The top teams in the NBA are playing some great basketball right now as the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers are all red-hot. The Rockets were cooled off, unexpected, by the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. The Rockets came into that game as a 16-point favorite and lost outright. Even so, that was merely their first loss in 15 games.
It also isn’t a one-conference league anymore as the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors are hanging around at the top of the Eastern Conference. The Oklahoma City Thunder are showing signs of getting their act together going to Christmas week, which is highlighted by five games on Christmas Day. Six teams in these power rankings will be playing on Christmas Day, including the Warriors and the Cavaliers.
Stats as of Thursday, December 21st.
1. Golden State Warriors
NBA Title Odds: -250
The Warriors (25-6) won at home over Dallas and Memphis, and at Los Angeles over the Lakers in overtime, and they’ll host the Lakers this week, along with Denver, Cleveland and Utah. The Warriors aren’t slowing down without Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, while Zaza Pachulia, Shaun Livingstone and Andre Igoudala are also out. However, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson have led the Warriors during this 10-game winning streak, which is scary when you consider that they’re missing two All-Stars (including a two-time MVP) and very valuable pieces of their bench.
2. Houston Rockets
NBA Title Odds: +450
The Rockets (25-5) won at home over San Antonio, Milwaukee and Utah, but a loss to the Lakers at home stopped a 14-game winning streak. They’ll host the Los Angeles Clippers this week, then visit Oklahoma City and Boston. The Rockets were rolling, but now Chris Paul is day-to-day with a groin injury and Clint Capela hurt his calf. That means a bigger load for James Harden, who dropped 51 points in the loss to the Lakers and continues to lead the league in scoring with 31.9 points, while adding 9.0 assists.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA Title Odds: +500
The Cavaliers (23-9) won at home over the Lakers and Utah, and in Washington, but they lost in Milwaukee. This week, the Cavs will host Chicago, then visit Golden State and Sacramento. LeBron James has put up three triple-doubles in his last five games, and the word is that Isaiah Thomas will be back in the first week of January from his hip injury. Even without him, the Cavaliers are finally playing like the best team in the Eastern Conference and James is taking aim at his fifth MVP award.
4. Boston Celtics
NBA Title Odds: +1200
The Celtics (26-8) lost at home to Utah and Miami, but won in Memphis and Indiana last week. This week, they’ll host New York, along with home games against Chicago and Washington and they’ll also visit Charlotte. Kyrie Irving has been on a roll, averaging 29.8 points over his last five games, but Boston’s defense has been inconsistent as of late and they can’t afford to let up on that end of the floor.
5. San Antonio Spurs
NBA Title Odds: +1200
The Spurs (22-10) lost in Houston, but they won in Portland and at home over Dallas and the Clippers. They’ll head to Utah and Sacramento this week, along with a home game against Brooklyn. Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker are both being brought back slowly to the lineup and likely won’t be playing back-to-back games for a while yet, but the Spurs are holding it down as they always do.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Title Odds: +2500
The Thunder (16-15) won in Philadelphia in three overtimes, then lost in New York, but they won at home over Denver and Utah. They’ll host Atlanta, then head to Utah, then it is back home to host Houston and Toronto. Russell Westbrook is averaging 24.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 9.4 assists over his last five games, but the Thunder still need to work out a few things on the offensive end of the floor.
7. Toronto Raptors
NBA Title Odds: +5000
The Raptors (21-8) won at home over Brooklyn and Sacramento and in Charlotte, and they’ll have a home-and-home with Philadelphia this week while also heading to Dallas and Oklahoma City. The Raptors have quietly won 11 of their last 12 games and the only game in which they lost, they were held under 100 points. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 26.8 points and 5.2 assists over his last five games for the Raptors, who are eighth in the NBA in assists, which is a far cry from their isolation-heavy basketball of the last few seasons.
8. Washington Wizards
NBA Title Odds: +5000
The Wizards (17-14) won at home over the Clippers and New Orleans, but they lost to Cleveland at home. The Wizards will head to Brooklyn, Boston and Atlanta this week, along with a home game against Orlando. However, they could have more injuries around the corner as John Wall just returned, but Otto Porter has a hip injury and Bradley Beal could be next as he has an ailing ankle.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA Title Odds: +10000
The Timberwolves (19-13) won at home over Sacramento and Portland, and in Denver, but they lost at home to Phoenix. They’ll be on the road this week in Phoenix and in Los Angeles against the Lakers, and they’ll also be at home against Denver. Jimmy Butler has been on fire, averaging 26.2 points over his last five games along with 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists, but the Timberwolves are still terrible defensively and it is going to continue to hold them back in the Western Conference.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
NBA Title Odds: +10000
The Bucks (16-13) lost at home to Chicago and in Houston, and then they won at home against Cleveland. The Bucks have a home-and-home with Charlotte this week, along with a home game with Chicago. Everyone knows that Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to get his with the Bucks, but Khris Middleton is proving to be a very good sidekick when he is on. Over his last five games, Middleton is putting up 21.0 points, 6.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds for Milwaukee, who are trying to keep up with the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
The 2017-18 NBA is well underway. It’s been a wild offseason already, but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
