{"id":179860,"date":"2025-09-30T10:41:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T10:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/179860\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T10:41:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T10:41:23","slug":"nba-power-rankings-nuggets-rocket-knicks-top-contenders-to-knock-off-thunder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/179860\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA power rankings: Nuggets, Rocket, Knicks top contenders to knock off Thunder"},"content":{"rendered":"

NBA<\/a> action is finally back.<\/p>\n

All 30 teams have now reported for training camps, the first preseason game will tip off Thursday, Oct. 2<\/a> between the New York Knicks<\/a> and Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> in Abu Dhabi, and teams are starting their campaigns with the same objective in mind: hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season.<\/p>\n

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That, however, remains a long way off, as most teams will begin practices this week, looking to shake off summer rust and get into shape. In any case, everyone is chasing the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>, who have an excellent chance to become the first team to repeat in eight seasons.<\/p>\n

Here are USA TODAY Sports<\/a>‘ NBA power rankings, with all 30 teams having reported for training camps:<\/p>\n

1 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder<\/p>\n

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1 \/ 36<\/p>\n

NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day<\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder<\/p>\n

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2 \/ 36<\/p>\n

NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day<\/p>\n

Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder<\/p>\n

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3 \/ 36<\/p>\n

NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day<\/p>\n

Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder<\/p>\n

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4 \/ 36<\/p>\n

NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day<\/p>\n

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors<\/p>\n

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5 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors<\/p>\n

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6 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors<\/p>\n

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7 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors<\/p>\n

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8 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n

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9 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n

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10 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n

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11 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Derrick White, Boston Celtics<\/p>\n

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12 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and forward Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks<\/p>\n

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13 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Caleb Martin, Dallas Mavericks<\/p>\n

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14 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks<\/p>\n

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15 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers<\/p>\n

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16 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks<\/p>\n

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17 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers<\/p>\n

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18 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers<\/p>\n

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19 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers<\/p>\n

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20 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers<\/p>\n

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21 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers<\/p>\n

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22 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls<\/p>\n

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23 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets<\/p>\n

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24 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Curtis Jones, Denver Nuggets<\/p>\n

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25 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets<\/p>\n

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26 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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De\u2019Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs<\/p>\n

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27 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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De\u2019Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs<\/p>\n

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28 \/ 36<\/p>\n

NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day<\/p>\n

Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons<\/p>\n

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29 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers<\/p>\n

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30 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers<\/p>\n

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31 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks<\/p>\n

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32 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks<\/p>\n

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33 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers<\/p>\n

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34 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Jordan Goodwin, Phoenix Suns<\/p>\n

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35 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans<\/p>\n

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36 \/ 36<\/p>\n

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Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans<\/p>\n

NBA power rankings \u2013 training camp edition1. Oklahoma City Thunder<\/p>\n

The Thunder have a team built to win for years to come. Can they maintain their edge and focus over a grind of a season to become the first team to repeat as champions in eight years?<\/p>\n

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2. Denver Nuggets<\/p>\n

The Nuggets had a stellar offseason, and Cameron Johnson figures to add a new dimension to Denver’s offense.<\/p>\n

3. Houston Rockets<\/p>\n

Losing veteran point guard Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL<\/a> shouldn’t dampen all the enthusiasm they generated from a busy offseason that included the Kevin Durant trade<\/a>, but it is a significant blow.<\/p>\n

4. New York Knicks<\/p>\n

Expectations are sky-high for the Knicks, who have rounded out their roster and may depend more on their bench with new coach Mike Brown coming in.<\/p>\n

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5. Cleveland Cavaliers<\/p>\n

Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. are solid additions, but the Cavaliers<\/a> will need to stay healthy \u2014 and will need their stars like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley to take another step forward.<\/p>\n

6. Los Angeles Clippers<\/p>\n

This is very much a win-now roster, but with an inquiry surrounding Kawhi Leonard and owner Steve Ballmer about possible salary cap circumvention, can L.A. focus on basketball?<\/p>\n

7. Minnesota Timberwolves<\/p>\n

Could an MVP-caliber season be incoming for Anthony Edwards? He spoke at media day on Monday, Sept. 29<\/a> and vowed to be fully engaged, even against weaker opponents.<\/p>\n

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8. Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n

The vibes were high at media day, with LeBron James and a slimmed-down Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> seemingly focused on elevating the Lakers into a legitimate contender. They still need some depth in the frontcourt, and a lot will ride on DeAndre Ayton.<\/p>\n

9. Boston Celtics<\/p>\n

Videos of Jayson Tatum<\/a> hitting the court just five months after his Achilles rupture have Boston faithful optimistic that a return could be in the cards later this year. But would Boston be better served to retool for next season?<\/p>\n

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10. Detroit Pistons<\/p>\n

Not many people are talking about the Pistons, who are a threat to become powers in an Eastern Conference that is wide open. With Jaden Ivey returning, Cade Cunningham will not need to be on the ball as much. Might that slow Detroit’s offense?<\/p>\n

11. Golden State Warriors<\/p>\n

Golden State would do well to have a long-term plan for Jonathan Kuminga, because it’s becoming apparent that if he signs his qualifying offer, there’s a massive risk that he’ll be gone at the end of the season, with the Warriors getting nothing in return. And with an aging roster, a scoring presence like Kuminga could go a long way.<\/p>\n

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12. Indiana Pacers<\/p>\n

Coach Rick Carlisle said Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury would be an opportunity for young players to step up. Look for Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin to try to fill that void.<\/p>\n

13. Orlando Magic<\/p>\n

The Magic should return a stingy defense that swarms opponents along the perimeter. As long as they stay healthy, and as long as Desmond Bane helps solve their 3-point shooting woes, they could break out.<\/p>\n

14. San Antonio Spurs<\/p>\n

Coach Mitch Johnson said Monday that Victor Wembanyama has no restrictions. That’s incredible news for San Antonio, which has a stellar core of playmakers in De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, who should ease things considerably for Wemby.<\/p>\n

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15. Memphis Grizzlies<\/p>\n

Can they get a healthy Ja Morant? He remains one of the most explosive, dynamic players, and one who can ignite.<\/p>\n

16. Milwaukee Bucks<\/p>\n

There’s a weird vibe hanging around the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo essentially confirmed that he was considering his options over the summer and he’s not necessarily giving the Bucks a vote of confidence. If the wheels fall off, this could get messy.<\/p>\n

17. Atlanta Hawks<\/p>\n

Adding Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard was massive, but the continued progression of Jalen Johnson would be the thing that gets Atlanta closer to becoming a legitimate competitor.<\/p>\n

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18. Dallas Mavericks<\/p>\n

Coach Jason Kidd tempered expectations Monday that Kyrie Irving would be able to return soon from his torn ACL. It’s tough to see the Mavs being legitimate threats in a crowded West without him.<\/p>\n

19. Chicago Bulls<\/p>\n

They locked up Josh Giddey and took care of him in the long-term. But this is a roster that still needs an infusion of star talent.<\/p>\n

20. Philadelphia 76ers<\/p>\n

Joel Embiid was slimmed down at media day, but he made it clear that he would be limited to start training camp and would likely need load management throughout the season. The Sixers could be dangerous, but they’ll need him on the floor.<\/p>\n

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21. Miami Heat<\/p>\n

Losing Tyler Herro for the first two months of the season, potentially, comes as a significant blow to a team that struggled to score \u2014 especially late in games \u2014 even when he was on the floor.<\/p>\n

22. Toronto Raptors<\/p>\n

This team will go as far as Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes take them.<\/p>\n

23. Sacramento Kings<\/p>\n

Domantas Sabonis has made it clear he wishes he had a star point guard to play off of. It’s almost like they could use a guy … like De’Aaron Fox.<\/p>\n

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24. Phoenix Suns<\/p>\n

Trading away Kevin Durant leaves Devin Booker as the unquestioned No. 1 option. He said during media day that he would use his voice as a leader. His biggest project should be getting fellow guard Jalen Green to play without hesitstion.<\/p>\n

25. Washington Wizards<\/p>\n

They’re still a couple of years away from competing, but Washington does have a nice collection of players, starting with their French connection in Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly.<\/p>\n

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26. Portland Trail Blazers<\/p>\n

With Damian Lillard (Achilles) and Scoot Henderson (hamstring) each missing extended time, Portland could have an unsettled start to the season. Rookie big Yang Hansen could be an intriguing player to watch early on.<\/p>\n

27. New Orleans Pelicans<\/p>\n

Zion Williamson showed up rather slimmed down and appears to be in the best shape of his NBA career. It’s a great sign, as the Pelicans will need him to be on the floor.<\/p>\n

28. Brooklyn Nets<\/p>\n

The Nets, who might be forced to play their rookies \u2014 they drafted five in the first round alone<\/a> \u2014 could be in for a long season.<\/p>\n

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29. Charlotte Hornets<\/p>\n

The Hornets quietly had a decent offseason and have more shooting. There will probably still be a steep learning curve, however.<\/p>\n

30. Utah Jazz<\/p>\n

The Jazz might be a team that continues to build for the future and sells ahead of the February trading deadline.<\/p>\n

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings: How teams stack up as training camps open<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NBA action is finally back. All 30 teams have now reported for training camps, the first preseason game…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":179861,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[434],"tags":[61157,42528,36999,6703,18724,24621,1222,44388,6996,49,24617,37218,48,11002,5184,2357,2695,3557,91283,12882,2898,44389,8028,8225,18705,2358,37217,83288,8228,8217,8223,2697,18729,18733,6693,9924,3556,1526,6689,14723,14728,6695,15047,91282,2327,59195,1527,8231,12887,82229,15718,8224,8216,14102,459,8214,2901,44387,3555,15716,1528,6002,6683,10679,24616,2696,8233,14731,82,24618,10676,1722,42156,16306,15717,21217,8027,19742,8227],"class_list":["post-179860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-alex-sarr","tag-andrew-nembhard","tag-anthony-edwards","tag-atlanta-hawks","tag-bennedict-mathurin","tag-bilal-coulibaly","tag-boston-celtics","tag-brandon-ingram","tag-brooklyn-nets","tag-ca","tag-cade-cunningham","tag-cameron-johnson","tag-canada","tag-charlotte-hornets","tag-chicago-bulls","tag-cleveland-cavaliers","tag-dallas-mavericks","tag-damian-lillard","tag-deaaron-fox-2","tag-deandre-ayton","tag-denver-nuggets","tag-desmond-bane","tag-detroit-pistons","tag-devin-booker","tag-domantas-sabonis","tag-donovan-mitchell","tag-evan-mobley","tag-fred-vanvleet","tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","tag-golden-state-warriors","tag-houston-rockets","tag-indiana-pacers","tag-ja-morant","tag-jaden-ivey","tag-jalen-green","tag-jalen-johnson","tag-jayson-tatum","tag-joel-embiid","tag-jonathan-kuminga","tag-josh-giddey","tag-kawhi-leonard","tag-kevin-durant","tag-kyrie-irving","tag-larry-nance-jr","tag-lebron-james","tag-lonzo-ball","tag-los-angeles-clippers","tag-los-angeles-lakers","tag-luka-doncic","tag-luke-kennard","tag-memphis-grizzlies","tag-miami-heat","tag-milwaukee-bucks","tag-minnesota-timberwolves","tag-nba","tag-new-orleans-pelicans","tag-new-york-knicks","tag-nickeil-alexander-walker","tag-oklahoma-city-thunder","tag-orlando-magic","tag-philadelphia-76ers","tag-phoenix-suns","tag-portland-trail-blazers","tag-sacramento-kings","tag-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio-spurs","tag-scoot-henderson","tag-scottie-barnes","tag-sports","tag-stephon-castle","tag-toronto-raptors","tag-training-camp","tag-tyler-herro","tag-tyrese-haliburton","tag-utah-jazz","tag-victor-wembanyama","tag-washington-wizards","tag-yang-hansen","tag-zion-williamson"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/179861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}