Portland Trail Blazers Move Up in NBA Power Rankings

The Portland Trail Blazers have moved up from their frequent position at No. 20 to No. 18 in NBA.com's latest weekly power rankings, following a strong start to the new year with three consecutive wins that brought their record to .500.

In January 2026, the Blazers hold the league's best record at 8-2, ranking in the top eight for both offense and defense. Half of these victories came against teams with winning records, including the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets (twice), and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The team is beginning to get healthier, with key players like Jerami Grant returning from a 14-game absence and Deni Avdija returning after missing three games. However, the Blazers have not had their full roster of Avdija, Grant, and Jrue Holiday available together since November 14. The team's offense has struggled without Avdija, but Caleb Love has provided a boost off the bench, scoring 22 points with seven assists against the Lakers for his 14th straight game in double figures.

Following a three-day break, the Blazers will play a back-to-back home series at the Moda Center, first against the Miami Heat and then the Toronto Raptors.