{"numbering":"desc","slides":[{"index":30,"title":"Houston Rockets","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-rockets_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620651424,"caption":"

Record: 16-52 (Last Five: 0-5)

Losers of five straight, and 15 of their last 17, the Rockets are poised to prevail in the race to the bottom -- and the highest odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft.

"},{"index":29,"title":"Oklahoma City Thunder","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-thunder_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620651575,"caption":"

Record: 21-48 (Last Five: 0-5)

The Thunder’s unlikely competitive streak disappeared when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went down with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. They’re a staggering 2-24 since Gilgeous-Alexander’s 26-game absence began, and figure to land in the lottery’s top four or five come season’s end.

"},{"index":28,"title":"Cleveland Cavaliers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-cavs.jpg","credit":"","published":1620651785,"caption":"

Record: 21-47 (Last Five: 0-5)

The Cavaliers, though, are right on the Pistons’ heels in the lottery standings. The Cavaliers have dropped 13 of their last 14 games. Upstart second-year guard Darius Garland has missed the last four with a sprained ankle, and there’s no return date in sight.

"},{"index":27,"title":"Detroit Pistons","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-pistons_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620651683,"caption":"

Record: 20-49 (Last Five: 1-4)

The East’s bottom-dweller has embraced a youth movement down the stretch, handing increased opportunity to Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes -- among others -- and letting the losses come as they may. They’ve dropped six of seven including Sunday’s defeat to the Bulls, which featured eight absences on the injury report.

"},{"index":26,"title":"Orlando Magic","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-magic.jpg","credit":"","published":1620651872,"caption":"

Record: 21-47 (Last Five: 2-3)

The Magic are running out the clock on a season they hope to finish with two top-ten draft picks (the Bulls’ first-rounder goes to them if it falls outside the top four). Rookie guard RJ Hampton -- who was acquired from the Nuggets in the Aaron Gordon trade -- has been a recent bright spot, averaging 17.3 points on solid shooting splits in five May games.

"},{"index":25,"title":"Minnesota Timberwolves","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-wolves_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620651918,"caption":"

Record: 21-47 (Last Five: 2-3)

A laugher of a 32-point victory over the Magic continues what’s been an encouraging stretch for the Timberwolves. They’re 5-3 in their last eight games, with two wins over the Jazz and one over the Warriors embedded. Can Anthony Edwards’ post-All-Star surge (averaging 23.5 points on 45.3 percent shooting) secure him Rookie of the Year honors?

"},{"index":24,"title":"Toronto Raptors","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-raptors_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620651971,"caption":"

Record: 27-41 (Last Five: 1-4)

The Raptors have lost six of seven and are all but finished in the Eastern Conference play-in race. Kyle Lowry and OG Anunoby are both amid multi-game absences, and Fred VanVleet also missed Saturday’s loss to the Grizzlies, necessitating -- somehow -- Toronto’s 34th different starting lineup of the season, according to the Associated Press.

"},{"index":23,"title":"Sacramento Kings","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-kings-nba.jpg","credit":"","published":1620652065,"caption":"

Record: 30-38 (Last Five: 4-1)

The Kings are still without De’Aaron Fox (health and safety protocols), and standout first-year Tyrese Haliburton is done for the season with a knee injury. Still, they’ve won five of their last six.

"},{"index":22,"title":"Chicago Bulls","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/app-bulls_0%20%281%29%20%281%29_0_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620652217,"caption":"

Record: 29-39 (Last Five: 3-2)

The Bulls are finally seeing returns on their active trade deadline, having won three straight since Zach LaVine (health and safety protocols) and Nikola Vučević (hip soreness) returned from respective absences to form a potent offensive trio with Coby White. The question now, as they trail the Pacers by 2.5 games for the East’s final play-in spot: Is it too late?

"},{"index":21,"title":"Charlotte Hornets","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/app-hornets.jpg","credit":"","published":1620652941,"caption":"

Record: 33-35 (Last Five: 2-3)

It’s a good thing the Hornets established themselves early in the season, because, as injuries have struck, they’ve mostly treaded water since the start of spring. They’re 8-12 in 20 games and counting without Gordon Hayward and are now in danger of dropping out of the East’s top eight at the expense of the red-hot Wizards.

"},{"index":20,"title":"New Orleans Pelicans","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/app-pelicans.jpg","credit":"","published":1620652143,"caption":"

Record: 31-37 (Last Five: 3-2)

Playing without Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Steven Adams, the Pelicans stayed afloat in the Western Conference play-in race with a narrow win over the Hornets Sunday. If they don’t catch the Spurs -- who sit 1.5 games ahead -- by season’s end, it will mark a disappointing campaign.

"},{"index":19,"title":"Indiana Pacers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-pacers_0_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620652426,"caption":"

Record: 31-36 (Last Five: 2-3)

With rumors and negative reports swirling about head coach Nate Bjorkgren, the Pacers continue to vie for play-in positioning. The Wizards just jumped them for ninth in the East with a back-and-forth overtime victory; five games remain to keep clear of the surging Bulls, at least -- Indiana is 2-5 in its last seven, but still 2.5 games ahead.

"},{"index":18,"title":"San Antonio Spurs","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-spurs_0_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620652334,"caption":"

Record: 32-35 (Last Five: 1-4)

The now 10th-place Spurs have dropped six of seven to make their hold on a play-in berth tenuous. With five games left on their schedule, they lead the 11th-place Pelicans by 1.5 games, but will face nothing but winning teams down the stretch (Bucks, Nets, Knicks, Suns, Suns).

"},{"index":17,"title":"Memphis Grizzlies","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-grizzlies.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653039,"caption":"

Record: 34-33 (Last Five: 2-3)

The Grizzlies had dropped five of seven before a potential slump-busting win over the Raptors. Their spot somewhere in the play-in is all but clinched, but whether they end in the top (eighth) or bottom (ninth) of the bracket is a storyline to watch. The Warriors lead them by a half-game for eighth as of this writing, and the two end their regular season against each other on May 16 with the tiebreaker up for grabs.

"},{"index":16,"title":"Washington Wizards","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-wizards_1_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653072,"caption":"

Record: 32-36 (Last Five: 3-2)

Who’s hotter than the Wizards? They’re 15-4 since April 5 and have seized control of their play-in destiny behind the stellar play of Bradley Beal (31.6 points per game, 49.7 percent shooting in that span) and Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 26.2 points, 16.4 assists and 15.8 rebounds in May and just tied Oscar Robertson’s all-time triple-double record. Beal may miss the remainder of the regular season with a hamstring strain, but they have a cushion.

"},{"index":15,"title":"Boston Celtics","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-celtics_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653143,"caption":"

Record: 35-33 (Last Five: 2-3)

If not for a miraculous, 32-point comeback against the Spurs, the Celtics would be 1-4 in their last five heading into the most important stretch of the season -- and Jaylen Brown has missed their last three. A loss in an upcoming rematch with the Heat would all but seal their play-in fate, a far cry from their Eastern Conference finals heights last season.

"},{"index":14,"title":"Golden State Warriors","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-warriors_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653233,"caption":"

Record: 35-33 (Last Five: 4-1)

Nothing like back-to-back blowouts of the tanking Thunder to cleanse the palette. The Warriors enter the stretch run with their work cut out for them. They lead the Grizzlies by half a game for eighth in the West, but see the Jazz, Suns, Pelicans (who they just split a two-game set with) and Memphis in the final four.

"},{"index":13,"title":"Atlanta Hawks","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-hawks_0_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653360,"caption":"

Record: 37-31 (Last Five: 3-2)

The Hawks quelled a mild swoon with a three-game winning streak that featured wins over the Bulls, Trail Blazers and -- most impressively -- Suns. A loss to the Pacers their last time out, though, potentially places them one slip-up away from being supplanted by the Heat for the fifth seed.

"},{"index":12,"title":"Miami Heat","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-heat.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653323,"caption":"

Record: 37-31 (Last Five: 4-1)

Before a second-half spurt by their opponent, the Heat were resoundingly thumping the Celtics in a make-or-break game for both. With wins in five of their last six games, Miami could very well be finding its footing at the right time -- and we’ve all seen what can happen when that’s the case.

"},{"index":11,"title":"Los Angeles Lakers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-lakers_0_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653424,"caption":"

Record: 38-30 (Last Five: 2-3)

Just when the Lakers’ season appeared on life support, they’ve notched victories over the Nuggets and Suns in their last four -- all of which have been played without LeBron James. A 42-point explosion from Anthony Davis keyed the latter. Still, after a blowout defeat to the Clippers and loss to the Trail Blazers, the Lakers sit seventh in the West and one game back of sixth with four to play.

"},{"index":10,"title":"Portland Trail Blazers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-blazers%20%281%29_0_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653486,"caption":"

Record: 39-29 (Last Five: 4-1)

The Trail Blazers have answered a code-red-seeming five-game losing streak by winning seven of their last eight and reasserting themselves as a playoff-caliber squad in the West. Damian Lillard, clutch as ever, has 30 points or more in five of his last six. With four to play (Rockets, Jazz, Suns, Nuggets), they’re holding on by a hair to the last spot above the play-in fray.

"},{"index":9,"title":"New York Knicks","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-knicks_0_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653583,"caption":"

Record: 38-30 (Last Five: 3-2)

The Knicks have run into a brutal stretch of schedule, but their 106-100 win over the Clippers -- with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both in the lineup -- was one of their most impressive of the season. And that’s saying something for the surprise team of the season. They sit one game ahead of the Hawks and Heat for the fourth seed with four to go.

"},{"index":8,"title":"Dallas Mavericks","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/app-mavs.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653617,"caption":"

Record: 40-28 (Last Five: 4-1)

Three losses to the Kings are their only defeats in 13 games since April 21. Luka Dončić continues to lead the way, but, averaging 24 points per game in May, Tim Hardaway Jr. has emerged as a running mate of late. Dallas appears all but entrenched as a top-six team in the West with four games left.

"},{"index":7,"title":"Los Angeles Clippers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-clippers.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653652,"caption":"

Record: 45-23 (Last Five: 2-3)

With a 2-4 record in their last six, the Clippers have cooled after a mostly scalding-hot April. Despite the NBA’s second-highest offensive rating, they rank 26th in the league in rim frequency, according to Cleaning the Glass -- perhaps an omen come playoff time.

"},{"index":6,"title":"Denver Nuggets","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-nuggets_0_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653730,"caption":"

Record: 44-24 (Last Five: 2-3)

Close losses to the Jazz and Nets have dulled the Nuggets sparkle a bit, but they remain 18-6 since the trade deadline -- 10-4 since Jamal Murray’s season-ending injury -- and employ the MVP frontrunner in Nikola Jokić. Keepers of the fourth seed in the West, they’ll be a tough out regardless of matchup.

"},{"index":5,"title":"Brooklyn Nets","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-nets_0_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653796,"caption":"

Record: 44-24 (Last Five: 1-4)

The Nets snapped a four-game slide with a massive comeback win against the Nuggets Saturday. But, playing without James Harden since April 5, they’ve fallen to just a half-game ahead of the Bucks for the second seed in the East, which could make a difference depending on matchups. Their big three has appeared in just seven games together with the postseason rapidly approaching.

"},{"index":4,"title":"Milwaukee Bucks","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-bucks_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653862,"caption":"

Record: 43-24 (Last Five: 5-0)

The Bucks have won five straight, including two straight over the Nets sans James Harden. Though not as buzzed about, Giannis Antetokounmpo continues his MVP-caliber play. In his last four games, he’s averaging 31.3 poins, 10 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.5 “stocks” -- notably outdueling Kevin Durant in the first Nets game.

"},{"index":3,"title":"Phoenix Suns","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-suns_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620653923,"caption":"

Record: 48-20 (Last Five: 3-2)

For a moment, the Suns jumped the Jazz for the league’s best record, but have hit a slight snag by their lofty standards, with a 13-point loss to the Lakers on Sunday the latest example. Depending how the play-in shakes out, the difference between No. 2 and No.1 in the West could be the difference between the Lakers and Warriors/Grizzlies/Spurs/Pelicans in Round 1. Phoenix trails Utah by two games with four to play, but own the tiebreaker.

"},{"index":2,"title":"Philadelphia 76ers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/app-sixers.jpg","credit":"","published":1620654001,"caption":"

Record: 47-21 (Last Five: 5-0)

The Sixers, meanwhile, have tightened their grip on the East’s top spot with an eight-game winning streak. They sit three games ahead of the Nets -- and 3.5 ahead of the Bucks -- with four to play. A date with the lower-bracket play-in winner is all but sealed.

"},{"index":1,"title":"Utah Jazz","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/app-jazz_0_0.jpg","credit":"","published":1620654073,"caption":"

Record: 50-18 (Last Five: 5-0)

The Jazz have won five straight of their own to reassert dominance in what quickly became a contentious race for the West’s top seed. Donovan Mitchell has missed 12 straight games with an ankle sprain, with a re-evaluation date set for this week. His return will be integral to the Jazz’s postseason hopes, which center on a title this year.

"}]}

NBA Power Rankings: Final standings check before end of season