NBA Power Rankings: Key Observations for the Last Two Weeks for Every Team

The NBA’s regular season is in its concluding fortnight, yet many non-lottery teams still have significant objectives as the season comes to a close.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are striving to hold off the surging San Antonio Spurs for the top position in the Western Conference and secure home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Just beneath these competing teams, the Los Angeles Lakers are working to secure the third seed in the West, while the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets pursue them.

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons maintain a solid lead at the top. However, which playoff matchups will emerge, and which teams will find themselves in the play-in tournament?

With only a few games remaining on each team’s schedule and much still to be determined, our NBA insiders examine the key storylines to monitor for each of the 30 teams in this week’s Power Rankings.

Note: Team rankings are determined by the opinions of our panel members (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill, and Zach Kram).

Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 29 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 12 | Nov. 19 | Nov. 26 | Dec. 3 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 24 | Dec. 31 | Jan. 7 | Jan. 14 | Jan. 21 | Jan. 28 | Feb. 4 | Feb. 11 | Feb. 25 | Mar. 4 | Mar. 11 | Mar. 18 | Mar. 25

Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

• 2025-26 record: 60-16

• Previous ranking: 1

• Next games: vs. LAL (April 2), vs. UTAH (April 5), @ LAL (April 7)

Will Oklahoma City retain its hold on the top seed? The Thunder have achieved an impressive 18-2 record over their last 20 games but have not created any distance from a San Antonio Spurs team that has gone 25-2 in their last 27 contests. As of Wednesday, the Thunder were still leading by 2.5 games in the standings. However, the Spurs possess the tiebreaker with a 4-1 record in their head-to-head matchups. OKC has six games remaining: Lakers, Jazz, Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, and Suns. If the Thunder win at least five, they will secure home-court advantage throughout the playoffs; losing two could open the door for the rising Spurs. — Anthony Slater

2. San Antonio Spurs

• 2025-26 record: 57-18

• Previous ranking: 4

• Next games: @ GS (April 1), @ LAC (April 2), @ DEN (April 4), vs. POR (April 6)

San Antonio seems to be hitting its stride at an opportune moment. The pressing question is whether the Spurs can elevate their performance while resting key players for the playoffs. With nine consecutive victories and a record of 25-2 since February 1, this young and self-assured team believes that their best is still ahead, particularly with French talent Victor Wembanyama on a scoring spree aiming for his first MVP award. The guard trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper is excelling at penetrating the paint, which opens up opportunities for Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes, and Devin Vassell from beyond the arc. — Michael C. Wright

3. Detroit Pistons

• 2025-26 record: 52-19

• Previous ranking: 2

• Next games: vs. MIN (April 2), @ PHI (April 4), @ ORL (April 6)

With a four-game advantage over the Celtics and the tiebreaker in hand, the Pistons appear poised to maintain their top seed. To keep Detroit afloat during Cade Cunningham’s injury absence, which is expected to last until the playoffs, coach J.B. Bickerstaff has elevated players into more significant roles. Jalen Duren is stepping up as a primary scorer, while Daniss Jenkins has excelled with the increased responsibility. The Pistons have also regained their formidable defense, which had shown some decline in the latter half of the season. With Cunningham’s return anticipated, Bickerstaff must readjust his players back into roles better suited for the playoffs—assuming the Pistons secure their position soon. — Vincent Goodwill

4. Boston Celtics

• 2025-26 record: 50-25

• Previous ranking: 3

• Next games: @ MIA (April 1), @ MIL (April 3), vs. Toronto (April 5), vs. CHA (April 7)

Boston is likely to finish either second or third in the Eastern standings, leading to the question for the Celtics in the final games: how will Jayson Tatum perform in the playoffs? He earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors last week, but his standout shooting display in a victory over Charlotte on Sunday was an exception following his return. With several playoff-caliber teams on the schedule as the season concludes, Tatum will have more opportunities to refine his game. — Tim Bontemps

5. New York Knicks

• 2025-26 record: 48-28

• Previous ranking: 6

• Next games: @ MEM (April 1), vs. CHI (April 3), @ ATL (April 6)

How crucial is securing the best seed compared to preparing players for the postseason? It’s a fine line that Mike Brown must navigate, especially with Miles McBride returning from hernia surgery, allowing the coach to expand his rotation to nine players for the playoffs. This contrasts with his previous playoff team in Sacramento, which had seven players logging 20 minutes or more in their first-round series in 2023. The starters’ minutes have decreased across the board for the Knicks compared to last season, with Josh Hart playing seven fewer minutes per game and Karl-Anthony Towns down five. However, will this team find its rhythm, particularly with three games at Madison Square Garden to conclude the season? Will they aim to catch the Celtics for the second seed or comfortably settle for third, even as the Cavaliers close in? — Goodwill

play1:14Redick makes the case for Luka as MVP

Lakers coach JJ Redick explains why Luka Doncic should be in consideration to win the NBA’s MVP award.

6. Los Angeles Lakers

• 2025-26 record: 50-26

• Previous ranking: 5

• Next games: @ OKC (April 2), @ DAL (April 5), vs. OKC (April 7)

The Lakers are engaged in two races as they approach the finish line. The first is to fend off Denver, Minnesota, and Houston to maintain the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. The second is to bolster Luka Doncic’s case for his first MVP award. Lakers coach JJ Redick stated this week that if Los Angeles and Doncic continue their strong performance down the stretch, then “to me, he is the MVP.” — Dave McMenamin

7. Denver Nuggets

• 2025-26 record: 48-28

• Previous ranking: 8

• Next games: @ UTAH (April 1), vs. SAS (April 4), vs. POR (April 6)

The Nuggets are finally back to full strength with Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson returning from lengthy absences due to hamstring injuries. The goal is for Denver to establish a solid defensive identity as the battle for home-court advantage in the first round intensifies. Currently, Denver ranks 21st in defensive efficiency, allowing 116.0 points per 100 possessions, the worst among teams heading for the playoffs. Their defensive rating with Gordon on the court is 111.3, which would rank fourth in the league. — Tim MacMahon

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

• 2025-26 record: 47-29

• Previous ranking: 7

• Next games: @ GS (April 2), vs. IND (April 5), @ MEM (April 6)

Who will be the Cavaliers’ opponent in the first round? Cleveland has spent the majority of the second half firmly in the No. 4 position in the East, but its potential opponent remains uncertain. Two teams, Toronto and Atlanta, are currently tied for the No. 5 seed, with Philadelphia just 1.5 games behind. There is also a possibility for Cleveland to move up in the standings. As of Tuesday, the Cavs were just one game behind the Knicks for the third seed. — Jamal Collier

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

• 2025-26 record: 46-29

• Previous ranking: 9

• Next games: @ DET (April 2), @ PHI (April 3), vs. CHA (April 5), @ IND (April 7)

With Anthony Edwards back on the court after his return on Monday, Minnesota must now adjust to being without Jaden McDaniels, who is out due to a bone bruise in his left knee. The pressing question is whether the Wolves will secure the 4-5 matchup—most likely against Denver—or fall behind Houston into the 3-6 matchup, leading to a first-round series against the Lakers for the second consecutive year. — Bontemps

10. Houston Rockets

• 2025-26 record: 46-29

• Previous ranking: 10

• Next games: vs. MIL (April 1), vs. UTAH (April 3), @ GS (April 5), @ PHX (April 7)

Consistency and execution in late-game situations remain challenges for Houston as they aim to resolve these issues before the playoffs begin. Additionally, the Rockets are looking for ways to rest veteran Kevin Durant ahead of the postseason. The 37-year-old forward ranks third in the NBA in average minutes (36.4) after participating in 72 games. With Houston close to Denver and Minnesota in the Western standings while trying to fend off seventh-place Phoenix, the Rockets must secure victories, enhance consistency, and find ways to rest their most effective offensive player. This is no simple task. — Wright

11. Atlanta Hawks

• 2025-26 record: 43-33

• Previous ranking: 11

• Next games: @ ORL (April 1), @ BKN (April 3), vs. NYK (April 6)

The Hawks aim to sustain their impressive form and continue to gel at the right moment in the final two weeks. Quin Snyder has done an exceptional job with this roster, achieving a 16-2 record over the last 18 games. The Hawks are focused on retaining the sixth seed or better to avoid the play-in tournament. They will have opportunities to test their momentum with significant games against the Magic, Knicks, and Cavaliers (twice), followed by a matchup at Miami in the regular-season finale. Jalen Johnson’s profile continues to rise, and this season is centered on providing these young Hawks with valuable playoff experience. — Ohm Youngmisuk

12. Toronto Raptors

• 2025-26 record: 42-33

• Previous ranking: 13

• Next games: vs. SAC (April 1), @ MEM (April 3), @ BOS (April 5), vs. MIA (April 7)

Thanks in part to a 52-point victory over Orlando on Sunday, the Raptors remain in a strong position to finish in the top six in the East and avoid the play-in tournament. As long as the Raptors take care of business against the three teams currently tanking on their schedule (Sacramento, Memphis, and Brooklyn) and do not get swept by the non-tanking teams (Boston, Miami twice, and New York), they should secure their first postseason appearance