Spurs rising in NBA Power Rankings

It's not time to panic, by any stretch, but losses to Detroit and Denver make the Warriors appear more vulnerable than they have this season. The Spurs are closing in.

Key Injuries: None.

The Spurs didn't open the year with a flashy winning streak, but they've been relentless, and with 18 wins in the past 19 games, they are neck-and-neck with the Warriors. The league's best defence leads them to the best scoring differential.

Key Injuries: None.

The Thunder look awfully good with a healthy Kevin Durant. They've won five straight and are the third-best team in the West. Can they chase down the Warriors and Spurs?

Key Injuries: None.

Lost head-to-head matchups with the Spurs and Warriors, which isn't the end of the world, but getting beat down by the Warriors 132-98 on their home floor wasn't great. PF Kevin Love is in a slump, too, shooting 34.7% from the field in January.

Key Injuries: None.

11 wins in the past 12 games is a good run for the Clips. With a healthy Blake Griffin, they can join the Thunder as challengers to the Warriors and Spurs.

Key Injuries: PF Blake Griffin (quad).

Five straight wins has the Raptors rising in the Eastern Conference standings. PF Patrick Patterson, who was shooting 35.6% from the field through the end of December, has found his stroke, shooting 51.8% in January. 

Key Injuries: SF DeMarre Carroll (knee).

Grinding out wins, the Hawks have one regulation loss in their past six games, and they're doing it even as PG Jeff Teague loses playing time to Dennis Schroder, who has averaged 11.7 points and 6.5 assists per game off the bench in the past six games.

Key Injuries: None.

Indiana has slipped off the, ahem, pace lately, going 5-7 in the past 12 games. Perimeter players Monta Ellis and C.J. Miles are slumping and Indiana doesn't have enough offence otherwise, to make up for their recent shooting woes.

Key Injuries: G Rodney Stuckey (foot).

Had gone five straight without a regulation win before Mondays' win at Detroit, and losing C Joakim Noah for the season, won't help, but the Bulls still gained ground thanks to the Miami Heat falling.

Key Injuries: SF Mike Dunleavy (ankle), C Joakim Noah (shoulder).

If the Mavericks are going to make a difference, they sorely need PG Deron Williams to elevate his play. As he battles through injuries, he's averaged just 12.9 points and 5.2 assists per game in the past nine.

Key Injuries: None.

The Grizz are getting healthier and have won five of six, so maybe their season isn't lost quite yet.

Key Injuries: PF Brandan Wright (knee).

The Rockets have won six of eight, coming up short against the Cavaliers and Clippers, so they are turning the corner from their abysmal start to the season, but they aren't quite there yet to compete with the better teams in the West.

Key Injuries: None.

If there's one thing the Celtics can do right now, it would be to limit SG Avery Bradley's shots. Only Isaiah Thomas is shooting more than Bradley's 13.6 attempts per game this month, yet Bradley is shooting 34.7% from the field, netting 0.863 points per shot. That can't be what a team gets from its number two option. 

Key Injuries: None.

The Heat are finding life more difficult on the road, and without starting PG Goran Dragic. They've lost five of six and have their next five games away from home.

Key Injuries: PF Josh McRoberts (knee), PG Goran Dragic (calf).

The Pistons have lost three of four, but that win was a beauty, beating Golden State by 18.

Key Injuries: SG Jodie Meeks (foot).

Getting SG Bradley Beal back from injury makes the Wizards more potent offensively, though losing SF Otto Porter costs them another starter.

Key Injuries: PF Kris Humphries (knee), SF Otto Porter (hip).

Monday's double-overtime win against Utah was the Hornets' second win in the past 11 games, and required 52 points from PG Kemba Walker. The good news is that SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is nearing a return from shoulder surgery that has kept him out all season.

Key Injuries: SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (shoulder), C Al Jefferson (knee).

6-4 in the past 10 games, the Knicks are remaining competitive, but it may not be enough to gain ground on a playoff spot. 

Key Injuries: None.

Seven losses in the past eight games and their leading scorer in January, SG Victor Oladipo (18.3 ppg), is out with a knee injury.

Key Injuries: PG C.J. Watson (calf), SG Victor Oladipo (knee).

The Kings are within half a game of a playoff spot, following back-to-back road wins against the Jazz and Clippers. If they can sustain any kind of defensive improvement, that would likely push them over the threshold.

Key Injuries: None.

Having lost six of nine, the Jazz are clinging to that last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Of note, Canadian rookie PF Trey Lyles is taking advantage of his opportunity for increased playing time, averaging 9.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.8% from the field, in 10 starts this month.

Key Injuries: PG Dante Exum (knee), PF Derrick Favors (back), SG Alec Burks (fibula).

The Bucks have won three straight and SG Khris Middleton has taken the lead offensively, averaging 19.8 points per game since the begining of December.

Key Injuries: G Greivis Vasquez (ankle), SG O.J. Mayo (hamstring).

The Blazers have won four of five and, like the Bucks, are more competitive than they were earlier in the season.

Key Injuries: None.

The Hornets have won three of four and, with Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans both healthy, they have a more formidable lineup than they have had for much of the season. 

Key Injuries: SG Eric Gordon (finger).

SF Danilo Gallinari is balling, averaging 24.2 points per game in January. ahead of the Nuggets' second and third-leading scorers this month -- Gary Harris and Will Barton.

Key Injuries: SF Wilson Chandler (hip), C Jusuf Nurkic (knee).

With 10 losses in 11 games, the Timberwolves are sinking fast. Given the high-end young talent they have on the roster, they kind of have to turn this around at least a little, right?

Key Injuries: None.

Lost eight of nine and still moved up a spot. Word to the owner: it doesn't mean they will be title contenders next year.

Key Injuries: PG Jarrett Jack (knee), SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (ankle).

The Nets manage to move up because the Suns continue in free-fall, losing 14 of 15. Keep an eye on rookie SG Devin Booker, who is averaging 16.9 points per game in January.

Key Injuries: PG Eric Bledsoe (knee), PF Jon Leuer (back).

The Sixers aren't good, by any stretch, but they are 4-8 with a couple of overtime losses in the past dozen games. That's progress! 

Key Injuries:  C Joel Embiid (foot).

Seven losses in the past eight, and missing a couple of bigs from the rotation is enough for the Lakers to fall into the cellar. Congratulations?

Key Injuries: PF Julius Randle (nose), PF Larry Nance Jr. (knee).