Following the NBA All-Star break, teams return to action on Thursday, February 19. With the trade deadline also behind us, rosters have rounded into form for the homestretch of the 2025-26 season.
Before the final two months of the regular season, let’s look at the NBA’s pecking order. What teams are bound to contend for championships, and who could go tank mode with an elite draft class ahead?
Below, we’ll lay out our NBA power rankings, providing analysis of the top tensquads — including the latest NBA futures picks for PrizePicks Team Picks.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
NBA Power Rankings
The Western Conference features six of our top ten teams, including three squads in the top four. What franchises could contend for postseason hardware?
Let’s look at each top ten squad’s record and payouts to win the NBA Finals and Western or Eastern Conference on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
- Record: 42-14
- NBA Finals Winner: 2.32x
- Western Conference Champion: 1.81x
The reigning NBA champions hold a 42-14 record that tops the West, and NBA Advanced Stats rank the Thunder first in NET Rating. For context, OKC has an 11.5 NET Rating, while the second and third spots sit at 8.3 and 7.5.
Oklahoma City also boasts the league’s best defensive rating and is fourth in offensive rating. Thunder G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to make his case as one of the world’s best, with 31.8 points per game (PPG) while holding the shortest payout to win the MVP Award (1.66x). This team’s somehow even deeper thanlast season, as Thunder G Ajay Mitchell has enjoyed a breakout season by posting 14.1 PPG.
The Thunder stand out as the favorite to win another NBA championship.
2. Detroit Pistons
- Record: 40-13
- NBA Finals Winner: 9.09x
- Eastern Conference Champion: 3.7x
The Detroit Pistons are perhaps the biggest surprise of the season. They hold a comfortable 5.5-game lead atop the East, and the Pistons’ .755 win rate is first in the NBA. Efficiency suggests this is no fluke, with Detroit second in NET Rating and defensive rating.
Pistons G Cade Cunningham is stuffing the stat sheet with 25.3 PPG, 5.6 rebounds per game (RPG), and 9.6 assists per game (APG), while C Jalen Duren has emerged as the second star with 17.7 PPG and 10.4 RPG.
3. San Antonio Spurs
- Record: 38-16
- NBA Finals Winner: 7.14x
- Western Conference Champion: 5.26x
Ranked second in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs are three games behind the Thunder. San Antonio ranks seventh in offensive rating and third on defense, and it’s the third-favorite to win the NBA Finals and Western Conference.
Spurs PF/C Victor Wembanyama has fallen behind in the MVP race as the fifth favorite for the award (16.66x). He’s still emerged as one of the league’s best, touting 24.4 PPG and 11.1 RPG. The French phenom is complemented by a well-rounded backcourt, including Spurs G De’Aaron Fox (19.4 PPG), G Stephon Castle (16.5 PPG), and G Devin Vassell (14.1 PPG).
4. Denver Nuggets
- Record: 35-20
- NBA Finals Winner: 5.88x
- Western Conference Champion: 4.34x
NBA Advanced Stats ranks the Denver Nuggets ninth in NET Rating, yet they are the second-favorite to win the Finals and West. Nuggets C Nikola Jokic is a big piece of the puzzle, posting a mind-boggling 28.7 PPG, 12.3 RPG, and 10.7 APG. The Joker has a 3.33x payout to win the MVP Award (second-favorite) on PrizePicks Team Picks.
The rotation has dealt with plenty of injuries, as Nuggets F Aaron Gordon (23 games played), F Cameron Johnson (31 games played), G Christian Braun (19 games played) have all missed over 20 matchups. Even Jokic was inactive for 16 games. But when this team’s healthy, it’s one of the league’s best.
5. New York Knicks
- Record: 35-20
- NBA Finals Winner: 10x
- Eastern Conference Champion: 4.34x
The New York Knicks’ 6.1 NET rating is tied with the Spurs (fourth), yet the Knicks are listed as the sixth-favorite to win the Finals. New York’s 4.34x payout to win the Eastern Conference is fourth.
While Knicks G Jalen Brunson (27.0 PPG) and C Karl-Anthony Towns (19.8 PPG) form a strong nucleus, the franchise did not make notable upgrades at the trade deadline. New York’s counterparts in the East — including the Celtics and Cavaliers — could feature significant upgrades in the final push of the regular season.
6. Boston Celtics
- Record: 35-19
- NBA Finals Winner: 10x
- Eastern Conference Champion: 3.84x
As mentioned, the Boston Celtics could feature an upgrade over the final two months of the season. Celtics F Jayson Tatum appeared in G-League practice last week. For now, Tatum’s potential return is up in the air.
Boston has still managed to record impressive numbers, sitting third in NET Rating and second in offensive rating. Celtics G Jaylen Brown is on pace for a career-high 29.3 PPG, and Boston upgraded its frontcourt by trading for C Nikola Vucevic. If Tatum returns, the Celtics immediately become a contender.
7. Houston Rockets
- Record: 33-20
- NBA Finals Winner: 16.66x
- Western Conference Champion: 10x
The Houston Rockets have their share of star power, led by Rockets F Kevin Durant (25.8 PPG) and C Alperen Sengun (20.7 PPG). Third-year Rockets G Amen Thompson continues to develop, too — on pace for a career-high 17.0 PPG.
Houston’s balanced by ranking fifth in defensive rating and sixth on offense, earning a 5.0 NET Rating (sixth). Efficiency marks have the Rockets as a borderline top-five team, but their 16.66x payout to win the Finals is tied for eighth.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
- Record: 34-21
- NBA Finals Winner: 9.09x
- Eastern Conference Champion: 3.7x
NET Rating has the Cleveland Cavaliers eighth, but they are tied with the Pistons as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference and fourth-favorite to win the Finals. Landing G James Harden as the trade deadline has certainly boosted Cleveland’s goals, and the veteran guard has posted 19.3 PPG and 8.7 APG over three appearances.
Harden provides an upgrade at point guard, and Cavaliers G Donovan Mitchell (29.0 PPG) remains an elite scorer. Capped by Cavaliers F Evan Mobley’s 17.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and excellent defense, will this trio lead to titles in Cleveland?
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
- Record: 34-22
- NBA Finals Winner: 16.66x
- Western Conference Champion: 9.09x
Following the Thunder, Nuggets, and Spurs, there’s a drop off to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 9.09x payout to win the Western Conference. They rank seventh in NET Rating, eighth in offensive rating, and seventh in defensive rating.
Timberwolves G Anthony Edwards (29.3 PPG) is one of the league’s top scoring threats, and F Julius Randle’s 22.3 PPG is his best mark in a Minnesota uniform. Wolves G Ayo Dosunmu was an intriguing trade deadline acquisition, and he’s thrived with 14.7 PPG in three appearances.
10. Los Angeles Lakers
- Record: 33-21
- NBA Finals Winner: 14.28x
- Western Conference Champion: 22.22x
Similar to the Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers have battled injuries. Lakers G Austin Reaves has played in only 28 of 54 games, and F LeBron James missed 18 matchups. Yet, Los Angeles is still fifth in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers are 16th in NET Rating, but their 116.3 offensive rating (11th) should see a big boost with Reaves (25.4 PPG) back in the lineup. Before the injury, Reaves was enjoying one of the best leap years in the NBA. Plus, Lakers F Luka Doncic (32.8 PPG) and James (22.0 PPG) continue to post notable numbers. This trio could do damage in the homestretch.
Remaining NBA Power Rankings
Let’s look at the remaining spots in our NBA power rankings:
- 11. Toronto Raptors
- 12. Phoenix Suns
- 13. Philadelphia 76ers
- 14. Golden State Warriors
- 15. Orlando Magic
- 16. Charlotte Hornets
- 17. Miami Heat
- 18. Los Angeles Clippers
- 19. Portland Trail Blazers
- 20. Atlanta Hawks
- 21. Milwaukee Bucks
- 22. Chicago Bulls
- 23. Dallas Mavericks
- 24. Memphis Grizzlies
- 25. New Orleans Pelicans
- 26. Utah Jazz
- 27. Brooklyn Nets
- 28. Washington Wizards
- 29. Indiana Pacers
- 30. Sacramento Kings
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Make NBA Futures Picks on PrizePicks
Which team in our NBA power rankings could make the most noise in the final two months of the regular season or in the playoffs?
Make your NBA Futures picks on PrizePicks Team Picks. Just go to the PrizePicks app, open Team Picks, pick the team you think could land in next year's big game, and earn cash if you're right on your pick.
Check out the Playbook throughout the season for more NBA picks, predictions, and news every day.
