Ky Carlin, Sixers WireFri, November 28, 2025 at 3:10 PM UTC·11 min readThe NBA calendar has turned to the final week of November as Thanksgiving has passed. The league is continuing to move forward as Christmas Day is quickly approaching which is a big day in the NBA.
It's time to size up the league. The Philadelphia 76ers have been solid, but have slid a bit due to injuries. Are they on the same level as the Detroit Pistons? The New York Knicks? Or the Cleveland Cavaliers? Have the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks figured it out? There are questions to answer.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOut West, the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to reign supreme while teams like the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets look to make their move to dethrone the defending champs.
Here are the power rankings four weeks into the 2025-26 season:
30. Washington Wizards (2-15)
Previous record: 30
The Wizards finally ended their 14-game losing streak with a blowout win over the Hawks as they continue to move forward with the rebuild. Washington does have some intriguing young pieces as Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr have shown off some terrific signs.
29. Indiana Pacers (2-16)
Previous ranking: 26
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Pacers are in the middle of this slog of a season as they look to just make it through on a daily basis. Not only has Indiana dealt with the injury to Tyrese Haliburton, but there have been other players who have missed time. Pascal Siakam has done his best to keep Indiana in games, but it hasn’t been nearly enough.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (3-15)
Previous ranking: 28
The Pelicans have been miserable, but at least they have given Derik Queen the playing time he needs to develop and grow. New Orleans can also take solace in the fact that Jeremiah Fears has shown some potential at the point guard spot. Either way, this Pels season has been a tough one to start.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement27. Brooklyn Nets (3-14)
Previous ranking: 29
The Nets are still a confusing bunch to begin the season. Everybody knew they would not be a good team, but a big issue has been the lack of playing time for the rookies. Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore have spent time in the G League to get their playing time, but the Nets need to get them legitimate NBA minutes.
26. Charlotte Hornets (4-14)
Previous ranking: 24
The Hornets continue to disappoint. They’ve lost seven in a row and now there’s rumblings that LaMelo Ball may want out of Charlotte. On the bright side, rookie Kon Knueppel has been terrific and provided some fantastic play for this group and Brandon Miller is back from injury so the Hornets can take solace in that.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement25. Sacramento Kings (5-14)
Previous ranking: 27
The Kings should be open for business. Everybody on this roster should be available in a deal except for Keegan Murray and Nique Clifford. It’s a shame that this franchise finally ended their 16-year playoff drought in 2023 and has fallen back to the depths of the West two seasons later.
24. Dallas Mavericks (5-14)
Previous ranking: 25
The Mavericks are in a spot where they should just focus on developing Cooper Flagg. They should be looking to move on from Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, and other veterans and just look to develop Flagg. Nothing else matters at this point.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement23. Utah Jazz (5-12)
Previous ranking: 21
The Jazz have lost four in a row as their youth and inexperience has caught up to them a bit. With that being said, Lauri Markkanen continues to play extremely well while guys like Keyonte George and Ace Bailey have given this group some hope for the immediate future.
22. Los Angeles Clippers (5-13)
Previous ranking: 22
Do the Clippers have a talent problem? Kawhi Leonard seems to think so, but luckily both for him and LA, there is still a lot of time to figure this out. The problem is that there is plenty of injury questions on this roster and coach Ty Lue is doing everything he can to keep this team together.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement21. Memphis Grizzlies (7-12)
Previous ranking: 23
The Grizz have climbed into the final spot of the play-in tournament as they have strung together a couple of wins to move in a positive direction. The play of rookie Cedric Coward has been a big boost to this group and Memphis should make him the focal point of the season. His growth and development is important.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (8-11)
Previous ranking: 20
The Blazers have played better than some believed heading into the season, but there is still work to be done here. They still have to learn how to execute down the stretch of games, but Portland can at least be competitive while still learning how to grow and win close games.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement19. Milwaukee Bucks (8-11)
Previous ranking: 18
The Bucks need to hope Giannis Antetokounmpo can return sooner rather than later because they are struggling without him. As long as Milwaukee can just stay afloat and pick up a win here and there until he returns, it should be in a solid position to succeed and make a run once he gets back on the floor.
18. Golden State Warriors (10-10)
Previous ranking: 19
The Warriors are working out a lot of kinks. Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green called out the team’s defense after the loss to the Rockets in the NBA Cup and they will have to figure out how to win games without Stephen Curry who will miss at least a week due to a quad contusion.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement17. Philadelphia 76ers (9-8)
Previous ranking: 14
Unfortunately, injuries have taken over the storylines around this team again. Joel Embiid has only played six of the first 17 games while Paul George has only played in three of those games. Their day-to-day status has taken some of the light away from the stellar play of Tyrese Maxey along with the strong start by rookie VJ Edgecombe—who is also now dealing with an injury.
16. Chicago Bulls (9-8)
Previous ranking: 15
The Bulls have officially come back down to earth as this is the type of play that many believed when the season started. Nikola Vucevic let his team know that their play in a close win over the Wizards isn’t going to cut it and they followed that up with a 13-point loss to the Pelicans.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement15. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-8)
Previous ranking: 9
The Wolves have lost three in a row as it has been a clunky season thus far. This Minnesota team has a lot of talent and it has the experience of making it to the Western Conference finals two seasons in a row, but Anthony Edwards and Co. need to figure it out before they fall too far away from a top seed.
14. Boston Celtics (10-8)
Previous ranking: 16
The Celtics ended Detroit’s 13-game winning streak behind a big performance from Jaylen Brown. Boston has done some good things as coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff have done a great job of getting the most out of guys like Luka Garza, Josh Minott, and others. Also, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard continue to grow in the backcourt.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement13. Orlando Magic (11-8)
Previous ranking: 17
The Magic are 5-2 since Paolo Banchero went down with an injury and the Magic have begun to find their footing following a slow start. They are 10-4 since the 1-4 start as guys like Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black have helped Franz Wagner move Orlando forward in the East.
12. Atlanta Hawks (11-8)
Previous ranking: 11
The Hawks have played well to begin the season despite star guard Trae Young being sidelined with an injury. With that being said, they had a blowout loss to the hapless Wizards so there is still some work to do. With that being said, Jalen Johnson should make his first All-Star appearance in his career.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement11. Phoenix Suns (12-7)
Previous ranking: 12
You know what? Shoutout to the Suns. They went through a miserable 2024-25 season as the Kevin Durant- Bradley Beal-Devin Booker trio didn’t work and they have bounced back nicely in 2025-26. Guys like Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams have stepped in and given Phoenix some production out on the floor and coach Jordan Ott has been able to make it all work.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-7)
Previous ranking: 10
The Cavs have had to battle through adversity to begin the season. The injuries to Darius Garland and others have slowed them a bit, but coach Kenny Atkinson and Co. have done a terrific job of making sure they remain in the top 6 in the East. Donovan Mitchell has been great, per usual, for Cleveland.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement9. San Antonio Spurs (12-5)
Previous ranking: 8
The Kings really traded De’Aaron Fox to this group. The play of Fox has been terrific to begin the season in San Antonio as he has kept the Spurs playing well in the wake of the Victor Wembanyama injury. San Antonio will stay in the top 6 as long as Fox continues to shine and move forward when Wemby returns.
8. New York Knicks (11-6)
Previous ranking: 7
Obviously, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are terrific on the offensive end of the floor, but New York needs them to figure it out defensively. The team’s two best players cannot be helpless on that end of the floor in order to truly contend for a championship. Coach Mike Brown has work to do on that end.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement7. Miami Heat (13-6)
Previous ranking: 13
Coach Erik Spoelstra has taken his coaching acumen to another level. He has the Heat playing at the fastest pace in the league, their offense has evolved away from the traditional pick-and-roll system to a more free-flowing style, and he just welcomed All-Star Tyler Herro back into the fold. Miami has won six in a row and playing well at the moment.
6. Houston Rockets (12-4)
Previous ranking: 4
The Rockets are playing fantastic basketball. The addition of Kevin Durant has enhanced this team’s offensive attack while big man Alperen Sengun has been a force to be reckoned with in the paint. Throw in the play of Amen Thompson and second-year guard Reed Sheppard and Houston is going to be a legitimate contender in the coming season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement5. Denver Nuggets (13-4)
Previous ranking: 3
The Nuggets are continuing to just chug along. Nikola Jokic is still the best player in the world, Jamal Murray fires in his usual assortment of 3s, and coach David Adelman has gotten the most out of this roster. They will have to get Cam Johnson going within this system, but Denver is playing so well at the moment.
4. Los Angeles Lakers (13-4)
Previous ranking: 5
The Lakers are going to continue winning games because Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves are playing at such a high level. The play of those three combined with a strong supporting cast has LA sitting at the No. 2 seed in the West. This group should be able to grow and make noise in the title contender race.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement3. Toronto Raptors (14-5)
Previous ranking: 6
Shoutout to coach Darko Rajakovic and Co. The Raptors have won nine in a row and have climbed up to the No. 2 seed in the East. The quartet of Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley have been efficient on the floor while big man Jakob Poeltl has done the dirty work and Toronto has a terrific bench unit to rely on as well.
2. Detroit Pistons (15-3)
Previous ranking: 2
The 13-game winning streak is over, but the Pistons are still comfortably the best team in the East at the moment. A loss isn’t going to dampen the stellar play of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and the other core pieces. The return of Jaden Ivey is going to help this group as well as he brings another scoring aspect for coach JB Bickerstaff.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement1. Oklahoma City Thunder (18-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Yeah, the Thunder are just going to roll over everybody in this league. OKC has been nearly unstoppable on the floor as they have a net rating of +16.2, have the best defensive rating in the league, and the No. 4 offensive rating. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be one fantastic scorer and oh, by the way, All-Star Jalen Williams is set to return from injury, so yeah. The Thunder are just on another level.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: NBA Power Rankings: Where do Sixers stand after Thanksgiving holiday?
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