Power Rankings, Week 22: Warriors, Timberwolves, Grizzlies and Rockets climb the Top 10 Leaderboard

For the second consecutive season, the Los Angeles Lakers continue to exceed expectations with a record that outperforms their point differential.

Through Sunday, the Lakers outscored their opponents by 1.4 points per game, a differential that ranks eighth in the West. But L.A. sits pretty comfortably in the top five in the standings.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, meanwhile, are one of three West teams that rank in the top 10 on both ends of the floor. But they’re in seventh place, four games in the loss column behind the Lakers, who don’t rank in the top 10 on either end of the floor.

The Lakers have been much better in close games than the Wolves: they are 20-13 (fifth best) in games that were within five points in the last five minutes, while Minnesota is 18-23 (seventh-worst). Point differential can be a better indicator than a team’s record of how good a team is, but late-game execution also matters a lot.

Here are the three teams with the biggest difference between their actual wins and their “expected” wins, based on point differential…

1. Washington: 15-51, with the point differential of a team that’s 10-56

2. Los Angeles Lakers: 41-25, with the differential of a team that’s 36-30

3. Portland: 29-39, with the differential of a team that’s 25-43

Here’s the other end of the spectrum …

1. Minnesota: 40-29, with the differential of a team that’s 45-24

2. Memphis: 43-25, with the differential of a team that’s 48-20

3. Boston: 49-19, with the differential of a team that’s 53-15

Plus-Minus Players of the Week

Right Way: James Harden (LAC) was a plus-80 in four games last week.Wrong Way: Zach LaVine (SAC) was a minus-86 in three games last week.

Teams of the Week

Make It Last Forever: Minnesota (3-0) — The Wolves’ eight-game winning streak includes a fifth straight win over the Nuggets.Something Just Ain’t Right: Miami (0-4) — The Heat are testing the boundary of how far a former top-six team in the East can slide down the standings.

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East vs. West

The West is 201-156 (.563) against the East in interconference games after going 12-11 last week.

Schedule strength through Week 21

Toughest: 1. Toronto, 2. Washington, 3. New OrleansEasiest: 1. Cleveland, 2. Indiana, 3. New YorkSchedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record.

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Movement in the Rankings

High jump of the week: Chicago (+3)Free falls of the week: Indiana (-4)

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Week 22 Team to Watch

LA Clippers — Norman Powell is back and the Clippers’ offense has never been stronger. But they’ve reached the toughest part of their schedule with five games against the Cavs (x 2), Grizzlies, Thunder and Knicks over the next two weeks.

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Previously…

Last week: Warriors enter Top 5, Wolves move up in Top 10The archive: NBA.com Power Rankings

OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)

The league has averaged 113.5 points scored per 100 possessions and 99.7 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes this season.

NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, contact him via Bluesky.