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

Published March 26, 2025

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

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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