The Milwaukee Bucks are on a roll and looking like a title contender, especially after their NBA Cup championship over Oklahoma City.
The hottest team in the league, Milwaukee has moved up in the Eastern Conference – fifth place just 1½ games behind third-place New York – and climbed into the top six in the USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings with its recent success.
Here are the post-NBA Cup power rankings (records and stats through games of Dec. 18 and championship odds courtesy of BetMGM):
NBA power rankings
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (23-4)
The Cavs own the best record.
Championship odds: +1300
2. Boston Celtics (21-5)
At 19 made 3-pointers per game, the Celtics are on pace to break the league record for 3s per game, surpassing the mark owned by the 2020-21 Utah Jazz (16.7 per game).
Championship odds: +225
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (20-5)
The Thunder are No. 1 in net rating, outscoring opponents by 12.1 points per 100 possessions.
Championship odds: +400
4. Memphis Grizzlies (18-9)
The Grizzlies are the only team in the top six in offensive and defensive rating.
Championship odds: +3000
5. Dallas Mavericks (17-9)
Luka Dončić is averaging a career-high 2.1 steals.
Championship odds: +1200
6. Milwaukee Bucks (14-11)
Antetokounmpo and Lillard are the highest-scoring duo in the league at 58.4 points per game.
Championship odds: +2000
7. Houston Rockets (17-9)
Seven players average at least 10 points led by Jalen Green (19.0 ppg) and Alperen Sengun (18.6 ppg).
Championship odds: +4000
8. New York Knicks (16-10)
Karl-Anthony Towns leads the league in rebounding at 13.9 per game, which would also set a career high (previous season best is 12.4 in 2018-19).
Championship odds: +1100
9. Orlando Magic (17-11)
The Magic top the NBA in blocks per game at 6.9.
Championship odds: +4000
10. Miami Heat (13-11)
The Heat have won four of their past five games, including victories against the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Championship odds: +6600
11. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-11)
With a marked increase in 3-point attempts per game, Anthony Edwards is shooting a career-best 42.4% on 3s.
Championship odds: +2500
12. Denver Nuggets (14-10)
Nikola Jokic: 30.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game and 55.8% shooting from the field.
Championship odds: +1600
13. Phoenix Suns (14-11)
The Suns are 13-2 with Kevin Durant in the lineup.
Championship odds: +2200
14. Atlanta Hawks (14-13)
Dyson Daniels, acquired from New Orleans in the offseason, averages a league-best 3.0 steals, and teammate Trae Young leads the league in assists per game (12.1).
Championship odds: +12500
15. Golden State Warriors (14-11)
The Warriors are No. 2 in rebounds per game (47.8) with seven players averaging at least 4.3.
Championship odds: +1800
16. Los Angeles Clippers (15-12)
James Harden is 17th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and should pass Tim Duncan, Dominique Wilkins, Oscar Robertson and Hakeem Olajuwon by season’s end.
Championship odds: +10000
17. Los Angeles Lakers (14-12)
The Lakers are fourth in free throws made (18.8) and fourth in free throws attempted per game (24.1).
Championship odds: +4000
18. Sacramento Kings (13-14)
Kings guard De’Aaron Fox is ninth in points per game (26.2) and fourth in clutch points per game (4.3) – points scored in the game’s final five minutes with the score within five.
Championship odds: +10000
19. San Antonio Spurs (13-13)
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama leads the league in blocks at 3.5 game.
Championship odds: +25000
20. Chicago Bulls (12-15)
The Bulls are sixth in points per game (118.9), which is on pace for the franchise record.
Championship odds: +100000
21. Indiana Pacers (12-15)
Tyrese Haliburton is fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio with 4.2 assists per 1.0 turnovers a game.
Championship odds: +12500
22. Detroit Pistons (11-16)
Detroit’s Cade Cunningham is the only guard averaging at least 23.0 points, 9.0 assists and 7.0 rebounds.
Championship odds: +100000
23. Brooklyn Nets (10-16)
The Nets are fourth in 3-point shooting percentage (38.5%) and fifth in 3s made per game (15.4).
Championship odds: +100000
24. Philadelphia 76ers (8-16)
Against Charlotte on Dec. 16, Tyrese Maxey became the fourth 76er to record at least 40 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals joining Julius Erving, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson.
Championship odds: +5000
25. Toronto Raptors (7-20)
The Raptors have lost nine games by five points or fewer, including six games by three points or fewer.
Championship odds: +100000
26. Charlotte Hornets (7-19)
The Hornets have lost 10 of their past 11 games.
Championship odds: +100000
27. Utah Jazz (5-20)
The Jazz possess the worst defense, allowing 120.7 points per 100 possessions.
Championship odds: +100000
28. Portland Trail Blazers (8-18)
The Blazers have lost six consecutive games and 10 of their past 12.
Championship odds: +100000
29. New Orleans Pelicans (5-22)
The Pelicans are one of three teams with only one road victory.
Championship odds: +50000
30. Washington Wizards (3-21)
The Wizards are last in offensive rating at 103.7 points per 100 possessions – way behind the No. 1 team’s 120.6 points per 100 possessions.
Championship odds: +100000
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