Archive · as published October 9, 2026
NBA Power RankingsOctober 9, 2026
No regular-season games yet, so this is the projection alone: expected wins from the daily simulation of every roster against its schedule, with the market's win totals as a check.
| # | Team | Rating | Proj W |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Oklahoma City ThunderOKC | +1.98 | 55.7 |
| 2 |  San Antonio SpursSA | +1.80 | 54.4 |
| 3 |  Boston CelticsBOS | +1.05 | 48.7 |
| 4 |  New York KnicksNY | +1.04 | 48.6 |
| 5 |  Detroit PistonsDET | +0.98 | 48.2 |
| 6 |  Denver NuggetsDEN | +0.89 | 47.5 |
| 7 |  Philadelphia 76ersPHI | +0.76 | 46.5 |
| 8 |  Miami HeatMIA | +0.69 | 46.0 |
| 9 |  Houston RocketsHOU | +0.65 | 45.7 |
| 10 |  Los Angeles LakersLAL | +0.65 | 45.7 |
| 11 |  Minnesota TimberwolvesMIN | +0.64 | 45.6 |
| 12 |  Cleveland CavaliersCLE | +0.53 | 44.8 |
| 13 |  Toronto RaptorsTOR | +0.34 | 43.3 |
| 14 |  Atlanta HawksATL | +0.28 | 42.9 |
| 15 |  Orlando MagicORL | +0.27 | 42.8 |
| 16 |  Indiana PacersIND | +0.01 | 40.8 |
| 17 |  Golden State WarriorsGS | -0.02 | 40.6 |
| 18 |  Portland Trail BlazersPOR | -0.04 | 40.5 |
| 19 |  Phoenix SunsPHX | -0.19 | 39.3 |
| 20 |  Charlotte HornetsCHA | -0.23 | 39.0 |
| 21 |  Utah JazzUTAH | -0.70 | 35.5 |
| 22 |  Dallas MavericksDAL | -0.88 | 34.1 |
| 23 |  LA ClippersLAC | -0.92 | 33.8 |
| 24 |  Washington WizardsWSH | -0.92 | 33.8 |
| 25 |  Chicago BullsCHI | -1.16 | 32.0 |
| 26 |  Memphis GrizzliesMEM | -1.23 | 31.5 |
| 27 |  New Orleans PelicansNO | -1.25 | 31.3 |
| 28 |  Milwaukee BucksMIL | -1.38 | 30.3 |
| 29 |  Brooklyn NetsBKN | -1.65 | 28.3 |
| 30 |  Sacramento KingsSAC | -1.99 | 25.7 |
The top five that week
- Oklahoma City Thunder top the board at +1.98 with a projection of 55.7 wins. The gap to San Antonio Spurs is 0.17 rating points, close to a coin flip between the two.
- San Antonio Spurs sit second at +1.80 with a projection of 54.4 wins.
- Boston Celtics sit third at +1.05 with a projection of 48.7 wins.
- New York Knicks sit fourth at +1.04 with a projection of 48.6 wins.
- Detroit Pistons sit fifth at +0.98 with a projection of 48.2 wins.