Every week, the NBA reveals new truths about who’s for real, who’s slipping, and who’s quietly assembling something dangerous beneath the surface. After another full slate of high-stakes matchups, breakout performances, and statement wins, here are my updated NBA Power Rankings, along with the key trends that pushed each team up — or kept them steady — on this week’s list. All odds and lines courtesy of Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.
10. Orlando Magic 📈 (+4000)
The Orlando Magic (+4000) have officially shaken off their rocky 1–4 start and now sit at 11–4 in their last 15, powered by a suddenly competent — and at times downright impressive — offense.
What stands out most is their 120 offensive rating during this stretch, a staggering leap for what was the worst jump-shooting team in the NBA last year. They’re now hitting 36% from three, with big contributions from Tristan Da Silva, Wendell Carter Jr., Anthony Black, and Jett Howard.
Anthony Black is the headline here. His breakout as a two-way wrecking ball has been game-changing — from smothering Cade Cunningham defensively to sprinting the floor for easy transition buckets and drilling corner threes. His development makes Orlando’s looming salary crunch much easier to manage.
Defensively, they’re still bullying teams: top-five in defense, top-five in defensive rebounding, and eighth in offensive boards during this run.
Paolo Banchero’s absence has sparked predictable conversation, but let’s be clear: the seeds of this success were visible before he went down. Once he reintegrates, Orlando’s ceiling rises even further.
9. Atlanta Hawks 📈 (+6000)
Another night, another monster outing from Jalen Johnson, who dropped 41-14-7 with back-to-back dagger threes against Philadelphia. The Hawks sit firmly inside the top ten thanks to a late-game offensive identity built around Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
With Trae Young sidelined, NAW has quietly become a capable pick-and-roll operator, allowing Atlanta to create reliable clutch actions. The Hawks currently boast the sixth-best clutch offense in basketball.
Johnson’s season numbers? 23-10-7, 54% from the field, 40% from three, 63% true shooting. It’s no fluke — it’s a breakout.
8. Boston Celtics 📈 (+7500)
Boston’s winning seven of its last ten, leaning heavily on a scorching 122 offensive rating over that span.
The story: Jaylen Brown’s evolution. Brown is leading the entire league in mid-range efficiency — hitting 51.7% on over two makes per game. He’s attacking the rim more and finishing better there than last season.
The Celtics are also getting timely surges from Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, plus one of Baylor Scheierman’s best showings as a pro. This isn’t a team surviving; this is a team finding its offensive identity.
7. Denver Nuggets 📉 (+500)
Denver’s just 4–3 over its last seven, largely because their defense has completely fallen off without Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. They’ve posted a miserable 122.4 defensive rating in that stretch.
But their upside remains obvious: Jokic and Jamal Murray look as good as ever, and Cam Johnson has emerged as a steady scoring threat from the perimeter. Their 126 offensive rating in these seven games shows the core is still exceptional — they just need to rediscover defensive connectivity.
6. San Antonio Spurs 📈 (+5000)
When Victor Wembanyama and Steph Castle went down, it looked like disaster. Instead, the Spurs have gone 5–2 behind the best stretch of De’Aaron Fox’s life in a San Antonio jersey.
Fox is averaging 26 and 7, shooting 49% from the field and 39% from three, while punishing teams as a pick-and-roll playmaker. His ability to engage the low man and hit the skip pass has unlocked the Spurs’ drive-kick game.
Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson continue to deliver, Luke Kornet is thriving as a screen-and-defend big, and the role players — Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes, and others — have been tremendous.
I’ll own it: I was wrong about the Spurs this year. This is a real contender.
5. New York Knicks 📈 (+1750)
The Knicks have won four straight and are generating more threes, more drives, and far better early-offense opportunities than last season. Their emphasis on driving early in the clock is unlocking a deep roster of playmakers.
Mikal Bridges has anchored a superb defensive stretch, while New York’s half-court execution continues to trend upward. They belong firmly in the East’s top tier.
4. Detroit Pistons 📉 (+2500)
Even with two tough losses to Boston and Orlando, the Pistons showed me enough this week to officially elevate them to top-four status.
Their size, physicality, rim pressure, and effort level scream playoff basketball. Cade Cunningham has been turnover-prone lately — especially against Orlando’s rangy defense — but the reps he’s getting against aggressive coverages will only accelerate his growth.
Despite inefficiency at the rim, I still believe Cade becomes a 60% finisher there in his prime. He’s simply rushing. The craft and touch are fixable. His last 11 games? 33-7-9. He’s on the star trajectory Detroit needs.
3. Los Angeles Lakers 📈 (+1400)
The Lakers continue to win by embracing the chaos that Luka Doncic forces early in games. Luka is averaging 13 first-quarter points, often triggering blitzes that force L.A. into four-on-three situations for the remainder of the night.
And with each game, the Lakers get a little better at exploiting those situations.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Deandre Ayton are becoming increasingly effective short-roll playmakers, while LeBron and Austin Reaves are flourishing attacking tilted defenses. They’re gaining essential reps they’ll desperately need against OKC’s pressure-heavy scheme later this season.
Seven straight wins since the OKC blowout shows they’re trending in the right direction.
2. Houston Rockets 📈 (+900)
Even without Kevin Durant, Houston smothered Phoenix and Golden State with elite defense and a pair of signature performances from their young stars.
Amen Thompson diced Phoenix with his slithery slot drives and improved mid-range game, while Reed Sheppard erupted for 31-9-5 against Golden State, punishing the Warriors repeatedly in pick-and-roll.
Alperen Sengun continues to show flashes of superstardom — including several straight-up bully-ball possessions against Draymond Green.
With KD back and instantly dropping 25 in a casual blowout, Houston looks every bit like a title-caliber team.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 🏆 (+180)
Two high-level wins over Phoenix and Minnesota reaffirm what we already knew: the Thunder are the team to beat right now.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to look like the league’s best closer, drilling step-back threes and playing with visible swagger. Chet Holmgren continues to ice games with late buckets. And now that Jalen Williams is back — and already living at the rim (19 attempts in two games) — OKC’s ceiling climbs even higher.
They face a brutal December schedule, including multiple battles with San Antonio and potentially the Lakers in the IST. If they run that gauntlet, the Western Conference will have its undisputed top dog.
Final Thoughts
This week clarified a lot: Orlando is real. Atlanta and Boston are stabilizing. Denver needs to defend again. The Spurs could be a problem. The Pistons and Knicks belong in the East’s upper tier. And OKC and Houston feel like the NBA’s present — not its future.
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