NBA Power Rankings: Positioning of All 30 Teams Following the All-Star Break

The NBA All-Star break has concluded, and teams are resuming their efforts with just under two months remaining in the regular season.

The competition for playoff spots is intensifying in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, as the contest for the top seed is fiercely contested among the league’s leading teams.

In the East, the Detroit Pistons have regained their “Bad Boys” image, particularly following their recent encounter with the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.

Could this matchup serve as a preview for the NBA Finals?

The Spurs must first navigate the challenges of the Western Conference, as they are closely matched with the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who have occupied the No. 1 position for most of the season.

However, the Thunder may face difficulties, as they are missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and other key players from their championship lineup due to injuries.

Discover how our NBA insiders have ranked all 30 teams as they approach the conclusion of the regular season.

Note: Team rankings reflect the opinions of our panel members (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Bobby Marks, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill, and Zach Kram) regarding team standings.

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

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: 45-14

• Previous ranking: 1

• Next games: @ DET (Feb. 25), vs. DEN (Feb. 27), @ DAL (March 1), @ CHI (March 3)

Sunday afternoon showcased one of the Thunder’s most remarkable victories this season. They overcame a strong Cleveland Cavaliers team despite the absence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, and Ajay Mitchell. Their playoff potential hinges on SGA returning from an oblique injury to his MVP form and Williams regaining his health, but victories led by role players enhance team morale. Isaiah Joe made six 3-pointers and recorded five steals, while Cason Wallace contributed 20 points and 10 assists. Chet Holmgren added 17 points and 15 rebounds while protecting the paint effectively. — Anthony Slater

2. San Antonio Spurs

• 2025-26 record: 41-16

• Previous ranking: 3

• Next games: @ TOR (Feb. 25), @ BKN (Feb. 26), @ NYK (March 1), @ PHI (March 3)

Veteran Harrison Barnes noted that the Spurs set a goal of achieving 40 wins before reaching 20 losses at the start of the season. That objective has been met. San Antonio is currently enjoying its longest winning streak of the season (nine games), following a victory on Monday against a tough Pistons team. Earlier in the season, opponents discovered that they could disrupt star center Victor Wembanyama with physical play, but the 22-year-old has since adapted to counter those strategies. The Spurs have secured five wins against teams with the best records in the NBA (four against the Thunder and one against the Pistons), as reported by ESPN Research. — Michael C. Wright

3. Detroit Pistons

• 2025-26 record: 42-14

• Previous ranking: 2

• Next games: vs. OKC (Feb. 25), vs. CLE (Feb. 27), @ ORL (March 1), @ CLE (March 3)

Is there a disparity in competitiveness between the East and West, or did the Pistons simply have an off night on Monday against Wembanyama and the Spurs? Concerns regarding the Pistons’ playoff potential resurfaced, as they managed only 19% shooting from beyond the arc in their second loss this month. Center Isaiah Stewart is still serving a seven-game suspension, which means he will miss critical matchups against potential playoff contenders: Oklahoma City and Cleveland.

Will shooter Kevin Huerter see more playing time? He has not participated since the All-Star break, and if he can contribute, the Pistons will certainly benefit from additional perimeter scoring, as they currently rank 22nd in the league in 3-point shooting percentage. — Vincent Goodwill

4. Boston Celtics

• 2025-26 record: 38-19

• Previous ranking: 6

• Next games: @ DEN (Feb. 25), vs. BKN (Feb. 27), vs. PHI (March 1)

Jaylen Brown may feel he deserves greater acknowledgment in the NBA’s MVP discussion, but the statistics suggest otherwise. In the history of my MVP straw poll, which dates back to 2017, Brown had received only three fifth-place votes throughout his career prior to this season. Last week, he was ranked sixth, with five third-place votes. Nevertheless, he is in good company, trailing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembanyama, and Luka Doncic, while surpassing Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell. — Tim Bontemps

5. New York Knicks

• 2025-26 record: 37-22

• Previous ranking: 4

• Next games: @ MIL (Feb. 27), vs. SA (March 1), @ TOR (March 3)

If it wasn’t evident before, it is now. Mike Brown made a clear statement Saturday night prior to their comeback win over Houston that Jalen Brunson takes precedence, followed by Karl-Anthony Towns. This may have been an attempt to address the criticism directed at Towns for not delivering enough. Towns later told ESPN, “It’s something different in my career.”

Towns shot 8-of-12 from 3-point range against Detroit on Thursday, which is a positive sign considering his career-low 3-point shooting. Such production will be essential as the Knicks face four games in the next six days starting Friday, including home contests against San Antonio and Oklahoma City. — Goodwill

6. Cleveland Cavaliers

• 2025-26 record: 37-22

• Previous ranking: 8

• Next games: @ MIL (Feb. 25), @ DET (Feb. 27), @ BKN (March 1), vs. DET (March 3)

The James Harden era has commenced positively for Cleveland. The Cavs hold a 6-1 record with Harden in the lineup, and his playmaking skills have significantly enhanced Cleveland’s offense. Harden is averaging 18.7 points and 8.7 assists while shooting 50% since joining the Cavs, and the team ranks third in the NBA in offensive efficiency since the trade deadline. A pair of matchups against the top-seeded Pistons (at Detroit on Friday and in Cleveland on Tuesday) will serve as a valuable assessment of where the Cavs stand among the elite teams in the conference. — Jamal Collier

7. Denver Nuggets

• 2025-26 record: 36-22

• Previous ranking: 5

• Next games: vs. BOS (Feb. 25), @ OKC (Feb. 27), vs. MIN (March 1), @ UTAH (March 2)

The Nuggets have recorded a 4-6 record since Nikola Jokic’s return from a month-long absence due to a knee injury, primarily due to uncharacteristic difficulties in closing out games. During the stretch without Jokic, Denver was 1-5 in clutch situations. In clutch games since Jokic’s return on January 30, the Nuggets have been outscored by 19 points over 31 minutes, shooting only 37.5% from the field, including 7-of-28 from beyond the arc. — Tim MacMahon

8. Houston Rockets

• 2025-26 record: 35-21

• Previous ranking: 7

• Next games: vs. SAC (Feb. 25), @ ORL (Feb. 26), @ MIA (Feb. 28), @ WAS (March 2)

Turnovers have been a persistent issue throughout the season, and if not addressed soon, an early playoff exit may be in store for the Rockets. Houston committed nine turnovers in a single quarter—the highest total for any quarter this season—as the Knicks rallied from an 18-point deficit in the final period to secure a victory on Monday, marking the 11th occasion this season that the Rockets have squandered a fourth-quarter lead. Fred VanVleet’s season-ending injury prior to the start of training camp may prove too significant for Houston to overcome. Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard have shown development, but time is running out for the young guards to reach the level required for playoff success. — Wright

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

• 2025-26 record: 36-23

• Previous ranking: 10

• Next games: @ LAC (Feb. 26), @ DEN (March 1), vs. MEM (March 3)

No team has experienced more baffling losses this season than Minnesota, which suffered another one on Sunday against the 76ers, who were without Joel Embiid and had played the night before in New Orleans. This is a game that a team with Minnesota’s aspirations must win. Such losses throughout the season are why the Wolves are striving to avoid the play-in tournament instead of competing for home-court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. — Bontemps

10. Los Angeles Lakers

• 2025-26 record: 34-23

• Previous ranking: 9

• Next games: @ PHX (Feb. 26), @ GS (Feb. 28), vs. SAC (March 1), vs. NO (March 3)

As they approached Tuesday’s game against the Orlando Magic, the Lakers were the only team outside the top eight in either conference with a negative point differential for the season. Additionally, L.A.’s 11-14 record against teams with winning records is concerning. The Lakers’ last five losses to such opponents have come by an average margin of 20.2 points. Marcus Smart stated that there is still time for improvement. “We’re hanging in there,” he remarked. “The objective for everyone in this league is to peak at the right moment.” — Dave McMenamin

10. Toronto Raptors

• 2025-26 record: 34-24

• Previous ranking: 11

• Next games: vs. SA (Feb. 25), @ WAS (Feb. 28), vs. NYK (March 3)

Toronto continues to perform well against teams with losing records, securing victories against Chicago and Milwaukee following the break. However, the Raptors have struggled against the league’s top teams, suffering a loss to the injury-riddled Thunder on Tuesday. Toronto’s record stands at 11-17 against teams with winning records, compared to 23-7 against teams with losing records. — Zach Kram

12. Phoenix Suns

• 2025-26 record: 33-26

• Previous ranking: 12

• Next games: vs. LAL (Feb. 26), @ SAC (March 3)

Phoenix encountered a challenging stretch just as they received a boost from Jalen Green, who had been sidelined for months due to a hamstring injury. Green’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to defeat the Magic in double overtime on Saturday coincided with Dillon Brooks suffering a fractured left hand, which will keep him