It’s time for another round of NBA power rankings. All odds and lines, as always, come from our partners at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.
No. 10: Atlanta Hawks (+4000 to win the title)
Atlanta is quietly trending upward, winning seven of its last nine after snapping a short skid with wins over New Orleans and Charlotte. They’ve climbed to fifth in the East, and Jalen Johnson has been sensational.
Over his last seven games, Johnson is averaging 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, over his last seeven, fueled by the emergence of his jump shot as a legitimate weapon. He’s hitting multiple threes every night — the difference between being a solid player and a budding star. Atlanta’s upcoming stretch (Cleveland, Philly, Denver, and the Clippers) will test whether that leap holds.
No. 9: Phoenix Suns (+50000)
Phoenix’s second-half defense against the Spurs was elite — a 102 defensive rating after halftime — and they’ve now climbed to seventh in defense leaguewide. This is the version of the Suns I expected: a team loaded with versatile defenders who care about getting stops.
From Booker and Grayson Allen to Royce O’Neale, there’s legitimate two-way talent here, and the buy-in has been evident since preseason. Their comeback win over Minnesota on Friday — capped by a Colin Gillespie floater after Booker fouled out — was one of their grittier moments of the season. Suns fans have to be enjoying this group more than recent iterations.
No. 8: Miami Heat (+7500)
Miami’s back to doing Miami things. A four-game win streak has them sitting fourth in the East, and they’re finally getting more consistent offensive returns from Kel’el Ware, along with the usual elite defense.
Norman Powell’s aggressive shooting and Jaime Jaquez’s work out of the post have brought balance back to their half-court offense. The Heat are once again the team no one wants to face.
No. 7: Toronto Raptors (+10000)
Winners of seven straight, Toronto has become one of the league’s most enjoyable watches. They’re sharing the ball — 70% of their baskets have been assisted during this run — and all five starters scored 15+ in an impressive win over Philadelphia.
Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram have been outstanding on both ends, mixing physicality and playmaking. This is classic drive-and-kick basketball at its best — high IQ, unselfish, and relentless.
No. 6: Cleveland Cavaliers (+900)
Cleveland dominated the Clippers in Kawhi Leonard’s return. Even without Jared Allen, they contained both Harden and Kawhi while attacking Ivica Zubac relentlessly in pick-and-roll.
Donovan Mitchell is on a heater — averaging 32-6-6 on 50/39/87 splits over his last 11 games — and looks like one of the league’s most complete guards. The emergence of Nae’Qwan Tomlin, a hyper-athletic forward who plays hard on both ends, has given the Cavs a new dimension.
If they can keep Darius Garland on the floor, Cleveland’s ceiling remains high.
No. 5: Los Angeles Lakers (+1500)
Despite a 12-4 record and the league’s third-best mark overall, I’m not quite as high on the Lakers as many fans are. The shooting concerns are real — only LeBron and Rui are reliable catch-and-shoot options, while Austin Reaves and Luka remain inconsistent.
That said, the Lakers are elite in situational defense — No. 1 in clutch defensive rating — and excel at controlling pace. LeBron’s dominance in the post, along with steady pick-and-roll execution, keeps them afloat offensively. But until the shooting improves, their championship outlook is limited.
No. 4: Houston Rockets (+1000)
Even in a loss to Denver, Houston showed what makes them dangerous: toughness on the glass and steady execution down the stretch. Jabari Smith missed a couple of crucial threes, but the offense was sound, and the defense forced Denver into difficult shots.
This team’s upside is undeniable. With time, those late-game reads from Alperen Şengün will turn into makes — and when they do, Houston’s already-elite ceiling gets even higher.
No. 3: Detroit Pistons (+4000)
The Pistons have been one of the league’s biggest surprises, winning 12 straight behind Cade Cunningham’s orchestration and Jalen Duren’s interior dominance. The addition of Daniss Jenkins has been huge — his on/off metrics with Cade are elite, posting a +17 net rating in shared minutes and a 127 offensive rating.
The schedule tightens this week with Boston, Orlando, and Miami, but Detroit’s chemistry and balanced attack make them a legitimate factor in the East.
No. 2: Denver Nuggets (+500)
Denver remains the standard for stability. Their win in Houston was a top-tier contender checkpoint, showing they can still lock in on the road. I’m not reading too much into the Sacramento loss — it was a tough back-to-back after travel.
Nikola Jokić remains the league’s ultimate problem-solver, and the Nuggets’ belief in themselves hasn’t wavered.
No. 1: Oklahoma City Thunder (+180)
I’m all in. OKC has played a soft schedule — five straight wins against sub-.500 teams — but the dominance can’t be ignored. They’re not just winning; they’re dismantling opponents.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has made a subtle leap, averaging 35 points per 36 minutes on a career-high 67% true shooting, thanks to an improved three-ball. Chet Holmgren looks even better than last season, and Ajay Mitchell’s perfect 8-for-8 performance against Portland showcased their depth of creators.
Yes, their opponents’ combined win rate is just 42%, the lowest in the league. But everything about OKC screams “next great team.” They’re checking every developmental box, defending with purpose, and playing an unselfish, modern brand of basketball.
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