Make it a dozen for the seemingly unstoppable Boston Celtics. Despite losing Kyrie Irving to a facial fracture suffered Friday, Boston managed to eke out a close win Sunday over the Toronto Raptors to run their win streak to 12 games.

Was it enough to unseat the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets -- each winners of six straight games -- for one of the top two spots in our rankings?

At the other end of the spectrum, the falling LA Clippers have lost five straight and, after a string of injuries, aren't looking like the team that raced out to a 4-0 start in October.

Every Monday throughout the regular season, our panel -- ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz, Amin Elhassan and Ramona Shelburne, The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears and FiveThirtyEight's Chris Herring -- will rank the league's 30 teams from top to bottom, with research notes on each team provided by ESPN Stats & Information.

Previous rankings: Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1

1. Golden State Warriors

2017-18 record: 10-3

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 1 3-0 vs. ORL, @ BOS, @ PHI, @ BKN

Golden State has won each of its past six games by 17 points or more. Only one other team in NBA history has done that: the 1989-90 Suns. The Stephen Curry-Klay Thompson connection has been unmatched so far. According to Second Spectrum, Thompson has an 82 percent effective field goal percentage off passes from Curry, best among all passer-shooter combos (minimum 30 passes). -- Vincent Johnson

2. Houston Rockets

2017-18 record: 11-3

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 2 3-0 vs. TOR, @ PHX, @ MEM

None of the greatest shooters in the history of basketball -- Curry, Thompson, Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, to name a few -- have done what James Harden has done this season. He's the first player to make at least six 3-pointers in five straight games. No other player had ever done that in more than three straight. Harden is making or assisting on more than nine 3-pointers per game this season, by far the most in the NBA. -- Vincent Johnson

3. Boston Celtics

2017-18 record: 12-2

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 3 4-0 @ BKN, vs. GS, @ ATL

The Celtics haven't lost a game since their 0-2 start to the season. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, their 12-game winning streak is tied with the 2006-07 Mavericks for the longest win streak immediately following an 0-2 or worse start to the season. That Mavericks team went on to win a franchise-best 67 games. -- Jose De Leon

4. San Antonio Spurs

2017-18 record: 8-5

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 7 2-1 @ DAL, @ MIN, vs. OKC

Through their first eight games, the Spurs had the third-worst offensive efficiency in the NBA (98.4) and were getting outscored by four points per 100 possessions. In their past five games, San Antonio has the fourth-best offensive efficiency (114.8) and only the Warriors and Rockets have a better net efficiency. -- Jose De Leon

5. Detroit Pistons

2017-18 record: 10-3

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 9 3-0 @ MIL, @ IND, @ MIN

Andre Drummond has grabbed at least 12 rebounds in all 13 games this season. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, Drummond joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Moses Malone as the only players to grab at least 12 rebounds in each of his first 13 games of a season in the post-Wilt Chamberlain era (since 1973-74). -- ESPN Stats & Information

6. Toronto Raptors

2017-18 record: 7-5

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 6 2-1 @ HOU, @ NO, vs. NY, vs. WAS

The Raptors beat the Pelicans on Thursday and had the most success of any team limiting the dynamic duo that is Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins this season. The two combined for 38 points on 37 percent shooting against the Raptors, their season lows in both. They play for the second and final time this season on Wednesday. -- Jose De Leon

7. Denver Nuggets

2017-18 record: 8-5

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 17 3-0 @ POR, vs. NO, @ LAL

Nikola Jokic helped kick off the Nuggets' three-game winning streak with a huge game against the Nets on Tuesday, scoring a career-high 41 points and adding 12 rebounds and 5 assists. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, he joined Alex English, George McGinnis and Michael Adams as the the fourth player with 40 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a game in Nuggets history. -- ESPN Stats & Information

8. Memphis Grizzlies

2017-18 record: 7-5

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 5 1-1 @ MIL, vs. IND, vs. HOU

One month into the season, and perhaps the most involved player in any team's offensive system isn't Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden or even Ben Simmons. No, that would be Marc Gasol, who, according to player tracking by Second Spectrum, is averaging a league-high 144 offensive touches per 100 possessions. -- Micah Adams

9. Cleveland Cavaliers

2017-18 record: 6-7

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 10 2-1 @ NYK, @ CHA, vs. LAC

Just how bad has the Cavs' last-place defense been? They allow nearly as many points per 100 possessions as the 2015-16 73-win Warriors scored and are on pace to allow the most 3-pointers per game in a single season. Yet they maintain their top-10 spot due to the greatness of King James. -- Michael Schwartz

10. Washington Wizards

2017-18 record: 7-5

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 15 2-1 vs. SAC, @ MIA, vs. MIA, @ TOR

The Wizards have a home-and-home this week against the Heat and have lost five straight against Miami. Losing both games would give Washington its first seven-game losing streak against Miami since losing 12 straight from November 2003 to April 2006. -- Jose De Leon

11. Orlando Magic

2017-18 record: 8-5

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 14 2-1 @ GS, @ POR, vs. UTAH,

Aaron Gordon, who gave us one of the best performances in dunk contest history, leads the league in 3-point percentage this season (55.3). Entering this season, the only player 6-foot-9 or taller to connect on 50 percent of his 3s for a season was Detlef Schrempf in 1994-95 (51.4). -- ESPN Stats & Information

12. Minnesota Timberwolves

2017-18 record: 7-5

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 4 0-2 @ UTAH, vs. SA, @ DAL, vs. DET

There's perhaps no play more indicative of hustle and hard work than sprinting back on defense in transition. It's an area where Jimmy Butler shines. According to player tracking data from Second Spectrum, Butler averages 7.7 mph getting back in transition, first in the NBA among the 79 qualified players. On the other end is James Harden, who rates the slowest in getting back in transition among our qualified players. -- Micah Adams

13. Oklahoma City Thunder

2017-18 record: 6-7

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 11 2-2 vs. CHI, @ SA

Last season the Thunder outperformed their record by outscoring their opponents by 20 points per 100 possessions in clutch time (the last five minutes of a game with the score within five). Though they finally finished off a close game last week after losing their first six, the Thunder are still very much a work in progress when things get tight, as they are 1-6 in games that have gone to clutch time while being outscored by 50 points per 100 possessions, last in the NBA. -- Michael Schwartz

14. Milwaukee Bucks

2017-18 record: 6-6

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 16 2-1 vs. MEM, vs. DET, @ DAL

The Bucks acquired point guard Eric Bledsoe last week to provide playmaking help for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Bledsoe is one of nine players since the start of the 2015-16 season to average 20 points and and six assists per game, but he's the only one of that group not to make an All-NBA team in that time. -- Michael Schwartz

15. Portland Trail Blazers

2017-18 record: 6-6

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 12 0-2 vs. DEN, vs. ORL, @ SAC, vs. SAC

Clutch time in Portland is Damian Lillard time. Lillard leads the league with 13 unassisted field goals in clutch time this season, nine more than any other Trail Blazers player. As a team, Portland leads the league with 16 unassisted field goals in clutch time. -- Jose De Leon

16. New Orleans Pelicans

2017-18 record: 7-6

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 21 2-1 vs. ATL, vs. TOR, @ DEN

DeMarcus Cousins is doing everything this season, as he's the only player to rank among the top five in PPG and RPG while also averaging 5.7 APG, 1.8 blocks and 1.5 steals. He also has flashed an impressive perimeter game for a guy his size, as he's on pace to average the most 3-point attempts by a player 6-foot-11 or taller in NBA history. -- Michael Schwartz

17. Philadelphia 76ers

2017-18 record: 6-6

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 19 1-2 @ LAC, @ LAL, vs. GS

Ben Simmons and Lonzo Ball enter Wednesday's matchup on ESPN having already recorded a triple-double this season. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, it's the first time a pair of opposing rookies enter their matchup having already recorded a triple-double since March 2014 (Michael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo). -- Jose De Leon

18. LA Clippers

2017-18 record: 5-7

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 8 0-3 vs. PHI, @ CLE, @ CHA

The Clippers got off to a 4-0 start and were the last undefeated team in the NBA. Since then, they have gone 1-7, losing five straight. In Chris Paul's six seasons in Los Angeles, the Clippers' longest losing streak was six games. -- Jose De Leon

19. New York Knicks

2017-18 record: 7-5

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 22 2-1 vs. CLE, vs. UTAH, @ TOR

LeBron James recently suggested the Knicks should have taken Dennis Smith Jr. over Frank Ntilikina in this year's draft. Knicks fans will be happy to know Ntilikina and Kristaps Porzingis have the best point differential by any Knicks two-man combo this season (plus-54). -- Jose De Leon

20. Utah Jazz

2017-18 record: 6-7

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 13 1-2 vs. MIN, @ NY, @ BKN, @ ORL

Rudy Gobert's injury could spell doom for the Jazz, who already faced somewhat of an uphill battle. Prior to the injury, BPI gave Utah just a 13 percent chance to make the playoffs thanks in part to the NBA's second-hardest remaining schedule. The timing of Gobert's injury couldn't be much worse either as Utah's December schedule is the hardest any team will face in any month this season, according to BPI. -- Micah Adams

21. Miami Heat

2017-18 record: 6-7

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 23 2-2 vs. WAS, @ WAS, vs. IND

Dion Waiters scored 12 points in the final five minutes of the Heat's win against the Jazz on Friday, the second time he has scored at least 10 points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook is the only other player with at least 10 points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter of two games this season. -- Jose De Leon

22. Charlotte Hornets

2017-18 record: 5-7

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 18 0-2 vs. CLE, @ CHI, vs. LAC

The Hornets squandered a 12-point fourth-quarter lead against the Celtics on Friday after scoring 11 points in the period, their fewest in a quarter this season. Charlotte has lost its past two games in which it had a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. The Wizards are the only other team with two losses despite leading by 10-plus points in the fourth quarter this season. -- Jose De Leon

23. Indiana Pacers

2017-18 record: 6-8

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 20 1-3 @ MEM, vs. DET, @ MIA

Since Reggie Miller retired, Danny Granger and Paul George are the only Pacers players to average 23 points per game for a season. In his first year with the team, Victor Oladipo is on pace to become the third player to do so. -- Jose De Leon

24. Los Angeles Lakers

2017-18 record: 5-8

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 24 0-3 @ PHX, vs. PHI, vs. PHX. vs. DEN

At 20 years, 15 days, Lonzo Ball became the youngest player to record a triple-double in NBA history, breaking LeBron's record by five days, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. Elias also notes Ball is the fourth Lakers rookie to record a triple-double, joining Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Magic Johnson. -- ESPN Stats & Information

25. Brooklyn Nets

2017-18 record: 5-8

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 26 2-2 vs. BOS, vs. UTAH, vs. GS

D'Angelo Russell has scored 251 points this season. He is the first Nets player with at least 250 points in his first 12 games of a season since Vince Carter had 291 points through his first 12 games in 2008-09. -- Jose De Leon

26. Phoenix Suns

2017-18 record: 5-9

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 25 1-3 vs. LAL, vs. HOU, @ LAL, vs. CHI

After getting back a protected first-round pick in the Bledsoe trade, the Suns have seven first-round picks in their asset chest over the next four seasons, tied for the most of any NBA team. That's on top of the league's youngest roster in the Valley of the Sun. -- Michael Schwartz

27. Sacramento Kings

2017-18 record: 3-9

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 28 2-1 @ WAS, @ ATL, vs. POR, @ POR

De'Aaron Fox became the second rookie with a go-ahead shot in the final 24 seconds of the game this season following his pull-up jumper with 14.1 seconds remaining in the game against the 76ers on Thursday. Mike James also made a go-ahead shot with 14.1 seconds left in the Suns' win over the Kings on Oct. 23. -- Jose De Leon

28. Dallas Mavericks

2017-18 record: 2-12

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 29 1-2 vs. SA, vs. MIN, vs. MIL

Dennis Smith Jr. has had several highlight-reel dunks this season. He is one of seven rookies with at least 10 dunks this season and is the only rookie shorter than 6-foot-9 with double-digit dunks. He leads all players 6-foot-3 or shorter with 10 dunks this season. -- Jose De Leon

29. Chicago Bulls

2017-18 record: 2-9

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 27 0-3 @ OKC, vs. CHA, @ PHX

After serving an eight-game suspension, Bobby Portis made his season debut last Tuesday. He recorded back-to-back 20-point, 10-rebound games; he had a total of two 20-and-10 games in his first two seasons in the NBA. -- Jose De Leon

30. Atlanta Hawks

2017-18 record: 2-11

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 30 0-3 @ NO, vs. SAC, vs. BOS

John Collins has been a bright spot for the Hawks this season. Among rookies, he is third in player efficiency rating (18.6) and tied for third in double-doubles (three). -- Jose De Leon