Thunder Hold No. 1 Spot, Surging Pistons Lead East in Latest NBA Power Rankings
SLUG: thunder-still-first-pistons-rise-nba-power-rankings
The Oklahoma City Thunder remain atop ESPN’s weekly NBA power rankings released Wednesday, Nov. 12, after opening the 2025-26 campaign with an 11-1 record. Detroit, two seasons removed from a 27-game losing streak, vaulted to No. 3 overall and first place in the Eastern Conference at 9-2.
Thunder’s depth backs Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring tear
Oklahoma City’s success continues to hinge on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose 33.2 points per game rank third in the league. The Thunder have maintained their pace despite Jalen Williams missing every game and several rotation players sitting out multiple contests.
Nuggets, behind Jokic’s playmaking, climb to No. 2
Denver (8-2) moved up one spot to second. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is averaging 25.2 points and a league-best 11.9 assists while attempting just 15 shots per game, more than four fewer than last season.
Pistons riding six-game streak and breakout from Duren
Detroit’s six consecutive victories feature a breakout stretch from 21-year-old center Jalen Duren, who has averaged 23.3 points and 13.5 rebounds during the run. Cade Cunningham, the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, added 31.0 points and 9.8 assists per game. The Pistons’ depth will be tested with injuries to Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Thompson, while Jaden Ivey has yet to debut this season.
Cavaliers, Knicks, Spurs round out top six
Cleveland (7-4) jumped to fourth after rediscovering its offense, though guard Darius Garland left Monday’s game with a toe injury. New York (7-3) climbed to No. 5, remaining unbeaten at Madison Square Garden during a seven-game homestand. San Antonio (8-2) slipped to sixth despite Victor Wembanyama’s historic 38-point, 12-rebound, 5-block, 6-three performance against Chicago.
Giannis sets tone for Bucks at No. 11
Milwaukee (7-4) sits 11th, adopting Giannis Antetokounmpo’s early mantra: “Good teams don’t lose two in a row.” The Bucks have yet to drop consecutive games, facing Charlotte twice before matchups with the Lakers and Cavaliers.
Notable movement elsewhere
- The Lakers (8-3) hold eighth place and expect Gabe Vincent, rookie Adou Thiero and LeBron James back soon.
- Minnesota (7-4) surged from 16th to ninth after a 5-1 start to November and the league’s second-ranked offense this month.
- Dallas (3-8) slid to 25th amid front-office turmoil, though rookie Cooper Flagg is averaging 17.5 points over his last four games since moving off the ball.
- Brooklyn and Washington share the NBA’s worst record at 1-10, ranking 29th and 30th, respectively.
The rankings are determined by a 10-member ESPN panel: Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Kevin Pelton, Michael C. Wright, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and Zach Kram.
Source: ESPN
