We’re coming near the midway mark for the 2023-24 NBA season, and the trade deadline (Feb. 8, 3 p.m. ET) has each and every staff within the league reevaluating its wishes within the upcoming generation.
The common Western Convention giants proceed to attempt and teeter. The Golden State Warriors are nonetheless sinking despite the return of Draymond Green. And the Los Angeles Lakers are in determined want of a spice up, of one thing, as they’ve fallen below .500 despite a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Within the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers proceed to climb the ranks and are anticipating a strong return from guard Darius Garland, who has been out since early December. And the Miami Heat are attempting to find their standard second-half season surge with famous person ahead Jimmy Butler leading the way.
We’re 23 days from the cut-off date. Questions abound. What’s happening with the Phoenix Suns? Will the Pistons win a 5th competition? Will somebody knock ill the Celtics? Let’s check out this past’s scores.
Notice: All through the habitual season, our panel (Kendra Andrews, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is score all 30 groups from height to base, taking retain of which groups are taking part in the most productive basketball and which groups are having a look maximum like name contenders.
Earlier scores: Post-Finals | Nov. 1 | Nov. 8 | Nov. 15 | Nov. 22 | Nov. 29 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 20 | Dec. 27 | Jan. 3 | Jan. 10
Bounce to a staff:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS
1. Boston Celtics
2023-24 report: 31-9
Earlier score: 1
Upcoming video games: vs. SA (Jan. 17), vs. DEN (Jan. 19), @ HOU (Jan. 21), @ DAL (Jan. 22)
Boston flaunts the league’s ideally suited report and web score (9.8) up to now this season. How can issues get any higher? Smartly, right here’s a method: In step with ESPN’s Basketball Energy Index, Boston has the league’s second-easiest excess agenda, and the perfect of any Japanese Convention staff. It’s committing to jerk a dozen for Boston not to end the season with the league’s ideally suited report. — Bontemps
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
2023-24 report: 28-11
Earlier score: 3
Upcoming video games: @ DET (Jan. 17), vs. MEM (Jan. 18), vs. OKC (Jan. 20), vs. CHA (Jan. 22)
The Wolves stay atop the Western Convention then a couple of checks endmost past that led to a loss in additional time to Boston and a win in opposition to the surging Clippers. Minnesota, which owns the Refuse. 1 protection within the NBA, has held groups below 100 issues in 12 video games this season, the most productive within the league (11-1). Its upcoming two fighters — Detroit and Memphis — are within the base 5 in offense, and must be simple matchups ahead of they host their second-ranked Western convention foes Oklahoma Town on Saturday. — Collier
3. Denver Nuggets
2023-24 report: 28-14
Occasion a lot of the eye was once at the fresh match between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic and what it will ruthless for the MVP race, Jokic would willingly do business in his 25-point, 19-rebound attempt for a win over the Sixers. Embiid and the Sixers were given the most productive of Denver of their first assembly of the season on Tuesday. Jokic should get the Nuggets again on course as they head East to Boston, Washington, Indiana and Untouched York ahead of returning house for a rematch with the Sixers. — Youngmisuk
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
2023-24 report: 27-13
2d-year ahead Jalen Williams‘ proceed as a playmaker serves case in point of the improvement of the Thunder’s younger, core avid gamers month they compete for the height spot within the West standings. Williams averaged 6.0 assists within the day 10 video games getting into Tuesday evening’s matchup with the Clippers, together with a career-best 12 assists in a win over the Warmth. He had dished out six or extra assists most effective 4 occasions all season ahead of that reach. — MacMahon
5. Milwaukee Bucks
2023-24 report: 28-12
The Greenbacks have bounced again from a short lived skid to start out the generation with 3 consecutive wins, together with a blowout victory over the Celtics endmost past and a Damian Lillard buzzer beater over the Kings. Lillard now has 4 game-winning buzzer beaters in his profession; most effective LeBron James has extra amongst energetic avid gamers (seven). Arising for Milwaukee: a showdown in Cleveland in opposition to the red-hot Cavs on Wednesday evening ahead of heading to Detroit for 2 video games. — Collier
6. Dallas Mavericks
2023-24 report: 24-17
6th Guy of the Time candidate Tim Hardaway Jr. has been scorching right through his stint as a fill-in starter, serving to the Mavs advance 2-1 month Luka Doncic nurses a sprained proper ankle. Hardaway averaged 32.3 issues on .483/.500/.913 taking pictures splits within the 3 video games. Hardaway and Kyrie Irving (34.3 issues consistent with competition right through the Mavs’ 5-2 homestand) was the second one Dallas duo ever to attain a minimum of 40 issues every in a competition right through Monday’s win over the Pelicans — a feat Doncic and Irving completed in March of endmost season. — MacMahon
7. LA Clippers
2023-24 report: 26-14
Simply when the Clippers seemed like that they had gotten day their trauma woes, Ivica Zubac was once dominated out for a minimum of a generation as a result of a calf trauma. Occasion Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden stay wholesome (knock on log), the Clippers will pass over their establishing middle, who was once averaging a career-best 12.4 issues and 9.7 rebounds. Zubac had been thriving alongside Harden in pick-and-rolls and was once a assured presence within the submit. With out him, the Clippers will depend on Mason Plumlee and Daniel Theis to store it ill inside of. — Youngmisuk
8. Philadelphia 76ers
2023-24 report: 26-13
Joel Embiid may have misplaced his 16-game streak of 30-point, 10-rebound video games Tuesday evening in his showdown with Nikola Jokic, however Embiid’s dominance endured with an absurd 41-7-10 efficiency in opposition to his MVP rival. And, with the win over the Nuggets, Philadelphia is now 23-6 this season with Embiid at the courtroom. — Bontemps
9. Miami Heat
2023-24 report: 24-16
Miami has gotten again its top-tier protection then uncharacteristically permitting 116.0 issues consistent with 100 possessions in December. The Warmth was the 0.33 staff this season to store an opponent below 100 issues in 3 consecutive video games in Monday’s 96-95 additional time win over Brooklyn. Miami has allowed 108.8 issues consistent with 100 possessions this generation, the third-best mark within the league since Jan. 1. — Lopez
10. Cleveland Cavaliers
2023-24 report: 23-15
Keep in mind when Darius Garland (jaw) joined Evan Mobley (knee) at the injured checklist a generation in the past and the temperature was once emerging in The Land? It seems the Cavs haven’t simply survived with out Garland, they’ve thrived, going 10-3 since he was once sidelined. With schoolmaster J.B. Bickerstaff announcing that Garland’s go back is impending, the query turns into whether or not Donovan Mitchell — averaging 28.8 issues and 6 assists over the Cavs’ stream five-game win streak — can keep roasting with the All-Famous person cover again within the combine. — McMenamin
11. New Orleans Pelicans
2023-24 report: 24-17
Earlier score: 11
Upcoming video games: @ GS (Jan. 10), @ DEN (Jan. 12), @ DAL (Jan. 13), @ DAL (Jan. 15)
Nearest visible enough quantity of taking part in past previous within the season as a result of accidents, Pelicans rookie Jordan Hawkins discovered himself out of the rotation as soon as the staff returned to complete energy. On the other hand, then a 34-point outburst in Saturday’s win over Dallas, Hawkins compelled his long ago in, over cover Jose Alvarado. Hawkins, who has prepared a league report with a 3-pointer in every of his first 21 video games, has proven he can also be an offensive asset for the Pelicans’ moment unit. — Lopez
12. New York Knicks
2023-24 report: 23-17
Earlier score: 12
Upcoming video games: vs. HOU (Jan. 17), vs. WASH (Jan. 18), vs. TOR (Jan. 20), @ BKN (Jan. 23)
It was once an unpleasant loss to Orlando on Monday for the Knicks, who had been in place to win with out Jalen Brunson for a moment immediately competition ahead of going chilly overdue within the fourth quarter, scoring most effective 16 issues. At the shining facet, despite the fact that, it was once the start of a stretch by which the Knicks gained’t let fall Untouched York for 2 weeks, and can let fall the Japanese past zone for one competition — Feb. 12 in Houston — between now and the All-Famous person crack. — Bontemps
13. Indiana Pacers
2023-24 report: 23-17
Earlier score: 13
Upcoming video games: @ SAC (Jan. 18), @ POR (Jan. 19), @ PHX (Jan. 21), vs. DEN (Jan. 23)
The Pacers are nonetheless depending on their top-ranked offense — averaging 121.6 issues consistent with 100 possessions — however groups are discovering luck in opposition to them. The important thing? Slowing ill their offense, even a modest. Indiana is 0-9 when scoring 110 issues or fewer this season. And sitting at 6th within the East, simply above the surging Knicks, the Pacers are combating to stick inside playoff competition. Coming off of a two-game shedding streak, the Pacers proceed their West Coast swing this past: touring to Sacramento, Portland and Phoenix to around out a six-game street commute. — Collier
14. Sacramento Kings
2023-24 report: 23-17
The spotlight of the past popping out of Sacramento needs to be Mike Brown’s viral computer moment — an web meme that had all seeing grew to become towards the Kings. On the halfway mark of the season, it’s seen Sacramento isn’t taking the Western Convention through typhoon find it irresistible did endmost 12 months. Nonetheless, the Kings are in a comfy place — these days 5th within the West — and headed in a favorable path with a wholesome De’Aaron Fox (27.8 issues consistent with competition) and Domantas Sabonis (12.7 rebounds consistent with competition, first within the league) main the best way. — Andrews
15. Phoenix Suns
2023-24 report: 22-18
Entering Tuesday’s competition in opposition to Sacramento, the Suns’ day 3 wins have featured 3 other 30-point scorers main the best way. Grayson Allen had 31 in opposition to the Warmth, Bradley Beal had 37 in opposition to the Lakers, and Devin Booker had 34 in opposition to the Blazers. In the meantime, Phoenix is solely 7-8 this season when Kevin Durant ratings 30-plus issues. Does that illustrate a Durant deficiency? Hardly ever. He leads the staff in video games performed and hasn’t had the good thing about that firepower within the lineup round him enough quantity. — McMenamin
16. Orlando Magic
2023-24 report: 22-18
Earlier score: 14
Upcoming video games: @ ATL (Jan. 17), vs. PHI ( Jan. 19), vs. MIA (Jan. 21), vs. CLE (Jan. 22)
Jalen Suggs‘ greatest affect has been on protection, however don’t holiday on his offense. Suggs has already made 73 3-pointers, greater than he did in both of his first two seasons, and his taking pictures percentages have advanced dramatically: from 21.4% from 3 as a rookie — the second-worst share through any participant with 150 makes an attempt in a season — to 38.6% this season. — Lopez
17. Utah Jazz
2023-24 report: 22-20
Earlier score: 20
Upcoming video games: vs. GS (Jan. 17), vs, OKC (Jan. 18), @ HOU (Jan. 20), @ NO (Jan. 23 )
The Jazz have the most productive report within the NBA since Dec. 21, going 12-2 right through that span. That comes with an energetic six-game successful streak, the longest of second-year head schoolmaster Will Hardy’s tenure. The Jazz have scored a minimum of 130 issues within the day 3 video games, a primary in franchise historical past, consistent with ESPN Stats & Data. Lauri Markkanen (27.2 issues consistent with competition), Collin Sexton (23.3) and Jordan Clarkson (20.8) are all averaging greater than 20 issues right through the successful streak. — MacMahon
18. Houston Rockets
2023-24 report: 19-20
The Rockets’ vastly advanced protection has regressed, permitting 118.9 issues consistent with 100 possessions as Houston has misplaced 8 of its day 12 video games to dip below .500. The droop began at the evening that Dillon Brooks, a defensive stopper signed in detached company, suffered an indirect trauma that sidelined him for the upcoming 9 video games. However Brooks’ go back over the weekend was once a long way from an fast medication. The Rockets had a 131.9 defensive score in losses to the Celtics and 76ers in his first two video games again within the lineup. — MacMahon
19. Chicago Bulls
2023-24 report: 19-23
Earlier score: 21
Upcoming video games: @ TOR (Jan. 18), vs, MEM (Jan. 20), @ PHX (Jan. 22)
Now six video games into his go back from a bedrock trauma, Bulls cover Zach LaVine has combined in neatly with the staff’s offense. In that span, the Bulls are 4-2 and LaVine is averaging 16.8 issues, 5.7 assists and six.5 rebounds on 49% taking pictures, including gas to certainly one of the freshest names within the industry cut-off date park. — Collier
20. Los Angeles Lakers
2023-24 report: 20-21
Earlier score: 18
Upcoming video games: vs. DAL (Jan. 17), vs. BKN (Jan. 19), vs. POR (Jan. 21), @ LAC (Jan. 23)
Opposing avid gamers are taking pictures simply 40.8% with LeBron James as the main defender this season, which ranks moment within the league at the back of most effective Jaden McDaniels (minimal 250 possessions). Occasion a few of that attempt has been old in opposition to restricted offensive warnings like Keita Bates-Diop and Isaiah Stewart, two of the ten avid gamers he has preserved probably the most this season had been Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler, consistent with ESPN Stats & Data. His protection can be key to steadiness out L.A.’s stream offense-focused establishing 5. — McMenamin
21. Golden State Warriors
2023-24 report: 18-22
Even with the Warriors getting Draymond Green again from his indefinite suspense, the pink flags are nonetheless waving in Blonde Circumstance. They added any other candidate for “worst loss of the season” to their checklist through falling to the extraordinarily short-handed Grizzlies, and it’s changing into increasingly more tough to determine what is going to remedy their myriad problems. Inexperienced, for his section, stated they dearth pleasure on a person stage and till every participant unearths it, they’ll proceed to “suck.” However because the midway mark of the season approaches, there appears to be disagree sunlit solution or technique as to how they’ll achieve this. — Andrews
22. Brooklyn Nets
2023-24 report: 16-23
Earlier score: 23
Upcoming video games: @ POR (Jan. 17), @ LAL (Jan. 19), @ LAC (Jan. 21), vs. NY (Jan. 23)
It’s unsightly in Brooklyn. Nearest shedding an additional time competition to the Path Blazers ahead of resignation for Paris, the place the Nets misplaced to the Cavs, they misplaced any other additional time competition to the Warmth upon their go back, that means Brooklyn has now misplaced 8 of its day 9 video games. Nonetheless, the Nets are tenth within the East, combating for the general play-in spot. However that’s extra in regards to the groups on the base of the East than the rest. — Bontemps
23. Atlanta Hawks
2023-24 report: 16-23
Earlier score: 24
Upcoming video games: vs.ORL (Jan. 17), @ MIA (Jan. 19), vs. CLE (Jan. 20), @ SAC (Jan. 22)
Monday’s victory over the Spurs averted the Hawks from falling even additional ill a doubtful checklist. Their 109-99 victory marked the primary past this season they held an opponent below 100 issues. Atlanta had allowed fighters to attain a minimum of 100 issues in 108 consecutive video games, connect with the 1961-62 Warriors for the fourth-longest streak in NBA historical past at the back of the 1959-62 Knicks (190), 1981-82 Nuggets (136) and 1967-69 Rockets (115). The Hawks are at a crossroad: Is it past to finish the Dejounte Murray–Trae Young partnership? If no longer, the combat extra to stick within the play-in match hunt. — Lopez
24. Toronto Raptors
2023-24 report: 15-25
Earlier score: 22
Upcoming video games: vs. MIA (Jan. 17), vs. CHI (Jan. 18), @ NY (Jan. 20) , vs. MEM (Jan. 22)
Toronto has misplaced 4 video games in a row, however the newly bought tandem of Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett has temporarily settled into unutilized digs, averaging 18.9 and 19.9 issues consistent with competition, respectively, and each are taking pictures neatly over 40% from 3-point land via their first 8 video games as Raptors. There’s nonetheless a dozen of labor to be completed, however the unutilized additions are becoming in along Scottie Barnes in addition to Toronto may have was hoping. — Bontemps
25. Memphis Grizzlies
2023-24 report: 15-25
Memphis’ unfortunate trauma success — 4 starters are out a minimum of six weeks, together with Steven Adams and Ja Morant for the residue of the season — has given the Grizzlies enough quantity of alternatives to seek for silver linings. An illustration: The efficiency of rookie GG Jackson, a 19-year-old second-round choose on a two-way do business in, in his first actual NBA rotation mins. Jackson adopted up his 20-point, 6-rebound, 2-block day trip in Saturday’s loss to the Knicks with a 23-point, 6-rebound, 2-block efficiency in Monday’s win over the Warriors. He’s the second-youngest participant in NBA historical past with consecutive 20-point performances at the back of most effective LeBron James, consistent with ESPN Stats & Data. — MacMahon
26. Portland Trail Blazers
2023-24 report: 10-29
Earlier score: 26
Upcoming video games: vs. BKN (Jan. 17), vs, IND (Jan. 19), @ LAL (Jan. 21), @ OKC (Jan. 23)
The Blazers misplaced their 3 video games this day past through an reasonable of 32 issues, together with a 62-point loss to the Thunder on Thursday. Each and every past the Blazers appear to be construction some momentum, like going 3-3 in a six-game stretch in overdue December, they lose all of it, like through going 1-7 of their upcoming 8. The upcoming step for Portland, a minimum of this season, is discovering some consistency. — Andrews
27. Charlotte Hornets
2023-24 report: 8-29
Earlier score: 27
Upcoming video games: @ NO (Jan. 17 ), vs, SA (Jan. 19), vs. PHI (Jan. 20), @ MIN (Jan. 22)
LaMelo Ball is again then lacking six weeks (ankle), however the franchise level cover hasn’t been ready to get the Hornets again within the win column but. To be truthful, at 8-29, only a few avid gamers have completed so. Ball had 28 issues and 5 steals in his go back in opposition to San Antonio and upcoming 21 issues, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in opposition to Miami. However Charlotte has misplaced 5 immediately and 16 of its day 17 video games. –Youngmisuk
28. San Antonio Spurs
2023-24 report: 7-32
Earlier score: 28
Upcoming video games: @ BOS (Jan. 17), @ CHA (Jan. 19), @ WAS ( Jan. 20), @ PHI (Jan. 22)
The move to center for Victor Wembanyama appears to be like find it irresistible’s paying off for the younger Spurs. In 15 video games performed since Wembanyama moved into the establishing middle spot, he was simply the second one rookie to report 300 issues, 150 rebounds, 50 blocks and 50 assists over a 15-game span since blocks was respectable in 1973-74. The one alternative rookie to do it? Spurs Corridor of Repute obese guy Tim Duncan. — Lopez
29. Washington Wizards
2023-24 report: 7-32
Washington didn’t wait till the industry cut-off date to manufacture a do business in, obtaining Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers and two age second-round choices from Detroit for Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala. Occasion the Wizards gave up two expiring oaths and took on Bagley’s $12.5 million in assured cash for 2024-25, they won two extra second-round belongings so as to add to the chest. Most likely Bagley, nonetheless simply 24, can satisfy probably the most attainable that made him the Refuse. 2 choose of the 2019 draft and lend some wanted intensity at middle — Youngmisuk
30. Detroit Pistons
2023-24 report: 4-36
The Pistons beat the Wizards at house Monday, snapping a seven-game shedding streak and an 18-game street skid, all with out Cade Cunningham, Bojan Bogdanovic and Monte Morris. Alec Burks scored 34 issues off the bench, and Jalen Duren added 20 issues and 19 rebounds to present Detroit its fourth win of the season. However the party could be short-lived: The Pistons are prepared to stand the Western-Convention-leading Timberwolves this past ahead of a back-to-back in opposition to the Greenbacks. — Collier
