Archive · as published October 18, 2026
NBA Power RankingsOctober 18, 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 | +1.85 | 56.2 |
| 2 |  San Antonio SpursSA | +1.72 | 55.2 |
| 3 |  Boston CelticsBOS | +1.39 | 52.7 |
| 4 |  Detroit PistonsDET | +1.08 | 50.4 |
| 5 |  Denver NuggetsDEN | +1.02 | 49.9 |
| 6 |  New York KnicksNY | +0.96 | 49.5 |
| 7 |  Houston RocketsHOU | +0.84 | 48.6 |
| 8 |  Miami HeatMIA | +0.74 | 47.8 |
| 9 |  Minnesota TimberwolvesMIN | +0.53 | 46.2 |
| 10 |  Atlanta HawksATL | +0.42 | 45.4 |
| 11 |  Toronto RaptorsTOR | +0.42 | 45.4 |
| 12 |  Los Angeles LakersLAL | +0.39 | 45.2 |
| 13 |  Cleveland CavaliersCLE | +0.37 | 45.0 |
| 14 |  Orlando MagicORL | +0.35 | 44.9 |
| 15 |  Philadelphia 76ersPHI | +0.27 | 44.3 |
| 16 |  Golden State WarriorsGS | +0.13 | 43.2 |
| 17 |  Charlotte HornetsCHA | -0.02 | 42.1 |
| 18 |  Portland Trail BlazersPOR | -0.02 | 42.1 |
| 19 |  Indiana PacersIND | -0.18 | 40.9 |
| 20 |  Phoenix SunsPHX | -0.32 | 39.8 |
| 21 |  Utah JazzUTAH | -0.73 | 36.7 |
| 22 |  LA ClippersLAC | -0.80 | 36.2 |
| 23 |  Dallas MavericksDAL | -0.87 | 35.7 |
| 24 |  Chicago BullsCHI | -0.97 | 34.9 |
| 25 |  New Orleans PelicansNO | -1.08 | 34.1 |
| 26 |  Memphis GrizzliesMEM | -1.16 | 33.5 |
| 27 |  Washington WizardsWSH | -1.20 | 33.2 |
| 28 |  Milwaukee BucksMIL | -1.30 | 32.4 |
| 29 |  Brooklyn NetsBKN | -1.70 | 29.4 |
| 30 |  Sacramento KingsSAC | -2.14 | 26.1 |
The top five that week
- Oklahoma City Thunder top the board at +1.85 with a projection of 56.2 wins. The gap to San Antonio Spurs is 0.13 rating points, close to a coin flip between the two.
- San Antonio Spurs sit second at +1.72 with a projection of 55.2 wins.
- Boston Celtics sit third at +1.39 with a projection of 52.7 wins.
- Detroit Pistons sit fourth at +1.08 with a projection of 50.4 wins.
- Denver Nuggets sit fifth at +1.02 with a projection of 49.9 wins.