NBA Power Rankings: Sixers continue tough season while others surge

The league is entering into the final third of the season as teams begin to gear up to make a run at the playoffs, or for some, the play-in tournament.

In the East , the Cleveland Cavaliers have been a machine, and the Boston Celtics have been terrific, while the Philadelphia 76ers have been struggling all season as injuries have robbed them from what was expected to be a championship contender.

Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been at the top while the Los Angeles Lakers , Denver Nuggets , Houston Rockets , Memphis Grizzlies , and Golden State Warriors will be teams to worry about.

The Portland Trail Blazers are 15th in the league in defensive rating.

The Milwaukee Bucks have an elite star duo in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard .

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 6th in defense and 10th in offense.

The Los Angeles Clippers have won four in a row to get themselves back in the play-in tournament.

Golden State Warriors ( 40-29 ) are 15-2 since acquiring Jimmy Butler .

The Grizzlies were the No. 2 seed, but a quick 2 -game skid drops them to No. 5.

Luka Doncic has been fantastic with the Lakers and one has to believe LA can make a deep run into the playoffs with LeBron James and LeBron James leading the way.