real.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last week: 9

Donovan Mitchell, the injured Cavs star, tweeted out support for Caris LeVert’s Sixth Man of the Year candidacy during Cleveland’s road win in Indiana on Monday—and LeVert, who is averaging 13.8 points per game in a reserve role, has a case. The Cavs, meanwhile, solidified their hold on the No. 3 seed in the East and are just one game back of the Bucks for No. 2.

8. Dallas Mavericks

Last week: 10

Kyrie Irving’s left-handed dagger against Denver was the highlight, but the Mavs have been good lately, winning five of the last six with a road loss in Oklahoma City the lone blemish. Luka Dončić has been putting up ridiculous numbers since the All-Star break (35.2 points per game on 49.7% shooting). But before we anoint Dallas as contenders, let’s not forget the team is just 27th in defensive rating since the break, too.

This is WILD ????

(via @dallasmavs)pic.twitter.com/gD1T2Wrhrd

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 17, 2024

9. New York Knicks

Last week: 16

The Knicks marched through Portland, Sacramento and Golden State in the first three games of their current road trip, with Brunson (see above) leading the way. But how about Miles McBride? McBride played 47 minutes for undermanned New York against the Warriors, scoring 29 points on 69% shooting. In March, McBride is shooting 42% from three.

10. Los Angeles Clippers

Last week: 6

Uh, L.A.—do we have a problem? The Clippers have lost four of the last five with the NBA’s 27th-ranked defense during that stretch. James Harden, who has had a strong first season in Los Angeles, has been erratic of late, connecting on 40.8% of his shots this month. Here’s something you would have been surprised to hear back in November: The Clippers miss Russell Westbrook.

11. Phoenix Suns

Last week: 8

Beat Denver. Get tattooed in Boston. Squeeze out a win in Cleveland. Get blitzed for 140 points by Milwaukee. Phoenix has not had a three-game winning streak since early February. If the Suns are going to climb out of the play-in, this is the week to do it, with home dates against Philadelphia and Atlanta followed by a back-to-back against San Antonio. After that it’s a three-game trip through the teeth of the Western Conference (Denver, OKC, New Orleans). The time to make a move is now.

12. Miami Heat

Last week: 14

Back-to-back wins over Detroit slowed Miami’s descent in the standings, though the Heat gave whatever momentum they had back in a loss to Joel Embiid–less Philadelphia. The evolution of Duncan Robinson continues to be an encouraging sign. Robinson collected 10 assists in the two games against the Pistons and is averaging a career-best in assists this season. His inside the arc numbers (57.5% on a career-high 3.2 attempts per game) continue to improve, too.

13. Sacramento Kings

Last week: 11

Malik Monk’s 28 points—including 12 in overtime—prevented what would have been a bad home loss against Memphis on Monday. Monk continues to be the NBA’s most reliable sixth man, ranking first or second in several offensive categories, including points, assists and three-pointers made. He has scored 20-plus points off the bench 24 times this season, far and away the most in the NBA.

14. Orlando Magic

Last week: 17

Sure, the Magic have had a soft schedule this month. But they have taken advantage of it, winning eight of the last 10 and 12 of the last 16. Orlando is still learning—seven losses this season by three points or less—but its sturdy defense has kept the team in the thick of the East standings.

15. Indiana Pacers

Last week: 13

What’s up with Indiana’s offense of late? The Pacers are eighth in offensive efficiency since the All-Star break, a good number but a far cry from the second-ranked unit they were before it. And when you are the 25th-ranked defensive team you need to be elite offensively to win games.

16. Los Angeles Lakers

Last week: 12

Spencer Dinwiddie, who the Lakers hoped would inject some life into a sputtering offense, has not. Dinwiddie is averaging just 3.5 points per game this month on 32% shooting. Meanwhile L.A. lost offensive-oriented big man Christian Wood for several weeks with a knee injury. As I noted last week, the Lakers really, really need D’Angelo Russell to be a difference maker offensively in the playoffs.

17. Golden State Warriors

Last week: 18

What is going on with Curry? His shooting numbers since the All-Star break are awful. Curry is shooting sub-40% from the floor and 32.8% from three. The Warriors, meanwhile, are mired in 10th place in the West, closer to 11th (three games) than they are to sixth (four).

18. Philadelphia 76ers

Last week: 15

Where would the Sixers be without Tyrese Maxey? Maxey has scored 30 points in each of his last three games, leading Philly to wins in two of them that has kept the 76ers (for now) out of the play-in mix. To stay there, Philadelphia will need more from Tobias Harris, whose shooting numbers have bottomed out since the All-Star break.

19. Houston Rockets

Last week: 21

Here comes … Houston? The Rockets are 7–1 in March and within striking distance of the Warriors for the last play-in spot. With Alperen Şengün out, Jalen Green has picked up the slack, averaging 24.6 points per game this month and connecting on 37.3% of his threes. Don’t count Houston out of this play-in race. The Rockets have four winnable games coming up before the schedule toughens at the end of the month.

20. Chicago Bulls

Last week: 19

The Bulls rebounded from bad losses to the Clippers (twice) and Dallas with back-to-back wins over cellar-dwellers Washington and Portland. Chicago kind of is what it is: a middling team with offensive and defensive efficiency numbers that rank in the back half of the NBA. Some positive stats: Entering Monday’s game against the Blazers, the Bulls ranked third in least turnovers per game (12.3), eighth in total deflections (1,018), ninth in total points off turnovers (1,157), ninth in points off turnovers per game (17.0), tied 11th in steals per game (7.6) and 12th in the NBA in total steals (516) this season.

21. Atlanta Hawks

Last week: 20

The Hawks have dropped four of the last five and are back to looking like play-in fodder. On the positive side, Jalen Johnson will have this highlight forever.

GOOD EVENING FROM JALEN JOHNSON pic.twitter.com/y2HMNQ0WF6

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 19, 2024

22. Utah Jazz

Last week: 24

Keyonte George is a fascinating prospect. Is George, 20, a stat stuffer on a bad team? Or is George potentially a really good player getting early opportunities? The Jazz hope he is the latter. George is averaging 20.6 points per game this month on 47.2% from the field and 40.8% from three. In a forgettable season, Utah may have found its point guard of the future.

23. Brooklyn Nets

Last week: 22

The Nets are 1–5 on a road trip they needed to play well on to keep their faint play-in hopes alive. The poor showing has included losses in Detroit, Charlotte and San Antonio. See you next year, Brooklyn.

24. Toronto Raptors

Last week: 21

The Raptors have not won since March 3 and have not beaten a team currently in the playoff field since January 1.

25. San Antonio Spurs

Last week: 25

In his 60th game of the season Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points, pulled down 15 rebounds, handed out seven assists and swatted away seven shots. Imagine what Wembanyama is going to look like after a full offseason with NBA strength and conditioning coaches. Yeesh.

26. Portland Trail Blazers

Last week: 26

Should the Blazers be worried about Scoot Henderson? Henderson has not cracked 40% shooting in any month this season. In March, his three-point numbers (18.2%) have cratered. Point guard is a tough position and Henderson, 20, is a young guy. But as rookie seasons go, this one has been pretty bad.

27. Charlotte Hornets

Last week: 28

Is there really a point to bringing LaMelo Ball back this season?

28. Detroit Pistons

Last week: 29

The Pistons have dropped three straight—including a heartbreaker against the Heat—after winning three of four before that. Detroit’s defensive rating before the All-Star break: 28th. Its defensive rating after the All-Star break: 19th. Good to see the Pistons, who have talent, showing improvement in the final weeks of the season.

29. Memphis Grizzlies

Last week: 27

Say this for the Grizz: They don’t quit. Memphis lost by six to Oklahoma City last week and pushed Sacramento to overtime on the road. Desmond Bane, playing for the first time since mid-January, averaged 23 points in those two games. As overmatched as the Grizzlies are most nights, they continue to show plenty of fight.

30. Washington Wizards

Last week: 30

If you’re really looking for a recent positive in Washington’s woeful season, how about Jordan Poole? Poole has quietly played better since the All-Star break, bumping his scoring average (20.7 points per game), field goal percentage (44.5%) and three-point percentage (38%) up from pre-break levels. The Wiz are getting hammered most nights but perhaps Poole, who was a disaster in the first half of the season, is starting to turn a corner.