2025-26 NBA Power Rankings Shock Fans: Celtics and Magic Surge into Top 10, Thunder, Nuggets, Lakers Battle for Supremacy

As we dive into Week 8 of the NBA season, the spotlight shifts firmly onto the thrilling NBA Cup series. It’s a perfect moment to hit pause, take stock, and size up the league’s cream of the crop. Leading the pack, and perhaps sending a jolt through the competition, is the Oklahoma City Thunder—a squad that’s been nothing short of electrifying with their blazing win streak and eye-catching record. Alongside them, a parade of contenders battle for positioning, each bringing their own unique firepower and storylines to the hardwood. For those banking on championship dreams, DraftKings provides the latest odds to keep our eyes in the game. Stick with me as we break down Vaughn Dalzell’s Week 8 NBA Power Rankings — where rankings aren’t just numbers, but a reflection of sweat, skill, and some serious grit. LEARN MORE

Week 8 in the NBA is underway as the NBA Cup series takes center stage. Now is a good time to look back and rank the top 10 teams with the obvious Oklahoma City Thunder tipping the list off. All Championship odds are courtesy of DraftKings.

Vaughn Dalzell‘s Week 8 NBA Power Rankings

Oklahoma City Thunder Primary Logo

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (24-1)

NBA Finals odds: +120
Points Leader: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.6)
Rebound Leader: Isaiah Hartentstein (10.7)
Assist Leader: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6.5)

Oklahoma City is riding a 15-game winning streak and at 24-1 through their first 25 games, it makes you start to think if they can beat the 2015-16 Warriors 73-9 record?

The Thunder went 18-1 without Jalen Williams and hasn’t skipped a beat since he’s returned. Oklahoma City is loaded again and I think it’s about time to bet them to win back-to-back titles. This team is looking like a dynasty.

Denver Nuggets Primary Logo

2. Denver Nuggets (17-6)

NBA Finals odds: +650
Points Leader: Nikola Jokic (29.2)
Rebound Leader: Nikola Jokic (12.3)
Assist Leader: Nikola Jokic (11.0)

Despite injuries to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, Denver has stood tall with the third-best record in the NBA. The Nuggets have three consecutive games and four of the past five, plus they are 5-3 without both Gordon and Braun.

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have picked up the slack in the meantime. Jokic averages a 29-point triple-double and Murray is posting a career-high 25.0 points per game, which ranks 16th in the league.

Los Angeles Lakers Primary Logo

3. Los Angeles Lakers (17-6)

NBA Finals odds: +1300
Points Leader: Luka Doncic (35.0)
Rebound Leader: Luka Doncic (9.0)
Assist Leader: Luka Doncic (9.0)

Since LeBron James returned to the Lakers, Los Angeles is 6-2 and he averages 16.2 points, 7.6 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game. While it’s obvious, LeBron isn’t what he used to be, he’s still made highlight reel plays and dished out game-winning passes rather than keeping his record 10-point streak alive.

This Lakers team has a high ceiling, but it’s mostly because of their offensive potential. Los Angeles has the seventh-ranked offensive rating, the fourth-best effective field goal percentage (58%), and second-best true shooting percentage (62.2%) ahead of the Thunder (62.1%) and behind the Nuggets (63%).

Houston Rockets Primary Logo

4. Houston Rockets (15-6)

NBA Finals odds: +1000
Points Leader: Kevin Durant (25.3)
Rebound Leader: Steven Adams (9.2)
Assist Leader: Alperen Sengun (7.1)

Houston is 10-3 over the last 13 games, ranking fifth in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating during that span. The Rockets have dealt with injuries to their role players lately, Tari Eason and Dorian Finney-Smith, plus they’re without Fred VanVleet for the season. Despite three starters being 23-years-old or younger, Houston has played at one of the slowest tempos (27th) and maintained elite defensive numbers. If they clean up the turnovers (22nd in turnover percentage), then Houston can be a threat to Oklahoma City.

Detroit Pistons Primary Logo

5. Detroit Pistons (19-5)

NBA Finals odds: +2500
Points Leader: Cade Cunningham (27.5)
Rebound Leader: Jalen Duren (11.5)
Assist Leader: Cade Cunningham (9.3)

After the Pistons 13-game winning streak was snapped, Detroit has gone 4-2 since the loss and won four of the past five games. Detroit has remained hot and has the best road record in the East at 8-3.

After 24 games, Detroit is fourth in defensive rating and surprisingly ninth in offensive rating, plus Cade Cunningham is fourth in MVP odds! Cunningham ranks top 11 in points per game (27.5) and assists per game (9.3) — both current career-highs.

New York Knicks Primary Logo

6. New York Knicks (17-7)

NBA Finals odds: +1400
Points Leader: Jalen Brunson (28.3)
Rebound Leader: Karl-Anthony Towns (12.0)
Assist Leader: Jalen Brunson (6.3)

New York is on a heater! The Knicks have won four straight and eight of the past nine as they prepare to take on the Magic for a chance to advance in the NBA Cup. New York has only lost to two teams with losing records this season and are 10-2 versus those teams overall. Versus teams with current winning records, the Knicks are 7-5 with recent losses to the Magic and Celtics.

San Antonio Spurs Primary Logo

7. San Antonio Spurs (16-7)

NBA Finals odds: +3000
Points Leader: Victor Wembanyama (26.2)
Rebound Leader: Victor Wembanyama (12.9)
Assist Leader: Stephon Castle (7.3)

The Spurs are 4-1 over the last five games and advancing in the NBA Cup after a win over the Lakers. Since losing Victor Wembanyama for 12 games, the Spurs have gone 9-3 compared to 7-4 with him. San Antonio boasts the seventh-best offensive rating over the last 12 games, but ranks 22nd in defensive rating without their franchise player.

Luckily, Wemby could return in the next stage of the NBA Cup versus the Thunder, if not against the Wizards or Hawks next week.

Orlando Magic Primary Logo

8. Orlando Magic (15-10)

NBA Finals odds: +3000
Points Leader: Franz Wagner (22.3)
Rebound Leader: Paolo Banchero (7.9)
Assist Leader: Jalen Suggs (4.7)

Orlando’s season continues to excite fans around the NBA and an upcoming cup matchup with the Knicks shouldn’t disappoint. Orlando is 8-3 over the last 11 games and rank top nine in offensive and defensive rating during that timeframe.

Despite being dominant at home with a 10-4 record, the Magic are 5-6 on the road. Only two teams in the top six of the East have losing records on the road — the Magic and Knicks.

Boston Celtics Primary Logo

9. Boston Celtics (17-7)

NBA Finals odds: +3500
Points Leader: Jaylen Brown (29.1)
Rebound Leader: Neemias Queta (8.2)
Assist Leader: Derrick White (5.3)

Here they come! The longest winning streak in the Eastern Conference belongs to the Boston Celtics at five consecutive wins.

Jaylen Brown has scored 30 points in three straight games and six of the previous seven games. He’s now sixth in the NBA with 29.1 points per game, while Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have chipped in a combined 34.6 points per game. Boston’s bench has been a bright spot with al the chances to the Celtics rotation. The bench ranks fourth in three-point percentage (39.9%) and could help relieve Brown when his heater cools off.

Phoenix Suns Primary Logo

10. Phoenix Suns (14-11)

NBA Finals odds: +70000
Points Leader: Devin Booker (25.0)
Rebound Leader: Mark Williams (8.4)
Assist Leader: Devin Booker (6.7)

Minnesota’s five-game winning streak was snapped against Phoenix and despite wanting to make the Timberwolves my 10th-ranked team — I couldn’t do it. The Timberwolves have struggled against teams with winning records (2-8) and have basically feasted on the bottom of the NBA. The Suns beat the Timberwolves in both meetings and haven’t had Devin Booker healthy, so I’ll roll with Phoenix to end up my top 10.

If the Raptors or Heat didn’t lose four straight games, or the Cavaliers were consistent to any degree, then either of those teams would be my No. 10 ranked squad. Golden State at 13-12 has a case to be on this list after two straight wins, but the Suns deserve some respect.

Stock Up

Boston Celtics Primary Logo

Boston Celtics (17-7)

NBA Finals odds: +3500
Points Leader: Jaylen Brown (29.1)
Rebound Leader: Neemias Queta (8.2)
Assist Leader: Derrick White (5.3)

The Celtics have won seven of the past eight games and 10 of the last 12. Over the last 12 games, the Celtics come in at 18th for defensive rating, but have the NBA’s top-ranked offense in that span.

Stock Down

Toronto Raptors Primary Logo

Toronto Raptors (15-11)

NBA Finals odds: +10000
Points Leader: Brandon Ingram (21.5)
Rebound Leader: Jakob Poeltl (8.0)
Assist Leader: Immanuel Quickley (6.2)

After nine straight wins, Toronto has gone 1-6 over the last seven games with four straight losses. Granted four of those losses came against top 10 teams, it’s also worth noting that two of those losses came to the Hornets with the lone win over the Trail Blazers. It appears the Raptors have come back down to Earth after a 14-5 start.

Miami Heat Primary Logo

Miami Heat (14-11)

NBA Finals odds: +6500
Points Leader: Norman Powell (24.6)
Rebound Leader: Kel’el Ware (10.1)
Assist Leader: Davion Mitchell (7.8)

The Miami Heat have dropped four consecutive games and five of the past six to follow up a season-long six-game win streak. The Heat lost at home to the Kings and at the Mavericks during this losing streak, so the stock is way down on Miami.

Follow my plays for the season on X @VmoneySports, Instagram @VmoneySports_ and Action App @vaughndalzell.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

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