NBA Power Rankings 2024-25: Top 10 teams after Week 12 Ft. Cavs, Rockets                               

We're inching closer to the midpoint of the 2025 NBA season and nearing the trade deadline. Fans will probably see more trade rumors flooding social media, as teams on the verge of making a playoff push will look to get better to close out the regular season.

On the other hand, teams sliding in the standings will look to move on from their veterans and plan for the future. With that in mind, let's take a look at the top ten teams in the league this week.

NBA Power Rankings after Week 12 of the 2024-25 season

#10 Sacramento Kings

NBA: Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers - Source: Imagn

The Sacramento Kings looked lost before letting Mike Brown go. Now, they've won seven of their last ten games and have climbed all the way back to .500 which gives them the 9th spot in the Western Conference.

There's still a lot of heavy lifting to do, but they have some interesting players that can be traded like Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter so perhaps, they might be able to add more talent before the deadline.

#9 New York Knicks

NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks - Source: Imagn

The New York Knicks are still the third-best team in the Eastern Conference, but they have been rather inconsistent over the past couple of weeks, going 5-5 in their last ten games.

Tom Thibodeau's team is starting to show some early signs of exhaustion, which has been a common trend with his teams throughout his coaching career.

#8 Detroit Pistons

NBA: Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks - Source: Imagn

J.B. Bickerstaff is doing an outstanding job with the Detroit Pistons' defense. They were the worst team in the league just last season, and they're now climbing to the middle of the pack.

They've won eight of their last ten games, even though Jaden Ivey suffered a major injury. Cade Cunningham is averaging just shy of 25 points and ten assists per game, and he's looking like a superstar in the making.

#7 Indiana Pacers

NBA: In Season Tournament-Indiana Pacers at Los Angeles Lakers - Source: Imagn

The Indiana Pacers are getting the old Tyrese Haliburton back, and that's terrific news for Rick Carlisle's team. The young point guard is averaging 18.1 points and 8.8 assists per game.

The Pacers are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference and even took down the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on the road on Sunday, proving that they can hold their own against anybody.

#6 Boston Celtics

NBA: Boston Celtics at Minnesota Timberwolves - Source: Imagn

The Boston Celtics are the defending champions, and as such, they will continue to be the team to beat in the league until proven otherwise. They have shown some consistency off late.

They have won six of their last ten games and are still second in the East, trailing the Cavs by 6.5 games. Even so, they will always have a chance to win games with their proficient offense, which averages 117 points per game.

#5 Memphis Grizzlies

NBA: Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets - Source: Imagn

Even though Ja Morant has been in and out of the lineup because of multiple injuries, Taylor Jenkins's team continues to be a tough opponent to get past, especially at home.

The Memphis Grizzlies are 15-5 on their own turf as opposed to 11-10 away from Memphis. Of course, that poses a bit of a concern ahead of the playoffs, since the best teams in the league need to be able to win away games too.

#4 Denver Nuggets

NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Denver Nuggets - Source: Imagn

The Denver Nuggets are leaving that slow start to the season behind them. Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook keep flirting with triple-doubles every night, and they're 7-3 in their last ten games.

They're now fourth in the Western Conference, and with Jokic averaging 30.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game on 55% from the floor, he's the leading MVP candidate right now.

#3 Houston Rockets

NBA: Houston Rockets at Memphis Grizzlies - Source: Imagn

Ime Udoka's Houston Rockets are a legitimate threat to make some noise this season. They have one of the peskiest defenses in the game, not to mention a roster full of athletic stars.

Losing Jabari Smith for 4-to-6 weeks was a big blow, but they continue to hold strong to the second seed in the West. They've won seven of their last ten, and are 14-6 at home for the season.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at Philadelphia 76ers - Source: Imagn

The Oklahoma City Thunder had an opportunity to prove that they were the best team in the league when they faced Cleveland on January 8. However, losing to the league-leading Cavaliers on the road put an end to their 15-game winning streak.

Even so, they're 9-1 in their last ten games, and they've only lost six games all season. Notably, they will have a chance to get back at Kenny Atkinson's team on Thursday, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers - Source: Imagn

Simply put, there's just no other way around it, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in basketball right now. They're 9-1 in their last ten games, and they've gone a whopping 20-2 at home.

The Cavaliers are averaging the second-most points per game (122) while being No. 1 in field goal percentage (50.2%) and three-point percentage (39.9%). Add a top-ten defense into the mix, and you have a championship contender.