Following the All-Star break, NBA play resumed, and there’s only a quarter of the season left before we get to the playoffs.
All of which means teams are largely split into two buckets: those trying to improve their seeding and standing in their respective conferences, and those who are shutting down players or sitting starters in the fourth quarter, seemingly in an attempt to tank to improve their draft positioning.
Yet, with a massive victory over the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons are maintaining their grasp atop this list. And, as Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, continues to miss games, it’s opening the door for Detroit All-Star Cade Cunningham to potentially take that honor, too.
Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 16 of the 2025-26 regular season:
USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings
Note: Records and stats through Feb. 8. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.
NBA Week 17 power rankings: Top 10
1. Detroit Pistons, 42-13 (—)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder, 44-14 (—)
3. San Antonio Spurs, 40-16 (—)
4. Boston Celtics, 37-19 (+1)
5. New York Knicks, 37-21 (-1)
6. Cleveland Cavaliers, 36-22 (+3)
7. Houston Rockets, 34-21 (—)
8. Denver Nuggets, 36-22 (-2)
9. Los Angeles Lakers, 34-22 (-1)
10. Minnesota Timberwolves, 35-23 (+1)
With their beatdown of the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, the Pistons sent a message that they are the dominant power in the East. Given their consistency and second-ranked defensive rating (108.3), the Pistons are also the top force in the league overall.
The Spurs have the NBA’s current longest active winning streak (eight games), and Victor Wembanyama is averaging 25.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game over that span, and the Nuggets have Nikola Jokić back, but they’ve lost six of their last nine.
NBA Week 17 power rankings: Nos. 11-20
11. Toronto Raptors, 34-23 (-1)
12. Phoenix Suns, 33-25 (—)
13. Philadelphia 76ers, 31-26 (—)
14. Miami Heat, 31-27 (+3)
15. Golden State Warriors, 30-27 (-1)
16. Orlando Magic, 30-26 (-1)
17. Los Angeles Clippers, 27-30 (-1)
18. Charlotte Hornets, 27-31 (—)
19. Portland Trail Blazers, 28-30 (+1)
20. Atlanta Hawks, 28-31 (-1)
The Suns received some bad news with Dillon Brooks’ broken left hand, but the fascinating action is in the middle of the East, where just ½ game separates the No. 6 seed — which is an automatic entry into the playoffs — versus the No. 8 seed. Those teams — Philadelphia, Orlando and Miami — will not be able to afford careless losses down the stretch.
The Magic are still without Franz Wagner, while the Heat, who have won three consecutive games, got the much-needed offensive boost of Tyler Herro.
Bennedict Mathurin has been a stellar addition for the Clippers, but they’ve dropped two in a row, and the Hornets have cooled off a touch since they won nine consecutive.
NBA Week 17 power rankings: Nos. 21-30
21. Milwaukee Bucks, 24-31 (+1)
22. Memphis Grizzlies, 21-34 (+1)
23. Chicago Bulls, 24-34 (-2)
24. Dallas Mavericks, 20-36 (—)
25. Utah Jazz, 18-39 (—)
26. New Orleans Pelicans, 16-42 (—)
27. Washington Wizards, 16-40 (+1)
28. Brooklyn Nets, 15-41 (-1)
29. Indiana Pacers, 15-43 (—)
30. Sacramento Kings, 12-46 (—)
Frankly, it’s hard to sort through this group. Many (most? All?) of these teams are seemingly sabotaging their current games to build for the future. The Bulls have lost nine consecutive. The Jazz and Pacers were fined for tanking. The Kings are shutting down players due to injury and have lost an NBA-worst 16 in a row.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings favor consistent Pistons, Cavs rise
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