Power Rankings: Rockets blast off By Marc Stein | ESPN.com

Monday, Nov. 17

Select One Preseason 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Team: Select One Atlanta Boston Brooklyn Charlotte Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit Golden State Houston Indiana LA Clippers LA Lakers Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minnesota New Orleans New York Oklahoma City Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Portland Sacramento San Antonio Toronto Utah Washington Week:Team:

It wasn't an easy decision given the way they struggled against outmanned Philadelphia and injury-ravaged Oklahoma City, but the Houston Rockets have nosed into the top spot in ESPN.com's weekly NBA Power Rankings.

Golden State's home loss to San Antonio, in a real statement opportunity, created an opening for the Rockets, whose 3-0 week nudged them past Memphis for the No. 1 ranking heading into Monday night's Rockets at Grizzlies showdown opposite Steelers at Titans.

Other notable movers include the Spurs (back to up to No. 4 from No. 7), Damian Lillard's Portland Trail Blazers (No. 9 to No. 5), LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers (No. 14 to No. 6) and, conversely, Miami's slide from No. 5 to No. 15 in the wake of three poor performances.

A more detailed look at this week's order can be found on Stein Line Live. And you can comment below on this week's 1-to-30 ladder, which, as always, was assembled with the ever-supporting dishing we get from ESPN Stats & Info and the Elias Sports Bureau.