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2014 NBA power rankings: Sizzling Spurs rise to top

The Spurs have ridden a six-game winning streak to the top of the power rankings, with another Texas team in the Rockets not far behind. Meanwhile, there's some turmoil at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

1. San Antonio Spurs (46-16, Last week: 4)

After everything they've gone through this season, the fact that the Spurs are now on top of these power rankings is pretty insane. All hail Pop.

More on the Spurs: Pounding The Rock

2. Houston Rockets (44-19, Last week: 6)

The Rockets' superb play continues, with wins over the Heat, Pacers and Blazers last week. Houston has the best record in the NBA since the calendar turned to 2014.

More on the Rockets: The Dream Shake

3. Los Angeles Clippers (44-20, Last week: 5)

The Clippers have won seven games in a row and now own the league's best average point differential thanks to a 48-point stomping of the Lakers:


More on the Clippers: Clips Nation

4. Miami Heat (43-17, Last week: 1)

The Heat tumble from the top spot due to three straight losses. LeBron James has really struggled since his 61-point outburst, however, that performance was too good not to relive:


More on the Heat: Hot Hot Hoops

5. Oklahoma City Thunder (46-17, Last week: 3)

The Thunder have lost two straight and own a defense that has been pretty atrocious since the All-Star Break. Jeremy Lamb has also really struggled of late, shooting 34.6 percent from the field since Feb. 1.

More on the Thunder: Welcome to Loud City

6. Golden State Warriors (40-24, Last week: 11)

The Warriors are riding a four-game winning streak, including an impressive win on the road in Indiana. Klay Thompson played hero in the thrilling win:


More on the Warriors: Golden State of Mind

7. Indiana Pacers (46-17, Last week: 2)

The Pacers have lost four straight, and while the offense has been inconsistent, the more surprising thing is the poor performance of the defense. Indiana is sporting a 105.1 defensive rating since the All-Star Break, per NBA.com's stats page.

More on the Pacers: Indy Cornrows

8. Memphis Grizzlies (36-26, Last week: 12)

Winners of four of five, the Grizzlies have caught the Suns in the West playoff picture. Both teams have identical records, but it's Memphis who holds the No. 8 seed at the moment.

More on the Grizzlies: Grizzly Bear Blues

9. Dallas Mavericks (38-26, Last week: 13)

After a three-game losing streak, including a loss to the Nuggets, it was the Mavs who looked like they were in trouble of falling out of the playoff picture. Dallas has momentarily halted their slide, beating Portland and Indiana in consecutive games.

More on the Mavs: Mavs Moneyball

10. Portland Trail Blazers (42-21, Last week: 7)

The Blazers lost three of four last week, with all three losses being of the heartbreaking variety. Portland lost at the last-second against the Lakers and blew late leads against both the Mavs and Rockets.

More on the Blazers: Blazer's Edge

11. Toronto Raptors (35-26, Last week: 10)

The Raptors have taken advantage of a softer part of their schedule, winning nine of their last 11 games to hang on to the No. 3 seed in the East. Also, "Dino" jerseys coming back!:

More on the Raptors: Raptors HQ

12. Chicago Bulls (35-28, Last week: 8)

It's tough to drop the Bulls so many spots after their emotional win over the Heat, but there were a few stinkers last week as well. But that win over Miami was exciting, right Yannick Noah?!:

More on the Bulls: Blog a Bull

13. Phoenix Suns (36-26, Last week: 9)

Can Eric Bledsoe save the Suns? The young star will return from a knee injury this week and look to help Phoenix with a playoff push.

More on the Suns: Bright Side Of The Sun

14. Washington Wizards (33-29, Last week: 14)

Trevor Ariza is having a career season, and he has been especially good to start March. Ariza is posting 27.3 points per game and shooting 63.8 percent overall in four March games.

More on the Wizards: Bullets Forever

15. Brooklyn Nets (31-30, Last week: 16)

A clunker against the Celtics aside, the Nets have been playing some phenomenal ball. Brooklyn has won five of six and is 21-9 in 2014.

More on the Nets: NetsDaily

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (31-31, Last week: 15)

The Wolves had a chance to possibly make a run, but home losses to the Knicks and Raptors ruined that. Minnesota isn't officially eliminated from playoff contention, but they may as well be.

More on the Wolves: Canis Hoopus

17. Charlotte Bobcats (29-34, Last week: 17)

After averaging 22.8 points and 9.2 boards in Febuary, Al Jefferson is averaging 28.4 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 63.0 percent in March.

More on the Bobcats: Rufus On Fire

18. New York Knicks (24-40, Last week: 27)

The Knicks aren't dead yet, and Phil Jackson may be joining the front office to be president of basketball operations. There's some hope!

More on the Knicks: Posting and Toasting

19. New Orleans Pelicans (26-37, Last week: 25)

The Pelicans have won three games in a row after losing eight in a row, mostly thanks to the superb play of Anthony Davis. The Brow is averaging 29.7 points and 15.3 rebounds during the three-game streak:


More on the Pelicans: The Bird Writes

20. Denver Nuggets (27-35, Last week: 28)

The Nuggets hit rock bottom a few weeks ago, but the return of Ty Lawson from injury has at least brought back a shred of respectability. Denver won two games last week, nearly matching the three wins they posted all of February.

More on the Nuggets: Denver Stiffs

21. Boston Celtics (22-41, Last week: 24)

Rajon Rondo is back out here doing Rajon Rondo things:


More on the Celtics: CelticsBlog

22. Los Angeles Lakers (22-42, Last week: 22)

It was quite the week for the Lakers. Sandwiched in between wins over the Thunder and Blazers was a three-game losing streak that saw Los Angeles give up 408 points:


More on the Lakers: Silver Screen and Roll

23. Detroit Pistons (24-39, Last week: 21)

The Pistons' defense remains shockingly bad, and they've failed to take advantage of the Hawks' slide. Detroit remains three games behind Atlanta in the East playoff race.

More on the Pistons: Detroit Bad Boys

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (24-40, Last week: 19)

The Cavs' playoff hopes are slip-sliding away thanks to a four-game losing streak. Luol Deng is barely shooting over 40 percent since being traded to Cleveland.

More on the Cavs: Fear The Sword

25. Sacramento Kings (22-41, Last week: 26)

The Kings just can't put together a consistent stretch of good basketball. Two straight wins were followed by two consecutive losses, with four more road games upcoming.

More on the Kings: Sactown Royalty

26. Utah Jazz (22-41, Last week: 20)

The Jazz ended an ugly five-game losing streak by beating the hapless Sixers, which obviously isn't too much of an accomplishment these days. Utah lost those five games by an average of 17.8 points.

More on the Jazz: SLC Dunk

27. Orlando Magic (19-45, Last week: 23)

The Magic have lost five of seven games, with the only two wins coming against the Sixers. But hey, cool Dwight Howard tribute video:


More on the Magic: Orlando Pinstriped Post

28. Atlanta Hawks (26-35, Last week: 18)

The Wolves have won just once since beating the Wolves on Feb. 1...and they still have a bit of a cushion for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

More on the Hawks: Peachtree Hoops

29. Milwaukee Bucks (12-50, Last week: 29)

The Bucks are still somehow three games worse than the Sixers despite Philly's 16-game losing streak. Impressive.

More on the Bucks: Brew Hoop

30. Philadelphia 76ers (15-47, Last week: 30)

Will the Sixers win another game this year?

More on the Sixers: Liberty Ballers