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Each season, the stretch after the All-Star break serves as a crucial opportunity for teams to demonstrate their potential—either reinforcing their status or signaling a decline.
With fewer games left in the season, the standings start to clarify, revealing which teams are poised for the playoffs and which are fighting for positions in the SoFi Play-In Tournament. This period is pivotal as playoff rankings begin to solidify, providing insight into the trajectories of all 30 teams.
For those on the rise, this process kicks off right after the break. A winning streak can significantly bolster chances for top seedings and, in some cases, secure the coveted top position.
In this competition, the standout team is clearly the Cleveland Cavaliers. The indicators from earlier in the season have proven to be accurate, as the Cavs continue their solid performance into March. They remain unbeaten since the break, propelling themselves toward what seems to be a guaranteed first place in the Eastern Conference.
Here’s a look at six of the hottest teams post-break, with their records shown in parentheses:
During the second half of the season, the Cavs are on a “Remove All Doubt” journey, aiming to quell any lingering doubts about their rightful claim to the top seed in the East. Their performance thus far has been impressive.
They suffered just one loss in February, avenging that defeat against the Celtics with a thrilling comeback last Friday in Boston. Consequently, the Cavs are currently in the midst of their third winning streak of ten or more games this season, addressing virtually all questions regarding their strength after the break.
Armed with a robust starting lineup and a capable bench, they show relentless determination to retain their leading status. Donovan Mitchell is in contention for the Kia MVP award, Darius Garland has earned All-Star accolades, and Evan Mobley is a frontrunner for the Kia Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Moreover, with the midseason addition of De’Andre Hunter—who recently showcased his skills with a 32-point game against the Trail Blazers—the Cavs appear covered on all fronts: star talent, defensive prowess, and depth throughout the roster.
All considerations regarding their sustainability will need to wait for the postseason. For now, the Cavs seem buoyed by the break and have exhibited a strong mindset throughout much of the season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are approaching a key milestone soon. They could sustain a weekly loss and still clinch the Western Conference with ease, thanks to the substantial lead they’ve built since the season’s beginning and their current momentum.
The Thunder’s only post-break setback came in an overtime defeat to the Timberwolves, which is acceptable, and they’ve leveraged a lighter schedule (including games against the Jazz, Spurs, and Nets) effectively. This period has proved to be fruitful.
Isaiah Hartenstein is finding his rhythm and fulfilling OKC’s expectations on the boards. Chet Holmgren is gradually increasing his impact after missing some early games this season. Together, these two bigs will play a significant role come playoff time.
Also noteworthy is Jalen Williams, a first-time All-Star who celebrated his selection with a 41-point explosion against the Spurs, marking his best performance as a professional. “J-Dub” is exhibiting the qualities necessary to serve as a capable sidekick.
Naturally, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s scoring leader fresh off a 51-point outing versus Houston, continues to display high efficiency, reinforcing his candidacy for Kia MVP honors.
The season’s surprise team is continually expanding its potential and enhancing its chances of securing a top-six finish to guarantee a playoff spot. It’s hard to fathom that this franchise was struggling just one year ago, and the optimism for 2024-25 still feels fresh.
The recent eight-game winning streak, albeit lacking remarkable victories (excluding the Celtics), has instilled confidence in the Pistons and affirmed their position among the Eastern Conference’s stronger teams.
This positive stretch has highlighted contributions from players beyond All-Star Cade Cunningham. Big man Jalen Duren is proving his worth, Malik Beasley leads the NBA in three-pointers, and Isaiah Stewart adds grit to the team.
Cunningham, for his part, has had standout performances and remains consistently good. He is on a path that could see him land on one of the All-NBA teams, which is precisely what this franchise needs.
The Lakers surged before the break, boasting a 12-3 record benefitting from a manageable schedule (with victories over teams like Brooklyn, Utah, Charlotte, and Washington). They have effectively positioned themselves for an upward movement in the standings and now find themselves in a near tie for second in the Western Conference, firmly in the mix for a guaranteed playoff spot.
Acknowledgement is due to LeBron James. The toll of the season doesn’t appear to affect the 40-year-old, who is playing better than before the holidays, averaging 28 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game since the All-Star break.
Unexpectedly, the Lakers have also improved defensively, which was a major concern at the start of the season. Remarkably, they now lead the NBA in defensive rating (106.9) since trading Anthony Davis.
Meanwhile, Luka Dončić’s performances have been predictably erratic, particularly when evaluated against his own high standards. However, in his most recent outing against the LA Clippers, he scored 29 points and dished out nine assists, offering a glimpse of brighter days ahead.
Yet, challenges lay ahead. Starting next week, the Lakers face six games in eight days, including two with the Nuggets and Bucks, along with a matchup against a desperate Suns team. The final five games include two against OKC, one against the Rockets, and a highly anticipated clash with Dončić in Dallas.
There’s a tendency to credit last month’s Jimmy Butler trade as a pivotal factor in the Warriors’ resurgence, and it’s understandable given the energy he has brought since arriving from Miami, reviving the joy that had been absent (and securing his contract extension).
In truth, however, it’s Stephen Curry who has reclaimed his rhythm. He’s your real catalyst.
Yes, the signature hand clasp and head nod are back, alongside impressive shots, his trademark swagger, and efficient play. Expect to see all this on display Tuesday against the Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT) at Madison Square Garden.
Curry began the season sluggishly—by his lofty standards—with his three-point shooting not operating at its usual level. Was it an Olympic hangover? Perhaps. He endured some challenging nights: a few 3-for-10s, a couple of 4-for-15s, even an 0-for-6. He closed 2024 with a 3-for-11 in a loss to the Cavaliers.
Then came January 2nd. Curry kicked off the new year by going a flawless 8-for-8 (and 11-for-15 overall) in a victory against Philadelphia. Since then, his shooting woes have been infrequent, realizing shooting percentages of 40% from beyond the arc in January and averaging 30.7 points in February, highlighted by a remarkable 56-point outing in Orlando on February 27.
It’s all falling into place for Curry and, correspondingly, the Warriors, who are meshing well and receiving support from Butler as well as a variety of role players (like Brandin Podziemski) who are filling in gaps. There was concern leading up to the break regarding the Warriors’ potential to make—or miss—the Play-In Tournament, but that uncertainty is starting to fade.
Now sitting at 8-2 since acquiring Jimmy Butler, the Warriors are moving up from the Play-In tier and showing intentions of climbing even higher.
Milwaukee also earns a mention, having triumphed over the Timberwolves and Mavericks on the road, as well as the Nuggets, Clippers, and Heat. This is a welcome surge for a team striving to maintain a top-four spot in the East in hopes of securing home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
This resurgence is particularly encouraging for a team that has dealt with Giannis Antetokounmpo missing games due to injury and is currently without Bobby Portis, who is serving a 25-game suspension.
The Bucks exhibit a sense of urgency, and they’ve responded positively so far. As long as Antetokounmpo continues to rack up double-doubles, Damian Lillard finds his shooting form, Gary Trent Jr. manages to fill in for Portis, and Kyle Kumza adapts to his new teammates, Milwaukee should continue to find success.
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Shaun Powell has been covering the NBA for over 25 years. You can reach him via email here, explore his archive here, and follow him on X.
The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily represent the views of the NBA, its franchises, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
