TITLE: NBA Power Rankings: Races, Records and Remaining Schedules for All 30 Clubs
SLUG: nba-power-rankings-final-two-weeks-2026
CONTENT:
The NBA regular season is down to its final two weeks, and almost every franchise outside the lottery still has something significant on the line. Below is a team-by-team snapshot of where each club stands, what is at stake and who is next on the schedule.
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (60-16)
The league’s hottest team, 18-2 in its past 20, leads the conference by 2.5 games. Oklahoma City owns six games left — two against the Lakers and one each with the Jazz, Clippers, Nuggets and Suns. Five wins guarantee the No. 1 seed; two losses give San Antonio an opening because the Spurs hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, 4-1.
2. San Antonio Spurs (57-18)
Winners of nine straight and 25 of 27, San Antonio is surging behind MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama and a guard rotation of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. The Spurs close with four road dates at Golden State, the Clippers and Denver before hosting Portland.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (50-26)
Los Angeles is trying to lock up the West’s third seed while simultaneously boosting Luka Doncic’s MVP résumé. The Lakers visit Oklahoma City and Dallas before welcoming the Thunder back to Crypto.com Arena.
4. Denver Nuggets (48-28)
Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson are finally healthy, and Denver is hunting home-court advantage despite ranking 21st in defensive efficiency. After a stop in Utah, the Nuggets entertain San Antonio and Portland.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-29)
Anthony Edwards has returned, but forward Jaden McDaniels is out with a left-knee bone bruise. Minnesota’s immediate concern is whether it lands in a 4-5 matchup, likely with Denver, or slips into a 3-6 series against the Lakers. Detroit, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Indiana are on deck.
6. Houston Rockets (46-29)
Consistency, crunch-time execution and Kevin Durant’s workload are the pressing issues. The 37-year-old is third in minutes (36.4) with four games left: Milwaukee, Utah, Golden State and Phoenix.
7. Phoenix Suns (42-34)
Three of the final four games carry playoff weight: a visit to Charlotte, a stop in Chicago and home dates against Houston and the Lakers. Phoenix is 3.5 games back of Houston for sixth.
8. LA Clippers (39-37)
Currently eighth, the Clippers see two meetings with Portland and one with Golden State as potential play-in deciders. Before that, San Antonio travels to Crypto.com Arena and the club visits Sacramento.
9. Portland Trail Blazers (39-38)
Tuesday’s road victory over the Clippers pulled Portland within a half-game of eighth. Another head-to-head clash in the Rose City could swing seeding. The Blazers also face New Orleans and Denver.
10. Golden State Warriors (36-39)
Stephen Curry was cleared for 5-on-5 work Tuesday. If his knee responds, the plan is to give him a short “runway” before the play-in. San Antonio, Cleveland, Houston and Sacramento all visit Chase Center.
11. New Orleans Pelicans (25-51)
Interim coach James Borrego blasted the club after Sunday’s 32-point loss to Houston, the fifth straight defeat and fourth 30-point drubbing of the year. The Pelicans head to Portland and Sacramento, then host Orlando and Utah.
12. Utah Jazz (21-55)
Fans are already eyeing next season, but rookie Ace Bailey’s trio of 30-point games in March offers hope. Utah closes with Denver, Houston, Oklahoma City and New Orleans.
13. Sacramento Kings (19-57)
A recent 5-3 stretch nudged Sacramento ahead of Indiana, Washington and Brooklyn, trimming its lottery odds. Toronto, New Orleans, the Clippers and Golden State finish out the slate.
14. Brooklyn Nets (18-58)
The Nets remain committed to the tank; staying in the bottom three locks in a 14 percent shot at the top pick. Atlanta, Washington and Milwaukee round out the calendar.
15. Dallas Mavericks (24-52)
Rookie Cooper Flagg’s push for Rookie of the Year — 20-6-4 averages — is the lone bright spot. Orlando, the Lakers and the Clippers visit American Airlines Center.
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons (52-19)
Detroit owns a four-game cushion over Boston and the tiebreaker. Cade Cunningham (knee) is expected back for the playoffs, so coach J.B. Bickerstaff is leaning on Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins to keep the top seed secure. Minnesota, Philadelphia and Orlando are up next.
2. Boston Celtics (50-25)
Boston is locked into either second or third. With Jayson Tatum searching for rhythm after injury, the Celtics visit Miami and Milwaukee before hosting Toronto and Charlotte.
3. New York Knicks (48-28)
Coach Mike Brown is juggling rest and seeding. Miles McBride’s return pushes the rotation to nine, and the Knicks sit one game ahead of Cleveland. Memphis, Chicago and Atlanta are next.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (47-29)
Cleveland’s likely first-round opponent is still unknown; Toronto, Atlanta and Philadelphia are clustered behind them. The Cavs also trail New York by one game for third. Golden State, Indiana and Memphis await before a home finale with Cleveland.
5. Atlanta Hawks (43-33)
Quin Snyder’s club is 16-2 over its past 18 and aims to dodge the play-in. Crucial contests arrive against Orlando, Brooklyn and New York, with two remaining versus Cleveland and a finale in Miami.
6. Toronto Raptors (42-33)
Sunday’s 52-point demolition of Orlando kept Toronto on pace to sidestep the play-in. Three matchups with non-contenders — Sacramento, Memphis and Brooklyn — help, but Boston, Miami and New York also remain.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (41-34)
After weeks of injuries, Philadelphia is within striking distance of the top six and eager to avoid extra games. Washington, Minnesota, Detroit and San Antonio close the schedule.
8. Miami Heat (40-36)
A 7-0 start to March dissolved into a 2-7 slide before Monday’s win over Philadelphia. The Heat draw Boston and Washington twice, then two with Toronto and a finale against Atlanta.
9. Orlando Magic (40-35)
Sunday’s 52-point loss in Toronto underscored chemistry issues, but Franz Wagner (ankle) and Anthony Black (abdomen) could return soon. Games at Dallas and New Orleans precede dates with Detroit and Atlanta.
10. Charlotte Hornets (40-36)
Close-game reps are priority for this young roster. Phoenix and Indiana visit Spectrum Center before a road swing through Minnesota and Boston.
11. Chicago Bulls (29-46)
Chicago cut guard Jaden Ivey after anti-gay remarks on social media, highlighting a trade-deadline gamble that failed. The Bulls host Indiana and Phoenix, travel to New York and Washington.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (30-45)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) has not practiced since March 15 and is uncertain to return, ending Milwaukee’s eight-year playoff streak. The Bucks visit Houston, then welcome Boston and Memphis before wrapping in Brooklyn.
13. Memphis Grizzlies (25-50)
Injury waves have Memphis 11th in the West and shifting focus to draft positioning. Second-year wing Jaylen Wells is the eighth player shut down. Upcoming opponents: New York, Toronto, Milwaukee and Cleveland.
14. Indiana Pacers (17-58)
Tied for the league’s worst record, Indiana is battling Washington for prime lottery odds. A trip to Chicago starts a four-game road swing that ends at home against Minnesota.
15. Washington Wizards (17-58)
Also knotted for the bottom spot, Washington meets Philadelphia, Miami, Brooklyn and Chicago in the final week, each result crucial to draft percentages.
Only a handful of regular-season games remain, but seeding, awards races and lottery positioning are still very much in flux across the NBA.
Source: ESPN
