POWER RANKINGS
Milwaukee Finishes With Best Record, Poised For Big Playoff Run
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The 2018-19 NBA regular season has come to a conclusion. The NBA Playoffs hope to be entertaining and fun as 15 teams look to dethrone the Golden State Warriors.
After 25 weeks of basketball, the Milwaukee Bucks are on top of the rankings and finish with the best record in the NBA, while being the only team to reach 60 wins.
Here is the Week 25, the final NBA Power Rankings of the season from games played on Wednesday, April 3 to Wednesday, April 10.
1. Milwaukee Bucks (60-22)
Week 25 Record: 2-2
Wins: at Philadelphia, vs. Atlanta
Losses: vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Brooklyn
Recap: The Bucks were able to relax to end the season as they clinched the top spot entering the final week. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the postseason.
Previous Ranking: 1
Next Up: Game 1 vs. Detroit, Sunday at 5 p.m. on TNT.
The road to the playoffs has ended.
Sunday we start a new journey.#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/5jDQFBvsaY
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 12, 2019
2. Toronto Raptors (58-24)
Week 25 Record: 3-1
Wins: at Brooklyn, vs. Miami, at Minnesota
Losses: at Charlotte
Recap: Winners of seven of their last eight, the Toronto Raptors look to be big time contenders in the eastern conference with Milwaukee standing in their way.
Previous Ranking: 2
Next Up: Game 1 vs. Orlando, Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
The only place to be.
3:00pm Sat. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/FCgY94DT1f
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 12, 2019
3. Golden State Warriors (57-25)
Week 25 Record: 4-1
Wins: at LA Lakers, vs. Cleveland, vs. LA Clippers, at New Orleans
Losses: at Memphis
Recap: The Warriors won their last six games before losing their last game of the season to a meaningless game. The defending champs are looking good as they begin their quest for a three-peat.
Previous Ranking: 3
Next Up: Game 1 vs. LA Clippers, Saturday at 6:15 p.m. on ABC.
Round 1 ready 🔒 pic.twitter.com/NXIAXexH4T
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 12, 2019
4. Houston Rockets (53-29)
Week 25 Record: 3-1
Wins: at LA Clippers, vs. New York, vs. Phoenix
Losses: at Oklahoma City
Recap: The Rockets ended the regular season having won eight of their last ten games. One of the hottest teams in the NBA facing another team that is on a roll.
Previous Ranking: 4
Next Up: Game 1 vs. Utah, Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.
🚀 It All Starts Sunday.
🔊 Sound On
🏀 #RunAsOne pic.twitter.com/kl1QJm3ztK— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 12, 2019
5. Denver Nuggets (54-28)
Week 25 Record: 3-2
Wins: vs. San Antonio, vs. Portland, vs. Minnesota
Losses: at Portland, at Utah
Recap: The Nuggets lost four of their last seven games to end the season but barely managed to clinch the No. 2-seed in the west.
Previous Ranking: 5
Next Up: Game 1 vs. San Antonio, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
LET'S 👏 GO 👏!!!!!#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/pN0j7lsyvP
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 11, 2019
6. Portland Trail Blazers (53-29)
Week 25 Record: 4-1
Wins: vs. Memphis, vs. Denver, at LA Lakers, vs. Sacramento
Losses: at Denver
Recap: The Blazers are red hot at the right time. They enter the playoffs on a three game winning streak and 11 of their last 13.
Previous Ranking: 6
Next Up: Game 1 vs. Oklahoma City, Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on ABC.
Game 1 vs @okcthunder: Sunday, 12:30pm on ABC pic.twitter.com/cmzH2hmDpn
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 11, 2019
7. Philadelphia 76ers (51-31)
Week 25 Record: 2-3
Wins: at Chicago, vs. Chicago
Losses: at Atlanta, vs. Milwaukee, at Miami
Recap: The Sixers are struggling, losing four of their last six games. Joel Embiid’s status for game one is unknown.
Previous Ranking: 7
Next Up: Game 1 vs. Brooklyn, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN.
It's time to stand together. All of us.
It's time to lay it all out on the table.#PhilaUnite | #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/5fFNmNg7hR— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 11, 2019
8. Utah Jazz (50-32)
Week 25 Record: 3-2
Wins: at Phoenix, vs. Sacramento, vs. Denver
Losses: at LA Lakers, at LA Clippers (in OT)
Recap: The Jazz end the season having won 13 of their last 16 games and was able to avoid the six, seven or eight seeds in the Playoffs. Their loss to the Lakers hurt their chances of getting home court advantage in the Playoffs.
Previous Ranking: 8
Next Up: Game 1 at Houston, Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.
Playoff tickets are live. Join us.#TakeNote
🎟» https://t.co/3z78G0jQtj pic.twitter.com/qg4eNfjTkN— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 2, 2019
9. Boston Celtics (49-33)
Week 25 Record: 3-1
Wins: at Miami, at Indiana, at Washington
Losses: vs. Orlando
Recap: The Celtics are figuring things out at the right time. They ended the regular season by winning four of their last five games.
Previous Ranking: 9
Next Up: Game 1 vs. Indiana, Sunday at 11 a.m. on TNT.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (49-33)
Week 25 Record: 4-0
Wins: vs. Detroit, at Minnesota, vs. Houston, at Milwaukee
Recap: Oklahoma City had to win their last five games to avoid the eighth seed and a matchup with the Warriors in the Playoffs. It has been a rocky road lately for the Thunder.
Previous Ranking: 13
Next Up: Game 1 at Portland, Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on ABC.
11. San Antonio Spurs (48-34)
Week 25 Record: 3-1
Wins: at Washington, at Cleveland, vs. Dallas
Losses: at Denver
Recap: The Spurs ended the regular season on a three game winning streak and four of their last five.
Previous Ranking: 12
Next Up: Game 1 at Denver, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
12. Indiana Pacers (48-34)
Week 25 Record: 2-2
Wins: at Detroit, at Atlanta
Losses: vs. Boston, vs. Brooklyn
Recap: The Pacers enter the playoffs having lost five of their last eight. It will be interesting to see how they perform against the Celtics.
Previous Ranking: 11
Next Up: Game 1 at Boston, Sunday at 11 a.m. on TNT.
13. LA Clippers (48-34)
Week 25 Record: 1-3
Wins: vs. Utah (in OT)
Losses: vs. Houston, vs. LA Lakers, at Golden State
Recap: The Clippers were on fire in March but April hasn’t been kind to them. They enter the postseason having lost four of their last seven.
Previous Ranking: 10
Next Up: Game 1 at Golden State, Saturday at 6:15 p.m. on ABC.
14. Brooklyn Nets (42-40)
Week 25 Record: 3-1
Wins: at Milwaukee, at Indiana, vs. Miami
Losses: vs. Toronto
Recap: The Nets have had a great season and are back in the postseason after being at the bottom of the league for many years.
Previous Ranking: 15
Next Up: Game 1 at Philadelphia, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN.
15. Orlando Magic (42-40)
Week 24 Record: 4-0
Wins: vs. New York, vs. Atlanta, at Boston, at Charlotte
Recap: The Magic got hot at the right time. They finish the season winning 11 of their last 13 games to reach the postseason.
Previous Ranking: 17
Next Up: Game 1 at Toronto, Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
16. Detroit Pistons (41-41)
Week 25 Record: 2-3
Wins: vs. Memphis, at New York
Losses: vs. Indiana, at Oklahoma City, vs. Charlotte
Recap: The Pistons clinched the final spot in the Eastern Conference on the last night of the regular season. They lost four in a row before winning their last two games of the season to make the playoffs.
Previous Ranking: 14
Next Up: Game 1 at Milwaukee, Sunday at 5 p.m. on TNT.
17. Sacramento Kings (39-43)
Week 25 Record: 1-3
Wins: vs. Cleveland
Losses: at Utah, vs. New Orleans, at Portland
Recap: After a decent season, the Kings still fired head coach Dave Joerger. It will be interesting to see what direction the franchise will go in under general manager Vlade Divac.
Previous Ranking: 18
Next Up: Season is over
18. Charlotte Hornets (39-43)
Week 25 Record: 4-1
Wins: at New Orleans, vs. Toronto, at Detroit, at Cleveland
Losses: vs. Orlando
Recap: It was a great ending to the season for the Hornets but it wasn’t enough. Now they have to try and convince Kemba Walker to stay in Charlotte.
Previous Ranking: 19
Next Up: Season is over
19. Miami Heat (39-43)
Week 25 Record: 1-4
Wins: vs. Philadelphia
Losses: vs. Boston, at Minnesota, at Toronto (in OT), at Brooklyn
Recap: In his last game in a Heat uniform, Dwyane Wade recorded a triple-double. The Heat ended their season by losing five of their last six.
Previous Ranking: 16
Next Up: Season is over
20. LA Lakers (37-45)
Week 25 Record: 2-2
Wins: at LA Clippers, vs. Utah
Losses: vs. Golden State, vs. Portland
Recap: The Lakers are a mess. Their President Magic Johnson stepped down and they fired head coach Luke Walton. They are hoping to make a splash in free agency.
Previous Ranking: 20
Next Up: Season is over
21. Minnesota Timberwolves (36-46)
Week 25 Record: 2-3
Wins: at Dallas, vs. Miami
Losses: vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Toronto, at Denver
Recap: After making the playoffs last season, it was disappointing season for the Timberwolves. They seem to be taking the interim tag off of head coach Ryan Saunders and making him the permanent coach.
Previous Ranking: 21
Next Up: Season is over
22. Dallas Mavericks (33-49)
Week 25 Record: 2-3
Wins: at Memphis (in OT), vs. Phoenix
Losses: vs. Minnesota, vs. Memphis, at San Antonio
Recap: The Dallas Mavericks ended their season by losing five of their last nine games. Dirk Nowitzki announced his retirement at their last home game. They have a bright future with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
Previous Ranking: 24
Next Up: Season is over
23. Memphis Grizzlies (33-49)
Week 25 Record: 2-3
Wins: at Dallas, vs. Golden State
Losses: at Portland, vs. Dallas (in OT), at Detroit
Recap: Delon Wright had three triple doubles in the last four games of the season. The Grizzlies are rebuilding after firing head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and demoting general manager Chris Wallace.
Previous Ranking: 25
Next Up: Season is over
24. New Orleans Pelicans (33-49)
Week 25 Record: 1-3
Wins: at Sacramento
Losses: vs. Charlotte, at Phoenix, vs. Golden State
Recap: The Pelicans ended their season by losing 13 of their last 16 games. It will be an interesting off-season with the public trade request from Anthony Davis.
Previous Ranking: 22
Next Up: Season is over
25. Washington Wizards (32-50)
Week 25 Record: 0-4
Losses: vs. Chicago, vs. San Antonio, at New York, vs. Boston
Recap: The Wizards lost their last four games and 10 of their last 12 games.
Previous Ranking: 23
Next Up: Season is over
26. Atlanta Hawks (29-53)
Week 25 Record: 1-3
Wins: vs. Philadelphia
Losses: at Orlando, at Milwaukee, vs. Indiana
Recap: The Hawks lost five of their last seven games to end the season. They have a bright future with Trae Young at point guard.
Previous Ranking: 26
Next Up: Season is over
27. Chicago Bulls (22-60)
Week 25 Record: 1-3
Wins: at Washington
Losses: vs. Philadelphia, vs. New York, at Philadelphia
Recap: The Bulls lost eight of their last nine games to end the season.
Previous Ranking: 27
Next Up: Season is over
28. Phoenix Suns (19-63)
Week 25 Record: 1-3
Wins: vs. New Orleans (in OT)
Losses: vs. Utah, at Houston, at Dallas
Recap: Devin Booker sat out the last three games after getting injured against the Jazz. The Suns ended the season by losing 9 of their last 11 games.
Previous Ranking: 29
Next Up: Season is over
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (19-63)
Week 25 Record: 0-4
Losses: at Sacramento, at Golden State, vs. San Antonio, vs. Charlotte
Recap: The Cavaliers mailed it in to end the season. They lost their last ten games.
Previous Ranking: 28
Next Up: Season is over
30. New York Knicks (17-65)
Week 25 Record: 2-3
Wins: vs. Washington, at Chicago
Losses: at Orlando, at Houston, vs. Detroit
Recap: The Knicks horrific season ends with just 17-wins and the worst record in the NBA.
Previous Ranking: 30
Next Up: Season is over
