The Oklahoma City Thunder have reclaimed the top spot in the newest NBA power rankings, with the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 5 and Houston Rockets at No. 15. With one month left in the 2025-26 regular season, playoff seeding remains fluid in both conferences. The Boston Celtics continue to appear as the East's strongest contender despite recent losses.
As the 2025-26 NBA regular season nears its conclusion, with roughly one month remaining, the landscape for top seeds is clarifying. In the Western Conference, Oklahoma City and San Antonio are positioned to secure the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, while in the East, Detroit and Boston hold similar ground.
The New York Knicks trail Boston by two games in the loss column for the No. 2 spot, with one remaining head-to-head matchup and the tiebreaker advantage in their favor. However, overtaking seems improbable. Similarly, San Antonio sits three games back of Oklahoma City but holds the tiebreaker; this shift also appears unlikely.
Beyond the top two, contention intensifies. In the East, a single game divides No. 3 New York from No. 4 Cleveland, and the same margin separates No. 5 Orlando, No. 6 Miami, and No. 7 Toronto. The Western Conference sees a two-game gap among seeds 3 through 7.
These rankings, released post-trade deadline, balance recent performances, season-long results, and projections for the remainder of the schedule. They emphasize overall winning without overemphasizing victories against weaker opponents or short-term surges. The final month promises volatility in playoff berths and draft positioning at the lower end.
The rankings highlight diverging paths for teams like the Lakers and Rockets, while underscoring the Celtics' resilience in the East even after consecutive defeats.
