NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
With two weeks of regular-season hoops in the rearview, we're jumping to conclusions with one overreaction for every team.
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ATL | BKN | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR | SAC | SAS | TOR | UTA | WAS
1. Philadelphia 76ers (7-1)
Previous: 4
The East runs through Philly. The new-look 76ers have bolted to the top of the conference with two wins over the reigning champion Knicks already. Whether that's the LeBron James effect or simple early-season momentum, no one seems capable of stopping this squad at full health.
2. Houston Rockets (7-1)
Previous: 7
Rockets are deepest team in NBA. Houston aims to unsettle the balance of power out West thanks to balanced scoring. Eight players are averaging double figures, led by Alperen Sengun's career-high 23.3 points. The Rockets are also burying 39.1% of their attempts from deep, the league's third-best mark.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (6-1)
Previous: 26
Why not Memphis? Questions about the difficulty of their early schedule aside, the Grizzlies are dusting nearly everyone while leading the NBA in 3-point percentage and sitting second in rebounding. Their ability to maintain this against contenders in November will determine whether or not they're for real.
4. Detroit Pistons (6-1)
Previous: 8
Pistons' D better without Jalen Duren. Since the All-NBA third-team selection went down with a hamstring strain after their first two games, the Pistons boast an absurd 98.6 defensive rating, which is the best in the league over that spell by some margin.
5. San Antonio Spurs (5-2)
Previous: 1
Victor Wembanyama needs to stop shooting threes. As if last season's 34.9% 3-point mark on 5.5 attempts per game wasn't bad enough, Wemby is shooting 26.2% on six attempts per game in 2026-27. Imagine being 7-foot-4 and not exploiting that advantage more often.
6. Boston Celtics (5-2)
Previous: 10
Who needs Jaylen Brown? Paul George has fit in seamlessly, shooting 38.8% from deep through six outings, while Jayson Tatum's playing some of his best basketball since returning from his Achilles tear in March. Joe Mazzulla continues to win despite having to manage so many different faces.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (5-2)
Previous: 2
Last one out, turn out the lights. Brutal injuries that will cost Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace most, if not all, of the season prove this isn't OKC's year. That said, if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can still lead the Thunder to a high playoff seed, his third straight MVP award becomes nearly inevitable.
8. Los Angeles Lakers (6-2)
Previous: 12
Walker Kessler was worth the price. The Lakers raised eyebrows when they handed Kessler a lucrative contract after giving up serious draft compensation to acquire him via a sign-and-trade with the Jazz. But he's delivered thus far with his finishing around the rim and shot-blocking presence.
9. Portland Trail Blazers (5-1)
Previous: 18
Ja Morant's still got it. Morant might lack the explosiveness he had earlier in his career, but the Blazers must be pleased with what they saw prior to his hamstring injury. The 6-foot-2 guard was shooting 54.2% from the field - including a 42.9% clip from distance.
10. Golden State Warriors (5-3)
Previous: 20
Yaxel Lendeborg's the future. After Sunday's 37-point outburst without Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, rookie Lendeborg is now averaging 21.5 points and seven rebounds with 40% 3-point shooting. The Warriors finally struck gold with a lottery pick.
11. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3)
Previous: 11
James Harden's contract won't age well. The Beard's performance so far in the first season of a three-year, $96.5-million deal has to be somewhat concerning. Harden's shooting a career-low 39.1% from the field on 12.4 attempts per contest.
12. Toronto Raptors (4-3)
Previous: 6
Scottie Barnes can't be No. 1 option. Toronto's 2-3 since Kawhi Leonard went down with a knee issue. Over that span, Barnes is averaging 24 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and 2.6 steals. Spacing's been a massive issue; the two-time All-Star is 1-of-15 from deep since Leonard's injury.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-3)
Previous: 9
Rudy Gobert is washed. Granted, Gobert is the type of player who needs time to acclimate to a rebuilt roster. But he's led the league in field-goal percentage three times and has a 65.7% career shooting percentage, so his 42.5% mark this season is shocking.
14. New York Knicks (3-4)
Previous: 3
Moving on from Mitchell Robinson was smart. Most Knicks fans weren't pleased to see Robinson join the rival Celtics this offseason. However, it's hard to argue with the front office's decision while Andre Drummond provides productive minutes off the bench at a fraction of the cost.
15. Denver Nuggets (3-3)
Previous: 5
Trevon Brazile was a steal. It took just four games for Brazile to crack the Nuggets' starting lineup. The 35th overall pick has earned the opportunity with solid two-way play. He crashes the offensive glass, provides spacing, and uses his 7-foot-4 wingspan to disrupt passing lanes.
16. Washington Wizards (4-3)
Previous: 21
AJ Dybantsa is the real deal. It's been a minute since Wizards fans had something to cheer about, but they might finally have their franchise player. Dybantsa is immediately making his mark in the NBA, showcasing his complete arsenal and scoring at an efficient rate.
17. Dallas Mavericks (4-3)
Previous: 22
Cooper Flagg will get MVP votes. Even the biggest Flagg fans could not have foreseen such a rapid ascension. The 19-year-old is averaging 25.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.5 assists on 48.6% shooting. If he improves his 3-point shot, it's game over.
18. Atlanta Hawks (4-4)
Previous: 15
Aaron Wiggins trade was a home run. With Wiggins buried on the depth chart and the Thunder needing to create financial flexibility, the Hawks pounced on the chance to buy low. Wiggins has immediately capitalized on the opportunity as a valuable 3-and-D role player off Atlanta's bench.
19. Charlotte Hornets (3-5)
Previous: 17
This offense is a disaster. Without Kon Knueppel to start the season, the Hornets rank last in field-goal percentage (40.5%), second last in 3-point percentage (29.6%), and last in free throws - both made and attempted. Maybe check those rims in Charlotte.
20. Miami Heat (2-5)
Previous: 13
Heat fumbled the offseason. The Giannis Antetokounmpo-Bam Adebayo tandem doesn't work. The two ball-dominant bigs overlap in far too many areas. They also provide zero perimeter threat, creating a nightmare floor-spacing scenario that is not alleviated by the team's 34.8% shooting from deep.
21. Orlando Magic (2-5)
Previous: 19
The Magic are cursed. A season after long-term absences for Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero nearly derailed Orlando's postseason aspirations, Banchero is again sidelined for an extended spell, and Jalen Suggs was lucky to escape major injury when he sustained a bone bruise in his knee.
22. New Orleans Pelicans (3-4)
Previous: 25
Fire Joe Dumars tomorrow. Is this even an overreaction? Dumars is arguably the league's worst front-office architect, and he brought back virtually the same roster that limped over the line with 26 wins a season ago. Given ample opportunities to engineer a rebuild, Dumars has declined.
23. Indiana Pacers (2-6)
Previous: 14
Will Pacers reach last season's win total? Pacers fans must feel like they're reliving a nightmare. They have two wins in eight games; Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac, and Ben Sheppard are all out injured for the foreseeable future; and the team used six players in Monday's loss to the Hawks.
24. Phoenix Suns (1-4)
Previous: 16
Suns' D is historically bad. It's early days, but the Suns are on pace to record the worst defensive rating (124) in NBA history, surpassing last year's Wizards (122.7). The increased pace of play and possessions across the league is a factor, but it's still a notable trend in Phoenix.
25. Chicago Bulls (1-6)
Previous: 24
Caleb Wilson is special. After a nine-turnover performance in his NBA debut, Wilson has been a force on both ends for the Bulls. The 6-foot-10 forward is exploding to the rim off the bounce, making timely cuts, creating for his teammates, and wreaking havoc defensively with his length and athleticism.
26. Los Angeles Clippers (1-6)
Previous: 28
Darius Garland's worth building around. The Clippers might be tempted to sell high on Garland and replenish some of the draft picks they lost for circumventing the salary cap. But Garland is thriving as the team's go-to offensive option after deferring to others for so many years with the Cavs.
27. Utah Jazz (1-6)
Previous: 23
Jazz's losing culture persists. Utah's continuity and accumulation of talent should be translating into wins this season, yet the Jazz are right where we're used to seeing them: the Western Conference's cellar. Did their years of blatant tanking rub off on their core?
28. Milwaukee Bucks (1-6)
Previous: 29
Bucks have a Gary Trent Jr. problem. When Milwaukee re-signed Trent to a eyebrow-raising and investigation-sparking four-year, $64-million deal in the summer, surely nobody expected the veteran guard would have five DNPs and roughly 12 minutes played through seven games.
29. Brooklyn Nets (1-6)
Previous: 27
Another lost season in Brooklyn. Julius Randle's strong start hasn't altered Brooklyn's fortunes. The Nets are once again among the NBA's worst teams, and they aren't going anywhere this season if their offense continues to struggle.
30. Sacramento Kings (1-6)
Previous: 30
No more wins until 2027. Sacramento had a relatively soft slate to begin the season and still went 1-6. Now look at the Kings' upcoming schedule and try to pick one more guaranteed win before the new year. Good luck.
