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It’s been seven seasons since a team repeated as NBA champion. That’s tied for the second-longest such streak in NBA history.
The Oklahoma City Thunder look like a terrific candidate to end that streak. They had the fourth-best point differential in league history last season, they’ve brought back their entire rotation and their core consists of a group of young players who should only improve. The annual NBA GM Survey has the Thunder as the clear favorites to win the 2025-26 title, with OKC getting 80% of the GMs’ votes, the fifth-highest percentage in the 24 years of the Survey.
Of course, the Boston Celtics, similarly dominant and also bringing back their entire rotation, looked like a great candidate to repeat a year ago, when they got 83% of the GMs’ votes. The Celtics came up short in their quest to repeat, becoming the sixth straight defending champion that didn’t even reach the conference finals the following year.
No matter how strong a candidate the Thunder are to repeat, you’d have to take the field if it were an “OKC or anybody else?” question. But the champs are still the obvious No. 1 in the Power Rankings as the new season tips off.
Teams of the Preseason
Make It Last Forever: Dallas (3-1) — Defense wins championships … and preseason games.
Something Just Ain’t Right: Sacramento (1-3) — The Kings were outscored by 33 points in Domantas Sabonis’ 64 minutes on the floor … until Sabonis was lost to a hamstring injury, with Keegan Murray already on the shelf for at least a month.
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Movement in the Rankings
Biggest jumps since August: Boston (+5), Golden State (+3)
Biggest drops since August: Sacramento (-5), Houston (-3), Miami (-3)
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Week 1 Team to Watch
Golden State — The Warriors’ first five games might be the most important first five games for any team when it comes to what the standings will look like in April. They’ll visit the Lakers on Tuesday, host the Nuggets on Thursday and then face Portland, Memphis and the Clippers.
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Previously…
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
The league averaged 110.1 points scored per 100 possessions and 103.7 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes in the preseason (not including games against non-NBA teams). The team stats below are for games against NBA teams only.
NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, contact him via Bluesky.
#1
Oklahoma City ThunderLast Week:1
Preseason record: 4-2
OffRtg: 105.5 (26) DefRtg: 105.3 (7) NetRtg: +0.2 (14) Pace: 103.8 (14)
The Thunder are running it back, with their top 11 players in 2025 playoff minutes still on the roster. They’re young, they’re experienced, they’re deep, and they look like the best candidate to end this string of seven straight years without a repeat champion.
Preseason takeaways
The Thunder haven’t given much of an update on Jalen Williams, who had right wrist surgery after the NBA Finals and missed the entire preseason. With Williams out, Alex Caruso started all three of his preseason games, having started just three of his 77 games (regular season + playoffs) last season. Chet Holmgren only played in the preseason finale, when Isaiah Hartenstein was the fifth starter.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was rather efficient in his 57 minutes, shooting 83% (including 9-for-11 from outside the paint) and averaging 32.1 points and 10.1 assists per 36. He’s averaged just 6.7 assists per 36 over the last two (regular) seasons.
Something to watch in Week 1: Holmgren’s offense. The Thunder were dominant defensively last season, but there’s room for improvement on the other end of the floor. Maybe that comes with letting Holmgren (who played in just 32 games last season) spread his wings (especially if Williams is out), giving them another guy through whom they can run the offense.
After raising their banner, the champs will host Kevin Durant and the Rockets. Oklahoma City won three of the five meetings last season, though Houston had more shooting opportunities in four of the five, with a huge differential on the glass.
Week 1: vs. HOU, @ IND, @ ATL
#2
Denver NuggetsLast Week:2
Preseason record: 3-2
OffRtg: 110.3 (15) DefRtg: 108.9 (13) NetRtg: +1.4 (11) Pace: 98.9 (28)
The Thunder are certainly stronger from rotation spots No. 2-10. But the Nuggets have Nikola Jokić, a matchup problem for any team on the planet. Now, the rest of the Denver rotation is seemingly stronger than it was over the last two years.
Preseason takeaways
Jokić took just two of his 29 shots from 3-point range, shooting an amazing 22-for-27 (81%) inside the arc. The Nuggets scored 136 points per 100 possessions in his 68 total minutes alongside at least three of their other four starters. Alas, his time on the bench remained an issue, with Denver getting outscored by 19 points (scoring just 99.4 per 100) in Jonas Valančiūnas’ 83 preseason minutes.
We might see some more zone from the Nuggets this season. According to Second Spectrum tracking, they averaged 9.3 possessions per game of zone (most for any team in the preseason) in their three games in NBA arenas. That included some possessions with Jokić and Valančiūnas on the floor together.
Something to watch in Week 1: The second unit. It will be an issue until it isn’t. Valančiūnas can mimic Jokić’s game better than other centers, but he had an 8/13 assist-turnover ratio (with a lot of offensive fouls) in the preseason. And it’s not just about him, with Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. obviously needing to shoot better than they did (combined 17-for-53) over the five games.
The Nuggets will be the last team to tip off the 2025-26 season, not playing until they visit Golden State in the second game of ESPN’s double-header on Thursday. They saw a nine-game winning streak against the Warriors come to an end in April.
Week 1: @ GSW, vs. PHX
#3
Cleveland CavaliersLast Week:3
Preseason record: 1-3
OffRtg: 106.8 (23) DefRtg: 110.5 (16) NetRtg: -3.6 (21) Pace: 106.9 (3)
The pressure is on in Cleveland. The Cavs have the league’s most expensive roster and underachieved in the 2025 playoffs after earning the top seed in the East with the league’s most efficient offense. Anything less than a trip to the NBA Finals could prompt a breakup of this team’s core.
Preseason takeaways
With Darius Garland and Max Strus out, the Cavs will likely have Sam Merrill and De’Andre Hunter in the starting lineup to start the season. Garland’s absence should also lead to more playmaking opportunities for Evan Mobley, who averaged more assists per 36 minutes in the preseason (5.1) than Donovan Mitchell (4.5). Lonzo Ball played 46 preseason minutes, averaged 10.1 assists per 36, and might also be an option (more to close than start games) alongside Mitchell in the backcourt.
Hunter averaged 32.7 points per 36 minutes in the preseason and could certainly remain in the starting lineup when Strus returns. He never got much of a chance to play alongside the Cavs’ best players last season, logging a total of just 45 minutes (regular season + playoffs) with Garland, Mitchell, Mobley and Jarrett Allen after arriving at the trade deadline.
Something to watch in Week 1: Switching. As the Cavs lost to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, they often had issues after switching ball screens. Sometimes, Allen struggled to defend on the perimeter. Other times, Indiana was able to take advantage of mismatches inside. If they switch against the Knicks on Wednesday, Mitchell Robinson (who played in just one game vs. Cleveland last year) could certainly kill the Cavs’ guards and wings on the glass.
The Cavs will play their first 13 (and 19 of their first 22) games within the Eastern Conference, with the marquee matchup coming Wednesday in New York. They’ve won their last three games (all by six points) at Madison Square Garden, though Garland was the leading scorer (34 and 26 points) in both of their games there last season.
Week 1: @ NYK, @ BKN, vs. MIL
#4
New York KnicksLast Week:5↑
Preseason record: 4-1
OffRtg: 104.8 (27) DefRtg: 101.8 (4) NetRtg: +3.0 (10) Pace: 98.5 (29)
Last season was the Knicks’ best in the last 25 years. But they’re looking for more under new head coach Mike Brown, hoping that a change in approach can lead to a trip to the Finals.
Preseason takeaways
If you were hoping for a faster pace or more assisted buckets under Brown, the preseason may have been disappointing. The Knicks ranked 29th in pace, 22nd in the percentage of their possessions that were in transition, and 25th in assist rate. But they led the preseason in handoffs per 100 possessions by a huge margin (they ranked 14th last season), according to Second Spectrum tracking. Jalen Brunson was assisted on 39% of his field goals (nine of 23), what would be his highest rate since coming to New York.
Brunson and Mikal Bridges were the only two of the Knicks’ top six guys who were healthy for the preseason finale, but it appears that all injuries were minor. Mitchell Robinson started alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in the three games that both were available, and the Knicks allowed just 35 points on 49 defensive possessions (71 per 100) in their 24 minutes on the floor together.
Something to watch in Week 1: The shot clock. The Knicks can make things easier on themselves by just getting into their offense a little faster. Earlier initiation leads to better shots, and they should want to lower the percentage of theirs (22% last season, 27% in the playoffs) that come in the last six seconds of the shot clock.
The Knicks finished 13 games behind first-place Cleveland last season and allowed 123.5 points per 100 possessions as they went 0-4 in the season series. Winning the East probably requires beating the Cavs, who they’ll host on Wednesday.
Week 1: vs. CLE, vs. BOS, @ MIA
#5
Minnesota TimberwolvesLast Week:6↑
Preseason record: 1-4
OffRtg: 108.7 (19) DefRtg: 112.3 (20) NetRtg: -3.6 (20) Pace: 103.2 (19)
The Timberwolves have reached the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two years, and their star just turned 24 years old. But the next step could be the toughest, especially given the talent in Oklahoma City and Denver.
Preseason takeaways
Anthony Edwards saw a huge leap in 3-point rate (3PA/FGA) from 2023-24 (34.1%) to last season (50.3%). In the preseason, he was back down to 37.3% (19 of his 51 shots), and overall, the Wolves saw the league’s second biggest drop from last season. Only Brandon Ingram took more mid-range shots in the preseason than Edwards, who was just 5-for-15 from between the paint and the 3-point line.
The Wolves need either Rob Dillingham or Terrence Shannon Jr. to produce off the bench, but their time on the floor wasn’t great. Against NBA opponents, Minnesota was outscored by 46 points in Dillingham’s 116 preseason minutes and by 16 points in Shannon’s 88 minutes.
Something to watch in Week 1: Closing time. The Wolves had the Western Conference’s second best point differential last season, but finished sixth in the standings, because they were 20-26 in games that were within five points in the last five minutes, ranking 24th in clutch defense for the second straight year. A top-four seed in the West will likely require better results in close games.
The Wolves lost both ends of a back-to-back in Portland last November, scoring just 102 points per 100 possessions over those 48 minutes. They’ll open the season at the Moda Center on Wednesday.
Week 1: @ POR, @ LAL, vs. IND
#6
LA ClippersLast Week:7↑
Preseason record: 2-1
OffRtg: 105.8 (25) DefRtg: 101.7 (3) NetRtg: +4.1 (8) Pace: 97.2 (30)
The Clippers are the oldest team in the league, but also one of the deepest. They brought in four more capable vets (only losing Norman Powell from their top eight) over the summer, and Kawhi Leonard is healthy to start the season.
Preseason takeaways
The Clippers’ second unit could be ridiculously good. They outscored their NBA opponents by 24 points in 37 total minutes with at least three of Chris Paul, Kris Dunn, John Collins and Brook Lopez on the floor, though it certainly helped that Collins and Lopez combined to shoot 10-for-16 from 3-point range over those three games. The Clips’ bench ranked just 12th last season, so the added depth could be a real boost.
The Clips ranked last in pace, and the pace was slowest (93.5 possessions per 48 minutes) with Paul on the floor. Their two leading transition scorers from last season – Powell and Amir Coffey – are gone, so they may be getting a lot fewer fast-break opportunities.
Something to watch in Week 1: Bradley Beal. The contract shouldn’t define the player, but Beal in LA feels a lot different than Beal in Phoenix. It’s a fresh start for the 32-year-old, who could be a real difference maker for a team that had a middle-of-the-pack offense last season.
The Clippers have a great opportunity to get off to a great start. Eight of their first 10 games are against teams that had losing records last season and, after they open in Utah, they’ll play eight of their next 10 at home. They were 9.0 points per 100 possessions better at home than they were on the road last season, with that being the league’s biggest differential.
Week 1: @ UTA, vs. PHX, vs. POR
#7
Houston RocketsLast Week:4↓
Preseason record: 4-0
OffRtg: 123.1 (1) DefRtg: 113.7 (22) NetRtg: +9.6 (5) Pace: 105.9 (8)
The Rockets have seen dramatic improvement in each of the last two seasons. Kevin Durant is here to help them take another step forward, but the loss of Fred VanVleet for the season leaves a big hole in the backcourt.
Preseason takeaways
Both Reed Sheppard and Steven Adams got starts alongside the full-time group of Amen Thompson, Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun. In total, Sengun played 41 (57%) of his 72 minutes alongside either Adams or Clint Capela, and (not unexpectedly) the Rockets had some ridiculous offensive rebounding numbers with the double-big lineups.
With big lineups come mismatches. In the Rockets’ preseason win over the Pelicans, we saw Smith take advantage of a matchup with Jordan Poole inside. But we also saw him struggle when he was asked to dribble.
Something to watch in Week 1: Ball-handling. The Rockets will have some incredible transition sequences where they turn defense into offense. But if they’re not running, having Thompson, Durant, Smith or Sengun handling the ball could certainly be an issue against the Thunder, whose 10.2 steals per 100 possessions last season were the most for any team in the last 12 years.
The Rockets are playing just four games in the first 11 days of the season and, after visiting Oklahoma City on ring night, they’ll play their next four against the Eastern Conference. They were 21-9 (tied for second best among West teams) against the East last season.
Week 1: @ OKC, vs. DET
#8
Golden State WarriorsLast Week:11↑
Preseason record: 3-2
OffRtg: 107.9 (21) DefRtg: 107.2 (9) NetRtg: +0.7 (13) Pace: 106.6 (4)
The Warriors went 22-5 with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler in the lineup last season, and they have no choice but to keep trying to compete. With the addition of Al Horford, they could often start (and/or close with) four of the 20 oldest players in the league.
Preseason takeaways
Curry, Butler and Draymond Green played just 27 total minutes (over two games) together in the preseason. Moses Moody was the only other Warrior to play alongside the trio for a majority of those 27 minutes, but he’s dealing with a calf issue and will miss the season opener. So Steve Kerr could go a lot of ways with the other two spots in his lineup, with one possible starter being Jonathan Kuminga, who’s still here. Kuminga didn’t shoot poorly, but he scored just 13.7 points per 36 minutes in the preseason, down from 22.2 per 36 over the last two (regular) seasons.
The Warriors saw the league’s fifth biggest jump in pace from last season (17th) to the preseason (fifth). And the pace was fastest (113.3 possessions per 48 minutes) with Curry on the floor. Curry (9.1), Buddy Hield (7.3) and Gary Payton II (7.3) all ranked in the top eight in fast break points per 36 minutes among the 340 players who played at least 50 minutes total.
Something to watch in Week 1: 3-point shooting. Curry is the best shooter in the history of the game, but Butler and Green aren’t scaring defenses from the outside and the Warriors will need other guys to make shots. That’s one reason why Brandin Podziemski is a likely starter and why Quinten Post remains a critical role player.
The Warriors have an intriguing first five games within the Western Conference, and they include two of their league-high 14 rest-disadvantage games. The first comes in Portland on Friday.
Week 1: @ LAL, vs. DEN, @ POR
#9
Orlando MagicLast Week:9
Preseason record: 4-0
OffRtg: 122.2 (2) DefRtg: 107.5 (10) NetRtg: +14.7 (1) Pace: 103.5 (16)
The league’s GMs picked the Magic to be the most improved team in the league. Their two stars are still just 22 and 24 years old, with plenty of room to grow. And they should get a huge boost from the acquisition of 27-year-old Desmond Bane.
Preseason takeaways
The Magic were, statistically, the best team in the preseason. The team that’s had a bottom-10 offense in a remarkable 13 straight seasons ranked second on that end of the floor, and that wasn’t about hot shooting. Orlando led the preseason in both free throw rate and offensive rebounding percentage. Franz Wagner had 20 free throw attempts with just 27 field goal attempts, and he made 19 of the 20. Both Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze made like Steven Adams, grabbing more offensive boards (29 total) than defensive boards (27).
Despite all the offensive rebounds (which extend possessions), the Magic were also in the middle of the pack in pace, up from 30th last season. The first step toward an improved offense is with additional opportunities in transition.
Something to watch in Week 1: The offense. The preseason doesn’t count, so the Magic’s offense will still be under the microscope in the games that do. Some more ball movement would be nice, with the Magic having ranked 27th in passes per 24 minutes of possession last season.
The Magic will play seven of their first eight games against East teams that had losing records last season, but that includes two huge games against the seemingly-improved Hawks. The first of those – Friday in Orlando – is the start of a stretch of five games in seven days.
Week 1: vs. MIA, vs. ATL, vs. CHI
#10
Los Angeles LakersLast Week:8↓
Preseason record: 1-5
OffRtg: 103.7 (28) DefRtg: 112.4 (21) NetRtg: -8.7 (27) Pace: 100.7 (27)
For the first time in his 23 seasons, LeBron James will miss opening night. But the Lakers have Luka Dončić for a full campaign, giving them a high ceiling … on offense, at least.
Preseason takeaways
Deandre Ayton got off to a slow start, shooting 3-for-10 over the first two preseason games, with the Lakers being outscored by 27 points in his 39 minutes. But he took just three of his 35 total shots from outside the paint and ranked ninth in rebounding percentage (19.5%) among 330 players who averaged at least 15 minutes in two or more games.
Something to watch in Week 1: Avoiding blow-bys. As they lost to the Wolves in five games in the first round, the Lakers allowed 23.5 blow-by drives per 100 possessions, by far the highest rate in the playoffs. Perimeter defense could continue to be a big issue, especially if Gabe Vincent (James’ likely replacement in the starting lineup) and Marcus Smart get switched off the ball.
The Lakers will face those same Wolves twice in the first nine days of the season, with the first meeting in L.A. on Friday.
Week 1: vs. GSW, vs. MIN, @ SAC
#11
Detroit PistonsLast Week:10↓
Preseason record: 2-2
OffRtg: 113.4 (7) DefRtg: 110.1 (15) NetRtg: +3.2 (9) Pace: 101.0 (26)
The Pistons are looking to build upon the fourth biggest season-to-season, statistical improvement in the 29 years for which we have play-by-play data. In Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson, they have a pair of budding stars who certainly haven’t reached their ceiling.
Preseason takeaways
With Jaden Ivey (arthroscopic knee surgery) out, Duncan Robinson started the Pistons’ final preseason game alongside Cunningham, Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren. He might ultimately be a better fit in that group than Ivey, because Thompson (2/25), Harris (8/26) and Duren (0/16) combined to take just 10 (15%) of their 67 preseason shots from 3-point range.
Something to watch in Week 1: 3-point differential. The Pistons also yielded a lot of 3s on the other end of the floor, getting outscored by 48 points from beyond the arc over their four preseason games. That (-12.0 per game) was the second worst discrepancy in the preseason and they had the ninth worst (-2.5 per game) last season.
Their Week 1 opponents all ranked in the top eight in 3-point differential last season, though one of the Pistons’ biggest differentials (54-30) came in Chicago in early February. That’s where they’ll open the season on Wednesday.
Week 1: @ CHI, @ HOU, vs. BOS
#12
Atlanta HawksLast Week:12
Preseason record: 2-2
OffRtg: 107.1 (22) DefRtg: 111.5 (18) NetRtg: -4.3 (23) Pace: 106.1 (6)
After four straight years in the Play-In, the Hawks are poised to finish somewhere higher. They’ve got a strong top eight, featuring a lot of lengthy defenders around Trae Young.
Preseason takeaways
Porziņģis played big, taking 16 (59%) of his 27 shots in the paint, also leading the Hawks in free throw attempts. But he’ll also play the role of dangerous spacer when Johnson and others are screening for Young. Atlanta guards set 20 (29%) of the 69 ball-screens set for Young in the preseason, according to Second Spectrum tracking. That was up from 19% last season, and Dyson Daniels looked comfortable as a roll man.
Something to watch in Week 1: Opponent shooting. According to Second Spectrum, the Hawks ranked 18th in opponent shot quality last season. But they were 28th in opponent effective field goal percentage, with only the Kings seeing a bigger differential between how effectively their opponents shot and how effectively they should have shot given their shot selection. Defensive improvement starts with forcing tougher shots, but can also come with better luck.
The Hawks and Magic are seemingly in the second tier of Eastern Conference teams, behind Cleveland and New York. They’ll face each other twice in the first 15 days of the season, with the first meeting in Orlando on Friday.
Week 1: vs. TOR, @ ORL, vs. OKC
#13
Dallas MavericksLast Week:13
Preseason record: 3-1
OffRtg: 110.4 (14) DefRtg: 97.1 (1) NetRtg: +13.3 (2) Pace: 103.8 (14)
The Mavs should be the most fascinating experiment in the league. With Kyrie Irving out for the foreseeable future, they could be starting the season with a rookie power forward starting at point guard.
Preseason takeaways
D’Angelo Russell came off the bench in the Mavs’ preseason finale, with star rookie Cooper Flagg starting at the point and a frontline of P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II. Big ball, as expected, resulted in strong paint defense. Dallas opponents shot just 50.3% in the paint, the lowest opponent mark in the preseason.
With few experienced ball-handlers, they could be relying more on ball movement. The Mavs saw the league’s biggest jump in assist rate, from 60.1% of their buckets (27th) last season to 72.8% (second) in the preseason.
Something to watch in Week 1: The bigs’ passing. Flagg is the nominal point guard, but the Mavs will also run some of their offense through the high post, having ranked third in handoffs per 100 possessions in the preseason (up from 27th last season). So it will be critical for Davis, Lively and Daniel Gafford (who missed all of the preseason) to make good reads.
The Mavs are playing 13 of their first 18 games at home, and the first five are actually their longest homestand of the season. They open with a fascinating matchup against the Spurs on Wednesday, when they could throw a lot of bodies at Victor Wembanyama.
Week 1: vs. SAS, vs. WAS, vs. TOR
#14
Milwaukee BucksLast Week:14
Preseason record: 3-1
OffRtg: 110.1 (16) DefRtg: 105.3 (6) NetRtg: +4.8 (7) Pace: 104.5 (13)
It’s a huge season in Milwaukee, with the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo having never felt more tenuous. Myles Turner is here, but the backcourt is thin and the Bucks desperately need Kyle Kuzma to play better.
Preseason takeaways
Kuzma came off the bench, with the Bucks starting 6-foot-4 AJ Green at small forward. Green took 26 of his 27 shots from 3-point range and the Bucks ranked fifth in 3-point rate, with 51.7% of their total shots coming from beyond the arc.
They ranked last in the percentage of their shots (35%) that came in the paint, in part because Antetokounmpo played in just the last two of their four games. The Bucks also continue to eschew offensive rebounds. The 16.1% of available offensive boards that they grabbed would be, by far, the lowest rate for any team in any regular season in the 29 seasons for which we have play-by-play data.
Something to watch in Week 1: Kevin Porter Jr. making (or missing) tough shots. The Bucks’ starting point guard had an effective field goal percentage of 67.9% in the preseason, even though he ranked 144th in shot quality among 148 players with at least 25 shots that were tracked by Second Spectrum tracking (NBA arenas only). He’ll probably continue to take some ill-advised shots, and it seems unlikely that he’ll remain nearly as efficient.
For the first time in four years, the Bucks’ first game is not against the Sixers. Instead, they’ll host the Wizards, against whom they’ve won 18 of their last 21. Then it’s a more challenging two-game trip through Toronto and Cleveland.
Week 1: vs. WAS, @ TOR, @ CLE
#15
San Antonio SpursLast Week:17↑
Preseason record: 4-0
OffRtg: 120.6 (3) DefRtg: 107.9 (11) NetRtg: +12.7 (3) Pace: 101.5 (23)
It’s Year 3 for Victor Wembanyama, the first in which the Spurs (holding a six-year playoff drought) have expectations of being competitive in the Western Conference. It will likely begin without De’Aaron Fox, who played just five games with Wembanyama last season and missed all of the preseason with a right hamstring injury.
Preseason takeaways
Even if you take away their win over the Guangzhou Loong-Lions, the Spurs would have ranked as the most improved rebounding team in the preseason, having grabbed 54.7% of available rebounds over their four games against NBA opponents. Wembanyama grabbed 22.4% of available boards while he was on the floor over those four games, up from just 15.9% last season.
Something to watch in Week 1: Double-bigs. The Spurs played 24 preseason minutes with Wembanyama and Luke Kornet on the floor together, somehow grabbing 64% of available offensive rebounds and scoring 83 points on 52 possessions (160 per 100) in those minutes. One of their other options at the four (Jeremy Sochan) is out to start the season and Harrison Barnes shot just 5-for-25 in the preseason, so the double-big look may be the way to go in critical moments.
The Spurs will play their first six games against teams that had losing records last season, though their opening-night game in Dallas is a great matchup of teams looking to return to the playoffs (and missing their point guards).
Week 1: @ DAL, @ NOP, vs. BKN
#16
Memphis GrizzliesLast Week:15↓
Preseason record: 1-4
OffRtg: 111.8 (10) DefRtg: 121.6 (28) NetRtg: -9.8 (30) Pace: 105.3 (11)
It could be a transition season for the Grizzlies, who fired their coach at the end of last season and then traded Desmond Bane in the summer. They’re 98-58 (a 52-win pace) when Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. have played together in the regular season over the last four years, but that’s an average of just 39 games per year, and both of them are recovering from injuries as this season gets started.
Preseason takeaways
The Grizzlies saw the league’s biggest jump in 3-point rate from last season (40.6% of their shots, 20th) to the preseason (52.4%, second). Jock Landale started at center (even with Jackson back for the last two games) and took 12 3s in four games. So with Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke out to start the season, the Grizzlies can consistently surround Morant (assuming he plays) with four shooters.
On defense, they saw the second biggest jump in average pick-up distance, according to Second Spectrum tracking. The added pressure may have left them vulnerable on the weak side, as they allowed a league-high six corner 3-pointers per game.
Something to watch in Week 1: Ty Jerome. With Morant coming back from an ankle injury and Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe surgery) on the shelf, extra playmaking responsibility is on the shoulders of one of the Grizzlies’ new additions. Jerome will be looking to bounce back from a rough postseason while also not getting picked on defensively.
The Grizzlies will be at a rest disadvantage against the Pacers on Saturday, but are playing eight of their first 11 games at home. They won 21 of their first 26 home games last season before finishing 5-10.
Week 1: vs. NOP, vs. MIA, vs. IND
#17
Indiana PacersLast Week:19↑
Preseason record: 2-2
OffRtg: 109.5 (18) DefRtg: 115.8 (26) NetRtg: -6.3 (25) Pace: 103.3 (17)
Might the 2025-26 Pacers be similar to the 2019-20 Toronto Raptors? That team lost the Finals MVP and another starter (Danny Green), but still had several returners (including Pascal Siakam) who had great chemistry and knew how to win. Toronto had the league’s second-ranked defense and finished second in the East, with a higher winning percentage than it had the season prior.
Preseason takeaways
Despite the absence of Tyrese Haliburton (who led the league in pass-ahead passes per game last season), the Pacers still led the preseason with 23.5 pass-ahead passes per 100 possessions, according to Second Spectrum tracking. Bennedict Mathurin averaged 13.2 fast break points per 36 minutes, by far the most among 340 players who played at least 50 preseason minutes.
Overall, Mathurin ranked third at 33.4 points per 36, having shot 69%, including 7-for-11 from 3-point range. Siakam (7-for-12) and Aaron Nesmith (7-for-11) also made more than half of their 3-point attempts.
Something to watch in Week 1: Bench minutes. With T.J. McConnell (hamstring strain) out to start the season, No. 54 pick Taelon Peter (who’s on a two-way contract) appears to be the backup point guard. The Pacers’ preseason offense was remarkably efficient with their starters on the floor, but not so great when Peter replaced Andrew Nembhard.
The Pacers are playing nine of their first 12 games (including their first four) against the Western Conference, hosting the champs on Thursday. Obi Toppin had six games of at least 20 points last season, and two of them (including a season-high 34 in March) came against the Timberwolves, who Indiana will visit (in a rest-disadvantage game) on Sunday night.
Week 1: vs. OKC, @ MEM, @ MIN
#18
Philadelphia 76ersLast Week:16↓
Preseason record: 1-3
OffRtg: 99.5 (30) DefRtg: 109.2 (14) NetRtg: -9.7 (29) Pace: 103.3 (18)
Unsurprisingly, the Sixers got the most votes in the GM Survey’s “Which team’s level of success is hardest to predict?” question. That’s mostly about health, but there are also questions about Paul George’s ability to return to form (when he returns from injury) and what they have with their young backcourt.
Preseason takeaways
Joel Embiid made his return in the Sixers’ preseason finale on Friday, registering 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals. After throwing up a terrible shot just five seconds into the game, he looked relatively healthy and comfortable, and that he was a full participant in practice on Sunday is a good sign for the week ahead. Paul George also practiced, but his status for the opener on Wednesday seems doubtful.
The Sixers’ win over Minnesota on Friday came with the Wolves sitting their top eight guys. Philly was not very good otherwise, scoring less than a point per possession in Tyrese Maxey’s 53 minutes on the floor over their first three games. Maxey averaged 32.1 points per 36 minutes over the four games total, shooting 17-for-22 (77%) in the paint.
Something to watch in Week 1: Embiid’s rim protection. A healthy Embiid is one of the best defensive anchors in the league. The Sixers’ Week 1 opponents – Boston and Charlotte – aren’t huge threats at the rim, but if Embiid’s teammates trust that he’s got their back, they can better defend the perimeter.
The Sixers will play 19 of their first 20 games within the Eastern Conference. They’ve lost eight of their last 10 games against the Celtics (going back to Game 6 of the 2023 conference semis), and will begin the season in Boston on Wednesday.
Week 1: @ BOS, vs. CHA
#19
Boston CelticsLast Week:24↑
Preseason record: 3-1
OffRtg: 111.5 (11) DefRtg: 100.2 (2) NetRtg: +11.3 (4) Pace: 106.1 (5)
Even if Jayson Tatum makes his return at some point this season, three of the Celtics’ top six guys from last season are playing elsewhere. There’s going to be a big drop-off, but it’s hard to predict how big it will be.
Preseason takeaways
The Celtics are bringing more pressure defensively. According to Second Spectrum tracking, they saw the league’s biggest jump in average pick-up distance from last season (when they ranked 22nd) to the preseason (fifth), and that doesn’t even include the coaches’ full-court press against the Boston media. Derrick White was freelancing some blind double-teams and Boston also saw the league’s fourth biggest jump in opponent turnover rate from last season.
Payton Pritchard started his three preseason games, with Anfernee Simons coming off the bench in the final two. The Celtics outscored their opponents by 37 points (46.8 per 100 possessions) in 36 minutes with White and Jaylen Brown on the floor together, though Brown left their final preseason game with hamstring tightness.
Something to watch in Week 1: The results. The Celtics open their season with three games against teams that should be in the top half of the Eastern Conference. Are the Celtics in the top half of the East? These three games will give us some clues.
Joel Embiid is (seemingly) healthy at the start of the season, and the Celtics will face the Sixers three times in the first 21 days, with the first meeting in Boston on Wednesday.
Week 1: vs. PHI, @ NYK, @ DET
#20
Toronto RaptorsLast Week:22↑
Preseason record: 4-2
OffRtg: 108.0 (20) DefRtg: 106.6 (8) NetRtg: +1.4 (12) Pace: 105.6 (9)
The Raptors are paying a lot of money for a core that hasn’t done anything yet. So it’s a big “proof of concept” year in Toronto, and what should be a fascinating experiment on both ends of the floor.
Preseason takeaways
Poeltl missed the first four games, but the rest of the starting lineup was healthy. The Raptors scored just 114 points on 107 possessions (106.5 per 100) in 49 total minutes with the foursome of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes on the floor together, taking just 29 (30%) of their 97 shots from 3-point range (while also registering a low free throw rate) in those minutes.
Something to watch in Week 1: Ball and player movement. The Raptors ranked in the top six in both ball and player movement last season, but are now trying to integrate a player – Ingram – who’s been assisted on just 47% of his field goals over his nine seasons in the league.
The Raptors will play nine of their first 13 games on the road, with a big test in Atlanta on Wednesday. They swept a two-game series at State Farm Arena last season and held the Hawks to less than 108 points per 100 possessions over three games overall.
Week 1: @ ATL, vs. MIL, @ DAL
#21
Miami HeatLast Week:18↓
Preseason record: 0-6
OffRtg: 102.6 (29) DefRtg: 111.4 (17) NetRtg: -8.8 (28) Pace: 106.1 (7)
The Heat have been the No. 8 seed in the East, with a bottom-10 offense, in each of the last three seasons. They added Norman Powell in the summer, but will be without Tyler Herro (ankle surgery) for at least a few weeks.
Preseason takeaways
The Heat went 0-6, but they were only outscored by 0.8 points per 100 possessions in Bam Adebayo’s 96 minutes on the floor. Only 22 (23%) of those 96 minutes came alongside Kel’el Ware, but the second-year center did start the last two games. The Heat allowed a concerning 61 points on 47 possessions (130 per 100) in those 22 minutes with the two bigs on the floor together, even though the opponents shot just 7-for-21 (33%) from 3-point range.
The Heat ranked last in 3-point rate, taking only 34.1% of their preseason shots from beyond the arc. Their leaders in 3-point attempts per 36 minutes last season were Duncan Robinson (gone), Herro (injured) and Alec Burks (gone).
Something to watch in Week 1: Nikola Jović and Jaime Jaquez Jr. The Heat need one of their young forwards to pop. Jović should have additional playmaking responsibility and could be a Most Improved candidate. Jaquez can also contribute in multiple ways and needs to recover from a second-year drop-off.
Herro is likely out for at least a dozen games and the Heat have a tough start to their schedule, with six of their first eight on the road and seven of the eight against teams that should be pretty good.
Off we go on another Miami Heat, NBA adventure.
Week 1: @ ORL, @ MEM, vs. NYK
#22
Portland Trail BlazersLast Week:20↓
Preseason record: 1-3
OffRtg: 110.7 (13) DefRtg: 114.1 (23) NetRtg: -3.4 (19) Pace: 110.0 (1)
The Blazers are trying to build off a 23-18 mark (with the league’s third-ranked defense) in the second half of last season, bringing in Jrue Holiday to help them take the next step. But the focus should remain on their young core for at least one more season.
Preseason takeaways
With a lot of teams saying they wanted to play faster, the Blazers were the team that followed through the best. They led the preseason in pace by a wide margin, seeing the biggest jump from last season, when they ranked 16th. But their opponents averaged more fast break points per 100 possessions (15.7) than they did (14.5).
Holiday didn’t see a big usage-rate jump from his two seasons in Boston and the Blazers were generally good with their starters on the floor. But they got off to rough starts in both the first and third quarters in Utah on Thursday, trailing 19-11 in the first half and getting outscored 15-5 to start the second half.
Something to watch in Week 1: Shaedon Sharpe’s efficiency. On Sunday, Sharpe became the seventh (of 22) eligible fourth-year players to ink a rookie-scale extension. He averaged 18.5 points per game last season, looking a little more like the Blazers’ two guard of the future. But he can still be much more efficient, with plenty of room for improvement regarding his 3-point shooting (31.1%) and free throw rate (22 attempts per 100 shots from the field).
The Blazers were 8-20 against the West’s eight playoff teams last season, and they’ll begin this season with four straight against that group. Two of those eight wins came at home against the Wolves, who they’ll host on Wednesday.
Week 1: vs. MIN, vs. GSW, @ LAC
#23
Chicago BullsLast Week:23
Preseason record: 3-2
OffRtg: 111.9 (9) DefRtg: 111.9 (19) NetRtg: -0.0 (15) Pace: 107.3 (2)
Nikola Vučević is still here, but this should be the first full season of a new era in Chicago, and second-year forward Matas Buzelis gives Bulls fans something to be excited about.
Preseason takeaways
The Bulls somehow faced double-digit deficits in the first quarter of all five of their preseason games, with some really ugly offensive starts included. They were without Coby White (calf strain) for the entire preseason, but he could be available for their season opener on Wednesday. Josh Giddey was one of two players – Victor Wembanyama was the other – to play at least 25 preseason minutes and average a triple-double (17.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 11.1 assists) per 36.
Buzelis shot 20-for-26 (77%) in the paint, with one particularly deft finish around the reigning Defensive Player of the Year included. He also almost doubled his free-throw rate (FTA/FGA) from last season, though it should be noted that league-wide free-throw rate is generally higher in the preseason than in the regular season.
Something to watch in Week 1: Defense. The Bulls were the most improved team after the All-Star break last season, ranking 10th defensively over their last 27 games, with a big improvement in their paint defense. If that can carry over into the new year, they can surpass expectations.
The Bulls begin the season with games against what could be the three most improved teams in the Eastern Conference: the Pistons, Magic and Hawks. They’ll have a rest advantage in Orlando on Saturday.
Week 1: vs. DET, @ ORL
#24
New Orleans PelicansLast Week:26↑
Preseason record: 0-2
OffRtg: 119.4 (4) DefRtg: 124.2 (30) NetRtg: -4.3 (22) Pace: 105.5 (10)
The Pelicans are looking to recover from one of the biggest season-to-season drop-offs in recent memory. Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson didn’t play a single game together last season, but they’re all healthy as we begin the new year.
Preseason takeaways
After sitting out the team’s trip to Australia, Jones played against the Pelicans’ two NBA opponents (Houston and Orlando). But New Orleans was outscored by 21 points (39 per 100 possessions) in 24 minutes with him, Murphy and Williamson on the floor together.
Overall (including against non-NBA opponents), the Pelicans ranked second in the percentage of their shots (57%) that came in the paint and 29th in the percentage (37%) that came from 3-point range. But they somehow had just two free throw attempts in those 24 minutes with Jones, Murphy and Williamson on the floor.
Something to watch in Week 1: Williamson’s defense. The Pelicans have good defenders on the wing and at the center position (especially once Kevon Looney gets healthy), so if Williamson is engaged on that end of the floor (he had four steals in 23 minutes against Houston), their defense should rank closer to what it did in both 2022-23 and ’23-24 (sixth) than it did last season (29th).
Williamson and Ja Morant have faced each other just eight times over their six seasons in the league, and not since Dec. 26, 2023. They’re scheduled to meet on Wednesday in Memphis (where the Pelicans have lost four straight), though Morant missed the entire preseason.
Week 1: @ MEM, vs. SAS
#25
Phoenix SunsLast Week:25
Preseason record: 3-1
OffRtg: 109.9 (17) DefRtg: 102.2 (5) NetRtg: +7.7 (6) Pace: 101.1 (25)
Expectations for the Suns went out the door with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, but they still have some vets who could keep them somewhat competitive and more enjoyable to watch than they were last season.
Preseason takeaways
The Suns played some physical defense, led by their wing duo of Brooks and Dunn. They forced an incredible 27.4 turnovers per 100 possessions in 59 minutes with both guys on the floor, but Dillon Brooks (6.7) and Ryan Dunn (6.2) were two of the eight players who played at least 50 preseason minutes and committed more than six fouls per 36.
He only played against the Nets and the Dončić-less Lakers, but the Suns outscored their opponents by 18.9 points per 100 possessions in Devin Booker’s 79 minutes. And despite the lack of a real point guard, they kept their turnover rate relatively low.
Something to watch in Week 1: The restricted area. Last season, the Suns were outscored by 8.2 points per game in the restricted area, the league’s biggest discrepancy by a huge margin. The departures of Beal and Durant should make them less of a jump-shooting team, while Mark Williams (who missed the entire preseason) gives them some additional rim protection.
The Suns will play their first 12 games within the Western Conference, with a tough weekend back-to-back where they’ll visit the Clippers and Nuggets. They were 7-15 (1-11 after Jan. 27) against the top six teams in the West last season.
Week 1: vs. SAC, @ LAC, @ DEN
#26
Sacramento KingsLast Week:21↓
Preseason record: 1-3
OffRtg: 112.1 (8) DefRtg: 117.7 (27) NetRtg: -5.6 (24) Pace: 101.4 (24)
The Kings are one of two teams (the Hornets are the other) that haven’t won a playoff series since 2004, and they’ll have a tough time taking a step forward given the depth in the West. But Russell Westbrook is here to make things a little more interesting.
Preseason takeaways
The Kings need to be better when their best players are in the game than they were last season, when they were outscored by 3.7 points per 100 possessions in 556 minutes with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis on the floor together. They were even, but scored just 77 points on 76 offensive possessions, in 37 minutes with those three on the floor alongside new point guard Dennis Schröder.
Something to watch in Week 1: Defense. The defense was particularly bad (119.8 points allowed per 100) with LaVine, DeRozan and Sabonis on the floor together last season, and now the Kings are playing without Keegan Murray, who will miss at least their first 10 games. (Sabonis is also out for at least the season opener.) So it’s not clear how this team is going to get consistent stops.
The Kings will have two very winnable games before hosting the Lakers on Sunday. L.A. swept the season series last season, with the Kings scoring less than a point per possession in the two-game series at home.
Week 1: @ PHX, vs. UTA, vs. LAL
#27
Charlotte HornetsLast Week:27
Preseason record: 2-3
OffRtg: 114.6 (6) DefRtg: 114.7 (25) NetRtg: -0.0 (16) Pace: 105.1 (12)
The Hornets enter the season needing dramatic improvement to end the longest playoff drought in Eastern Conference history (nine seasons). They’ve added some veteran depth, but the improvement needs to start with their young core.
Preseason takeaways
The Hornets began the preseason by losing all four quarters (and never holding a lead) against the Thunder’s third string. But they were better after that and, ultimately, scored 128 points per 100 possessions in 68 total minutes with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller on the floor together. Taking 32 (73%) of his 44 shots of his shots from 3-point range (up from 53% last season), Ball had an effective field goal percentage of 71.6%, the fourth best mark among 104 players with at least 35 field goal attempts.
Rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner started two games before giving way to Moussa Diabaté in the preseason finale. Kalkbrenner shot 21-for-27 (78%) and ranked 11th in offensive rebounding percentage (13.9%) among 295 players who averaged at least 15 minutes in three games or more, two spots behind Diabaté (14.9%). This should be the second straight season that the Hornets rank in the top 10 on the offensive glass.
Something to watch in Week 1: Shot quality. According to Second Spectrum tracking, the Hornets ranked last in shot quality last season. To take a real step forward, Ball and Miller need to be purposeful about generating good shots by gaining advantages and making smart decisions.
Eight of the Hornets’ first nine games are against teams that ranked in the bottom 10 offensively last season, with the first four coming against other East teams that had losing records. They’ve somehow lost five straight games to the Wizards, who they’ll visit (with a rest disadvantage) on Sunday.
Week 1: vs. BKN, @ PHI, @ WAS
#28
Washington WizardsLast Week:28
Preseason record: 1-2
OffRtg: 106.8 (24) DefRtg: 108.1 (12) NetRtg: -1.3 (17) Pace: 103.2 (20)
A year ago, the Pistons were coming off two straight seasons of fewer than 20 wins, and proceeded to see one of the biggest season-to-season improvements in NBA history. The Wizards (15 and 18 wins in the last two seasons) probably aren’t going to make that kind of leap collectively, but they do have a lot of players with the potential to show individual improvement.
Preseason takeaways
Last season, Alex Sarr took just 50% of his shots in the paint and had a free-throw rate of just 19.9 attempts per 100 shots from the field. He played just 40 minutes in the preseason, but played a little bigger, taking eight of his 13 shots in the paint and getting to the line for 10 free throw attempts, though he also struggled a bit (2-for-8 from the field) against the Pistons’ physicality on Thursday.
CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton should both be in the starting lineup to start the season and, hopefully, shooting better from mid-range than they did in the preseason (1-for-7 combined). The Wizards were the only team to rank in the bottom 10 in field goal percentage in the paint (21st), mid-range field goal percentage (26th) and 3-point percentage (22nd) in the preseason.
Something to watch in Week 1: The second-year guys. The Wizards have nine former first-round picks who are still on their rookie contracts. That includes four from the 2024 Draft, and all four – Sarr, Bub Carrington, AJ Johnson and Kyshawn George – are intriguing in regard to their second-year development.
The Wizards were 2-28 against Eastern Conference playoff teams last season, and they’ve lost 18 of their last 21 games against the Bucks. The new year will begin in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Week 1: @ MIL, @ DAL, vs. CHA
#29
Brooklyn NetsLast Week:29
Preseason record: 1-2
OffRtg: 111.4 (12) DefRtg: 114.3 (24) NetRtg: -2.9 (18) Pace: 101.6 (22)
The Nets will take another shot at Lottery luck and, with fewer veterans on the roster, it seems less likely that they’ll get off to another decent start (9-10 last year). The intrigue is with their five rookie first round picks.
Preseason takeaways
Over their three games against NBA teams, the Nets committed 25.6 turnovers per 100 possessions and 32 more total turnovers than their opponents. With rookies handling the ball, they’re going to struggle just getting into their offense at times. But Egor Dëmin actually settled things down and looked pretty competent in his first preseason action on Friday in Toronto, even making a couple of good defensive plays.
Something to watch in Week 1: Stops and transition. The Nets can alleviate some of the pressure on their rookie point guards by getting stops and keeping their opponents from setting up defensively. Terrance Mann can defend on the perimeter and Nic Claxton is a solid anchor, but it takes more than two good defenders to get stops consistently.
The Nets’ first game – Wednesday in Charlotte – is probably one of their most winnable games of the season. They were 3-1 against the Hornets last season, with two of the wins being two of the five times the Nets held their opponent under a point per possession.
Week 1: @ CHA, vs. CLE, @ SAS
#30
Utah JazzLast Week:30
Preseason record: 1-3
OffRtg: 116.9 (5) DefRtg: 123.4 (29) NetRtg: -6.4 (26) Pace: 102.1 (21)
The Jazz got younger in the offseason, parting ways with Jordan Clarkson, John Collins and Collin Sexton. Lauri Markkanen is still here (for now), but probably won’t need to take many days off for his team to remain at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Preseason takeaways
Rookie Ace Bailey got some buckets, scoring 25 points in his preseason debut and shooting 10-for-11 in the paint over his three games. The Jazz scored more than 120 points per 100 possessions (and allowed 132 per 100!) in his 81 minutes.
The Jazz had the league’s second-lowest turnover rate in the preseason, noteworthy given that they’ve ranked last in turnover rate in each of the last two seasons, with their 17.0 per 100 possessions last season being the highest rate for any team in the last nine years. But they still averaged 8.3 fewer shooting opportunities than their opponents (the league’s worst discrepancy), because they were in the bottom four in opponent turnover rate, offensive rebounding percentage and defensive rebounding percentage. The Jazz are obviously going to be at a talent disadvantage most nights, but not getting killed in the margins would be a good first step toward being competitive.
Something to watch in Week 1: Guard play. The turnover rate may have been low because Isaiah Collier (who started his last 37 games last season) missed the entire preseason with a hamstring issue. Keyonte George started at the point and shot well (effective field goal percentage of 59.8%), having registered a mark of just 48.4% through his first two seasons. Season No. 3 is a big one for the former No. 16 pick in the Draft.
The Jazz were swept by 15 opponents last season, with three of the six 4-0 sweeps coming at the hands of the first three teams – the Clippers, Kings and Suns – on this season’s schedule.
Week 1: vs. LAC, @ SAC