National Basketball Association

2025 NBA Power Rankings: Clippers move into top-10 as Thunder reclaim top spot

Updated Mar. 26, 2025 2:13 p.m. ET

Are the LA Clippers a team to watch out for in the playoffs?

For much of the season, the Clippers have flown under-the-radar, with Kawhi Leonard not playing until Jan. 4 because of a right knee injury.

But Leonard is now looking like himself. And the Clippers had won eight of their last nine games before falling to the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, 103-101.

Over their recent winning-streak, the Clippers beat some of the top teams in the East, including Cleveland, New York and Detroit. In their win over Cleveland on March 18, Leonard had 33 points on 12-for-19 shooting (5-for-6 from 3), seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.

"That's vintage Kawhi," Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said after the game.

If Leonard can remain uninjured, him, James Harden and Norman Powell could be a very tough trio come playoff-time.

Ever since reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history in 2021, the Clippers missed the playoffs altogether in 2022 and failed to get past the first round in 2023 and 2024 amid a string of injuries to both Leonard and Paul George.

With the Clippers losing Paul George in free agency last summer and Leonard missing so much time this season, it appeared as though this would be yet another disappointing season for the Clippers.

But Harden, who was named an All-Star in February, is averaging his most points (22.5) since 2021-22. And Powell is undeniably in the conversation for the best third-option in the league while averaging a career-high 22.7 points.

With Leonard's two-way abilities now in the mix, the Clippers are a tough team. Leonard had his three highest-scoring games this season in March and seems to be peaking at the right time.

That means the Clippers are soaring, too.

So far in March, the Clippers are fifth in the league in offensive rating (121.1) and eighth in defensive rating (111.6).

If they can remain uninjured, this is a team that can't be overlooked.

NBA POWER RANKINGS

Oklahoma City Thunder

up from 2

57-12

Cleveland Cavaliers

down from 1

56-12

Boston Celtics

50-19

Golden State Warriors

40-29

Los Angeles Lakers

42-25

Denver Nuggets

44-25

Houston Rockets

up from 11

45-25

Minnesota Timberwolves

40-31

LA Clippers

up from 13

39-30

New York Knicks

down from 7

43-25

Memphis Grizzlies

down from 10

43-26

Indiana Pacers

39-29

Milwaukee Bucks

down from 9

38-30

Phoenix Suns

up from 19

32-37

Detroit Pistons

down from 14

39-31

Atlanta Hawks

down from 15

33-36

Sacramento Kings

down from 16

34-33

Orlando Magic

32-38

Chicago Bulls

down from 17

29039

Dallas Mavericks

up from 23

33-37

Portland Trail Blazers

30-39

Miami Heat

29-40

Toronto Raptors

down from 20

24-45

Brooklyn Nets

up from 25

23-46

San Antonio Spurs

down from 24

29-39

Charlotte Hornets

up from 28

17-51

Philadelphia 76ers

23-46

New Orleans Pelicans

down from 26

19-51

Utah Jazz

16-54

Washington Wizards

15-53

Melissa Rohlin is an NBA writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the league for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, the Bay Area News Group and the San Antonio Express-News. Follow her on Twitter @melissarohlin.

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