With the All-Star break in the rearview mirror and roughly seven weeks left in the regular season, ESPN’s panel of NBA writers has re-ordered the league’s 30 teams. The Oklahoma City Thunder remain No. 1 despite a growing injury list, while the San Antonio Spurs overtake Detroit for the league’s second-best record during a nine-game surge.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 45-14 | Previous rank: 1
Next four: @ DET (Feb. 25), vs. DEN (Feb. 27), @ DAL (March 1), @ CHI (March 3)
Oklahoma City’s 45th victory was its most convincing yet: a short-handed lineup contained Cleveland while Isaiah Joe drained six threes, Cason Wallace tallied 20 points and 10 assists, and Chet Holmgren posted 17 points with 15 boards. The club’s ceiling still hinges on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s return from an oblique strain and Jalen Williams’ recovery, but wins powered by role players have kept confidence high.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 41-16 | Previous rank: 3
Next four: @ TOR (Feb. 25), @ BKN (Feb. 26), @ NYK (March 1), @ PHI (March 3)
San Antonio met its preseason objective—40 wins before suffering 20 losses—and has stretched its best streak of the year to nine. Victor Wembanyama has adjusted to the physical defensive tactics that once bothered him, and the Spurs have already logged five victories over clubs that have held the NBA’s top record this season.
3. Detroit Pistons
Record: 42-14 | Previous rank: 2
Next four: vs. OKC (Feb. 25), vs. CLE (Feb. 27), @ ORL (March 1), @ CLE (March 3)
Detroit crumbled to 19 percent from deep in Monday’s home loss to San Antonio and will be without suspended forward Isaiah Stewart for three more contests. Kevin Huerter has yet to appear since the break, and the Pistons rank just 22nd league-wide in three-point accuracy.
4. Boston Celtics
Record: 38-19 | Previous rank: 6
Next three: @ DEN (Feb. 25), vs. BKN (Feb. 27), vs. PHI (March 1)
Jaylen Brown landed sixth in the latest media MVP straw poll—his highest position to date—collecting five third-place votes but trailing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembanyama and Luka Dončić.
5. New York Knicks
Record: 37-22 | Previous rank: 4
Next three: @ MIL (Feb. 27), vs. SA (March 1), @ TOR (March 3)
Coach Mike Brown publicly reiterated that Jalen Brunson is the offense’s first option, followed by Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns rewarded that hierarchy by sinking 8-of-12 triples in Detroit last week; New York now faces four games in six nights.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 37-22 | Previous rank: 8
Next four: @ MIL (Feb. 25), @ DET (Feb. 27), @ BKN (March 1), vs. DET (March 3)
Cleveland is 6-1 with James Harden, whose 18.7 points and 8.7 assists on 50 percent shooting have unlocked an offense now ranking third since the trade deadline. Two meetings with Detroit this week will gauge the Cavs’ place in the East hierarchy.
7. Denver Nuggets
Record: 36-22 | Previous rank: 5
Next four: vs. BOS (Feb. 25), @ OKC (Feb. 27), vs. MIN (March 1), @ UTA (March 2)
Denver is only 4-6 since Nikola Jokić’s late-January return. In clutch minutes over that span, the Nuggets are minus-19 in 31 total minutes while shooting 37.5 percent overall and 25 percent from three.
8. Houston Rockets
Record: 35-21 | Previous rank: 7
Next four: vs. SAC (Feb. 25), @ ORL (Feb. 26), @ MIA (Feb. 28), @ WAS (March 2)
Turnovers remain Houston’s undoing: nine in the fourth quarter allowed New York to erase an 18-point deficit Monday. The injury to Fred VanVleet continues to thrust Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard into critical late-game roles.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 36-23 | Previous rank: 10
Next three: @ LAC (Feb. 26), @ DEN (March 1), vs. MEM (March 3)
Sunday’s home loss to an Embiid-less Philadelphia squad added to Minnesota’s puzzling list of letdowns, a key reason the Wolves are scrambling to stay out of the play-in rather than vying for home-court advantage.
10. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 34-23 | Previous rank: 9
Next four: @ PHX (Feb. 26), @ GS (Feb. 28), vs. SAC (March 1), vs. NO (March 3)
L.A. entered Tuesday with a negative point differential and an 11-14 mark versus winning teams; the last five such defeats came by 20.2 points on average. Guard Marcus Smart insists there’s still time to peak.
11. Toronto Raptors
Record: 34-24 | Previous rank: 11
Next three: vs. SA (Feb. 25), @ WAS (Feb. 28), vs. NYK (March 3)
Toronto is 23-7 against sub-.500 opponents but only 11-17 against winning clubs after falling to an injury-depleted Thunder squad on Tuesday.
12. Phoenix Suns
Record: 33-26 | Previous rank: 12
Next two: vs. LAL (Feb. 26), @ SAC (March 3)
Jalen Green’s double-overtime buzzer-beater over Orlando coincided with bad news: Dillon Brooks fractured his left hand (out 4–6 weeks) and Devin Booker is shelved at least a week with a hip strain.
13. Orlando Magic
Record: 31-26 | Previous rank: 14
Next three: vs. HOU (Feb. 26), vs. DET (March 1), vs. WAS (March 3)
Franz Wagner is out indefinitely with an ankle injury, leaving the opening-night starting five together for just 11 games all year. Third-year guard Anthony Black has responded by averaging 17.7 points in 36 starts.
14. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 32-26 | Previous rank: 13
Next three: vs. MIA (Feb. 26), @ BOS (March 1), vs. SA (March 3)
Joel Embiid’s lingering knee and shin soreness keeps the Sixers on a knife’s edge: with him they’re contenders; without him they risk dropping into the play-in as Miami and Orlando close ground.
15. Miami Heat
Record: 31-28 | Previous rank: 16
Next three: @ PHI (Feb. 26), vs. HOU (Feb. 28), vs. BKN (March 3)
Tyler Herro returned from a seven-week absence to post 24 and 14 points in back-to-back games—the first time he has played on consecutive nights this season. Miami started a five-game run versus sub-.500 foes Tuesday.
16. Golden State Warriors
Record: 30-28 | Previous rank: 15
Next three: @ MEM (Feb. 25), vs. LAL (Feb. 28), vs. LAC (March 2)
Brandin Podziemski’s inconsistent third season will inform extension talks this summer. He erupted for 15 fourth-quarter points in Sunday’s win over Denver, though coaches continue urging the guard to balance playmaking and ball control.
17. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 28-31 | Previous rank: 17
Next three: @ IND (Feb. 26), vs. POR (Feb. 28), vs. DAL (March 3)
Charlotte owns just one double-digit loss since New Year’s Day but is 9-16 in games defined as “clutch,” a league-low total of close-game wins that leaves the Hornets six victories short of their projected mark by net rating.
18. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 28-31 | Previous rank: 18
Next three: @ CHI (Feb. 26), @ CHA (Feb. 28), @ ATL (March 1)
Deni Avdija’s lingering back issue forced him out 59 seconds into Sunday’s loss at Phoenix and he sat again Tuesday in Minnesota. Portland appears secure in the West’s final play-in slot, but Avdija’s health is critical to any postseason aspirations.
19. Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 27-30 | Previous rank: 20
Next three: vs. MIN (Feb. 26), vs. NO (March 1), @ GS (March 2)
Coach Tyronn Lue insists the post-deadline roster is still competing to win. New arrival Bennedict Mathurin is averaging 22.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and nearly two steals in five appearances off the bench.
20. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 29-31 | Previous rank: 19
Next two: vs. WAS (Feb. 26), vs. POR (March 1)
Trade-deadline pickup Jonathan Kuminga debuted with a season-best 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in just 24 minutes, finishing plus-17 in a win over Washington.
21. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 25-31 | Previous rank: 22
Next four: vs. CLE (Feb. 25), vs. NYK (Feb. 27), @ CHI (March 1), vs. BOS (March 2)
Milwaukee has stayed afloat at 7-5 since Giannis Antetokounmpo strained his right calf on Jan. 23. The club hopes the two-time MVP can clear full-contact practice this week.
22. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 21-35 | Previous rank: 23
Next four: vs. GS (Feb. 25), @ DAL (Feb. 27), @ IND (March 1), @ MIN (March 3)
Ja Morant has missed 14 straight with a sprained left elbow, and Memphis owns the league’s fourth-worst mark (6-17) since New Year’s Day. Second-year wing Jaylen Wells has lifted his shooting numbers during February.
23. Chicago Bulls
Record: 24-35 | Previous rank: 21
Next three: vs. POR (Feb. 26), vs. MIL (March 1), vs. OKC (March 3)
Chicago’s rebuild has begun with growing pains: a 10-game skid is the franchise’s longest since 2019, and the Bulls are 2-12 since Jan. 24 after a major roster overhaul.
24. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 21-36 | Previous rank: 24
Next four: vs. SAC (Feb. 26), vs. MEM (Feb. 27), vs. OKC (March 1), @ CHA (March 3)
Recently acquired Khris Middleton snapped a 10-game slide with 25 points in Sunday’s win at Indiana, his highest output since Jan. 22, 2024. Dallas finished its six-game trip 2-4 after beating Brooklyn on Tuesday.
25. Utah Jazz
Record: 18-40 | Previous rank: 26
Next three: vs. NO (Feb. 26), vs. NO (Feb. 28), vs. DEN (March 2)
Second-year guard Isaiah Collier has averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 assists in February while filling in for injured rookie Keyonte George, though his 23.1 percent three-point clip remains a concern.
26. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 17-42 | Previous rank: 25
Next four: @ UTA (Feb. 26), @ UTA (Feb. 28), @ LAC (March 1), @ LAL (March 3)
Zion Williamson has appeared in 33 straight games, the longest run of his career. Dejounte Murray returned from a 13-month Achilles layoff Tuesday, further bolstering a roster that features promising rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears.
27. Washington Wizards
Record: 16-41 | Previous rank: 28
Next four: @ ATL (Feb. 26), vs. TOR (Feb. 28), vs. HOU (March 2), @ ORL (March 3)
Back-to-back victories over Indiana lifted Washington to 16 wins, already eclipsing each of the past two seasons (15 and 18 wins respectively) despite the franchise’s long-term draft positioning goals.
28. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 15-42 | Previous rank: 27
Next four: vs. SA (Feb. 26), @ BOS (Feb. 27), vs. CLE (March 1), @ MIA (March 3)
The Nets have dropped four straight—three by double digits—as Michael Porter Jr. shoulders the scoring load. Rookie guard Nolan Traore has started the past 12 contests, though he is hitting just 33 percent from deep.
29. Indiana Pacers
Record: 15-44 | Previous rank: 29
Next two: vs. CHA (Feb. 26), vs. MEM (March 1)
An ever-growing injury list—Tyrese Haliburton (shingles), Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and T.J. McConnell—all contributed to consecutive defeats to Washington, pushing Indiana deeper into the lottery race.
30. Sacramento Kings
Record: 13-46 | Previous rank: 30
Next four: @ HOU (Feb. 25), @ DAL (Feb. 26), @ LAL (March 1), vs. PHX (March 3)
Monday’s victory in Memphis halted a franchise-record 16-game slide, a welcome morale boost for a club focused on draft odds. Rookie center Maxime Raynaud has recorded four double-doubles in his last five outings.
The next ranking update is scheduled after March 3 as teams jostle for playoff positioning and lottery odds down the stretch.
Source: ESPN.com
