NBA winners and losers: Are Celtics in trouble? What happens with Jimmy Butler and Heat?

As the 2024-25 NBA season nears its midway point, some teams are very much at a crossroads.

One of those is the defending champion Boston Celtics, who — at full health — dropped a disappointing game Wednesday night against a Toronto Raptors team that entered the night with only nine victories. Boston still has elite talent, but it has one glaring issue it seemingly can’t shed.

Another team at a crossroads — a more optimistic one — is the Houston Rockets, who have produced impressive offensive performances during a five-game winning streak after struggling with inefficiency earlier in the season.

Here are the winners and losers from the 11th week of the NBA season.

WINNERS

Oklahoma City Thunder

While the Cavaliers, the top team in the Eastern Conference, snapped Oklahoma City’s 10-game winning streak last week, the Thunder (33-6) bounced back with a 25-point win over the Knicks, a 41-point drubbing of the Wizards and an 18-point victory over the 76ers.

That’s all well and good, but Thursday night’s rematch against Cleveland — this time held in Oklahoma City — should be another thriller and potential NBA Finals preview. Oklahoma City might be the most consistent team in the NBA. The Thunder offense is methodical and unhurried, taking after star and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has led the team in scoring in 18 of the last 19 games. The best news for the Thunder: injured center Chet Holmgren (pelvic fracture) has returned to doing light basketball activities and may be returning soon.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets (27-12) have exploded on offense to stack an impressive stretch, winning five consecutive games — making them the owners of the NBA's longest active winning streak. The last three victories Houston has posted have been against the Nuggets (24-16) and a pair against the Memphis Grizzlies (26-15).

The Rockets have averaged 124.1 points per game during this stretch, with their lowest output being a pair of 119-point games. Houston led Denver Wednesday night pretty much wire to wire, but the key has been the defense springing efficient offense; the Rockets grabbed five more offensive rebounds than Denver and forced 20 turnovers — opposed to only 11 committed by the Rockets. Houston, therefore, took 19 more shots and scored 34 points off of those Nuggets turnovers. This is what could turn a very good, young team into an absolutely dangerous one.

Orlando Magic, Paolo Banchero

On Wednesday night, Paolo Banchero, who started out the season on an undeniable All-Star pace, played only his eighth game of the year, and his third since returning from a torn oblique that had sidelined him since late October.

While the Magic have gone 1-2 since Banchero returned (with both losses against the Bucks), his offense has been instantly notable; Banchero has scored 34, 20 and 22 since his return, though Orlando emptied the bench early Wednesday night in a blowout loss. His effortless range, inside presence, offensive rebounding and ability to drive have all made the Magic more potent with the ball.

LOSERS

Boston Celtics

A fully-healthy Boston team lost Wednesday night by 13 to a Raptors squad that entered the night with only nine wins. The Celtics (28-12) have now lost half of their last 14 games, a span that stretches back a month. The team’s defense has not been nearly as crisp. Players often move through the court as if they are bored, which could be a symptom of a very good team trudging through the early half of a season.

Yet, Boston’s primary issue is the same one that has affected the team going back to last season: when the Celtics are hitting 3s, they are unstoppable. When they aren’t, they stagnate, appear frustrated and their defensive intensity dips. Boston ranks first in the NBA in 3-point attempts, with 49.3 per game. Yet, the Celtics are making them at just a 36.2% clip, which ranks 16th in the league. In fact, of Jayson Tatum’s 745 field-goal attempts this season, 51.3% have been 3s. For Derrick White, that number is an astronomical 70.1% of his 481 field-goal attempts. For a pair of players hitting them at 35.9% and 37.4%, respectively, that’s far too much inefficiency to bear.

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

With Jimmy Butler’s seven-game suspension set to lift Friday, neither he nor the Heat have come out looking very good. Butler reportedly is insisting on a trade and a payday; Miami maintains he is under contract and is obligated to contribute. Both sides have leaked details to local and national media, with reports of trade requests, accounting errors, distant behavior and private jets. All the while, a serious market for a trade doesn’t appear to have materialized, other players are having to answer questions about the locker room each night, and team owner Micky Arison is getting involved, reportedly meeting with Butler before Friday.

And thus, with no resolution in sight, this could drag on well past the Feb. 6 trade deadline — and barely anyone is talking about the actual Heat product on the court.

Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia (15-24) has lost four in a row and seven of the last nine as it continues to be plagued by injuries. The central absence — pun, intended — has been Joel Embiid, who has now missed 26 of 39 total games this season with various ailments.

While Paul George has largely been a disappointing addition, Embiid is the difference-maker: the Sixers had won seven of the last nine games in which Embiid appeared. Yet, even with the deadline approaching, blowing it up may be imprudent; despite its recent struggles, Philadelphia is still just six games back of the six-seed in the East, the last guaranteed playoff spot.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA winners, losers: Celtics, 76ers, Jimmy Butler, Heat have bad week