NBA Power Rankings: Where Do All 30 Teams Stand Right Now? (2026)

March 9, 2026

RotoBaller's NBA power rankings for all 30 teams in early March. Where does each NBA team stand in our latest power rankings for the 2025-2026 season?

It's never a dull time in the NBA. This week saw three stars return from injury in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Cooper Flagg, and Jayson Tatum. While the Bucks and Mavs are just happy to see their stars back, none may have a bigger impact on the playoffs than Tatum.

Meanwhile, the play-in bracket in the East has become an absolute buzzsaw. Everyone seems to be clicking besides the Sixers, who may be in danger without Joel Embiid.

How does all this impact our rankings? Read on to find out.

No. 30 - Sacramento Kings

It's no surprise that one of the worst teams in the league also has one of the league's worst defenses. Since February, opponents have been shooting for a 60.2% eFG%, an absurdly high number.

Kings fans don't necessarily want to see that number, but this year is about setting up their delayed rebuild anyway. If they continue letting their opponents shoot this efficiently, then they'll easily win the race to the bottom.

No. 29 - Washington Wizards

The Wizards also saw a superstar return to their lineup this week with Trae Young making his Washington debut earlier in the week. But with the Wizards so far back in the standings, they're going to need to closely monitor Young's minutes going forward.

They'll certainly benefit from their younger guys getting minutes and building chemistry with Young, though, and that may set up success for next season. But for now, Washington needs to continue focusing on its race to the bottom.

No. 28 - Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are in the race for the bottom as well, but that doesn't mean Saturday's victory over the Pistons can't be relished. They came back from down 23 to beat the East's best team and snapped a 10-game losing streak.

Michael Porter Jr. was the star of that game, posting up a 30-point, 13-rebound double-double. He's going to be a major focus of Brooklyn's in the offseason, and games like Saturday's make him look like a real strong piece to build a franchise around.

MPJ and the Nets pull off the 23-point COMEBACK WIN over the Pistons pic.twitter.com/5zaiOIVToS

— ALL NBA Podcast (@ALLCITY_NBA) March 8, 2026

No. 27 - Indiana Pacers

It seems the NBA fining the Pacers for tanking hasn't exactly stopped them. Just like the Kings, opponents are feasting on Indiana's defense. They've allowed opponents to shoot for a 60% eFG% or better in five of their last six games coming into Sunday.

That gives anyone and everyone a chance against the Pacers. But they're fine with that for now. When Tyrese Haliburton comes back next season, they'll really aim to return to prominence in the East. But don't expect much else over the final month.

No. 26 - Utah Jazz

The NBA's efforts to punish the Jazz for tanking, alongside the Pacers, haven't exactly stopped them either. Why would it? They're clearly trying to prioritize the health of their stars like Lauri Markkanen, who's battled injuries consistently over the past few seasons.

At the very least, they've got Keyonte George back in their lineup. George has shown quite a bit of growth this season when healthy, averaging career highs in PPG and APG. When healthy, Utah can be a thorn in their opponents' sides, but they're not truly going to try and win unless health allows them to next season.

No. 25 - New Orleans Pelicans

Speaking of health, the Pelicans avoided a scare with Zion Williamson earlier in the week, and their starting lineup almost looks...complete? Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, and Herbert Jones are all starting alongside Williamson and giving New Orleans a good look at their full potential.

But they're going to have to balance out their stars' playing and their stars' health to set up next season. That also has to be balanced out with the fact that they don't have a first-round draft pick this year, and tanking doesn't necessarily help them out.

No. 24 - Dallas Mavericks

Mavs fans can breathe a little easier after seeing Flagg return to the lineup this week. He missed eight straight games with a foot injury that cost him a bit of ground to former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel in the Rookie of the Year race.

That award's likely to come down to the wire. But Dallas would rather see their star rookie stay healthy regardless of the outcome. They have two first-round picks in this draft, and they're clearly going to focus on improving their positioning to make the best of next season.

No. 23 - Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis is looking to turn a rather underwhelming season into a top-10 pick. As of now, they're sitting in the eighth pick sandwiched between Dallas and Chicago. With Milwaukee four games ahead of them, they're very likely to stay in the top 10.

Ty Jerome appears to have taken the lead for the Grizzlies with Ja Morant sidelined. With the Grizzlies anticipated to entertain trade offers for Morant in the offseason, Memphis fans may be seeing a whole lot more of Jerome leading the charge next season.

No. 22 - Chicago Bulls

It's easy to forget that, with how Chicago started this season, they looked like a team that found their identity and could be a sleeper team in the East. But the basketball gods quickly showed them none of that was true, and they aimed towards a retool and rebuild type of approach.

It wasn't pretty at first. Losing 11 games in a row never is. But they're really starting to see just how good guys like Matas Buzelis can be. Expect the rest of the season to simply be about development in Chicago.

No. 21 - Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee finally saw Antetokounmpo return to the court this week as they aimed to try and get back into the race in the play-in. Unfortunately for them, they didn't do great with him active this week and are a good distance back from Charlotte for the final play-in spot.

The Bucks may find themselves in a dilemma soon, as they are slated for the 10th overall pick right now. If they don't catch fire, or if the play-in teams stay hot, there may not be much for the Bucks to play for outside of draft positioning.

No. 20 - Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers are very clearly set to be in the play-in, but where they'll play is going to stay in question until the end of the season. They're right behind the Clippers, but now the Warriors are also within reach at the eight seed.

Blazers fans would love to see their team string together a few wins. They haven't been able to put together consecutive wins since early February, and a nice run would go a long way for this young squad. At the very least, they should be aiming for home court in the first play-in round.

No. 19 - Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers had another star make their return to the court this week with the newly acquired Darius Garland. The 26-year old played in three games this week, with his minutes limited to around 25 per game, and is showing his facilitating capabilities can help fill the gap that James Harden left.

Darius Garland for threeeeee!!! 👌 pic.twitter.com/e5w1ypUFYP

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 5, 2026

Bennedict Mathurin has also shown an ability to be a firecracker off the bench for the Clippers, though his production can be spotty. With LA facing quite a few injury issues still, Garland and Mathurin need to keep playing at a high level so the Clippers can maintain home court for the first round of the play-in or jump the Warriors, who they're now right in line with.

No. 18 - Atlanta Hawks

It's safe to say now that the Hawks have gotten over the departures of Young and Kristaps Porzingis. Currently on a six-game winning streak, Atlanta's held its own as the nine-seed and has a legit shot to surpass the Sixers in the seven-seed to jump up in the play-in bracket.

The contributions haven't come from just one player either. Four Hawks are averaging 17 PPG or better in this span, including the newly acquired Jonathan Kuminga. The Hawks are getting hot at the right time and may just be one of the teams "no one wants to face" sooner than later.

No. 17 - Charlotte Hornets

Another team in the "team no one wants to play" category, the Hornets have been one of the league's best teams since the calendar turned to 2026. That's not a mistake either. They're posting a +11.2 net rating since January 1st, best in the league.

That's being driven not just by a highly efficient offense, but a defense that's surprisingly suffocating. Knueppel's fantastic production has him in the lead for Rookie of the Year at the moment. He's a major reason Charlotte's having success, but it's a full team effort that's made Charlotte a threat in the East.

No. 16 - Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry hasn't played since the end of January, and it's starting to show. Golden State is 5-8 without him and is quickly losing ground in the Western Conference play-in bracket with the Clippers and Blazers hot on their heels.

Curry's return date is still undetermined, but Porzingis has returned to the lineup with the belief that he's going to be healthy going forward. Golden State better hope so if they want to stay out of the bottom half of the play-in bracket.

No. 15 - Philadelphia 76ers

Speaking of teams missing their stars, the Sixers desperately need Embiid back. He's now missed four straight games with an oblique injury, and Philadelphia's been jumped by both Miami and Orlando in that time. They're now looking at a play-in seed.

To pour more salt in the literal wounds, Tyrese Maxey suffered a finger injury in Saturday's loss to Atlanta and will be out at least two games. Their support guys, like Kelly Oubre Jr., are going to need to be outstanding to ensure Philly doesn't lose more ground in the East.

No. 14 - Orlando Magic

We're about to find out just how real the Magic are. They're currently the six-seed in the East, but their upcoming schedule is about to truly test them, with six of their next seven games coming against playoff or play-in teams.

Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane have been Orlando's leaders since the All-Star break, both averaging 25 PPG or more since then. Needless to say, they will need to keep up that spectacular production in order to keep Orlando as close to the six seed as possible.

Desmond Bane steal + Paolo Banchero fastbreak dunk pic.twitter.com/wKvBhyQtxI

— The Magic Way (@MagicFilmRoom) March 9, 2026

No. 13 - Miami Heat

Don't look now, but the Miami Heat are rolling. At one point, you could say that they were benefitting from a somewhat weak schedule, but recent wins over the Pistons, Hornets, and Rockets say the streak is for real.

Most impressively about this streak is that they've done it without Norman Powell for the last five games and Andrew Wiggins for two. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo are carrying the load, as you would expect. But the rest of the team has got Miami looking like another team that no one wants to face in the playoffs.

No. 12 - Phoenix Suns

Phoenix is finally in a spot where both Jalen Green and Devin Booker are healthy, so they can see what they truly have. Unfortunately, it's also happening while Dillon Brooks is dealing with a hand fracture. Suns fans have to be upset that they may not be able to see their roster fully healthy this season.

Not all is lost, though, as Phoenix has a healthy lead over Golden State in the seven-seed, and they're very unlikely to drop from that spot. There's a shot they creep over the Lakers and sneak out of the play-in, but a healthy roster is needed for that to become a reality.

No. 11 - Los Angeles Lakers

For the first time in a long time in these power rankings, I bring you news about the Lakers and their net rating:

It's finally positive.

The Lakers have been dealing with a negative net rating for what feels like all season. But a 5-1 run with multiple victories of 20+ points has turned the tide (in terms of their net rating).

All that's necessary, too, as they are only slightly ahead of Phoenix in the six-seed. The Lakers are hot, but they can't let up.

No. 10 - Toronto Raptors

It's not just Miami and Orlando that are thankful for the Sixers sliding in the East. It's also Toronto, as their slide has gone rather unnoticed. Coming into Sunday's matchup against Dallas, they had lost four of their last five.

Raptors fans may take some comfort in knowing that it came against rather stiff competition, but on the flip side of the coin, that may show them what to expect in the playoffs. The Raptors have taken a sizable step this season, but how much is it worth if they can't perform in the playoffs?

No. 9 - Denver Nuggets

It's just about time to start worrying in Denver. On Friday night, they finally were able to assemble their true starting five (Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun) for the first time in a very, very long time. All that went out the window as Murray rolled his ankle in a blowout loss to the Knicks.

Denver received positive news regarding his injury, and he's questionable for Monday's game in Oklahoma City. But Denver's in a 6-9 slide in a tough part of their schedule, and they really need a few good wins to get back on the right track.

No. 8 - Minnesota Timberwolves

A loss to the Magic on Saturday may have brought the Timberwolves back down to earth after going on a 9-1 run. That run at least got them into a really solid spot in the West and out of play-in range, which they had been flirting with for quite some time.

Now they find themselves in a race with the Nuggets and Rockets for the three-seed in the West. With both the Nuggets and Rockets currently having tiebreakers over Minnesota, they'll have to fight hard to grab that three-seed and set themselves up well for the playoffs.

that was niiiiice, AE. 🐜 pic.twitter.com/kcVQiTjiD1

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 4, 2026

No. 7 - Houston Rockets

From a season-long perspective, the Rockets' season looks incredibly successful. They've got the sixth-best net rating in the league, the fifth-best defensive rating, and the highest rebounding percentage in the league. Yet it still feels like they've been a bit underwhelming.

The aim for Houston isn't in the regular season, though. They're aiming for postseason success, and their defense can help with that. But they need better wins and can't post any more 20+ point losses to playoff contenders as they did to San Antonio on Sunday night.

No. 6 - Cleveland Cavaliers

At one point in the season, it was fair to question whether the Cavaliers had enough. They were playing good basketball, but not elite basketball. That's changed since the calendar flipped to 2026. Their 20 wins since January are the fifth most in the league in that span.

A Sunday whooping at the hand of the Celtics won't hurt them overall, but at least Donovan Mitchell is back and healthy. If the Cavaliers can stay healthy for the playoffs, they'll be one of the four Eastern Conference powerhouses that stand a chance to win the title this year.

No. 5 - New York Knicks

Before getting handled by the Lakers on Sunday afternoon, the Knicks had been in solid shape. They'd won 16 of 21 and had been stellar defensively, allowing 103 points or fewer in six of their last seven.

But if not for the defense, we may be questioning if the Knicks are doing enough offensively. Since the All-Star break, they have just three players averaging 15 PPG or more. It's fair to wonder if that will be enough during the playoffs, especially if the defense slips against top-tier competition.

No. 4 - Detroit Pistons

The Pistons have had a magnificent year, but a couple of bad losses to Miami and Brooklyn this weekend show there's still more to do for one of the Eastern Conference's best.

Additionally, they had once looked like the certain top seed in the East. But after this weekend, they're just 2.5 games ahead of Boston. With Tatum returning to the Celtics' lineup, the Pistons will need to make sure they're at the top of their game to ensure home court throughout the playoffs.

No. 3 - Boston Celtics

Speaking of those Celtics, what an addition by having Tatum return to the lineup. The 28-year-old is back from an Achilles injury, and he immediately makes the Celtics that much more of a threat in the East.

Celtics up 9 and need to stop the bleeding…who else but Jayson Tatum

He still has some things to work through, but his confidence is there. No hesitation and called for the ball when he saw an opening:
pic.twitter.com/XWtXgHnlyz

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) March 8, 2026

It doesn't come without a cost, though. Newly acquired Nikola Vucevic sustained a fractured ring finger, which required surgery, and he will now be out for three to four weeks. That takes away a solid threat both on the interior and perimeter. Tatum's return couldn't be more timely as one of the East's best stories now turns into one of the East's best threats.

No. 2- San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are on an incredible 15-1 run since the beginning of February. That's gotten them within 2.5 games of the Thunder for the top seed in the West. They may not be able to catch them, but they're certainly one of the only teams in the league that can say they're not scared of OKC.

Victor Wembanyama has been a menace defensively as of late, averaging 4.6 blocks per game since the All-Star break. He may not win MVP, but he is certainly playing like someone who deserves it. The Spurs stand a real chance to win it all, regardless of whoever's in their way.

No. 1 - Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder take our top spot yet again and have held the top spot all season. Their ability to stay atop the West despite injuries to their top two options, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, has been resilient. Expectedly so after their performances over the past couple of seasons.

They have a league-best +10.9 net rating since the All-Star break. But with a 2.5 game lead over San Antonio, the Thunder can't rest easy quite yet. They're the favorites to win it all, yet again, and hold the top spot in our rankings until proven otherwise.

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