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2012 NBA power rankings: Timberwolves leap to No. 11

Ricky Rubio's return ignited a huge rise in the latest NBA power rankings, as the Timberwolves stand knocking on the door of the top ten.

USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Timberwolves moved up five spots to No. 11 in Seth Rosenthal's latest NBA power rankings.

The Timberwolves capped off a perfect 3-win week with a Ricky Rubio-sparked overtime victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. Rubio, whose return certainly accounts at least partially for Minnesota's rapid rise up the rankings, recorded nine assists, eight points and this little piece of wizardry in 18 minutes of action in his first game back from last season's ACL injury.

Rosenthal, echoing the thoughts of the entire NBA community, had only one thing to say about the Timberwolves this week.

RU-BI-OOOOOOOOOOOO

The Timberwolves look to keep their win streak alive with three challenging upcoming midweek games against the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder before traveling to New York to face the Knicks on Sunday.

At the top of the rankings, the Thunder now sit at the top of the power rankings, replacing the San Antonio Spurs after a perfect 2-0 week. The Spurs, who beat the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics but lost to the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers last week, dropped to No. 3. The New York Knicks stay at No. 2, while the Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat round out the top five.

The entire NBA power rankings can be seen here.

Photographs by Micah Taylor, clairity, and Fibonacci Blue used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.