- - NBA power rankings: Spurs surge after Thunder takedown in NBA Cup

Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAYDecember 15, 2025 at 6:05 AM

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The NBA Cup has helped solidify the balance of power atop the NBA.

And no team made a bigger leap — and a more forceful announcement — than the San Antonio Spurs, who toppled the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder, even though Victor Wembanyama was on a strict minutes limit.

The Thunder still sit atop these rankings and are still on pace for a historic season, but San Antonio showed that, when fully healthy, it can compete with the NBA's best.

In the East, the New York Knicks showed they're still a few steps ahead of the Magic, though the team they defeated in the first round of the playoffs last season — the Detroit Pistons — is still lurking.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 7 of the 2025-26 regular season:

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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1 / 8Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponentsOct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through Dec. 14. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Top 5

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 24-2 (—)

2. Detroit Pistons, 20-5 (+1)

3. San Antonio Spurs, 18-7 (+6)

4. Denver Nuggets, 18-6 (-2)

5. New York Knicks, 18-7 (+1)

With Victor Wembanyama back, and the team fully healthy, the Spurs announced themselves as legitimate contenders in the West with their NBA Cup Semifinal victory over the Thunder. The Pistons continue to shine on defense, ranking third in the league in rating (111.1). And the Knicks have won nine of their last 10, behind Jalen Brunson's 34.5 points per game over their last four and OG Anunoby's defense since he returned from a hamstring injury four games ago.

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Nos. 6-10

6. Houston Rockets, 16-6 (-1)

7. Los Angeles Lakers, 17-7 (-3)

8. Minnesota Timberwolves, 17-9 (—)

9. Boston Celtics, 15-10 (-2)

10. Orlando Magic, 15-11 (+2)

The Rockets are the only team to have played just 22 games, with each other squad having at least 24, but Houston is second in net rating (10.3) and first in rebounds per game (48.9). Anthony Edwards (foot soreness) has missed two consecutive games for the Timberwolves, who won both in his absence. And the Magic are making things work, even with more injury issues this season to Paolo Banchero (who has returned from a left groin strain) and Franz Wagner (high-ankle sprain).

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Nos. 11-15

11. Phoenix Suns, 14-12 (—)

12. Toronto Raptors, 15-11 (-2)

13. Miami Heat, 14-11 (—)

14. Atlanta Hawks, 15-12 (—)

15. Philadelphia 76ers, 15-11 (+2)

The Raptors and Heat have each lost four consecutive games and both teams appear to have a similar issue: after starting the season hot, opposing defenses seem to have figured out Toronto's guard play with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley missing time and zone and full-court pressure slowing down Miami's pace. The Hawks, meanwhile, have gotten massive performances from Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but Kristaps Porziņģis will be out at least a pair of weeks with a lingering illness that dates back to last season.

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Nos. 16-20

16. Cleveland Cavaliers, 15-12 (-1)

17. Golden State Warriors, 13-14 (-1)

18. Memphis Grizzlies, 11-14 (—)

19. Dallas Mavericks, 10-16 (—)

20. Chicago Bulls, 10-15 (+3)

This is how bad things are in Cleveland: After the Cavaliers lost at home Sunday, Dec. 14 to the Hornets, Donovan Mitchell admitted postgame, "I'd boo us, too." The Warriors got Stephen Curry back, but have lost both games since he has returned from a quad contusion. And No. 1 overall rookie Cooper Flagg is starting to play with far more confidence.

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Nos. 21-25

21. Milwaukee Bucks, 11-16 (-1)

22. Portland Trail Blazers, 10-16 (-1)

23. Charlotte Hornets, 8-18 (+1)

24. Utah Jazz, 9-15 (-2)

25. Brooklyn Nets, 7-18 (+2)

The Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors in Milwaukee are heating up and — even though he's out with a calf strain — a 45-point loss Sunday against the Nets won't help. The Hornets' improved shooting pays dividends, as their win Sunday against the Cavaliers showed, just not with enough frequency. And the Jazz have a bright spot with Keyonte George, but the Ainge family needs to figure out the long-term direction of the roster.

NBA Week 8 power rankings: Nos. 26-30

26. Indiana Pacers, 6-20 (—)

27. Los Angeles Clippers, 6-19 (+1)

28. Sacramento Kings, 6-20 (-3)

29. New Orleans Pelicans, 5-22 (+1)

30. Washington Wizards, 4-20 (-1)

Indiana now owns the least efficient offense, which ranks dead last in rating, generating just 108.2 points per 100 possessions. The Clippers have lost three consecutive and a remarkable 17 of their last 20. And the Wizards, as they have most of the season, own the NBA's worst net rating (13.8).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings: Spurs surge after NBA Cup upset of Thunder

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