The first month of the NBA season suggested an early imbalance. The Western Conference opened stronger and deeper, but the landscape has shifted quickly. Several Eastern Conference teams have stabilized sooner than expected, while a handful of Western contenders have dealt with injuries, inconsistency and inflated early expectations.
The standings now reflect a tighter NBA overall, with surprise risers in both conferences and several projected playoff teams navigating uneven starts. With NBA Cup pool play completed and teams returning to regular-season rhythm, this week offers a clearer picture of which groups are trending upward — and which are losing ground.
Below are your fully updated NBA Power Rankings, using Nov. 28 standings.
Ballislife 2025-26 NBA Power Rankings
(Vol. 1, No. 1; through Nov. 28)
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (18–1)
The Thunder are on a 10-game winning streak with the NBA’s best net rating (+16.5) and remain historically dominant. Their balance, lineup synergy and third-quarter destruction keep them firmly at No. 1.
2. Detroit Pistons (15–3)
Twelve straight wins, a dominant 9–1 stretch in their last 10 and the East’s best record. Their offense has been explosive (123.8 PPG vs. 113.8 allowed) with a strong +10 differential. The rotation is deeper and healthier than at any point this season.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (13–4)
L.A. sits at 13–4, playing balanced basketball and holding the West’s second-best net rating (+10.7). Luka Dončić’s workload remains enormous, LeBron James is in full control and they’re nearly unbeatable when establishing early leads.
4. Denver Nuggets (13–4)
Denver holds steady despite injuries. Their +10.0 differential remains elite, and they’re 7–2 on the road, one of the best marks in the NBA. Nikola Jokić has kept them consistent regardless of missing rotation pieces.
5. Houston Rockets (12–4)
Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün continue to anchor a top-tier offense. They boast a +10.7 differential and are 8–2 over their last 10. Houston hasn’t dropped a game in which it held a double-digit lead.
6. Toronto Raptors (14–5)
Winners of nine straight, the Raptors has surged into the East’s top tier. Their offensive balance has stabilized, their defense is trending upward and Scottie Barnes is playing the most complete basketball of his career.
7. Miami Heat (13–6)
Miami is defending like a Spoelstra team again, and it shows. It is 8–1 at home, and Tyler Herro’s return elevates their offensive ceiling. The Heat look connected on both ends. They’re starting to get healthy and build chemistry for the first time after managing to get by without Herro.
8. San Antonio Spurs (12–5)
Even without Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs have stayed steady. They’re 8–2 at home and remain structurally sound. Keldon Johnson continues to give them versatile scoring, and their defense has taken real strides.
9. New York Knicks (11–6)
The Knicks have stabilized with a two-game winning streak, an 8–1 home record and a +6.5 differential. OG Anunoby remains the backbone of their defense, but the bench continues to outperform expectations.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (12–7)
Cleveland continues to win while navigating absences. Donovan Mitchell’s offensive efficiency has carried them, and now that Jarrett Allen is back, Cleveland’s defensive identity looks much closer to last year.
11. Phoenix Suns (12–7)
Phoenix’s stunning comeback against Minnesota highlighted its improving depth. Devin Booker has been electric, the role players are stepping up and its last 10 games (7–3) show real momentum.
12. Atlanta Hawks (11–8)
Jalen Johnson is performing like an All-Star, and Atlanta remains competitive without Trae Young. Rebounding remains an issue, but the offense has held firm and its overall +1.8 differential feels sustainable.
13. Orlando Magic (11–8)
Orlando’s offense has quietly stabilized. It is 8–4 away from home, one of the NBA’s best road records. Their free-throw rate jump has given them a reliable source of halfcourt scoring.
14. Minnesota Timberwolves (10–8)
Elite against struggling teams, but still searching for a statement win against elite opponents. Their defense remains top-tier, but late-game execution is holding them back.
15. Boston Celtics (10–8)
Boston’s offense is trending upward, especially with Jaylen Brown’s increased usage. Their +4.6 differential indicates a team that should be better than 10–8, but shooting variance continues to dictate outcomes.
16. Chicago Bulls (9–8)
Few teams swing more wildly week-to-week. Coby White has been strong late in games, but their -2.9 differential shows how narrow their path to wins often is.
17. Philadelphia 76ers (9–8)
The offense has cooled and the defense isn’t fully compensating. Paul George’s return helps, but third-quarter struggles remain a defining issue.
18. Golden State Warriors (10–10)
Steph Curry continues to shoulder an enormous burden. Their +0.7 differential and inconsistent bench play suggest a true .500 team until they regain their identity.
19. Portland Trail Blazers (8–11)
Injuries in the backcourt have disrupted rhythm. Portland competes but struggles defensively, and their -2.7 differential reflects the nightly difficulty of staying afloat.
20. Milwaukee Bucks (8–11)
The Bucks have dropped six straight and continue to unravel without Giannis Antetokounmpo. They lack reliable structure on both ends, and the -2.8 differential tells the story.
21. Memphis Grizzlies (7–12)
Jaren Jackson Jr.’s return gives Memphis real reason for optimism. With their defensive anchor back, Zach Edey dominating the glass and Santi Aldama offering timely offense, the Grizzlies finally look more connected. They aren’t winning consistently yet, but the foundation is noticeably firmer.
22. Utah Jazz (5–12)
Competitive at times but rarely complete. Lauri Markkanen’s scoring hasn’t translated to team success, and a -4.1 differential reflects lingering defensive issues.
23. LA Clippers (5–12)
Kawhi Leonard’s return brought stability but hasn’t fixed their defensive collapse. The bench unit remains one of the least productive in the NBA, and their identity is unclear.
24. Dallas Mavericks (5–14)
Close-game struggles define their season. They’ve played 13 clutch games in their last 15 and lost most of them. Anthony Davis’ absence remains the key storyline, though the defense has held up surprisingly well. He’s set to return this weekend.
25. Sacramento Kings (5–14)
Beating Denver on the road was their best win of the season. But without Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento lacks an offensive hub. Keegan Murray’s return does help.
26. Charlotte Hornets (4–14)
Brandon Miller’s return brings much-needed scoring, but defensively this is the worst perimeter group in the NBA. Their clutch record (0–5) remains a glaring weakness.
27. Brooklyn Nets (4–14)
A rare road win provided a temporary lift, but scoring depth remains a major issue with Cam Thomas sidelined. Noah Clowney continues to be a bright spot.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (3–14)
Zion Williamson’s return offers offensive energy, but the perimeter defense is collapsing nightly. Opponents’ shooting numbers against them remain unsustainably high.
29. Washington Wizards (3–16)
Competitive in stretches but unable to close games. Their fourth-quarter metrics remain the worst in the NBA, and turnover issues continue to sink winnable nights.
30. Indiana Pacers (2–15)
Bennedict Mathurin’s scoring flashes aside, the Pacers remain the NBA’s coldest shooting team. Their -14.1 differential is currently the NBA’s worst.
