The Oklahoma City Thunder hold the No. 1 spot in Week 4 NBA power rankings with a 10-1 record after a 35-point comeback win over the Memphis Grizzlies. The San Antonio Spurs rise to third place at 7-2, bolstered by De'Aaron Fox's return and Victor Wembanyama's impact. Other contenders include the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the latest NBA power rankings from The Athletic, teams are grouped into five tiers based on performance through Sunday's games, balancing recent results with forward projections. The top tier features elite squads showing championship potential.
The Thunder maintain their lead with standout play from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 35 points in 35 minutes during their victory over the Grizzlies, marking the first team to reach 10 wins this season. Their offensive rating stands at 118.0 (seventh) and defensive at 104.5 (first).
The Nuggets climb to second at 7-2, with Cameron Johnson's integration aiding a starting lineup net rating of 9.4 points per 100 possessions. The Spurs, now 7-2, benefit from Fox's assertive play against the Pelicans, where Stephon Castle recorded 14 assists and just two turnovers. San Antonio's ratings are 118.1 offensively (sixth) and 110.8 defensively (sixth).
Houston sits fourth at 6-3, powered by Steven Adams' 4.8 offensive rebounds per game, contributing to the league's top offensive rating of 121.7. Cleveland rounds out the top five at 7-3, with Donovan Mitchell averaging 30.7 points on 53.4 percent shooting.
Lower tiers highlight positives like the Pistons' 8-2 record and Cade Cunningham's MVP-caliber play, while the Blazers hold at 14th with a 5-4 mark after a win over Oklahoma City, led by Deni Avdija's 30.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists last week.