Archive · as published October 16, 2026
NBA Power RankingsOctober 16, 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 | +1.90 | 56.3 |
| 2 |  San Antonio SpursSA | +1.68 | 54.6 |
| 3 |  Boston CelticsBOS | +1.27 | 51.5 |
| 4 |  New York KnicksNY | +1.03 | 49.7 |
| 5 |  Detroit PistonsDET | +0.99 | 49.4 |
| 6 |  Denver NuggetsDEN | +0.93 | 48.9 |
| 7 |  Houston RocketsHOU | +0.86 | 48.4 |
| 8 |  Miami HeatMIA | +0.77 | 47.7 |
| 9 |  Minnesota TimberwolvesMIN | +0.61 | 46.5 |
| 10 |  Toronto RaptorsTOR | +0.48 | 45.5 |
| 11 |  Los Angeles LakersLAL | +0.46 | 45.3 |
| 12 |  Cleveland CavaliersCLE | +0.44 | 45.2 |
| 13 |  Philadelphia 76ersPHI | +0.39 | 44.8 |
| 14 |  Atlanta HawksATL | +0.30 | 44.1 |
| 15 |  Orlando MagicORL | +0.28 | 44.0 |
| 16 |  Golden State WarriorsGS | +0.05 | 42.2 |
| 17 |  Portland Trail BlazersPOR | +0.05 | 42.2 |
| 18 |  Charlotte HornetsCHA | -0.06 | 41.4 |
| 19 |  Indiana PacersIND | -0.12 | 40.9 |
| 20 |  Phoenix SunsPHX | -0.21 | 40.2 |
| 21 |  Utah JazzUTAH | -0.78 | 35.9 |
| 22 |  LA ClippersLAC | -0.79 | 35.8 |
| 23 |  Dallas MavericksDAL | -0.82 | 35.6 |
| 24 |  Chicago BullsCHI | -1.06 | 33.8 |
| 25 |  Washington WizardsWSH | -1.07 | 33.7 |
| 26 |  New Orleans PelicansNO | -1.16 | 33.0 |
| 27 |  Memphis GrizzliesMEM | -1.24 | 32.4 |
| 28 |  Milwaukee BucksMIL | -1.41 | 31.1 |
| 29 |  Brooklyn NetsBKN | -1.66 | 29.2 |
| 30 |  Sacramento KingsSAC | -2.12 | 25.7 |
The top five that week
- Oklahoma City Thunder top the board at +1.90 with a projection of 56.3 wins. The gap to San Antonio Spurs is 0.22 rating points, close to a coin flip between the two.
- San Antonio Spurs sit second at +1.68 with a projection of 54.6 wins.
- Boston Celtics sit third at +1.27 with a projection of 51.5 wins.
- New York Knicks sit fourth at +1.03 with a projection of 49.7 wins.
- Detroit Pistons sit fifth at +0.99 with a projection of 49.4 wins.