When the New York Knicks decided to fire Tom Thibodeau and hire Mike Brown, they did so with the intention of winning the 2026 NBA Finals. A 2-3 start to the season had the Knicks' faithful a little uneasy, but since then, this team has started to figure out who they are, emerging as one of the best teams in the East and the NBA power rankings.
The Knicks are now 13-6 on the season, and they have won four straight games.
Even with OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet injured and Brown tweaking the starting rotation at times, the Knicks have been able to battle through adversity and emerge as one of the best offensive teams in the league with their new head coach.
“We are holding each other more accountable,” Knicks lead guard Jalen Brunson said after Sunday's 116-94 win over the Toronto Raptors. “Paying attention to detail a little more. We can still do better at that. I think the little things matter more than people think. If we keep believing that and keep doing that, then we’ll keep winning games.
“Playing in this league, there’s so much talent around the league, the little things can make or break wins and losses. We have to continue to do all that little stuff.”
Aside from winning four straight games, the Knicks went 3-1 in the group stage of the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup and won East Group C. They will now travel to Toronto on Dec. 9 for a chance to advance to Las Vegas and fight for the NBA Cup championship.
Until then, the Knicks continue to improve on offense, and they are getting contributions across the board instead of solely from Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
That is why this team has become the favorites in the Eastern Conference, and it's why they have inched closer to the top five of the NBA power rankings.
Previous 2025-26 NBA Power Rankings: Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1 | Week 0 (Preseason) | Offseason
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (-)
2025-26 Record: 20-1 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. MIN (W8)*, vs. PHX (W4)*, at POR (W8)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at GSW (12/2), vs. DAL (12/5), at UTA (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
Make it 12 straight games that the Oklahoma City Thunder have won, and this team gained a massive addition this past week with the return of All-NBA swingman Jalen Williams. The rich are getting richer, and Oklahoma City will enter the holiday season with favorable matchups, as four of its next seven games are against teams with losing records.
The Thunder are currently 10-0 at home this season, and they continue to make history after posting the league's best net rating last year. Unless this team sustains a major injury, it's hard to envision them falling from the top spot in the NBA power rankings.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (+1)
2025-26 Record: 15-4 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. LAC (W17)*, vs. DAL (W10)*, vs. NOP (W12)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. PHX (12/1), at TOR (12/4), at BOS (12/5), at PHI (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
Wins over the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks allowed Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers to claim a 4-0 record in West Group B of the NBA Cup. Now, the Lakers will host the Spurs next week with a trip to Las Vegas on the line, where Los Angeles could become the first two-time winner of the NBA Cup.
The Lakers have won seven straight games, and six of these wins have come by double digits. Doncic and Austin Reaves are locked in offensively, and James is doing what he can to contribute without being the LeBron we are all used to seeing. That is why this team is so dangerous and why they are right behind the Thunder in the NBA power rankings.
3. Houston Rockets (+2)
2025-26 Record: 13-4 | Last Week's Schedule: at PHX (W22), at GSW (W4)*, at UTA (W28)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at UTA (12/1), vs. SAC (12/3), vs. PHX (12/5), at DAL (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
With or without Kevin Durant on the court, the Houston Rockets have been able to sustain success, and they have been looking much stronger defensively than they did at the start of the year. Amen Thompson is playing at a borderline All-Star level, and Houston's ability to control the pace of play has allowed them to dictate scoring opportunities for both teams.
A lot of the Rockets' success can be linked to the emergence of second-year guard Reed Sheppard, who is averaging 13.9 points and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 45.1 percent from 3-point range this season.
4. Denver Nuggets (-)
2025-26 Record: 14-5 | Last Week's Schedule: at MEM (W10), vs. SAS (L3)*, at PHX (W18)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. DAL (12/1), at IND (12/3), at ATL (12/5), at CHA (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
Without Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, the Denver Nuggets continue to push forward and lean on Nikola Jokic' triple-double-like performances. Surprisingly enough, Denver's offense has remained deadly without their two starters, as the Nuggets have averaged 128.5 points per game over their last four contests.
The only problem is that Denver's defense has failed them lately, resulting in losses to the Sacramento Kings and in its final NBA Cup game to the San Antonio Spurs. After a home game on Monday against Dallas, the Nuggets will begin a four-game road trip.
5. Detroit Pistons (-3)
2025-26 Record: 16-4 | Last Week's Schedule: at IND (W5), at BOS (L3)*, vs. ORL (L3)*, at MIA (W3)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. ATL (12/1), at MIL (12/3), vs. POR (12/5), vs. MIL (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
The Detroit Pistons saw their 13-game win streak snapped by the Boston Celtics, and then this team lost back-to-back games for the first time all year when they fell 112-109 at home to the Orlando Magic. This loss resulted in the Pistons losing East Group B in the NBA Cup and being eliminated.
While the Pistons are a strong defensive team, they can be shaky at times on offense. This group is very average when it comes to shooting from the perimeter, and Detroit is averaging 15.9 turnovers per game, the ninth-most in the NBA this season.
6. New York Knicks (+4)
2025-26 Record: 13-6 | Last Week's Schedule: at BKN (W13), at CHA (W28)*, vs. MIL (W9)*, vs. TOR (W22)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at BOS (12/2), vs. CHA (12/3), vs. UTA (12/5), vs. ORL (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
It is now of never for the Knicks to compete for a championship, which is why almost everyone chose them to come out of the Eastern Conference this season and make it to the NBA Finals. Despite there still being a lot of basketball to be played, the Knicks are looking like real title threats right now, and they will get a chance to prove so in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup.
Before then, New York can strengthen its foothold next to the Pistons at the top of the East if it can handle business by taking down Boston and Orlando this week.
7. San Antonio Spurs (+1)
2025-26 Record: 13-6 | Last Week's Schedule: at POR (W13)*, at DEN (W3)*, at MIN (L13)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at TOR (12/2), at CLE (12/3), at DET (12/5), at MEM (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
Even without Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs have continued to prove that they are a top 10 team in the NBA power rankings. This group has won five of their last seven games without Wemby, and that is because of how different they operate when he's out of the game.
The Spurs tend to spread the court more and play at a different pace when Wembanyama sits, which is a good thing since they have already built an identity without him and don't always need to lean on him for everything. Their best win of the season was coming back from being down 18 points and winning West Group C against the Denver Nuggets on Friday with a 139-136 victory.
8. Toronto Raptors (-2)
2025-26 Record: 14-7 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. CLE (W11), vs. IND (W2)*, at CHA (L7/OT), at NYK (L22)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. POR (12/2), vs. LAL (12/4), vs. CHA (12/5), vs. BOS (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
After seeing their nine-game win streak snapped by the Charlotte Hornets in overtime, the Toronto Raptors got demolished on the road against the Knicks. Still, the Raptors have shown a lot of good things to this point, which is why they are solidly inside the top 10 of the NBA power rankings.
Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley have been terrific over the last week with RJ Barrett injured, and the Raptors now rank sixth in defensive rating.
9. Orlando Magic (+5)
2025-26 Record: 12-8 | Last Week's Schedule: at PHI (W31)*, at DET (W3)*
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. CHI (12/1), vs. SAS (12/3), vs. MIA (12/5), at NYK (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
While the Orlando Magic are only 12-8, a middle-of-the-pack type record to this point in the year, they have set themselves apart defensively and by spreading the ball around on offense. Orlando's perimeter defense ranks among the best in the league, and despite being without Paolo Banchero, the Magic have scored over 120 points in five of their last six games.
Interestingly enough, the Magic are 10-5 this season when Jalen Suggs plays, as his two-way capabilities and skills as a lead guard take a lot of pressure off Banchero, Franz Wagner, and others.
10. Miami Heat (-1)
2025-26 Record: 13-7 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. DAL (W4), vs. MIL (W3)*, vs. DET (L3)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. LAC (12/1), at DAL (12/3), at ORL (12/5), vs. SAC (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
Although the Miami Heat saw their six-game win streak snapped on Saturday at home in a hard-fought 138-125 loss to the Pistons, this group has been elevated by the return of Tyler Herro. With the All-Star guard back in the mix, the Heat look more sound and free-flowing on offense.
The Heat remain inside the top 10 of the NBA power rankings, but a lot of their wins have come by one possession or in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. It will be interesting to keep an eye on this team's ability to close out games as the season progresses.
11. Cleveland Cavaliers (-4)
2025-26 Record: 12-9 | Last Week's Schedule: at TOR (L11), at ATL (L7)*, vs. BOS (L2)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at IND (12/1), vs. POR (12/3), vs. SAS (12/5), vs. GSW (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
Are frustrations beginning to set in for the Cleveland Cavaliers? Donovan Mitchell seemed very unhappy after the team's 117-115 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, and the Cavs are beginning to fall behind in the East standings.
Health has been a big problem for this group, and until they are fully healthy, we truly won't be able to witness their full potential. However, Cleveland must get on track soon before speculation about their future sets in.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (+1)
2025-26 Record: 12-8 | Last Week's Schedule: at SAC (L5/OT), at OKC (L8)*, vs. BOS (W4), vs. SAS (W13)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at NOP (12/2), at NOP (12/4), vs. LAC (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
Depth will potentially be the Minnesota Timberwolves' downfall this season. Outside of their starting lineup, led by Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves are really leaning on Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. to step up off the bench next to Naz Reid.
Will this actually happen as the season progresses, and can these two provide the championship-level depth Minnesota needs? So far, their inconsistencies have led the Wolves to a 12-8 record and hovering around the middle of the NBA power rankings.
13. Phoenix Suns (-2)
2025-26 Record: 12-9 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. HOU (L22), at SAC (W12)*, at OKC (L4)*, vs. DEN (L18)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at LAL (12/1), at HOU (12/5)
*NBA Cup Game
Just when it seemed like the Phoenix Suns would continue shocking everyone and rise into the top 10 of the NBA power rankings this week, they went 1-3 in their last four games. However, these three losses were to three teams that rank inside the top 5 of the power rankings.
The Suns have looked really strong on defense this year, as they are allowing 114.0 points per game (ninth in the NBA), and they are turning their opponents over an average of 16.9 times per game, the third-best mark in the NBA.
14. Golden State Warriors (+1)
2025-26 Record: 11-10 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. UTA (W17), vs. HOU (L4)*, vs. NOP (W8)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. OKC (12/2), at PHI (12/4), at CLE (12/6), at CHI (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
The Golden State Warriors would obviously like to have a better record, but being 11-10, given their chaotic and brutal schedule to begin the year, isn't terrible. This team is still within striking distance of those near the top of the West, and they will have opportunities to prove their full potential entering December.
With Jonathan Kuminga back, De'Anthony Melton set to make his debut within the week, and Stephen Curry expected back around the same timeframe, the Warriors will truly be able to see who they are before entering the trade season with major decisions to make.
15. Atlanta Hawks (-3)
2025-26 Record: 13-8 | Last Week's Schedule: at WAS (L19)*, vs. CLE (W7)*, at PHI (W8/2OT)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at DET (12/1), vs. LAC (12/3), vs. DEN (12/5), at WAS (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
It is becoming clear that the Atlanta Hawks don't need Trae Young on the court to win games, and his absence has allowed Jalen Johnson to become an All-NBA-level talent.
Johnson finished November with 41 points and 14 rebounds in a 142-134 2OT win over the Philadelphia 76ers, and he averaged 23.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game last month. With Johnson's play and the athleticism this Hawks team possesses, this group continues to become a real threat in the East.
16. Boston Celtics (+3)
2025-26 Record: 11-9 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. DET (W3)*, at MIN (L4), at CLE (W2)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. NYK (12/2), at WAS (12/4), vs. LAL (12/5), at TOR (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
It always seems like the Boston Celtics are winning and losing games in the fourth quarter. Lately, this has been true for the final minutes of their games, as Boston has played three straight one-possession games.
How the Celtics perform against New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto this upcoming week will paint a better picture as to if they can compete for a playoff spot in the East.
17. Philadelphia 76ers (-)
2025-26 Record: 10-9 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. ORL (L31)*, at BKN (W12)*, vs. ATL (L8/2OT)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. WAS (12/2), vs. GSW (12/4), at MIL (12/5), vs. LAL (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
A double-overtime loss to the Hawks on Sunday definitely hurts the Philadelphia 76ers, who needed a staple win on their resume to get them trending in the right direction.
The Sixers have not won consecutive games since beginning the year 4-0, and they finished November with a 6-8 record. At the end of the day, the Sixers' potential success comes down to Paul George, Joel Embiid, and this roster being healthy.
18. Memphis Grizzlies (+3)
2025-26 Record: 9-12 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. DEN (L10), at NOP (W5/OT)*, at LAC (W5)*, at SAC (W8)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at SAS (12/2), vs. LAC (12/5), vs. POR (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
Perhaps the Memphis Grizzlies are turning a new leaf, as they have won five of their last six games, allowing an average of 109.8 points per game on defense. Coincidentally enough, the Grizzlies have found success during this stretch without Ja Morant.
A total of 13 teams in the NBA currently own a losing record, Memphis being one of them. The good news for the Grizzlies is that they are 8-0 against those with losing records. However, this group is just 1-12 against those with winning records, as their only win came in October on the road against the Suns.
19. Portland Trail Blazers (+1)
2025-26 Record: 8-12 | Last Week's Schedule: at MIL (W12), vs. SAS (L13)*, vs. OKC (L8)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at WAS (12/1), vs. DET (12/3), vs. PHI (12/5), at DET (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
As good as Deni Avdija is, it's become clear that Jrue Holiday is the Portland Trail Blazers' most important player, as the team has gone just 2-6 without him on the court this year. Holiday's defensive abilities, as well as his leadership, have been missed as of late for the Blazers.
While the Blazers have fallen to the bottom half of the NBA power rankings, they are still the only team in the league that can say that they beat the Thunder this season.
20. Milwaukee Bucks (-2)
2025-26 Record: 9-12 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. POR (L12), at MIA (L3)*, at NYK (L9), vs BKN (W17)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at WAS (12/1), vs. DET (12/3), vs. PHI (12/5), at DET (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
The Milwaukee Bucks really struggled without Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it's a good thing they were able to handle the Brooklyn Nets, because a loss to that team would've been catastrophic for Milwaukee.
Right now, the Bucks simply aren't good enough offensively or defensively outside of Giannis to be considered a threat in the East. They currently rank 20th in scoring and 18th in opponents' scoring this season.
21. Charlotte Hornets (+1)
2025-26 Record: 6-14 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. NYK (L28), vs. CHI (W7)*, vs. TOR (W7/OT)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at BKN (12/1), at NYK (12/3), at TOR (12/5), vs. DEN (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
Keep a close eye on the Charlotte Hornets, because this group is beginning to blossom under Charles Lee. Kon Knueppel has played like the early favorite for Rookie of the Year, and with Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball back in the fold, Charlotte has won two straight over Chicago and Toronto.
The Hornets currently rank fourth as a team in free-throw percentage (83%).
22. Chicago Bulls (-6)
2025-26 Record: 9-10 | Last Week's Schedule: at NOP (L13), at CHA (L7)*, at IND (L2)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at ORL (12/1), vs. BKN (12/3), vs. IND (12/5), vs. GSW (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
It seems like forever ago that the Chicago Bulls began the season 5-0, as their fall from grace has been noteworthy.
This team is struggling to find consistent offense and shooting, which has resulted in their inability to win games as of late. Chicago simply needs to string together some wins to get back on track, and they will have a good opportunity to do so this week with two of their four games against bottom-tier opponents.
As a result of their inconsistent play, the Bulls have dropped six spots and are in the bottom 10 of the NBA power rankings.
23. Dallas Mavericks (-)
2025-26 Record: 6-15 | Last Week's Schedule: at MIA (L4), at LAL (L10)*, at LAC (W4)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at DEN (12/1), vs. MIA (12/3), at OKC (12/5), vs. HOU (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
Cooper Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to record 35 points when he did so on Saturday in the Dallas Mavericks' 114-110 win over the LA Clippers. This ended the Mavs' three-game losing streak and finally gave them a little bit of hope moving forward.
Dallas has been very unlucky as of late, especially since three of their last four losses have come by single digits. If the Mavs can close out some games, they will be in a better position to potentially make the playoffs. Until then, their woes continue.
24. Utah Jazz (-)
2025-26 Record: 6-13 | Last Week's Schedule: at GSW (L17), vs. SAC (W9)*, vs. HOU (L28)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. HOU (12/1), at BKN (12/4), at NYK (12/5), vs. OKC (12/7)
*NBA Cup Game
Nothing looks good for the Utah Jazz entering December, especially since nine of their 13 games this month are against teams with a winning record.
While they have surprised some teams with their scoring abilities from the perimeter at times, the Jazz simply lack talent outside of Lauri Markkanen to be anything special. However, the Jazz are a strong rebounding team and can cause problems for those who are not persistent on the glass.
25. Sacramento Kings (+1)
2025-26 Record: 5-16 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. MIN (W5/OT), vs. PHX (L12)*, at UTA (L9)*, vs. MEM (L8)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at HOU (12/3), at MIA (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
At this point, the Sacramento Kings should clear house. DeMar DeRozan's days seem numbered, and this Kings team, as constructed, isn't going anywhere except to the NBA Draft lottery.
The Kings have lost 11 of their last 13 games, and teams are scoring at will against them. Sacramento currently ranks 26th in defensive rating and is giving up the fourth-most points per game (122.9) to its opponents.
26. Los Angeles Clippers (-1)
2025-26 Record: 5-15 | Last Week's Schedule: at LAL (L17)*, vs. MEM (L5)*, vs. DAL (L4)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: at MIA (12/1), at ATL (12/3), at MEM (12/5), at MIN (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
The LA Clippers can't tank since the Thunder own their 2026 first-round pick, which is why Tyronn Lue's group is in trouble.
Now 10 games below .500 on the season, the Clippers are running out of time to turn things around, which is why it seems like a major roster shakeup could be on the horizon entering December. It doesn't appear as if anything is getting easier for the Clippers either, as seven of their next nine games are against teams with winning records.
27. Indiana Pacers (+2)
2025-26 Record: 4-16 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. DET (L5), at TOR (L2)*, vs. WAS (W33)*, vs. CHI (W2)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. CLE (12/1), vs. DEN (12/3), at CHI (12/5)
*NBA Cup Game
The only reason the Indiana Pacers weren't winning games to begin the year was that everyone was hurt. Now that Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard are back alongside Pascal Siakam, this team can compete and win some games, as they recently did against Washington and Chicago.
Perhaps this two-game momentum can turn into competitive matchups with Cleveland and Denver this week.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (+1)
2025-26 Record: 3-18 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. CHI (W13), vs. MEM (L5/OT)*, at GSW (L8), at LAL (L12)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. MIN (12/2), vs. MIN (12/4), at BKN (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
With a vast majority of their schedule showing home games for the next several weeks, maybe the New Orleans Pelicans can get things moving in a positive direction.
After all, this team does have talent on its roster. The only problem is that none of this talent really meshes well with one another, which has resulted in New Orleans' instability and poor performances.
29. Brooklyn Nets (-2)
2025-26 Record: 3-16 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. NYK (L13), vs. PHI (L12)*, at MIL (L17)
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. CHA (12/1), at CHI (12/3), vs. UTA (12/4), vs. NOP (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
Charlotte, Chicago, Utah, and New Orleans all rank inside the bottom 10 of the NBA power rankings. These are the Brooklyn Nets' next four opponents, which gives them a chance to pick up at least one more win this year.
The Nets are rebuilding and focusing on their youth movement with Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. hurt, which is why they've lost four straight games by double digits.
30. Washington Wizards (-)
2025-26 Record: 2-16 | Last Week's Schedule: vs. ATL (W19)*, at IND (L33)*
Upcoming Week's Schedule: vs. MIL (12/1), at PHI (12/2), vs. BOS (12/4), vs. ATL (12/6)
*NBA Cup Game
A shocking win over the Hawks in the NBA Cup gave Washington its second win of the season.
In this game, the Wizards shot 50% from 3-point land as a team, and CJ McCollum went off for 46 points on 10-13 from deep. The veteran guard is playing his way into being arguably the best cost-effective player on the trade market.
