The NBA continues its 2025-26 regular season. As we enter Christmas, we’ve seen a big enough sample size to make judgments at the one-third mark.

The New York Knicks came away with the 2025 NBA Cup in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. Alas, the celebration was short. By the end of the week, most have likely forgotten about the in-season tournament. That said, the national stage showed that both teams are capable contenders.

The Oklahoma City Thunder also showed they’re human with two losses in their last three games. It’s the first time they’ve experienced a slump. At least they can be happy to know Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led ESPN’s first MVP straw poll.

Every week, Thunder Wire will release updated 2025-26 NBA Power Rankings. Here is the Dec. 15-21 edition:

Previous Rankings: 30

The Wizards remain the NBA’s worst team record-wise. As said ad nauseam, that’s the goal. They’re fully committed to strengthening their lottery odds. This season is all about player development. While none of their players look like they could be the face of their franchise, there is plenty of potential across the board. Kyshawn George has been a standout player for Washington.

Previous Rankings: 25

Even though we have a decent sample size, it’s still a little surreal to see how bad the Clippers are. The roster on paper isn’t half-bad. LA has had above-average seasons from Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Doesn’t matter. They look like a team filled with old and cranky players. A blowout loss to the Thunder served as a double whammy. It feels like we’re right on the path of the Clippers gifting OKC another high lottery pick. Especially now that Ivica Zubac is out for several weeks with an ankle sprain.

28. Sacramento Kings (7-22)

Previous Rankings: 28

Speaking of teams whose roster looks better on paper than on the court, the Kings have been one of the NBA’s worst teams. A squad filled with household names and veterans hasn’t made a difference. To make things worse, Domantas Sabonis will miss an additional month as he recovers from a torn meniscus. Just a lifeless season from Sacramento, where it clearly has no idea what direction it wants to go.

Previous Rankings: 24

If there were any doubts, the Pacers have confirmed things now. It’s a gap year for them. Even with a healthier roster, they continue to fall in the standings. Andrew Nembhard had 31 points in a heartbreaking loss to the Knicks. All Indiana can do this season is hope it gets a high draft pick. That wasn’t the plan, but it’s what happens when you’re without your franchise player all year with a torn Achilles.

26. Brooklyn Nets (8-19)

Previous Rankings: 27

The Nets remain one of the worst teams. That’s by design. What isn’t by design, though, is that their draft class is not producing much to start. Brooklyn brought in several rookies. So far, none have really popped yet. As a consolation prize, Michael Porter Jr. has been awesome. He scored 28 points in a loss to the Heat. As the first scoring option, he’s become a 25-point scorer. Just unreal production that will surely attract a trade market.

25. New Orleans Pelicans (7-22)

Previous Rankings: 29

In a lost season, the Pelicans have provided their fans with some hope. They’ve surprisingly won four in a row. The highlight of that streak was their unreal 25-point comeback win over the Rockets. Since Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen entered the starting lineup, New Orleans has played with some rejuvenated energy. New Orleans has been mocked by everybody for its transactions, but those two rookies offer hope for the future as some new names.

24. Utah Jazz (10-17)

Previous Rankings: 21

Enough messing around. The Jazz have gone full tank mode. Lengthy injury reports have helped them rack up losses. Any veteran player who could help them sneak in wins has sat out. Utah hopes to finally capture the dragon of a high draft pick after some bad lottery luck. Until then, though, Keyonte George has been their best developmental story. He dropped 34 points in a loss to the Lakers. He’s leaped a scorer. Of all their prospects, he’s been the most legit.

23. Charlotte Hornets (9-19)

Previous Rankings: 26

After missing time with an ankle injury, LaMelo Ball led the Hornets to a win over the Hawks. He had 28 points and 13 assists. Even with the frustrations, you can’t deny his All-Star talent. Charlotte is likely ready to move on from him for a fresh start, so it’ll be interesting to see what his trade market looks like. Think it’s an understatement to say he’s one of the more polarizing players in the NBA.

22. Milwaukee Bucks (11-18)

Previous Rankings: 20

Well, feels like the Bucks have fumbled any chance to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to change his mind. As he recovers from a calf strain, their lack of talent has been exposed with several losses. They’re under .500 by a good margin. Even when he returns, the two-time MVP winner can only do so much. It feels like we’re speedrunning the eventual divorce from both sides. That’s been one of the top NBA storylines this season. As a trade could completely alter the league.

21. Dallas Mavericks (11-18)

Previous Rankings: 19

Not even an overtime loss to the Jazz can ruin the Mavericks’ mode. In it, Cooper Flagg scored a historic 42 points. The 18-year-old became the youngest player in NBA history to put up 40 points. Dallas has seen the 2025 No. 1 pick play his best basketball. He provides the franchise hope. A household name when he was in high school, you’re starting to see why there was so much hype built around him.

20. Chicago Bulls (13-15)

Previous Rankings: 22

Badly needing good vibes, the Bulls beat the Cavaliers in back-to-back games. Josh Giddey had a 23-point triple-double in one of those wins. It’s exactly what Chicago needed as a palate cleanser. Things were looking ugly for a while there as they fell in the standings. A high-scoring offense has made the Bulls an interesting watch this season. They scored 152 points to beat the Hawks. Because they’re in the East, they have plenty of time to catch up in the standings.

19. Golden State Warriors (14-15)

Previous Rankings: 18

A three-game losing streak was finally snapped with a win over the Suns. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for 53 points to barely squeeze by. That’s the formula the Warriors will need to use if they want any lick of success this season. Golden State is another one of those old and cranky rosters that haven’t lived up to its expectations with an up-and-down year. A lack of depth has been exposed whenever one of its star players is out.

18. Portland Trail Blazers (12-16)

Previous Rankings: 23

A three-game winning streak has the Trail Blazers back on course. Portland was tested in all three clutch wins. Deni Avdija has become their go-to scorer. In a close overtime win over the Kings, he scored 35 points and swished in two free throws in the final second to outlast Sacramento. Being able to get to the free-throw line has been the superpower that has turned him from a decent rotation player to a possible first-time All-Star.

Previous Rankings: 16

Playing better basketball, the Grizzlies have won four of their last six games. You gotta give credit to Jaren Jackson Jr. He’s stepped up. He scored 28 points in an upset win over the Timberwolves and 31 points in a win over the Clippers. Memphis has been disappointed with him fading into the background too many times, but he’s played like an All-Star player as it continues to battle through injuries.

16. Cleveland Cavaliers (15-14)

Previous Rankings: 12

We’re reaching a point of panic with the Cavaliers. They’re on a three-game losing streak to some of the worst teams in the Bulls, twice, and the Hornets. Nothing has gone right for them this season. A disappointment considering everybody thought Cleveland had the East in the bag. The offense has downgraded to relying on Donovan Mitchell to bail them out most nights. That’s not a long-term recipe for success.

15. Atlanta Hawks (15-15)

Previous Rankings: 15

Even with Trae Young’s return, the Hawks can’t snap out of their funk. Some bad blowout losses have plummeted them down the standings. They desperately need to get back on track. Atlanta has a solid roster on paper. Plenty of familiar names make up their rotation. But for whatever reason, they can’t get things put together to go on a decent run and get above .500 for a decent stretch.

Previous Rankings: 17

Speaking of teams that can’t put it together, the Heat have nose-dived in the standings. They’ve lost seven of their last eight games. The highly productive offense every NBA nerd drooled over to start the season has run out of juice. Even with Norman Powell’s career season, the rest of Miami hasn’t produced great basketball. Such are the ebbs and flows of a regular season. Let’s see if they can get back on track.

13. Phoenix Suns (15-13)

Previous Rankings: 13

The Suns have lost three of their last four games. I guess the good news of that is they’ve mostly been close losses. Devin Booker scored 25 points in a one-point win over the Warriors. Even with the small slump, Phoenix has been one of the NBA’s best surprise teams. Let’s see if they can snap out of this or if the rest of the league has caught up to them and their talent isn’t deep enough to overcome the adjustment.

12. Toronto Raptors (17-13)

Previous Rankings: 14

The Raptors were able to get a couple of much-needed wins over the Heat and Bucks. Brandon Ingram was Toronto’s leading scorer in both victories as he put up 28 and 29 points, respectively. After a hot start, they were in a recent losing streak. Even with that, Raptors fans have to be excited they’re playing winning basketball for the first time in forever. They have a solid starting lineup where anybody can go off.

11. Orlando Magic (16-12)

Previous Rankings: 10

Exciting things are happening for the Magic. They survived a thriller in an overtime win over the Jazz. Desmond Bane scored 32 points and hit the game-winner. After a slow start, Orlando is starting to finally enjoy the outside shooting that he brings to the table. They gave up a lot to get him. And even though the trade remains risky with their long-term future, he’s been an awesome addition who has helped them on offense.

10. Philadelphia 76ers (16-11)

Previous Rankings: 11

The Sixers are rolling. They’ve won three of their last four games. It’s almost December and Tyrese Maxey is still averaging 30-plus points. He had 30 points in a win over the Knicks and 38 points in a win over the Mavericks. After an apocalyptic year, Philadelphia is enjoying a fun season thanks to his scoring leap. He’s played his way into All-NBA conversations. What a developmental success story that could bail out the Sixers.

9. Boston Celtics (17-11)

Previous Rankings: 9

The Celtics remain one of the NBA’s best teams. That’s been the case all season. You’re seeing breakout years from about everybody on their roster. Two examples led them in their recent wins. Derrick White had 33 points in a win over the Heat. Next game, Payton Pritchard had 33 points in a win over the Raptors. Boston has been one of the more impressive teams considering what its expectations were heading into the year.

Previous Rankings: 8

In a self-described must-win situation, the Timberwolves pulled off an upset win over the Thunder. Anthony Edwards had 26 points and 12 rebounds in his return from injury. He scored the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final seconds. Minnesota was all about this matchup. Even with an inconsistent season, they’ve had the playoff runs to back up their belief that they could go toe to toe with anybody else in the West.

7. Houston Rockets (17-9)

Previous Rankings: 6

Quite the eventful week for the Rockets. One night, they blew a 25-point lead in a meltdown loss to the Pelicans. The next night, they dominated the Nuggets in their home gym for a signature win. Kevin Durant dropped 31 points in that game. Houston remains one of the NBA’s best teams. But some recent inconsistencies show that perhaps they’re not the clear-cut second-best team in the West as you could’ve argued earlier this year.

6. Los Angeles Lakers (19-8)

Previous Rankings: 7

After ESPN released its first MVP straw poll, Luka Doncic was a distant third place. That sounds about right. He’s been a stat-stuffing machine, but the two ahead of him are in their own tier. Too many inconsistencies from the Lakers will probably end his MVP aspirations. He needed to get a 45-point triple-double to barely beat the Jazz. And in an upset loss to the Clippers, he left with a leg contusion. Los Angeles has been a fun, high-scoring team, but too many defensive slipups ultimately bring down its ceiling.

Previous Rankings: 3

Two matchups against the Rockets sandwiched Denver’s past week. On Monday, they did enough to survive an overtime thriller and collect a win. Nikola Jokic had a 39-point triple-double to lead the way. On Saturday, though, the Nuggets were on the wrong side of a vengeance tour. The Rockets came into their building and blew them out. I think everybody would be excited if these two teams met up in the playoffs.

4. New York Knicks (20-8)

Previous Rankings: 5

Finally able to celebrate a championship, the Knicks won the 2025 NBA Cup. They beat the Spurs to accomplish the feat in front of the Las Vegas crowd. Jalen Brunson scored 25 points and came away with the NBA Cup MVP. While New York won’t raise a banner for the accomplishment, it showed the rest of the NBA world why perhaps they’re the best team in the East. The veteran group has seamlessly fit under Mike Brown’s system.

3. San Antonio Spurs (21-7)

Previous Rankings: 4

Even with falling short in the NBA Cup finals, you have to be excited with what the Spurs have done. They’ve won six in a row. Thanks to weird rules, their loss to the Knicks didn’t count towards San Antonio’s record. Victor Wembanyama continues to come off the bench as he returns from a calf strain. He had 26 points in a win over the Hawks. It’s wild how quickly fortunes can change for an NBA franchise. The Spurs are in the fight for the second seed after being one of the worst teams for years.

2. Detroit Pistons (22-6)

Previous Rankings: 2

The Pistons remain the East’s best team. Cade Cunningham received some love in ESPN’s MVP straw poll. In an impressive road win, Cade Cunningham had 32 points and 10 assists over the Celtics. That was a good stress test to see how Detroit handles a playoff-esque environment. We won’t know for sure since this will be the first playoffs with real expectations, but this young group has aced every test so far as the NBA’s biggest surprise team of the season.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (25-3)

Previous Rankings: 1

Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. For the first time this season, the Thunder hit a road bump. Losses to the Spurs and Timberwolves have likely popped the balloon of beating the 73-win record. Maybe that’s a good thing. You don’t need that record hovering over you all regular season. Both losses were similar. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was superb but the rest of the team struggled to help on offense and couldn’t hit on their outside looks. Nothing to get too panicky about yet, but that is a trend to follow the rest of the way.