It has been almost two weeks since All-Star Weekend, and regular-season action has picked back up in the National Basketball Association. Not a lot of games have been played. Some teams have had five matchups, while others have played just two. Regardless, the regular-season ends in less than two months, so we need to update our power rankings for the 2025-26 NBA season.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 45-15 (No change)

This squad is 3-1 since coming back from the All-Star break, even though reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hasn't played since February 3rd. They have also been without Jalen Williams during this stretch, who is the team's second-best scorer (17.5 points per game). Once those two guys return to the lineup, the Thunder will return to juggernaut form. For now, though, they'll just have to settle for being a good team that looks like a playoff contender rather than the outright favorites to win the 2026 NBA Finals.

2. San Antonio Spurs, 42-16 (↑1)

San Antonio is undefeated in its last ten games and is 4-0 since coming back from the break. Three of the four teams they have beaten during that stretch rank in the top 14 of this list (Pistons, Raptors, and Suns). Their most impressive win was a 114-103 victory at home against the Pistons in a game where MVP candidate Cade Cunningham looked mediocre to say the least, going five for 26 from the field. With a matchup tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, the Spurs will notch another victory before a tough three-game stretch against the Knicks, 76ers, and Pistons.

3. Detroit Pistons, 43-14 (↓1)

They still have the best winning percentage in the NBA as of this writing (.754). However, they fell one spot because of their head-to-head loss to the Spurs. Still, they beat the Knicks in an impressive 15-point road victory, which we can't ignore. However, struggling to put away a Thunder team without its two best players doesn't instill a lot of confidence. Either way, Detroit is clearly the best team in the Eastern Conference. Once starting forward Isaiah Stewart returns from his suspension, they'll look even better.

4. Denver Nuggets, 37-22 (↑1)

They're just 2-2 since regular-season play resumed, but they trounced the Boston Celtics at home by 19 points on Wednesday, so they clearly deserve to be higher on this list than the Cs. Their two losses came by a combined 12 points on the road against teams vying for playoff spots, so I'm not going to hold those games against them. As long as Nikola Jokić is on the court, the Nuggets can beat any team in the NBA. Since the All-Star Game, he is fourth in the league in points per game (29.8), first in rebounds per game (14.5), and third in assists per game (7.8). The real travesty is that if Jokić misses two more games, he won't be eligible for the NBA MVP award this season.

5. Boston Celtics, 38-20 (↑2)

Don't look now, but the Celtics once again look like one of the best teams in the league. Before that loss to the Nuggets, they were 9-1 in their previous ten games with wins over the Suns, Lakers, and Rockets, all teams that will probably make the postseason. Their defense has been sensational since All-Star Weekend concluded, holding opponents to a league-best 95.8 points per game. On top of that, superstar forward Jayson Tatum, who has yet to play this season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, is now practicing without limitations, according to the Boston Herald. When he returns to the court this season, it will completely change the complexion of the Eastern Conference.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers, 37-23 (No change)

They're 3-2 in their last five games, with an impressive win over the Knicks and a disappointing loss to the undermanned Thunder, so they don't move in our power rankings. The James Harden thumb fracture is concerning. The Bass Medical Group said that mild hand fractures can take at least four weeks to heal, which means he likely won’t be back on the court until late March if this injury is serious. The Cavs have been able to stay afloat without him for the most part, but they'll need him for the playoffs. The smartest thing to do is just let Harden take as much time as he needs to heal so that he can come back fully healthy and ready for the postseason.

7. New York Knicks, 37-22 (↓3)

The Knicks are arguably the biggest losers since regular-season action resumed. They had a close win over the Houston Rockets, so they edge them out for the seventh spot on this list. The problem is that they were killed at home by the Pistons and on the road by the Cavaliers, losing those two games by 30 combined points. Similar to last year, the Knicks' struggles come against the best teams in the NBA. They're only 3-5 this season against the Celtics, Pistons, Spurs, and Nuggets. Right now, the Knicks are underperforming based on the expectations that we had for them going into this year.

8. Houston Rockets, 36-21 (No change)

They're 3-1 since All-Star Weekend and have only beaten cupcake opponents like the Hornets, Jazz, and Kings, who have a combined win percentage of .333. Conversely, their sole loss came against the Knicks, who are a good team. Houston's defense has actually been playing at an even higher level sinceregular-season play picked back up, allowing 102.8 points per game, which is the second-best mark in the NBA during that period. Plus, they're averaging 116 points per game during this stretch, which is up from their season average of 114.7.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves, 36-23 (No change)

They've only played three games since returning to action, and they're 2-1 in those matchups. They beat a pair of mediocre teams in the Trail Blazers and the Mavericks while falling to the playoff-hopeful Philadelphia 76ers. The good news is that Anthony Edwards has been on fire since the break, averaging a league-leading 34 points per game during this period. Unfortunately, their defense has let them down, allowing 122.3 points per game in their last three outings, which is the fifth-worst mark in the NBA. They'll need to be better on that end of the court if they want to make any noise in the playoffs.

10. Toronto Raptors, 34-25 (↑1)

The Raptors keep finding ways to stay in the hunt for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. They lost back-to-back close games to the Spurs and Thunder, but they did manage to take care of lesser competition by beating the Bucks and the Bulls. The offense has been blah, but Toronto's defense has been playing at an incredibly high level since the All-Star Weekend ended, allowing just 105.3 points per game, good for fourth in the NBA. If they can continue to stay the course and beat up on the weaker teams in the league, the Raptors will reach the playoffs for the first time in four years.

11. Los Angeles Lakers, 34-23 (↓1)

Even before the break, things have not been great for the Lakers. They're 2-4 in their last six games and barely beat the Clippers at home. Their most recent defeat at the hands of the Magic made Luka Dončić look bad. After getting the ball down by a point with 6.7 seconds left in the game, Dončić wasted several seconds at the three-point line before bouncing a pass to LeBron James, who was forced to throw up a prayer to win the game. However, that shot failed to find the bottom of the net, and the Lakers lost 110-109. For a team with Luka and LeBron, LA has struggled offensively, averaging the second-fewest points per game in the league since All-Star Weekend (107.7).

12. Orlando Magic, 31-26 (↑2)

They've gone 3-1 since the All-Star Game, with wins over the Clippers, Lakers, and Kings. Though they fell to the Suns, Orlando only lost that game by three points. They're 6-4 in their last ten outings, and have the sixth-best defense after the break (106.3 points per game allowed). They're also a respectable 15th in scoring during this span (115.5 points per game), thanks to Desmond Bane and Paolo Banchero, who are both averaging at least 27 points per game since the regular-season resumed.

13. Philadelphia 76ers, 32-26 (No change)

They've gone .500 since returning to the court with uninspired losses to the Pelicans and Hawks, as well as wins over the Timberwolves and Pacers. They actually killed the Timberwolves in Minnesota, 135-108. Philly is averaging the fourth-most points per game since All-Star Weekend (122). Joel Embiid has been terrific as usual, but Tyrese Maxey has been the star of the show, averaging the second-most points per game in the league during this most recent stretch (31.5).

14. Phoenix Suns, 33-25 (↓2)

They haven't played a whole lot, going just 1-2 since the break. They defeated the Magic by three points in their first game back, but have since lost two in a row to the Trail Blazers and Celtics. All-Star Weekend clearly messed up their offensive rhythm because they’re averaging the fewest points per game in the league since then (91.3). By comparison, the second-worst scoring team is the Nets, who average 5.7 more points per game than Phoenix. Their defense has been their saving grace, allowing 105 points per game, which is the third-best mark in the league since the All-Star Game.

15. Miami Heat, 31-28 (No change)

They're 2-1 since the regular-season started back up and have the best offense in the league during that stretch. The Heat have averaged 127 points in their previous three outings and are 4-2 in their last six matchups. Their defense also hasn't been terrible, allowing just 115 points per game, which is 15th in the NBA during this stretch. Now that Tyler Herro is back in the fold, it makes sense that their offense is playing at a high level. Once he starts playing for 30 minutes a night, this team will be a matchup nightmare for all opposing defenses.

16. Golden State Warriors, 31-28 (No change)

The fact that they're staying afloat in a highly competitive Western Conference without Steph Curry and newly-acquired center Kristaps Porzingis - who has only played one game since being traded to the Bay Area - is a testament to the Warriors' coaching staff. They're 2-2 since All-Star Weekend and seem to be biding their time until Curry and Porzingis can return to the court. Once those guys are back and healthy, they’ll be a tough out for almost any team in the NBA. The good news is their offense isn't suffering; Golden State is averaging the sixth-most points per game since the break (120).

17. Los Angeles Clippers, 27-30 (↑1)

All of their games have been close recently, considering they've been decided by six total points. The Clippers aren't a bad team, but they got off to such a rough start that they have been trying to play catch-up most of the season. They need to continue to lean on Kawhi Leonard, who is averaging the third-most points per game since the beginning of February (29.3). It also helps that Benedict Mathurin is 25th in scoring during that stretch (22.5 points per game).

18. Milwaukee Bucks, 26-31 (↑3)

Don't look now, but the Milwaukee Bucks have quietly been one of the best teams in the NBA over the last couple of weeks. They're 8-2 in their last ten games and have wins over the Magic, Thunder, and Cavaliers, three of the best squads in the league. What's most impressive is that they have been playing this well without perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo. When Giannis returns to the lineup, which could be tomorrow against the Knicks, the Bucks will be a difficult matchup for most NBA teams.

19. Charlotte Hornets, 28-31 (↓2)

The Hornets were not able to maintain their momentum through All-Star Weekend. They lost two close back-to-back games to legitimate championship contenders, and then beat up the lowly Wizards and Bulls. We can't ignore this team since they appear destined to make the NBA Play-In Tournament, considering they have the seventh-best point differential in the league since the start of February. If they can steal a win here or there against actual playoff-bound teams while beating up on bottom-feeders, they'll make the postseason.

20. Atlanta Hawks, 29-31 (No change)

Just when it looked like things were starting to take a turn for the worse with a three-game losing streak, the All-Star Break breathed new life into the Hawks, who are 3-1 since regular-season play resumed. They even beat the 76ers by ten points in their first game back. Surprisingly, their defense has been playing at a good level, allowing just 109.3 points per game since the break, which is good for 11th in the NBA during that span. When Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Zaccharie Risacher, and Jalen Johnson return from injury, this team will really start humming.

21. Portland Trail Blazers, 28-31 (↓2)

They have gone 5-3 in their last eight games and have some solid wins over playoff-hopefuls like the Suns and the 76ers. Portland's problem since the All-Star Break has been scoring on both ends of the court. They're averaging 105.3 points per game, which ranks 25th in the league. Meanwhile, they have been allowing 119.3 points per game, which is 23rd in the NBA during this stretch. The good news for them is that they're in the West, where five of the eight worst teams in the league play, which would explain why they're 22-18 in their conference.

22. Dallas Mavericks, 21-36 (↑5)

The Mavs were finally able to break the 20-win threshold while snapping their ten-game losing streak. Granted, their two most recent wins came against the Pacers and the Nets, but they’re still victories nonetheless. Their offense has been on fire since the All-Star Break. The sample size is small, but they are averaging the third-most points in the league after regular-season play resumed (122.7). Cooper Flagg continues to impress by averaging 27.3 points per game since the start of February, which is good for seventh in the NBA.

23. New Orleans Pelicans, 17-42 (↑6)

They're 5-5 in their last ten games and actually have two decent back-to-back wins against legitimately good teams in the 76ers and the Warriors. The Pels have even secured a 7-6 record in their last 13 outings, going from 10-26 to 17-42. This team is not going to compete for a playoff spot or anything like that, but it feels like fans in New Orleans can go to a game and expect a somewhat competitive matchup.

24. Memphis Grizzlies, 21-36 (↑2)

Their offense hasn't been bad since the All-Star Game, but their defense has been atrocious, allowing 126.5 points per game, which is the second-highest mark in the NBA. They beat the Jazz recently, which is why they leapfrogged them in our power rankings. They need to correct some things on the defensive side of the ball because their offense is sixth in scoring since February began (119.4 points per game), yet they have the sixth-lowest winning percentage over that stretch (.300).

25. Utah Jazz, 18-40 (No change)

They have only played two games since regular-season play resumed, and those were both losses. One loss was to the Rockets, which makes sense. However, the defeat they suffered against the Grizzlies justifies Memphis moving ahead of them in the power rankings. Now that leading scorer Lauri Markkanen has returned from injury, this team will be more competitive against bottom-feeders, but they will not threaten any legitimate playoff contenders.

26. Chicago Bulls, 24-35 (↓4)

Very few teams have been as bad as the Bulls over the last few weeks. They currently own the league's longest losing streak at ten games, and they're 1-13 in their last 14 contests. Since the beginning of February, Chicago is 28th in defense (124.3 points per game allowed) and 27th in offense (106.2 points per game). The Bulls also have the worst point differential in the NBA during that time, having been outscored by 181 points, 34 more points than the next closest team.

27. Washington Wizards, 16-41 (↑1)

They actually are 2-2 in their last four games and beat the Pistons a few days before the All-Star Break. Plus, they defeated the Pacers in back-to-back games, which means they move ahead of them in the power rankings. Regardless, this team is a defensive catastrophe. They are allowing the second-most points per game this season (122.8). The Wizards desperately need defensive help, and won't get any until Anthony Davis is healthy enough to play.

28. Indiana Pacers, 15-44 (↓5)

The Pacers have not won a game since the break, going 0-4 during that stretch. They're 25th in scoring defense on the season, but have allowed the most points per game since coming back from All-Star Weekend (128). Indiana is completely inept when playing on the road. Their five road wins are tied with the Washington Wizards for the second-fewest in the league this season. They're the second-worst team on the road this season (.172 winning percentage) behind only the Kings.

29. Brooklyn Nets, 15-42 (↓5)

They have suffered nothing but losses since coming back from the All-Star Break. Their 97 points per game during that stretch is the second-worst mark in the NBA. They're on a five-game losing streak and have fallen to fellow bottom feeders recently, like the Pacers, Hawks, and Mavericks. The end of the season and the NBA Draft Lottery can't come soon enough for this team.

30. Sacramento Kings, 13-47 (No change)

The good news is that they won a game by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 123-114! Sadly, it doesn't change the fact that this is the league's worst team. They’re 1-17 in their last 18 outings and have the worst point differential in the NBA (-11 points per game). Since the All-Star Break, they have allowed opponents to average a league-high 128 points per game.