NBA power rankings: Are the Pistons emerging as title favorites?

NBA power rankings: Are the Pistons emerging as title favorites?

Following the All-Star break, NBA play resumed, and there’s only a quarter of the season left before we get to the playoffs.

All of which means teams are largely split into two buckets: those trying to improve their seeding and standing in their respective conferences, and those who are shutting down players or sitting starters in the fourth quarter, seemingly in an attempt to tank to improve their draft positioning.

Yet, with a massive victory over the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons are maintaining their grasp atop this list. And, as Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, continues to miss games, it’s opening the door for Detroit All-Star Cade Cunningham to potentially take that honor, too.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 16 of the 2025-26 regular season:

USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through Feb. 8. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings.

NBA Week 17 power rankings: Top 10

1. Detroit Pistons, 42-13 (—)

2. Oklahoma City Thunder, 44-14 (—)

3. San Antonio Spurs, 40-16 (—)

4. Boston Celtics, 37-19 (+1)

5.New York Knicks, 37-21 (-1)

6. Cleveland Cavaliers, 36-22 (+3)

7. Houston Rockets, 34-21 (—)  

8. Denver Nuggets, 36-22 (-2)

9. Los Angeles Lakers, 34-22 (-1)

10. Minnesota Timberwolves, 35-23 (+1)

With their beatdown of the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, the Pistons sent a message that they are the dominant power in the East. Given their consistency and second-ranked defensive rating (108.3), the Pistons are also the top force in the league overall.

The Spurs have the NBA’s current longest active winning streak (eight games), and Victor Wembanyama is averaging 25.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game over that span, and the Nuggets have Nikola Jokić back, but they’ve lost six of their last nine.

NBA Week 17 power rankings: Nos. 11-20

11. Toronto Raptors, 34-23 (-1)

12. Phoenix Suns, 33-25 (—)

13. Philadelphia 76ers, 31-26 (—)

14. Miami Heat, 31-27 (+3)

15. Golden State Warriors, 30-27 (-1)

16. Orlando Magic, 30-26 (-1)

17. Los Angeles Clippers, 27-30 (-1)

18. Charlotte Hornets, 27-31 (—)

19. Portland Trail Blazers, 28-30 (+1)

20. Atlanta Hawks, 28-31 (-1)

The Suns received some bad news with Dillon Brooks’ broken left hand, but the fascinating action is in the middle of the East, where just ½ game separates the No. 6 seed — which is an automatic entry into the playoffs — versus the No. 8 seed. Those teams — Philadelphia, Orlando and Miami — will not be able to afford careless losses down the stretch.

The Magic are still without Franz Wagner, while the Heat, who have won three consecutive games, got the much-needed offensive boost of Tyler Herro.

Bennedict Mathurin has been a stellar addition for the Clippers, but they’ve dropped two in a row, and the Hornets have cooled off a touch since they won nine consecutive.

NBA Week 17 power rankings: Nos. 21-30

21. Milwaukee Bucks, 24-31 (+1)

22. Memphis Grizzlies, 21-34 (+1)

23.Chicago Bulls, 24-34 (-2) 

24.Dallas Mavericks, 20-36 (—)

25. Utah Jazz, 18-39 (—)

26. New Orleans Pelicans, 16-42 (—)

27. Washington Wizards, 16-40 (+1)

28. Brooklyn Nets, 15-41 (-1)

29. Indiana Pacers, 15-43 (—)

30. Sacramento Kings, 12-46 (—)

Frankly, it’s hard to sort through this group. Many (most? All?) of these teams are seemingly sabotaging their current games to build for the future. The Bulls have lost nine consecutive. The Jazz and Pacers were fined for tanking. The Kings are shutting down players due to injury and have lost an NBA-worst 16 in a row.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings favor consistent Pistons, Cavs rise

by Editor

Johni Broome Suffered Torn Meniscus In Right Knee

Johni Broome Suffered Torn Meniscus In Right Knee

The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Sunday that rookie big man Johni Broome suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee during a G League game on Saturday. Broome has spent most of the season playing for the Sixers G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. The 76ers said Broome will consults with medical professionals on the best course of treatment.

Broome was injured in a loss to the Maine Celtics on Saturday. Broome had scored 27 points prior to the injury.

On the season, the 6-foot-10 big man has averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.5 blocks over 26 G League games with the Blue Coats. Broome has appeared in 11 NBA games as a rookie.

by Editor

Oluchi Okananwa leads the way with 26 points and No. 14 Maryland women rout Purdue 99-66

Oluchi Okananwa leads the way with 26 points and No. 14 Maryland women rout Purdue 99-66

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Oluchi Okananwa scored 26 points, leading six in double figures, and No. 14 Maryland won its fifth straight game, defeating Purdue 99-66 on Sunday.

Addi Mack scored 14 points and Saylor Poffenbarger and Mir McLean added 11 each for Maryland (22-6, 10-6 Big Ten). Off the bench, Kyndal Walker scored a career-high 18 points and fellow freshman Rainey Welson added 11.

Kiki Smith scored 19 points and Nya Smith had 18 for Purdue (12-15, 4-12).

Okananwa scored 10 points in the first quarter and the Terrapins led 22-17 after one. Saylor Poffenbarger took over in the second quarter, scoring all of her 11 points, and the Terrapins led 51-32 at halftime.

A 15-5 run over the last five minutes of the third quarter gave Maryland a 77-48 lead heading to the fourth. The largest lead was 97-60 with about two minutes to go. Maryland freshman Marya Boiko, a backup forward from Belarus, blocked five shots, four in the fourth quarter.

Maryland had significant advantages in points after opponent turnovers (21-11), bench points (31-16) and second-chance points (20-11).

Maryland improved to 27-5 in February over the past three seasons.

Up next

Maryland: The regular season concludes with a home game against Northwestern on Wednesday followed by a visit to No. 6 Michigan on Saturday.

Purdue: at home against Oregon on Wednesday; at Northwestern on Sunday.

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by Editor

Cavs change out final two-way spot

Cavs change out final two-way spot

CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 15: Darius Brown II #10 of the Cleveland Charge passes the ball during the game against the Wisconsin Herd on November 15, 2025 at Cleveland Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nate Manley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they have signed Darius Brown II to a two-way contract. In a corresponding move, the Cavs waived forward Emanuel Miller, whom they acquired just a few weeks ago in the three-way deal with the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings.

Brown, who went undrafted out of Utah State in 2024, has put together a quality season for the Charge to the tune of 12.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 9.7 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. On January 9th, Brown dished out a franchise-record 22 assists against the Texas Legends, narrowly missing the NBA G League record of 23 assists in a single game. Brown is averaging the third-most assists per game in the G League and is shooting 40% from three-point territory.

The Cavs have been doing plenty of shifting around with their bench players and G League two-way deals. The team opened up a roster spot with the salary-dump of Lonzo Ball to eventually sign Charge teammate Nae’Qwan Tomlin to a standard NBA deal. Luke Travers was also waived during the heat of the NBA trade deadline, further opening a spot that has now been filled by Brown. Charge forward Tristan Enaruna and guard Riley Minix have also received two-way deals from the Cavs to round out the available slots.

There are several instances across the league of two-way players not only finding minutes at the NBA level, but carving out meaningful roles. Tomlin is one of the brighter examples in the league, but Pat Spencer (Golden State), Daniss Jenkins (Detroit), and Dom Barlow (Philadelphia) are just a few others that have found great success through the G League track. Once seen as an afterthought, is now looked at as a meaningful pathway to the NBA.

by Editor