Welcome to our Week 4 Power Rankings! While the top two teams hold their positions firmly, there’s plenty of excitement further down the list. Teams like the Knicks, Cavs, and Pistons are making impressive climbs, showing their strength early in the season.
It’s still early, and team performances can change, but after about ten games, we’re starting to see which teams are finding their rhythm. This week, we’ve seen some big improvements, especially on offense, as teams start to gel and play more cohesively. Let’s dive into the rankings and see where every team stands.
The following stats are used to rank teams: OffRtg (points scored per 100 possessions), DefRtg (points allowed per 100 possessions), NetRtg (point difference per 100 possessions), and Pace (possessions per 48 minutes).
NBA Week 4 Power Rankings
Top Tier Contenders
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder (10-1)
🔼 Last Week: 1
The Thunder’s perfect record is over after they lost a 22-point lead against Portland. However, they were missing several key players, including Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, and Alex Caruso, so their top spot remains secure.#2 Denver Nuggets (7-2)
🔼 Last Week: 2
The Nuggets continue to look dominant. Their two losses were very close, while their seven wins have been by an average of 18 points. Nikola Jokić is playing incredibly well, averaging a triple-double with amazing 64% shooting.#3 Houston Rockets (6-3)
🔼 Last Week: 4
The Rockets had a setback in their first NBA Cup game but have been in great form otherwise, winning six of their last seven games. They even made an impressive fourth-quarter comeback against Milwaukee.#4 New York Knicks (6-3)
🔼 Last Week: 7
The Knicks are unstoppable at home, with a perfect 6-0 record at Madison Square Garden. They’ve dominated their recent home games, winning by an average of 22 points and showing they are a serious threat.#5 Cleveland Cavaliers (7-3)
🔼 Last Week: 8
With Darius Garland back in the lineup, the Cavs are on a four-game winning streak. Their recent victories came against other strong Eastern Conference teams, proving they can compete with the best.
Rising and Falling
#6 Los Angeles Lakers (7-3)
🔽 Last Week: 3
Even with LeBron James still out, the Lakers extended their winning streak to five games. However, they started their road trip with a tough 20-point loss in Atlanta, showing they still have challenges to overcome without their stars.#7 San Antonio Spurs (7-2)
🔼 Last Week: 9
The Spurs secured a big win over the Rockets, and De’Aaron Fox made a strong return with 24 points in his first game of the season. Though Victor Wembanyama has been a bit quieter lately, the team is performing well.#8 Detroit Pistons (8-2)
🔼 Last Week: 12
The Pistons are on a roll with a six-game winning streak, putting them in first place in the Eastern Conference. They’ve also been perfect against Western Conference teams so far this season.#9 Milwaukee Bucks (6-4)
🔽 Last Week: 5
After a strong 4-1 start, the Bucks have lost three of their last five games. Giannis Antetokounmpo hit a game-winning shot against the Pacers, but the team has been struggling with its defense.#10 Minnesota Timberwolves (6-4)
🔼 Last Week: 10
The Timberwolves managed well while Anthony Edwards was away, and they came back strong with two big wins over the weekend. They look ready to build momentum with their star player back on the court.
The Middle Pack
#11 Golden State Warriors (6-5)
🔽 Last Week: 6
The Warriors have missed Stephen Curry, who has been out with an illness. They had lost four of their last five games before getting a much-needed win against the Pacers.#12 Miami Heat (6-4)
🔼 Last Week: 16
Despite missing Bam Adebayo for the last two games, the Heat won both. The team showed its depth, with nine players averaging at least nine points in those victories.#13 Chicago Bulls (6-3)
🔼 Last Week: 13
The Bulls faced a tough stretch of games against top Eastern Conference teams, finishing with a 2-3 record. They were close to another win but couldn’t hold on to a late lead against Cleveland.#14 Portland Trail Blazers (5-4)
🔼 Last Week: 14
The Blazers pulled off a huge comeback to hand the Thunder their first loss. However, they’ve had trouble closing out their own games, losing early leads against the Lakers and Heat.#15 Philadelphia 76ers (6-4)
🔼 Last Week: 15
The 76ers faced their first real test against other top East teams and went 0-3. Their powerful offense has cooled off a bit, and they’ll need to adjust to get back to winning.
Looking for Consistency
#16 Toronto Raptors (5-5)
🔼 Last Week: 20
The Raptors are in a good position in the NBA Cup tournament. Their four-game winning streak recently ended, but they continue to show promise and balanced play.#17 Phoenix Suns (5-5)
🔼 Last Week: 23
With low expectations this season, the Suns have been a pleasant surprise. They have won four of their last five games and are playing better than many predicted.#18 Boston Celtics (5-6)
🔽 Last Week: 17
The Celtics have been inconsistent, as expected. Last week, they traded wins and losses, showing flashes of strong play but struggling to maintain it from game to game.#19 Atlanta Hawks (5-5)
🔽 Last Week: 18
The Hawks have managed well without their star Trae Young, winning an impressive game against the Lakers even while missing several other key players due to injury.#20 Orlando Magic (4-6)
🔽 Last Week: 19
The Magic are still searching for consistency. They had a chance to win two straight against the Celtics but couldn’t get the defensive stops they needed in the final minutes.
Teams in Transition
#21 LA Clippers (3-6)
🔽 Last Week: 11
Injuries are hurting the Clippers, who have lost four straight games, with Kawhi Leonard missing the last three. This is their toughest start to a season in 15 years.#22 Memphis Grizzlies (4-7)
🔽 Last Week: 21
The Grizzlies have lost five of their last six games as Ja Morant continues to struggle with his offense. They’ve had some wins against divisional rivals but need more consistency.#23 Dallas Mavericks (3-7)
🔽 Last Week: 22
The Mavs’ offense has been struggling, especially with Anthony Davis out for the last five games. They managed to get a win against the Wizards but have a lot to work on.#24 Charlotte Hornets (3-6)
🔼 Last Week: 24
After winning their first game without LaMelo Ball, the Hornets have now lost two in a row. They are still trying to find their footing without their main playmaker.#25 Sacramento Kings (3-7)
🔼 Last Week: 26
The Kings were keeping games close, but they suffered two big losses at home over the weekend to the Thunder and Wolves, losing by a combined 58 points.
Rebuilding Efforts
#26 Utah Jazz (3-6)
🔼 Last Week: 27
The Jazz have lost five of their last six games and now face a major challenge, as they will be without Walker Kessler for the rest of the season due to injury.#27 New Orleans Pelicans (2-7)
🔼 Last Week: 30
Even without Zion Williamson, the Pelicans finally got their first two wins of the season. The victories were close, but they provide a much-needed boost for the team.#28 Brooklyn Nets (1-9)
🔼 Last Week: 29
The Nets were the last team in the league to get a win, finally breaking their losing streak against the Pacers. It’s a small step forward for a team looking to rebuild.#29 Indiana Pacers (1-9)
🔽 Last Week: 25
Injuries continue to be a major problem for the Pacers, who have now lost four games in a row. They are struggling to field a healthy and competitive lineup.#30 Washington Wizards (1-9)
🔽 Last Week: 28
The Wizards are on an eight-game losing streak, with an average losing margin of over 20 points. They let a fourth-quarter lead slip away in their latest game against the Mavs.
