By ESPN | ESPN, 2026-03-04 20:00:00
日历已翻到三月，这意味着NBA季后赛下个月就要开始了！但在那之前，接下来的六周内还有很多悬念待定。
俄克拉荷马城雷霆队在周日的胜利后成为首支锁定季后赛席位的球队。然而，他们对圣安东尼奥马刺队的领先优势仅有三场，竞争一向激烈的西部联盟排名比以往任何时候都更加胶着。目前，附加赛球队与3号种子之间仅差四场比赛，且赛程中还有大量焦点战，排名注定会发生变化。
在东部，底特律活塞队稳居榜首，但杰森·塔图姆 (Jayson Tatum) 可能为波士顿凯尔特人队复出的消息，或许会改变季后赛的格局。
随着赛季结束近在咫尺，我们的NBA内幕人士在本周的实力榜中，审视了每支球队剩余赛程中最关键的比赛。
注：球队排名基于我们的专家团成员（ESPN的安东尼·斯莱特 (Anthony Slater)、戴夫·麦克梅纳明 (Dave McMenamin)、贾马尔·科利尔 (Jamal Collier)、迈克尔·C·莱特 (Michael C. Wright)、鲍比·马克斯 (Bobby Marks)、蒂姆·邦唐 (Tim Bontemps)、蒂姆·麦克马洪 (Tim MacMahon)、文森特·古德威尔 (Vincent Goodwill) 和扎克·克拉姆 (Zach Kram)）对球队所属位置的评估。
往期排名： 季前赛 | 10月29日 | 11月5日 | 11月12日 | 11月19日 | 11月26日 | 12月3日 | 12月10日 | 12月17日 | 12月24日 | 12月31日 | 1月7日 | 1月14日 | 1月21日 | 1月28日 | 2月4日 | 2月11日 | 2月24日
跳转至球队：
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS
1. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 48胜15负
- 上期排名： 1
- 后续赛程： 客战尼克斯（3月4日），主战勇士（3月7日），主战丹佛（3月9日）
这支卫冕冠军即将开启一段备受瞩目的四连主场赛程，对手包括马刺队——后者目前在负场数上仅落后两场，正紧追不舍地争夺西部榜首位置。本周六晚，勇士队将在ABC全美直播中挑战俄克拉荷马城，这算是在雷霆队接连迎战掘金、凯尔特人和森林狼队（周一、周四和周日，均为全美直播）之前的开胃菜。
考虑到吕冈茨·多尔特 (Luguentz Dort) 和尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokic) 最近的摩擦，与掘金队的较量更增添了几分火药味。—— Anthony Slater
2. 底特律活塞
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 45胜15负
- 上期排名： 3
- 后续赛程： 客战马刺（3月5日），主战篮网（3月7日），客战热火（3月8日），客战篮网（3月10日）
三月的最后一周对活塞队来说至关重要，期间他们将对阵湖人、老鹰、鹈鹕和森林狼队。
在接下来的五场比赛中，活塞将面对实力较弱的篮网、奇才和灰熊队，他们完全可以在四月份的六场比赛开始前，彻底巩固整个东部季后赛的主场优势。就个人而言，凯尔特·坎宁安 (Cade Cunningham) 在3月23日对阵湖人的比赛可能是他本赛季的第65场比赛，从而为他竞争最有价值球员（MVP）和年度最佳阵容扫清障碍。活塞队已经跨过了44胜的门槛，60胜是否已近在咫尺？—— Vincent Goodwill
3. 丹佛掘金
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 38胜24负
- 上期排名： 7
- 后续赛程： 主战湖人（3月5日），主战尼克斯（3月6日），客战雷霆（3月9日）
无论情况如何，掘金队3月9日客场挑战俄克拉荷马城的比赛都会是赛程表上的重点。周五晚上丹佛在俄克拉荷马城的加时赛落败中，第四节发生的冲突让这场比赛更受关注——当时约基奇对多尔特的恶意犯规做出了激烈的“必要反应”。这是两支近年来冠军球队之间的真正较量，他们在上赛季的季后赛中苦战了七场。—— MacMahon
4. 圣安东尼奥马刺
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 44胜17负
- 上期排名： 2
- 后续赛程： 主战活塞（3月5日），主战快船（3月6日），主战火箭（3月8日），主战凯尔特人（3月10日）
圣安东尼奥本赛季最长的主场赛程将于周四开启，10天内将进行六场比赛，对手包括活塞、火箭、凯尔特人和掘金等劲旅。但四月初客场挑战勇士、快船和掘金的西部之旅，可能决定季后赛的种子排位。马刺队并没有对周日遭受的惨痛教训反应过度——哪怕是极其细微的错误，也能迅速改变球队的命运。
在第二节被尼克斯队打出一波19-0的进攻高潮并最终以25分分差惨败后，他们的11连胜宣告终结。教练米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 表示，他的球队需要“理解每个回合和每个细节的微妙之处”。—— Michael C. Wright
5. 波士顿凯尔特人
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 41胜20负
- 上期排名： 4
- 后续赛程： 主战黄蜂（3月4日），主战独行侠（3月6日），客战骑士（3月8日），客战马刺（3月10日）
从现在到赛季结束，波士顿最看重的是让前锋塔图姆回到赛场——如果能实现的话——并观察他能多快恢复状态，以及季后赛前凯尔特人在他归队后的整体表现。如果塔图姆能在本月某个时候复出，将给这名四次入选年度最佳阵容的前锋适应比赛节奏的机会，并帮助球队在季后赛到来前确定如何更好地使用他。—— Tim Bontemps
6. 纽约尼克斯
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 40-22
- 上期排名： 5
- 后续赛程： 主战雷霆（3月4日），客战掘金（3月6日），客战湖人（3月8日），客战快船（3月9日）
请在日程表上圈出4月9日，届时尼克斯将开启一段四天三赛的赛程来结束本赛季。对手是凯尔特人队，地点在麦迪逊广场花园。
从各种迹象来看，塔图姆届时应该已经回归，并试图为季后赛做好准备。麦迪逊广场花园也是他去年参加东部半决赛最后一场比赛的场地。
即便撇开这些戏剧性因素，尼克斯和凯尔特人也可能正陷入二号种子的争夺战中，以争取潜在次轮重逢时的场优势。目前两队相差两场。在双方上一次交手中，尼克斯队于2月8日在波士顿以111-89大胜凯尔特人。—— Goodwill
7. 明尼苏达森林狼
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 39-23
- 上期排名： 9
- 后续赛程： 主战猛龙（3月5日），主战魔术（3月7日），客战湖人（3月10日），客战快船（3月11日）
接下来的两周对明尼苏达至关重要，他们有机会杀入西部前四。在接下来的七场比赛中，有六场是对阵胜率超过五成的球队，这将是对状态起伏不定的森林狼队的一次严峻考验。
如果能带着胜利的战绩度过这段赛程，尤其是打出5胜2负或更好的表现，明尼苏达或许能为自己争取到季后赛首轮的主场优势，并力争连续第三次闯入西部决赛。—— Bontemps
8. 克利夫兰骑士
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 39-24
- 上期排名： 6
- 后续赛程： 主战凯尔特人（3月8日），主战76人（3月9日），客战魔术（3月11日）
骑士队正处于赛季最重要的阶段之一，他们上周两次对阵东部榜首活塞队，本周日还将迎战波士顿。最近一直受到健康问题困扰的骑士队，在东部前四的席位上仍有一些缓冲空间。
如果克利夫兰本周末能击败波士顿，骑士队就有机会在排名上更进一步。—— Collier
9. 休斯顿火箭
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 38-22
- 上期排名： 8
- 后续赛程： 客战勇士（3月5日），主战开拓者（3月6日），客战马刺（3月8日），主战猛龙（3月10日）
休斯顿对西部3号种子的把控将从3月10日对阵猛龙开始面临考验，紧接着是客场挑战丹佛，以及在丰田中心与湖人队进行两场全美直播的较量。
小贾巴里·史密斯 (Jabari Smith Jr.) 因右脚踝扭伤继续缺阵，但球队的目标是让他于3月5日复出。里德·谢泼德 (Reed Sheppard) 在史密斯缺阵期间表现出色，随着休斯顿在没有纯正控卫的情况下继续努力梳理进攻，他在季后赛中可能会发挥重要作用。—— Michael C. Wright
10. 洛杉矶湖人
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 37-24
- 上期排名： 10
- 后续赛程： 客战掘金（3月5日），主战步行者（3月6日），主战尼克斯（3月8日），主战森林狼（3月10日）
在常规赛收官战主场对阵犹他爵士之前，湖人赛程中的最后六场比赛预计将充满挑战。
首先是主场迎战克利夫兰，骑士队曾在1月份大胜洛杉矶30分；接着是前往俄克拉荷马城，湖人11月曾在那里惨败29分。随后是客场挑战独行侠，这是这段赛程中唯一看起来“轻松”的夜晚。接下来是主场对阵雷霆，然后是分别客场和主场背靠背对阵勇士和太阳。这段赛程可能会决定湖人的最终排位。—— McMenamin
11. 多伦多猛龙
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 35-26
- 上期排名： 10
- 后续赛程： 客战森林狼（3月5日），主战独行侠（3月8日），客战火箭（3月10日）
多伦多未来六周最重要的目标是保住前六的位置，因为ESPN的篮球指数（BPI）显示，猛龙有大约三分之一的概率会跌入附加赛。3月29日主场击败魔术，以及4月7日和9日与热火的两连战，将对确保猛龙直接获得季后赛首轮门票大有裨益。—— Kram
12. 费城76人
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 33-28
- 上期排名： 14
- 后续赛程： 主战爵士（3月4日），客战老鹰（3月7日），客战骑士（3月9日），主战灰熊（3月10日）
三月底，76人队有一系列比赛：先是主场对阵公牛，随后是客场挑战黄蜂、热火和奇才。如果能打出3胜1负或4胜0负的战绩，他们将有机会锁定东部前六。当然，这取决于乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid) 的健康状况。有他在，费城会认为自己在七场系列赛中能击败任何对手。没有他？季后赛之旅充其量也就是昙花一现。—— Bontemps
13. 菲尼克斯太阳
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 35-26
- 上期排名： 12
- 后续赛程： 主战公牛（3月5日），主战鹈鹕（3月6日），主战黄蜂（3月8日），客战雄鹿（3月10日）
菲尼克斯在3月10日至19日期间有一段六连客赛程。先是在中西部对阵雄鹿（拥有扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo)）和步行者，然后北上多伦多，再南下波士顿（届时塔图姆可能已复出），最后对阵两支西部竞争对手：森林狼和马刺。
对于已经面临德文·布克 (Devin Booker)（右髋）和狄龙·布鲁克斯 (Dillon Brooks)（左手骨折）伤病问题的太阳队来说，这是一段艰难的赛程。—— McMenamin
14. 夏洛特黄蜂
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 31-31
- 上期排名： 17
- 后续赛程： 客战凯尔特人（3月4日），主战热火（3月6日），客战太阳（3月8日），客战开拓者（3月10日）
夏洛特还要和热火（两次）以及魔术交手，击败这些赛区对手可能会将黄蜂推入更有利的第7-8名附加赛，而不是一场定胜负的第9-10名对决。
即便对排名的影响较小，黄蜂队的赛程中还有一个更具看点的对阵：4月10日主场迎战活塞，这是两队自上个月发生大规模冲突后的首次交锋。为了娱乐效果，希望两队在赛季第81场比赛时仍会派上首发阵容。—— Zach Kram
15. 迈阿密热火
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 33-29
- 上期排名： 15
- 后续赛程： 主战篮网（3月5日），客战黄蜂（3月6日），主战活塞（3月8日），主战奇才（3月10日）
如果热火队想要提升排名，他们必须在诺曼·鲍威尔 (Norman Powell) 缺阵的情况下努力。鲍威尔在输给费城的比赛中仅打了10分钟，目前因右腹股沟拉伤处于每周观察状态。他需要在剩余的23场比赛中出战17场才有资格角逐赛季末奖项。鲍威尔目前场均贡献职业生涯最高的22.5分。
尽管如此，热火已经在没有他的情况下连续赢下了两个主场，并且在接下来的关键阶段，前10场比赛中有7场是在主场进行。—— Marks
16. 奥兰多魔术
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 32-28
- 上期排名： 13
- 后续赛程： 主战独行侠（3月5日），客战森林狼（3月7日），客战雄鹿（3月8日），主战骑士（3月11日）
看到安东尼·布莱克 (Anthony Black) 因伤缺阵实属罕见。自2023-24赛季以来，布莱克仅缺席了五场比赛，其中包括周日输给底特律的比赛。由于他的耐用性，布莱克距离获得最快进步球员奖的评选资格仅差七场比赛。在他职业生涯的前三个赛季，布莱克的场均得分从4.6分增加到9.4分，再到目前的15.7分，因此魔术队希望在赛季末冲刺阶段让他尽快回归。—— Marks
17. 亚特兰大老鹰
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 31-31
- 上期排名： 20
- 后续赛程： 客战雄鹿（3月4日），主战76人（3月7日），主战独行侠（3月10日）
如果我们根据过去三场比赛来评奖，乔纳森·库明加 (Jonathan Kuminga) 将成为年度最佳第六人的有力竞争者。在替补登场的三场比赛中，库明加场均得到21.3分，投篮命中率为67.4%，三分命中率为55.5%。老鹰队目前已取得四连胜，且自12月21日以来胜率首次回到50%。接下来的六场比赛中有五场在主场进行。—— Marks
18. 洛杉矶快船
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 29-31
- 上期排名： 19
- 后续赛程： 主战步行者（3月4日），客战马刺（3月6日），客战灰熊（3月7日），主战尼克斯（3月9日）
根据NBA.com的数据，进入本周时，快船队剩余赛程的难度排在联盟倒数第四，对手的累计胜率仅为45.9%。即便如此，由于最后几场比赛要主场对阵雷霆、客场挑战开拓者以及主场对阵勇士，他们可能仍要在附加赛席位的争夺中挣扎到最后一刻。—— McMenamin
19. 金州勇士
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 31-30
- 上期排名： 16
- 后续赛程： 客战火箭（3月5日），客战雷霆（3月7日），客战爵士（3月9日），主战公牛（3月10日）
勇士队处于一个不同寻常的位置。他们落后排名第六的湖人队5.5场，基本没有攀升的希望，但也领先排在第11位且显然在摆烂的灰熊队7场。因此，勇士队基本上被困在了附加赛区间，并没有太大的紧迫感让斯蒂芬·库里 (Steph Curry) 从棘手的膝伤中仓促复出。虽然还剩21场比赛，但每晚的结果似乎并没那么重要。你已经可以预定勇士队的一个附加赛席位了——最有可能是与开拓者队进行第9对阵第10的较量。—— Slater
20. 波特兰开拓者
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 29-33
- 上期排名： 18
- 后续赛程： 客战灰熊（3月4日），客战火箭（3月6日），主战步行者（3月8日），主战黄蜂（3月10日）
开拓者接下来的九场比赛中有五场是对阵没有赢球动力的乐透区球队。他们将面对灰熊、篮网、爵士和步行者（两次）。如果开拓者能将胜率拉回50%左右，他们就有可能超越陷入挣扎的勇士和近期势头强劲的快船，从而在附加赛区间占据更有利的位置。这至少能让他们更有机会闯入季后赛。—— Slater
21. 密尔沃基雄鹿
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 26-34
- 上期排名： 21
- 后续赛程： 主战老鹰（3月4日），主战爵士（3月7日），主战魔术（3月8日），主战太阳（3月10日）
扬尼斯·阿德托昆博本周回归球场，这是他缺阵五周多以来的首秀，雄鹿队仍渴望进入季后赛。然而，在经历二月份11战8胜的高光期后，雄鹿队遭遇了三连败，目前仍落后东部第10（最后一个附加赛席位）3.5场。
密尔沃基需要尽快收复失地，他们将有两次机会对阵排在自己身前的球队。雄鹿将在周三晚坐镇主场迎战老鹰，随后在3月14日前往客场再次对阵老鹰。如果届时雄鹿还没能缩小差距，他们的季后赛梦想将变得更加渺茫。—— Collier
22. 孟菲斯灰熊
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 23-37
- 上期排名： 22
- 后续赛程： 主战开拓者（3月4日），主战快船（3月7日），客战篮网（3月9日），客战76人（3月10日）
乐透签顺位对灰熊至关重要。虽然他们在客场击败独行侠和步行者取得两连胜，但周日宣布扎克·埃迪 (Zach Edey) 将再次接受左脚踝手术，以解决不适和骨应力问题。埃迪自12月7日以来就没打过球。
与此同时，布兰登·克拉克 (Brandon Clarke) 因右小腿拉伤将继续缺阵，桑蒂·阿尔达马 (Santi Aldama) 在过去15场比赛中缺席了14场。明星后卫贾·莫兰特 (Ja Morant)（左肘）也依然缺阵。赛季末的一段三连客将对阵掘金、爵士和火箭，灰熊很可能以至少两场失利收场。—— Wright
23. 芝加哥公牛
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 25-37
- 上期排名： 23
- 后续赛程： 客战太阳（3月5日），客战国王（3月8日），客战勇士（3月10日）
二月难求一胜的表现让公牛队退出了东部附加赛的争夺，也将芝加哥的注意力转向了乐透签概率。取得25胜的公牛位居东部第12，且与身后的排名有较大差距。这可能会让4月12日对阵独行侠的收官战变成一场严肃的“摆烂大战”——独行侠曾在去年通过乐透抽签获益，两队届时都会努力确保获得更多的乒乓球抽签机会。—— Collier
24. 达拉斯独行侠
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 21-40
- 上期排名： 24
- 后续赛程： 客战魔术（3月5日），客战凯尔特人（3月6日），客战猛龙（3月8日），客战老鹰（3月10日）
目前的希望是库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg)（左足中段扭伤）能在周五客场对阵波士顿的比赛中复出。对于在缅因州长大的弗拉格来说，这算是一次“回乡之旅”。这位状元秀在全明星周末前受伤前的最后六场比赛中，场均可以贡献32.0分、7.7个篮板、4.0次助攻和1.2次盖帽。在他缺阵期间，根据DraftKings的赔率，他在杜克大学时的室友孔·克努佩尔 (Kon Knueppel) 已超越他成为最佳新秀的热门人选。弗拉格的赛季末冲刺可能会从他的故乡新英格兰开始。—— MacMahon
25. 新奥尔良鹈鹕
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 19-44
- 上期排名： 26
- 后续赛程： 客战国王（3月5日），客战太阳（3月6日），主战奇才（3月8日）
新奥尔良曾取得四连胜，这是他们本赛季第二长的连胜纪录，但周日蔡恩·威廉森 (Zion Williamson) 因右脚踝受伤缺阵，球队负于快船。威廉森在这次受伤前曾创纪录地连续出战了35场比赛。
在季后赛无望且没有首轮签的情况下，新奥尔良可以尝试强势收官，为关键的休赛期定下基调。从3月24日对阵尼克斯开始，鹈鹕最后10场比赛中有7场是在客场，期间包括对阵活塞、猛龙、火箭、凯尔特人和森林狼等未来的季后赛球队。—— Wright
26. 犹他爵士
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 18-43
- 上期排名： 25
- 后续赛程： 客战76人（3月4日），客战奇才（3月5日），客战雄鹿（3月7日），主战勇士（3月9日）
爵士队将在周四以及3月25日两次对阵奇才队，这两场比赛联盟办公室可能会格外关注。两队的情况非常相似：都在季中交易走了目前正处于缺阵状态的球星，并且都拥有前八顺位保护的选秀权，希望这些选秀权能成为重建的最后基石。—— MacMahon
27. 华盛顿奇才
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 16-45
- 上期排名： 27
- 后续赛程： 主战爵士（3月5日），客战鹈鹕（3月8日），客战热火（3月10日）
奇才队目前获得16胜，排名联盟倒数第四。在排名低于他们的三支球队中，他们已经打完了与国王和步行者的赛季系列赛，但还剩一场对阵15胜篮网队的比赛。如果华盛顿输掉4月5日的对阵，将向乐透区的核心位置迈进，并有望获得状元签最高的14%概率。—— Kram
28. 印第安纳步行者
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 15-46
- 上期排名： 29
- 后续赛程： 客战快船（3月4日），客战湖人（3月6日），客战开拓者（3月8日），客战国王（3月10日）
联盟最差战绩的争夺战可能会在3月10日的萨克拉门托上演，届时15胜的步行者将造访14胜的国王。两队有着深厚的历史渊源，曾涉及泰雷塞·哈利伯顿、多曼塔斯·萨博尼斯、罗恩·阿泰斯特、佩贾·斯托亚科维奇和布拉德·米勒的交易，而现在他们可以通过争夺乐透区的领先位置来续写这段渊源。
在两队的第一场交锋中，步行者队取得了胜利，这在一定程度上要归功于现已离队的本内迪克特·马图林 (Bennedict Mathurin) 的出色发挥。—— Kram
29. 布鲁克林篮网
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 15-46
- 上期排名： 28
- 后续赛程： 客战热火（3月5日），客战活塞（3月7日），主战灰熊（3月9日），主战活塞（3月10日）
3月22日（客场）和29日（主场）连续两个周日对阵同样惨淡的国王队，可能会决定六月份选秀大年的乐透位置。
国王队在负场数上领先三场，这让他们目前即使在乐透概率平坦化的情况下也能获得额外优势。显然，本赛季是篮网队的成长年，他们希望最终能获得一名顶尖大学球员，因此这些比赛可能是目前为止最难看的“摆烂大战”。—— Goodwill
30. 萨克拉门托国王
- 2025-26赛季战绩： 14-49
- 上期排名： 30
- 后续赛程： 主战鹈鹕（3月5日），主战公牛（3月8日），主战步行者（3月10日）
平坦化的乐透概率虽然降低了拿到联盟垫底战绩的收益，但仍有动力：全联盟战绩最差的球队可以锁定一个前五顺位的选秀权。国王队目前仅有14胜，为全联盟最低，但篮网和步行者也只有15胜，这让接下来的几场对阵变成了“摆烂马拉松”中的重要节点。
国王队将于3月10日在主场迎战步行者，并且还剩两场对阵篮网的比赛——分别是3月22日在萨克拉门托和3月29日在布鲁克林。—— Slater
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：NBA Power Rankings: Most intriguing games left for all 30 teams
NBA Power Rankings: Most intriguing games left for all 30 teams
The calendar has flipped to March, which means the NBA playoffs start next month! But before we get there, there are plenty of things to be decided over the next six weeks.
The Oklahoma City Thunder became the first team to clinch a postseason berth with a win on Sunday. Their lead over the San Antonio Spurs is just three games, however, as the standings in the always-competitive Western Conference are tighter than ever. With four games currently separating the play-in teams and the No. 3 seed, and with plenty of high-profile games on the calendar, the standings are bound to change.
In the East, the Detroit Pistons have held on to their position as the conference’s top team, but Jayson Tatum’s potential return for the Boston Celtics could change the playoff outlook.
With the end of the season on the horizon, our NBA insiders took a look at the most important games in each team’s remaining schedule in this week’s Power Rankings.
Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Dave McMenamin, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Bobby Marks, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Vincent Goodwill and Zach Kram) think teams belong.
Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 29 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 12 | Nov. 19 | Nov. 26 | Dec. 3 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 24 | Dec. 31 | Jan. 7 | Jan. 14 | Jan. 21 | Jan. 28 | Feb. 4 | Feb. 11 | Feb. 24
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2025-26 record: 48-15
- Previous ranking: 1
- Next games: @ NYK (March 4), vs. GS (March 7), vs. Denver (March 9)
The defending champs are about to step into a high-profile four-game homestand with the Spurs, who are only two back in the loss column and are nipping at their heels for the top seed in the West. The Warriors are in Oklahoma City on ABC this Saturday night, giving the Thunder an appetizer before they face the Nuggets, Celtics and Timberwolves on Monday, Thursday and Sunday, all on national television.
Considering the recent Lu Dort and Nikola Jokic dustup, the Nuggets matchup carries some extra juice. – Anthony Slater
2. Detroit Pistons
- 2025-26 record: 45-15
- Previous ranking: 3
- Next games: @ SAS (March 5), vs. BKN (March 7), @ MIA (March 8), @ BKN (March 10)
The last full week of March, during which the Pistons play the Lakers, Hawks, Pelicans and Timberwolves, could be critical on several fronts.
With five games before it against the woeful Nets, Wizards and Grizzlies, the Pistons could truly solidify home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs before the six-game April schedule. And individually for Cade Cunningham, that March 23 game against the Lakers could be his 65th game, thus clearing the way for him to be in true consideration for Most Valuable Player and All-NBA teams. The Pistons already crossed the 44-win threshold. Could 60 wins be in sight? – Vincent Goodwill
3. Denver Nuggets
- 2025-26 record: 38-24
- Previous ranking: 7
- Next games: vs. LAL (March 5), vs. NYK (March 6), @ OKC (March 9)
The Nuggets’ visit to Oklahoma City on March 9 would have been circled on the schedule regardless of circumstances. The spotlight on that game intensified after the fracas in the fourth quarter of Denver’s OT loss in OKC on Friday night, when Nikola Jokic had a fiery “necessary reaction” to Luguentz Dort’s flagrant foul. It’s a real rivalry between two recent title teams who battled for seven games in last season’s playoffs. – MacMahon
4. San Antonio Spurs
- 2025-26 record: 44-17
- Previous ranking: 2
- Next games: vs. DET (March 5), vs. LAC (March 6), vs. HOU (March 8), vs. BOS (March 10)
San Antonio’s longest homestand of the season tips Thursday with six games in 10 days against a gauntlet that includes the Pistons, Rockets, Celtics and Nuggets. But a trip out West to start April against the Warriors, Clippers and Nuggets could determine postseason seeding. The Spurs aren’t overreacting to the harsh lesson they received Sunday of just how quickly even the smallest mistakes can change a team’s fortune.
Their 11-game winning streak ended after they surrendered a 19-0 run to the Knicks in the second quarter of a 25-point loss. Coach Mitch Johnson said his team needs to “understand the delicacy of every possession and every detail.” – Michael C. Wright
5. Boston Celtics
- 2025-26 record: 41-20
- Previous ranking: 4
- Next games: vs. CHA (March 4), vs. DAL (March 6), @ CLE (March 8), @ SAS (March 10)
What matters most to Boston between now and the end of the season is getting forward Jayson Tatum back on the court – if it happens – and seeing how quickly Tatum can ramp up as well as what the Celtics look like with him in the fold ahead of the playoffs. If Tatum is back sometime this month, it would give the Celtics a chance to get the four-time All-NBA forward accustomed to game speed and help the team figure out how to use him before the postseason arrives. – Tim Bontemps
6. New York Knicks
- 2025-26 record: 40-22
- Previous ranking: 5
- Next games: vs. OKC (March 4), @ DEN (March 6), @ LAL (March 8), @ LAC (March 9)
Circle April 9 on your schedule, the start of a three-games-in-four-nights stretch to finish the season. The opponent is the Celtics, and it’s at Madison Square Garden.
Jayson Tatum, by all indications, should be back and trying to get himself ready for the playoffs. MSG also was the scene of his last game, during last year’s Eastern Conference semifinal series.
But even without the dramatics, the Knicks and Celtics could be locked into a battle for the second seed and home-court advantage in a potential rematch in the second round. They’re separated by two games now, and in the teams’ previous meeting the Knicks handed the Celtics a 111-89 rout in Beantown Feb. 8. – Goodwill
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
- 2025-26 record: 39-23
- Previous ranking: 9
- Next games: vs. TOR (March 5), vs. ORL (March 7), @ LAL (March 10), @ LAC (March 11)
The next two weeks will be critical for Minnesota, which has a chance to get into the top four in the Western Conference. This upcoming stretch of six out of seven games against teams with winning records will put an inconsistent Timberwolves team to the test.
Get through that stretch with a winning record, especially a 5-2 mark or better, and perhaps Minnesota will be able to give itself home-court advantage in the first round as it looks to make its third straight Western Conference finals trip. – Bontemps
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2025-26 record: 39-24
- Previous ranking: 6
- Next games: vs. BOS (March 8), vs. PHI (March 9), @ ORL (March 11)
The Cavs are in one of their most important stretches of the season, after a pair of meetings with the top-seeded Pistons this past week and a matchup with Boston ahead this Sunday. The Cavs, who have dealt with health issues of late, have some cushion on a top-four seed in the conference.
If Cleveland can knock off Boston this weekend, the Cavs could have a chance to jump up in the standings. – Collier
9. Houston Rockets
- 2025-26 record: 38-22
- Previous ranking: 8
- Next games: @GS (March 5), vs. POR (March 6), @ SAS (March 8), vs. TOR (March 10)
Houston’s hold on the No. 3 seed will be tested starting March 10 against Toronto, followed by a road matchup at Denver and two more nationally televised clashes with the Lakers at Toyota Center.
Jabari Smith Jr. remains out with a sprained right ankle, but the team is targeting a March 5 return. Reed Sheppard has filled in as a starter in Smith’s absence and has made strides that could prove beneficial in the playoffs as Houston continues to try to facilitate offense without a true point guard. – Michael C. Wright
10. Los Angeles Lakers
- 2025-26 record: 37-24
- Previous ranking: 10
- Next games: @ DEN (March 5), vs. IND (March 6), vs. NYK (March 8), vs. MIN (March 10)
The last six games on the Lakers’ schedule prior to their home finale against the Utah Jazz figure to be a challenge.
It starts with a home game against Cleveland, which beat Los Angeles by 30 in January, followed by a trip to Oklahoma City, where the Lakers lost by 29 in November. Then comes a road game in Dallas, which is the only “easy” night of the stretch. Next is a home game vs. OKC, then a road-home back-to-back against Golden State and Phoenix. That stretch could make or break the Lakers’ seeding. – McMenamin
11. Toronto Raptors
- 2025-26 record: 35-26
- Previous ranking: 10
- Next games: @ MIN (March 5), vs. DAL (March 8), @HOU (March 10)
Toronto’s most important goal over the next six weeks is retaining a top-six seed, as ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Raptors about a 1-in-3 chance of falling to the play-in tournament. Wins at home against Orlando (on March 29) and Miami (in a two-game series on April 7 and April 9) would go a long way toward ensuring Toronto gets an automatic bid to the first round of the playoffs. – Kram
12. Philadelphia 76ers
- 2025-26 record: 33-28
- Previous ranking: 14
- Next games: vs. UTAH (March 4), @ ATL (March 7), @ CLE (March 9), vs. MEM (March 10)
At the end of March, the Sixers have a set of games against the Bulls at home followed by the Hornets, Heat and Wizards on the road. If they can go 3-1 or 4-0, they’ll have given themselves a chance to secure a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference. That is, of course, depending on Joel Embiid’s health, With him, Philadelphia will think it can beat anyone over seven games. Without him? It’ll be a short playoff run, at best. – Bontemps
13. Phoenix Suns
- 2025-26 record: 35-26
- Previous ranking: 12
- Next games: vs. CHI (March 5), vs. NO (March 6), vs. CHA (March 8), @ MIL (March 10)
Phoenix has a six-game road trip spanning March 10-19 that starts in the Midwest against Milwaukee (with Giannis Antetokounmpo) and Indiana, then heads up to Toronto, then down to Boston (which could have Jayson Tatum back by then) before finishing against two Western Conference contenders: Minnesota and San Antonio.
It’s a brutal stretch for a Suns team that is already dealing with injuries to Devin Booker (right hip) and Dillon Brooks (fractured left hand). – McMenamin
14. Charlotte Hornets
- 2025-26 record: 31-31
- Previous ranking: 17
- Next games: @ BOS (March 4), vs. MIA (March 6), @ PHX (March 8), @ POR (March 10)
Charlotte still plays Miami (twice) and Orlando, and wins against those divisional opponents could propel the Hornets into the advantageous 7-8 play-in game instead of the single-elimination 9-10 contest.
But even if it has less import for the standings, an even tastier morsel awaits on the Hornets’ schedule: a home date against the Pistons on April 10, in the teams’ first meeting since their lengthy brawl last month. For entertainment’s sake, hopefully both teams are still playing their starters in the 81st game of the season. – Zach Kram
15. Miami Heat
- 2025-26 record: 33-29
- Previous ranking: 15
- Next games: vs. BKN (March 5), @ CHA (March 6), vs. DET (March 8), vs. WAS (March 10)
If the Heat are going to rise in the standings, they will have to do so without Norman Powell at full strength. Powell played only 10 minutes in their loss to Philadelphia and is week-to-week with a right groin strain. He will need to play in 17 of the remaining 23 games to be eligible for postseason honors. Powell is averaging a career-high 22.5 PPG.
Still, the Heat have won two straight home games without Powell and play seven of their next 10 games at home over a crucial stretch. – Marks
16. Orlando Magic
- 2025-26 record: 32-28
- Previous ranking: 13
- Next games: vs. DAL (March 5), @ MIN (March 7), @ MIL (March 8), vs. CLE (March 11)
The sight of Anthony Black sitting out a game with an injury is a rarity. Since the 2023-24 season, Black has missed only five games, including the Sunday loss to Detroit. Because of his durability, Black is only seven games short of becoming eligible for the Most Improved Player award. In his first three seasons, Black’s points per game have increased from 4.6 to 9.4 to currently 15.7, so the Magic will want to capitalize in any game with him down the stretch. – Marks
17. Atlanta Hawks
- 2025-26 record: 31-31
- Previous ranking: 20
- Next games: @ MIL (March 4), vs. PHI (March 7), vs. DAL (March 10)
If we based awards off the past three games, Jonathan Kuminga would be in contention for Sixth Man of the Year honors. In his three games off the bench, Kuminga is averaging 21.3 points per game while shooting 67.4% from the floor and 55.5% from 3. The Hawks have now won four in a row and are .500 for the first time since Dec. 21. They also play five of their next six games at home. – Marks
18. LA Clippers
- 2025-26 record: 29-31
- Previous ranking: 19
- Next games: vs. IND (March 4), @ SAS (March 6), @ MEM (March 7), vs. NYK (March 9)
Coming into this week, the Clippers had the fourth-easiest remaining schedule, with a cumulative opponent winning percentage of just .459, according to NBA.com. That said, they still could be sweating a play-in spot down to the very end with a home game against Oklahoma City, road game against Portland and home game against Golden State to close out the season. – McMenamin
19. Golden State Warriors
- 2025-26 record: 31-30
- Previous ranking: 16
- Next games: @ HOU (March 5), @ OKC (March 7), @ UTAH (March 9), vs. CHI (March 10)
The Warriors are in an unusual spot. They are 5.5 games behind the Lakers for the sixth seed without any real chance of climbing upward, but they’re also seven games ahead of the 11th-seeded and apparently tanking Grizzlies. So, the Warriors are essentially trapped in the play-in bracket, without much urgency to rush Steph Curry back from a tricky knee injury. There are 21 games left, but the nightly results don’t feel all that substantial. You can already pencil the Warriors in for a play-in spot – most likely a date with the Trail Blazers in the 9-against-10 game. – Slater
20. Portland Trail Blazers
- 2025-26 record: 29-33
- Previous ranking: 18
- Next games: @ MEM (March 4), @ HOU (March 6), vs. IND (March 8), vs. CHA (March 10)
Five of Portland’s next nine games are against lottery teams without incentives to win. They face the Grizzlies, Nets, Jazz and Pacers (twice). If the Blazers can inch back toward the .500 mark, they could threaten to pass both the struggling Warriors and the surging Clippers and perhaps get on the higher side of the play-in bracket. That would at least give them a more realistic chance at sneaking into the playoffs. – Slater
21. Milwaukee Bucks
- 2025-26 record: 26-34
- Previous ranking: 21
- Next games: vs. ATL (March 4), vs. UTAH (March 7), vs. ORL (March 8), vs. PHX (March 10)
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the court this week for the first time in more than five weeks, and the Bucks still have aspirations of making the postseason. However, after one of their best stretches of the season, winning eight of 11 in February, the Bucks have dropped three in a row and still sit 3.5 games behind the No. 10 and final play-in seed in the East.
Milwaukee needs to start making up ground soon, and it’ll have a pair of chances against one of the teams directly in front of it. The Bucks welcome the Hawks to Milwaukee on Wednesday night before a road trip to Atlanta on March 14. If the Bucks aren’t closer to the Hawks by then, their playoff dreams will look even cloudier. – Collier
22. Memphis Grizzlies
- 2025-26 record: 23-37
- Previous ranking: 22
- Next games: vs. POR (March 4),vs. LAC (March 7), @ BKN (March 9), @ PHI (March 10)
Lottery positioning is key for the Grizzlies, who won two in a row on the road at Dallas and Indiana but announced Sunday that Zach Edey will undergo another surgery on his left ankle, this time to address discomfort and bone stress. Edey hasn’t played since Dec. 7.
Meanwhile, Brandon Clarke will miss more time recovering from a strained right calf, and Santi Aldama has missed 14 of the past 15 contests. Star guard Ja Morant (left elbow) remains out, too. A three-game trip to close the season features matchups at Denver, Utah and Houston with Memphis likely to come out of it with at least two losses. – Wight
23. Chicago Bulls
- 2025-26 record: 25-37
- Previous ranking: 23
- Next games: @ PHX (March 5), @ SAC (March 8), @ GS (March 10)
A winless February has taken the Bulls out of yet another East play-in race and flipped Chicago’s attention toward lottery odds. The 25-win Bulls are No. 12 in the East with a large gap before they fall any more spots in the standings. That could make the season finale against the Mavericks on April 12, a team that benefited from jumping up in the lottery last season, a serious tank-off as both teams try to ensure they can get as many ping-pong balls as possible. – Collier
24. Dallas Mavericks
- 2025-26 record: 21-40
- Previous ranking: 24
- Next games: @ ORL (March 5), @ BOS (March 6), @ TOR (March 8), @ ATL (March 10)
The hope is that Cooper Flagg (left midfoot sprain) will be able to return for Friday’s road game in Boston. That’s a homecoming of sorts for Flagg, who grew up in Maine. Flagg, the No. 1 pick, averaged 32.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.2 blocks in his last six games before his injury right before the All-Star break. During his time out, his college roommate at Duke, Kon Knueppel, has overtaken him as the Rookie of the Year favorite, according to DraftKings odds. Flagg’s finishing kick could start in his native New England. – MacMahon
25. New Orleans Pelicans
- 2025-26 record: 19-44
- Previous ranking: 26
- Next games: @ SAC (March 5), @ PHX (March 6), vs. WAS (March 8)
New Orleans captured four consecutive victories for its second-longest win streak of the season before a loss to the Clippers on Sunday with Zion Williamson sitting out due to a right ankle injury. Williamson had played a career-high 35 consecutive games before his latest injury setback.
With no hope for a postseason berth and without its first-round draft pick, New Orleans can try to finish strong to set the tone for a pivotal offseason. Starting March 24 against the Knicks, the Pelicans play seven of their last 10 games on the road in a stretch that includes games with future playoff teams (the Pistons, Raptors, Rockets, Celtics and Timberwolves). – Wright
26. Utah Jazz
- 2025-26 record: 18-43
- Previous ranking: 25
- Next games: @ PHI (March 4), @ WAS (March 5), @ MIL (March 7), vs. GS (March 9)
The Jazz play the Wizards on Thursday and again March 25, two games the league office might watch with great interest. The teams are in very similar situations, as both made midseason trades for stars who are sidelined and own top-eight-protected picks that they hope will end up as one of the final foundation pieces of a rebuild. – MacMahon
27. Washington Wizards
- 2025-26 record: 16-45
- Previous ranking: 27
- Next games: vs. UTAH (March 5), @ NO (March 8), @MIA (March 10)
The Wizards have 16 wins, fourth fewest in the league. Among the three teams below them in the standings, they’ve already finished their season series against the Kings and Pacers, but one game remains against the 15-win Nets. If Washington drops that April 5 contest, it’ll move one step closer to prime lottery position and maximum 14% odds of the No. 1 pick. – Kram
28. Indiana Pacers
- 2025-26 record: 15-46
- Previous ranking: 29
- Next games: @ LAC (March 4), @ LAL (March 6), @ POR (March 8), @ SAC (March 10)
The worst record in the league could be on the line in Sacramento on March 10, as the 15-win Pacers visit the 14-win Kings. The two teams have a rich history, with trades involving Tyrese Haliburton, Domantas Sabonis, Ron Artest, Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller, and now they could add to that legacy by battling for pole position in the lottery.
The Pacers won the first meeting between the two teams, thanks in part to a big game from the since-departed Bennedict Mathurin. – Kram
29. Brooklyn Nets
- 2025-26 record: 15-46
- Previous ranking: 28
- Next games: @ MIA (March 5), @ DET (March 7), vs. MEM (March 9), vs. DET (March 10)
Consecutive Sunday matchups on March 22 (at Sacramento) and 29 (at Brooklyn) against the similarly woeful Kings could determine lottery positioning for June’s loaded incoming draft class.
The Kings are three games ahead in the loss column, which would currently give them the extra bump, even with the flattened lottery odds. It’s clear this has been a developmental season for the Nets, and they hope to obtain a top collegian at the end of it, so these games could be the ugliest “tank-offs” yet. – Goodwill
30. Sacramento Kings
- 2025-26 record: 14-49
- Previous ranking: 30
- Next games: vs. NO (March 5), vs. CHI (March 8), vs. IND (March 10)
Flattened lottery odds have lessened the benefit of finishing with the NBA’s worst record, but there’s still incentive. The league’s worst team gets a guaranteed top-five pick. The Kings currently have an NBA-low 14 wins, but the Nets and Pacers have 15 wins, presenting some important upcoming matchups in the tankathon.
The Kings face the Pacers in Sacramento on March 10 and still have both remaining matchups with the Nets – March 22 in Sacramento and March 29 in Brooklyn. – Slater
By ESPN | ESPN, via ESPN