Lakers lose Luka Doncic; SGA pulls away in MVP race

April 6, 2026, 5:06 a.m. CT

The 2025-26 regular season is winding down. We just saw the penultimate week play out. At this point, teams are jockeying for seeding. Per usual, expect a thrilling finish in the final days with the 2026 NBA playoffs right around the corner.

Pretty eventful week. For better and worse. The Los Angeles Lakers waved the white flag on their year. Luka Doncic is out for the foreseeable future with a calf strain. Austin Reaves was also lost for at least the rest of the regular season with an oblique injury. Without those two, Los Angeles is a walking Round 1 exit. To put it lightly.

Elsewhere, the Chicago Bulls waived Jaden Ivey. Out for the rest of the season with knee problems, he made anti-LGBTQ comments on a livestream. That forced the tanking franchise to cut ties just two months after he was added. Just an insane story.

ESPN’s last MVP straw poll also came out. With everybody waiting in anticipation, it showed that the race isn’t as close as some might think. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is running away with the award. Looks like Victor Wembanyama will finish runner-up.

The Detroit Pistons also officially clinched the East’s first seed. That wasn’t a given once Cade Cunningham was lost to a collapsed lung. Now, they await to see if he can suit up at any point in the NBA playoffs. But good job on them to continue to win.

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Every week, Thunder Wire will release updated 2025-26 NBA Power Rankings. Here is the Mar. 30-Apr. 5 edition:

30. Washington Wizards (17-61)

Previous Rankings: 28

The Wizards continue to tank to the bottom. They own sole possession of the NBA’s worst record. They’ve lost 22 of their last 23 games. The surest way to get there is by playing indefensible defense. If you’re playing Washington, you’re guaranteed to put up 120-plus points. Heck, they gave up 150-plus points in two losses to the Sixers and Heat. At least Will Riley dropped 30 points in the former. He followed up with 31 points in a loss to the Nets. Not much else left to see.

29. Brooklyn Nets (19-59)

Previous Rankings: 29

The Nets are another team that has gone all out to tank. They’ve lost 12 of their last 14 games. Anybody worth a lick has sat out at this point. Shoutout Nic Claxton for still logging games, though. He had 16 points in a loss to the Hawks. Maybe he could be dealt to a contender this upcoming offseason. He’s been in Brooklyn long enough. They badly need a blue-chip prospect to generate some excitement with their fanbase.

28. Indiana Pacers (18-60)

Previous Rankings: 30

A couple of costly wins over the Bulls and Heat have knocked the Pacers out of contention for the league’s worst record. Uh oh. But at least at this point, you only need to be in the bottom three to have the best lottery odds. You gotta respect Pascal Siakam’s love for the game, but he had 25 and 30 points, respectively, in both consequential wins. Don’t know what Indiana is doing letting him play. The All-Star could foil their plans at a high lottery pick.

27. Utah Jazz (21-58)

Previous Rankings: 26

Any paranoia of gifting the Thunder a lottery pick can officially be put to rest. The Jazz have gone all out to tank to the bottom. They’ve lost nine in a row. All of their starters are out at this point. That’s given some of their young players a chance to grow. Cody Williams is the top example. He’s suddenly turned into a 20-point scorer. He had 27 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to the Rockets. Of course, there’s the March caveat. But this beats the alternative.

26. Sacramento Kings (21-58)

Previous Rankings: 27

Another team with nothing left to play for. The Kings picked up some costly wins over the Raptors and Pelicans. DeMar DeRozan had 28 points against the former with some big-time buckets late. Sacramento has absolutely fumbled this tank job. It makes little sense to play your veterans at this point in the season. If they don’t get a high lottery pick, these couple of wins will sting. Don’t really know what they’re hoping to accomplish.

25. New Orleans Pelicans (25-54)

Previous Rankings: 23

The Pelicans will reach a fork on the road. On one hand, they’re just a flat-out bad team. They’ve lost eight in a row. It’s so obvious they need to hit the reset button and part ways with some of their veterans. On the other hand, Zion Williamson has played some great basketball. He’s had a bounce-back season. For the first time in forever, he’s been relatively healthy. How New Orleans treats him will determine its next direction. They could trade him, but maybe they’re buying his stock once again. It’s an interesting predicament.

24. Memphis Grizzlies (25-53)

Previous Rankings: 25

Well, the Grizzlies made headlines again. For the wrong reasons, too. This time, it came from someone outside of the organization. LeBron James took some shots at Memphis on a recent golf livestream. He even boldly said that they should go ahead and move to Nashville already. Dang. That must hurt to hear. A little lame, if you ask me. The city has shown it fully supports the squad when they’re good. Not their fault that they’re about to enter a rebuild. Maybe all this tanking will pay dividends later on. The Grizzlies badly need some new franchise cornerstones.

23. Chicago Bulls (29-49)

Previous Rankings: 22

The Bulls were at the center of the NBA world. They shocked everybody when they waived Jaden Ivey. This was a result of him making anti-LGBTQ comments on a livestream. Such a sad way to end his short tenure there. Injuries have derailed his career. Most have thought a fresh start on the Bulls could be exactly what he needed. Instead, feels like he likely won’t get another shot in the NBA. There are consequences to the words you say. Especially when it’s as venomous as what he said.

22. Dallas Mavericks (25-53)

Previous Rankings: 24

Even if Cooper Flagg is running out of time to win Rookie of the Year, he won’t go down without swinging. He dropped an unreal 51 points in a loss to the Magic. It’s the most points a 19-year-old has scored in NBA history. Holy crap. Mavericks, you got your next franchise player. He’s had one of the greatest rookie seasons ever. Only injuries will stop him from winning the award. But big-picture-wise, Dallas is in great shape. It’s now about building around the budding NBA superstar.

21. Milwaukee Bucks (31-47)

Previous Rankings: 21

At this point, we’re just repeating the same storylines. The NBA has investigated the Bucks for how they’ve handled Giannis Antetokounmpo’s availability. In and out of games with calf and knee problems, both parties have disagreed on whether he should play. Milwaukee doesn’t want to risk anything in meaningless games. The two-time MVP winner wants to suit up. This just feels like needless drama between both sides. We all know that they’re heading for a divorce this upcoming offseason. A bunch of silliness with just a week to go.

20. Golden State Warriors (36-42)

Previous Rankings: 19

Finally, help has arrived. After being out for nearly two months with a knee injury, Stephen Curry returned in a loss to the Rockets. He had 29 points off the bench. Cynicism has contaminated them. Felt like they entered games knowing they just didn’t have enough NBA talent to compete for wins. Thankfully, Golden State is locked in the play-in range. The two-time MVP winner gives them a fighting chance. That’s all you can ask for at this point.

19. Orlando Magic (42-36)

Previous Rankings: 17

Perhaps the most volatile group in the NBA, the Magic continue to have the most extreme swings on a game-by-game basis. One night, they’re giving up a historic 31-0 run to lose by 52 points to the Raptors. Another night, Wendell Carter Jr. had 28 points to survive the Mavericks. And on another night, they get blown out by a similar counterpart in the Hawks. All this suggests a likely quick exit in the playoffs. Orlando just hasn’t been consistent enough to give you any faith.

18. Miami Heat (41-37)

Previous Rankings: 18

Playing their best basketball, the Heat look primed to dominate another play-in tournament. Jaime Jaquez Jr. may be sick of being stuck in that postseason purgatory, but Miami is in the weird zone where it has a ton of useful players but no real superstar to get them past mediocrity. Until then, this is who they are. They dropped 152 points in a win over the Wizards. Jaquez Jr. dropped 32 points off the bench. He’s in the meat of the Sixth Man race.

17. Portland Trail Blazers (40-38)

Previous Rankings: 20

Uh oh. The Trail Blazers are suddenly hot. They’ve won five of their last six games. An impressive win over the Clippers headlines that stretch. Jrue Holiday and Deni Avdija combined for 58 points. That could prove to be a play-in preview. Portland is stuck in that range. It has no chance to get out of it. The rest of the way is about positioning themselves. Considering how irrelevant they’ve been over the last handful of years, you gladly take playing some competitive basketball.

16. LA Clippers (40-38)

Previous Rankings: 12

The Clippers continue to be a weird team. Sure, they’ve been a lot better since the New Year’s. But they haven’t been without some ruts. Right now, they’re in one. They were blown out by the Spurs in a bad loss. LA should’ve had it in the bag with Wembanyama out. Instead, it was never really that competitive. Even with Kawhi Leonard’s 24 points. At least the good news is he should make an All-NBA team. And considering the injury situation across the league, he could sneak on the First Team.

15. Phoenix Suns (43-35)

Previous Rankings: 15

Talked about as one of the NBA’s biggest surprise stories, the Suns are limping to the finish line. Not even Dillon Brooks’ return could provide some juice. He had 13 points in a blowout loss to the Hornets. I guess the good news is Phoenix’s recent slump is pretty inconsequential. At this point, they’re stuck in the play-in range. They’re also pretty healthy. Which, knock on wood, is exactly what they need if they hope to get a playoff spot.

14. Toronto Raptors (43-35)

Previous Rankings: 16

The Raptors continue to hover around the middle. They got an easy win over the Grizzlies. RJ Barrett had 25 points in it. My opinion on Toronto has been pretty consistent. Gotta give the coaching staff credit. They’ve squeezed every drop of juice from their roster. But the lack of an NBA superstar at the top makes their ceiling clear. A good team that will probably lose early in the playoffs. But hey, that’s a step in the right direction considering previous seasons.

13. Philadelphia 76ers (43-35)

Previous Rankings: 14

Even when things are going well, there is always some weird storyline with the Sixers. They’ve picked up some impressive wins recently. Notably, over the Timberwolves. Paul George has wound the clock back. He had 39 points in a win over the Wizards. But the vibes are still strange. Joel Embiid’s recent complaints are the latest example. Seems like the former MVP isn’t on the same page as Philadelphia with his game status. He’s missed time recently, but he’s voiced how much he disagrees with their handling of his workload. He wants to suit up. But the Sixers likely understand they need him healthy in the playoffs.

12. Charlotte Hornets (43-36)

Previous Rankings: 11

Taking advantage of a row of NBA cupcakes, the Hornets fluffed up their record with easy wins over the Pacers and Nets. The fact that Charlotte can bank in wins like that shows just how far they’ve ascended in this season alone. Kon Knueppel continues his epic rookie season. He set a franchise record for most 3-pointers in a single season as Charlotte beat up on the Suns. And considering ESPN’s recent straw poll, feels like Rookie of the Year is his to lose. He’s the overwhelming favorite. Deservingly so, too.

11. Atlanta Hawks (45-33)

Previous Rankings: 13

Strength of schedule be whatever, the Hawks remain one of the NBA’s hottest teams. They’ve won four in a row. They’ve figured things out here, man. Shoutout Atlanta for making the most of a volatile situation that saw them completely shake up their roster. Nickeil Alexander-Walker should be the Most Improved Player candidate. He had 32 points in a blowout win over the Magic. And Jalen Johnson has turned into a triple-double machine. Even if you want to dissect the teams they’ve beaten, the Hawks enter the postseason as one of the best teams. You can’t sleep on them.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-32)

Previous Rankings: 9

The 65-game rule has taken center stage recently. And for all of the wrong reasons. You’re seeing how easily the rule’s logic falls apart. Anthony Edwards was one of the latest victims. He’s officially ineligible to get named on an All-NBA team. Brutal. He’s had a fantastic season. Even with recent struggles. It’s a shame it won’t get recognized. Minnesota has been pretty inconsistent. Right now, it’s going through some struggles. A couple of bad losses to the Sixers and Pistons have them basically stuck in the sixth seed.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (49-29)

Previous Rankings: 8

Right now, the Cavaliers are in a groove. It’s the healthiest they’ve been all season. Max Strus has been the latest boost. Considering he missed most of the regular season, his turning into a legit scorer is the type of development that could boost Cleveland’s odds. He had 24 points in a win over the Warriors. Of all the East contenders, they likely face the most pressure. They badly need a decent playoff run. Nobody cares if they’re a good regular-season squad.

8. Houston Rockets (49-29)

Previous Rankings: 10

Well, the Rockets have built some positive momentum. Albeit against bottom-feeders. Reed Sheppard dropped 27 points in a win over the Bucks. He’s the most polarizing guy on their roster. The fanbase is clamoring for more minutes, but Houston has been very cautious. Even if this makes me sound like a hater, the win streak has barely moved the needle for me about their playoff odds. Feels like they’re on their way to a quick exit. They just don’t have a great enough halfcourt awesome sans, Kevin Durant. It also never works out when your best player is almost 40 years old.

7. New York Knicks (50-28)

Previous Rankings: 7

Getting blown out by the Rockets, the Knicks learned a hard lesson. While they might be better than most of the league, there’s a clear step down comparing them to the top teams. The top-heavy squad returned to winning with a couple of gimmes over the Grizzlies and Bulls. OG Anunoby had 31 points against the latter. He’s an important piece to New York’s hopes. It went all out to get top-billing names, but a nonexistent bench might be what hurts them the most.

6. Los Angeles Lakers (50-28)

Previous Rankings: 4

The Lakers showed that an entire season can end on one night. Winning 15 of 17 games in March, everybody thought highly of Los Angeles. Feels like they figured out the synergy between their three best players. A matchup in OKC would determine how close they are to the top. Turns out, nowhere near them. Galaxies away. The red-hot Lakers were humiliated on national TV once again. And to make matters worse, they lost their two best players. Luka Doncic will miss the foreseeable future with a hamstring strain. Austin Reaves will miss the rest of the regular season with an oblique strain. Absolutely brutal. In just one game against the Thunder, Los Angeles had all of its goodwill erased. Now, it feels like they’re a dead man walking for another quick playoff exit.

5. Denver Nuggets (50-28)

Previous Rankings: 6

Don’t look now, but the Nuggets have won eight in a row. They’re suddenly red-hot. While the streak has consisted of mostly bad teams, they picked up a signature win over the Spurs. Nikola Jokic had 40 points and 13 assists as Denver survived an overtime thriller. The Nuggets would love for that to be a Round 2 series preview. Right now, they’re in fourth place. But the Lakers’ injury woes crack open the door for Denver to jump up to the third spot. Considering how bleak things have looked recently, you easily take that.

4. Boston Celtics (53-25)

Previous Rankings: 5

We’re seeing the Celtics get on a roll at the right time. They’ve won 10 of their last 12 games. In a blowout win over the Heat, Boston scored 147 points in regulation. It was the best their All-Star duo has looked. Jaylen Brown had 43 points while Jayson Tatum netted a triple-double. Everything is going great for them. Considering how wacky the top of the East is, can’t blame folks for penciling in the veteran group as the most likely to appear in the NBA Finals.

3. Detroit Pistons (57-21)

Previous Rankings: 3

While Cade Cunningham dives into legal battles to maintain his All-NBA eligibility, the Pistons have hardly missed a beat without their MVP candidate. Even without their best player, they’ve remained a win machine. Detroit has racked up wins in five of its last six games. Its sole loss was in overtime against the Thunder. Nothing to be ashamed of. Jalen Duran has kept things afloat. He scored 31 points in a big-time win over the Raptors. He helped them lock up the East’s first seed for good. Considering the shrinking pool of players, he could sneak his way onto an All-NBA Team.

2. San Antonio Spurs (59-19)

Previous Rankings: 1

In an arms race for the NBA’s best record, the Spurs are the latest to blink. An 11-game win streak came to an end in an overtime loss to the Nuggets. In a vacuum, you can’t be too mad. Denver is viewed as one of the best teams in the league. But considering the ramifications, it’s now nearly impossible for San Antonio to grab the first seed. Brutal. It was a bad week for Victor Wembanyama’s MVP ambition. He only had a dozen first-place votes in ESPN’s latest straw poll. Just shows how far behind he is from actually capturing the award despite all of the recent noise.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16)

Previous Rankings: 2

In a marquee matchup, the Thunder showed the Lakers that there are levels to this whole contention thing. They absolutely destroyed them once again. They enjoyed a 43-point win over the team some have dared to say is in the same conversation as them. OKC sits comfortably in first place as it’s kept pace with the Spurs’ unreal win rate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to rack up MVP moments. He had 47 points in an overtime win over the Pistons. He literally carried them to the finish line. And considering he grabbed 88 first-place votes in the latest straw poll, feels like the real question should be if he can sneak in a unanimous MVP win.