ClutchPoints’ 2026-27 NBA Power Rankings Week 2: Jalen Williams’ injury raises major concerns for Thunder appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
What stands out the most from the first week of the 2026-27 NBA season? Is it those who are undefeated or those who haven’t won a game yet? What about high-scoring performances from some of the league’s best? Overall, the glaring headline that stands out is Jalen Williams’ significant leg injury, which certainly throws a wrench in the NBA title picture and power rankings for the rest of the year.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are 3-0 for the third straight year, but it has come at a major cost.
On Sunday night, with just over one minute remaining in their game against the LA Clippers, Williams attacked the rim hard off the dribble to try and put the finishing touches on OKC’s win. He collided in the air with Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr., drawing a foul and sending Williams crashing to the floor.
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Unfortunately, the Thunder star’s left leg got caught awkwardly underneath him, leading to a significant lower leg/ankle injury that was immediately covered by a towel. The entire arena in Oklahoma City went silent, as players from both teams were visibly shaken up and in disbelief.
A few moments later, medical personnel flocked around Williams as they stabilized his leg and lifted him onto the stretcher. Although Williams gave two thumbs up on his way out and appreciated the crowd chanting his name, this has completely altered the 2026-27 season.
“Those are tough, man,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said in his postgame presser, via ClutchPoints’ Thunder reporter Josue Pavon. “We’re not doing great. That’s tough on the guys. Everyone empathizes. I think both teams, in those situations. So yeah, not doing great.”
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander was wiping away tears in his postgame interview as he couldn’t believe what just happened in the final minute of the game.
“I just feel bad for him,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Nothing more than that.”
The Thunder were finally healthy and once again looking like the best team in the NBA. All of that has now taken a major turn with Williams presumably out for the remainder of the season after his significant leg injury.
Although Oklahoma City remains at the top of the NBA power rankings entering the second week of the 2026-27 season, this year’s title race has now completely opened up.
Previous 2026-27 NBA Power Rankings: Preseason | Week 1
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (-)
2026-27 Record: 3-0 | Last Week’s Schedule: at SAS (W12), vs. DEN (W12), vs. LAC (W7)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. PHX (10/26), at DAL (10/28), at HOU (10/31)
Losing Jalen Williams to his horrific-looking lower left leg injury is significant. Aside from the fact that the Thunder will likely be without their No. 2 star for the remainder of the 2026-27 season, this team traded away practically all their wing depth in the form of Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins this past summer.
Not to mention, the Thunder also watched Jaylin Williams and Cason Wallace leave Sunday’s game against the LA Clippers due to right wrist soreness and left shoulder soreness, respectively. While we do not know the extent of Wallace’s injury, he ran full speed into a screen set by Isaiah Jackson, and his left arm appeared to be slumped while being held by the Thunder’s medical staff as he went back to the locker room.
If the Thunder are without Wallace in addition to losing JDub, that leaves them extremely undersized and without sure-thing wing options. Alex Caruso would likely step into a bigger role as the team’s go-to at the small forward position, but outside of him, Mark Daigneault is left with a ton of guards and veteran Kenrich Williams as his only other options.
The Thunder got three big wins to kick off the new season, yet it came at an extremely costly price, one that could put their titles hopes in serious jeopardy.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves (+7)
2026-27 Record: 3-0 | Last Week’s Schedule: at MIA (W25), at ORL (W22), vs. TOR (W23)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at CLE (10/26), vs. GSW (10/28), vs. LAC (10/30), at SAS (10/31)
To be perfectly honest, no team had a better first week to the 2026-27 NBA season than the Minnesota Timberwolves, which is why they skyrocketed up the power rankings and find themselves in the No. 2 spot behind Oklahoma City.
Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball look perfect playing alongside one another, and Jaden McDaniels has quietly picked up right where he left off in the playoffs, evolving into one of the best two-way forwards in the league.
Through three games, the Wolves have outscored their opponents by 70 points, and they are allowing an average of 97.7 points per game. Offensively, this team has made at least 14 threes in every game so far, including 21 made triples in the season opener against the Miami Heat, a game where Anthony Edwards scored 45 points.
That is back-to-back years now that Edwards has opened the year scoring 40-plus points, putting him in the same category as Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to ever do so more than once in a season opener.
Can Minnesota stay hot entering the second week of the season, one where they’ll face the Cleveland Cavaliers, who made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, and the San Antonio Spurs, who won the Western Conference last year?
3. Detroit Pistons (+4)
2026-27 Record: 3-0 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. BOS (W8), at MIA (W17), at PHI (W13)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at NYK (10/27), vs. CHA (10/28), at BKN (10/30)
If the Timberwolves had the best week out of any team in the league, then the Detroit Pistons were right behind them.
Not only did Cade Cunningham and Co. erase a 22-point deficit in the very first game of the 2026-27 season against the Boston Celtics, but they backed up this win by trouncing Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat in South Beach, followed by taking care of the Philadelphia 76ers on their home floor after starting the year 3-0.
Although Joel Embiid did not play on Sunday night, neither did Jalen Duren for Detroit. Cunningham has been doing his thing all over the court leading the Pistons, but the story in Detroit has been their shooting depth.
Duncan Robinson has been fantastic, averaging 19.7 points per game through the first week of the season, and he’s shooting 53.6 percent from 3-point range, knocking down five 3-pointers in each game so far. He is currently tied with Luka Doncic for the most made triples so far this year.
John Collins, Javonte Green, and Daniss Jenkins are also shooting at a very high clip right now, which makes the Pistons even more dangerous than they were a season ago when they won 60 games.
4. Philadelphia 76ers (-)
2026-27 Record: 3-1 | Last Week’s Schedule: at NYK (W6), vs. CLE (W8), vs. MIL (W11), vs. DET (L13)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at IND (10/28), vs. NYK (10/30), at CHA (10/31)
There were a lot of questions about how the 76ers would look entering this season with their star-studded lineup. Would Tyrese Maxey or Jaylen Brown have the ball late in games? Would there be enough opportunities for Joel Embiid to do his thing? What role would LeBron James hold?
Well, if there was any concern about who would need to sacrifice or what this team would look like offensively, that is all gone. The 76ers looked incredible offensively with all of their starters on the floor together, and there was a sense of calmness about how they operated.
When James was the main facilitator, Maxey and Brown looked very confident, waiting for their opportunity to strike off the ball. When Embiid got his mismatches or position where he likes the ball around the free-throw line extended, the 76ers played through him. The confidence this team has is unmatched, and there is no denying their firepower.
All of these things showed during the team’s comeback win on Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a game in which the Sixers trailed by 29 points and ended up winning 114-106. As long as the 76ers’ core remains healthy, they will be a top team in the Eastern Conference and in these NBA power rankings.
5. Houston Rockets (+5)
2026-27 Record: 3-0 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. DAL (W18), at SAS (W4), at ATL (W7)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. ATL (10/26), at MIL (10/28), at DAL (10/30), vs. OKC (10/31)
The Houston Rockets are definitely the one team that isn’t getting enough attention and love right now. With Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams back, plus another full summer to get Kevin Durant aligned with Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun, there were reasons to be super optimistic about this team.
So far, they’ve looked the part of being a contending threat in the Western Conference despite this only being the first week of the regular season. What stands out the most about this team outside of Durant’s scoring is Thompson looking more confident offensively, and Houston as a whole is +14 in rebounding margin, outrebounding all three of their opponents.
Last season, the Rockets ranked first in the league in rebounding and really made their mark defensively. What held them back the most was that they struggled shooting from the perimeter at times and didn’t have a lead guard to initiate the offense outside of Durant.
VanVleet has obviously helped in this area immensely, and the Rockets have also received key contributions from Thompson and Reed Sheppard. As long as the Rockets can keep their turnovers down, this will be a tough team to go against on any given night.
6. Los Angeles Lakers (-)
2026-27 Record: 3-0 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. GSW (W22), vs. LAC (W8), at UTA (W9)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. POR (10/27), at LAC (10/28), at GSW (10/30), vs. TOR (11/1)
Luka Doncic is simply sensational. Although this team is very average defensively so far, as expected, the Lakers have lived up to the hype on offense. Through three games, Doncic has scored 103 points, the third-most in the league behind Ty Jerome (104) and Tyrese Maxey (115), who has played in four games for the 76ers.
The superstar’s best performance came on Sunday night in Salt Lake City, as Doncic registered the first 50-point game of the 2026-27 NBA season with 52 points on 17-of-30 shooting. He also had 10 assists and eight rebounds in the Lakers’ 132-123 win to improve to 3-0.
Other than Doncic and Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler has been fantastic for the Lakers. After shooting 12-of-12 from the floor in the season opener, becoming the first Lakers player to achieve this since Wilt Chamberlain in 1969, Kessler went 10-of-14 from the floor in their second game. Kessler is everything Los Angeles has been searching for in a big man to pair with Doncic.
Unlike other top teams in the league who have faced some tests, the Lakers have simply handled business to this point against teams that aren’t expected to be anything more than play-in threats. This upcoming week, this high-powered offense led by Luka and Reaves will once again see both the LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors.
It wouldn’t come as a surprise whatsoever if this team is 7-0 or 6-1 this time next week.
7. San Antonio Spurs (-4)
2026-27 Record: 1-2 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. OKC (L12), vs. HOU (L4), at DAL (W16)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. SAC (10/27), at UTA (10/28), vs. MIN (10/31)
This was an unprecedented start for the defending Western Conference champions. While falling to the Thunder in the first game of the season wasn’t all that shocking, losing to the Rockets in a game they never really controlled was.
Not only is Victor Wembanyama struggling to find his shot early on, but the Spurs are still trying to figure out what their three-guard approach looks like on a nightly basis with De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper.
Getting Tobias Harris back on the floor from his calf injury will be important for this team, especially since he brings extra rebounding and secondary scoring. Nonetheless, this team’s success revolves around Wembanyama’s production, which was lackluster during the first week of the season.
8. New York Knicks (-6)
2026-27 Record: 0-3 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. PHI (L6), at BOS (L4), vs. ORL (L9)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. DET (10/27), at CHI (10/28), at PHI (10/30)
The last team coming off a championship to go 0-3 was the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. That team went on to lose in the first round of the playoffs. On the flip side, the 1990-91 Chicago Bulls started the year 0-3 and went on to win the NBA Finals that season, so it’s not like all hope is lost for the New York Knicks.
However, this team didn’t look the same early on as they did late in the 2025-26 season and in the postseason. There were major questions about how this team would react to the newfound pressure of being at the top of the league and if they would have the same intensity. So far, teams are definitely taking advantage of this, as the defending champions have looked slower and not as locked in as last year.
Then again, the Knicks’ struggles can be tied to their poor shooting percentage. Through three games, New York is shooting just 40.8 percent from the floor and 32.4 percent from 3-point range. Jalen Brunson is shooting under 40 percent from the floor, and Mikal Bridges has only scored 10 points in 90 total minutes.
Nothing will get easier for the defending champions entering Week 2, especially with matchups against Detroit and Philadelphia approaching.
9. Denver Nuggets (-1)
2026-27 Record: 1-1 | Last Week’s Schedule: at OKC (L12), vs. NOP (W6/OT)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. GSW (10/26), at NOP (10/28), at PHX (10/30)
Health has been the main concern for the Denver Nuggets over the last couple of seasons, and it is once again the major question mark looming over them, especially after Cam Johnson went down with an ankle injury in their season opener.
After scoring just 84 points against Oklahoma City in their season opener, the Nuggets bounced back to score 141 points in their overtime win against the New Orleans Pelicans. Nikola Jokic had a 35-point triple-double in this one, his first triple-double of the season, and Jamal Murray led all scorers with 42 points.
Outside of these two stars, there are still concerns about the rest of the Nuggets’ scoring production. With Johnson out, Denver turned to rookie Trevon Brazile off the bench on Saturday, and he delivered with 17 points and nine rebounds. Can Brazile and DeMar DeRozan be the viable bench options that Denver needs moving forward?
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (-5)
2026-27 Record: 1-1 | Last Week’s Schedule: at PHI (L8), vs. BKN (W4)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. MIN (10/26), vs. WAS (10/28), at ATL (10/29), at MIL (10/31)
Losing by eight points to the 76ers in a game that they led by as many as 29 points in is as on-brand as possible for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Analytically, they won this game, but in reality, the Cavs lost, and it was a very, very bad loss to begin the season.
What makes this even worse to kick off the new year is that the Cavs almost did it again the following game against a Brooklyn Nets team that is currently in the bottom three of the NBA power rankings. Cleveland led by 22 points at home over Brooklyn before being outscored 67-57 in the second half.
If there were about three more minutes on the clock, the Nets probably would’ve won this game, and we’d be having a much different conversation about the Cavaliers. The biggest stat that stands out with Kenny Atkinson’s group is that they have 44 turnovers through two games, with 10 of these turnovers coming from James Harden.
11. Boston Celtics (-)
2026-27 Record: 1-1 | Last Week’s Schedule: at DET (L8), vs. NYK (W4)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. CHI (10/26), vs. BKN (10/27), vs. CHI (10/30), at ORL (11/1)
Jayson Tatum was awful in the Boston Celtics’ season opener on the road against the Pistons, a game where they squandered a 22-point lead and ultimately lost. It didn’t look like he was ever comfortable on the court, and Tatum struggled to find his rhythm on offense. That changed in the second game of the year, as the Celtics defeated the Knicks 107-103 behind Tatum’s 36-point performance.
This was a terrific bounce-back game for Tatum at home, especially since he didn’t seem rushed and he let the game come to him. His ability to draw the defense’s attention has also unlocked a new playmaking and facilitating trait for Tatum, which is why he is currently averaging 9.0 assists through two games.
The Celtics should be able to build off their recent success this upcoming week against some struggling teams, including an Orlando Magic squad already down two starters as a result of injuries.
12. Toronto Raptors (-)
2026-27 Record: 2-1 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. CHI (W43), at WAS (W10), at MIN (L23)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. ORL (10/28), vs. ORL (10/30), at LAL (11/1)
After blowing out the Chicago Bulls by 43 points in their wire-to-wire win to begin the 2026-27 season, the Toronto Raptors won wire-to-wire on the road against the Washington Wizards. Through the first 96 minutes of their season, the Raptors did not trail once, making them the sixth team since the 1996-97 season to achieve such a feat.
Although they surrendered 117 points to the Timberwolves on Sunday, the Raptors once again look like they’ll be one of the better defensive units in the Eastern Conference. Between Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto will create havoc among opponents all season long with steals and deflections.
13. Atlanta Hawks (+2)
2026-27 Record: 2-1 | Last Week’s Schedule: at ORL (W7), at CHA (W47), vs. HOU (L7)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at HOU (10/26), vs. MIA (10/28), vs. CLE (10/29), at NOP (10/31)
If the Atlanta Hawks had defeated Houston on Saturday, then they without a doubt would’ve been inside the top 10 of the NBA power rankings. There is even a chance that they would have been a top-five team.
This Hawks roster is incredibly talented. It contains plenty of depth, there are countless viable scoring options, and their ability to spread the ball around Jalen Johnson is as good as any team in the league. And how about Aaron Wiggins so far this season?
The former Thunder wing is finally getting a chance to showcase what he can do, and the 27-year-old looks like a real candidate for Most Improved Player, averaging 17.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 58.1 percent from the floor and 52.6 percent from 3-point range.
We shouldn’t be all that surprised to see the Hawks look really dangerous, especially after they battled hard in their first-round series with the Knicks in the postseason last year, taking the eventual champions to six games. Buy stock in the Hawks right now, as this team is capable of finishing inside the top four of the Eastern Conference standings.
14. Indiana Pacers (-)
2026-27 Record: 2-1 | Last Week’s Schedule: at NOP (W3), vs. DAL (L16), at BKN (W27)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at MIL (10/26), vs. PHI (10/28), at MIA (10/30), vs. BKN (11/1)
With Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers’ core group healthy, they once again look like one of the best offensive teams in the league.
During the 2024-25 season, the Pacers ranked seventh in scoring and ninth in offensive rating. Through the first week of the season, this team ranks fifth in scoring and ninth in offensive rating. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially since the same core group exists in Indiana, along with Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr.
The only concern for Indiana is that Zubac went down on Sunday with a left ankle injury against the Brooklyn Nets. If Zubac is forced to miss time, the Pacers will be left thin in their frontcourt, with Jay Huff and Pascal Siakam being their realistic center options.
15. Orlando Magic (+1)
2026-27 Record: 1-2 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. ATL (L7), vs. MIN (L22), at NYK (W9)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at TOR (10/28), at TOR (10/30), vs. BOS (11/1)
Once again, injuries are defining the Orlando Magic, and they have only played three games. Paolo Banchero suffered a low-grade right high ankle sprain in the team’s loss to Minnesota, and Jalen Suggs suffered a non-contact right knee injury on Sunday night in New York.
Regardless of how severe Suggs’ injury actually is, the Magic are already down two of their five starters, which has been the story of this franchise over the last two seasons. Even with Anthony Black making his debut on Sunday after dealing with ankle problems himself, the Magic are just a shell of what they could be without Banchero and Suggs.
There are absolutely major reasons to be concerned about the Magic this season, which raises major questions about the future of this core group.
16. Portland Trail Blazers (+4)
2026-27 Record: 2-0 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. PHX (W41), at SAC (W8)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at LAL (10/27), vs. MEM (10/29), at UTA (10/31)
Did anyone have the Portland Trail Blazers leading by as many as 52 points in their season opener against the Phoenix Suns? The Blazers started this game on a 21-0 run before the Suns even scored their first points at the free-throw line, and Portland led Phoenix 43-12 after the first quarter.
Damian Lillard and Ja Morant have looked good next to one another so far, and their presence leading the backcourt hasn’t taken away from Deni Avdija being the lead guy for this team.
This high-powered Blazers offense is definitely worth keeping an eye on heading into the second week of the season, as they have emerged as a real sleeper playoff threat in the West.
17. Memphis Grizzlies (+9)
2026-27 Record: 3-0 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. UTA (W20), at GSW (W3), at SAC (W11)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at UTA (10/26), at POR (10/29), vs. SAC (10/31)
If you’ve been following our power rankings here at ClutchPoints throughout the offseason, we keep saying not to sleep on the Memphis Grizzlies. Although they are still rebuilding and young, the Grizzlies entered the year with plenty of notable pieces who could come together to make this group interesting.
Through the first week of the 2026-27 season, that is exactly what has happened. Cam Boozer looks like the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, Ty Jerome is undoubtedly the favorite for Most Improved Player since he is currently leading the league in scoring, and Memphis’ frontcourt is causing a lot of havoc for opposing teams on both ends of the floor.
It has been quite a while since the Grizzlies were relevant, and with two more games against Utah and Sacramento on their upcoming schedule, Memphis could fortify their spot at the top of the West standings even further.
18. Dallas Mavericks (-1)
2026-27 Record: 1-2 | Last Week’s Schedule: at HOU (L18), at IND (W16), vs. SAS (L16)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at MIA (10/26), vs. OKC (10/28), vs. HOU (10/30)
Despite getting their first win of the season on the road against the Pacers, Cooper Flagg suffered a left shoulder injury. The good news is that after missing Saturday’s game against the Spurs, Flagg is working toward playing on Monday in Miami.
More good news is that Kyrie Irving led the way with 24 points on Friday against the Pacers, his first 20-point game since March 2025, before his ACL injury. As the season progresses, Irving will only grow stronger and regain his confidence as one of the league’s better point guards.
Three tough matchups await Dallas this upcoming week, as the team returns home on Wednesday, with six of their next eight games at home.
19. Charlotte Hornets (+4)
2026-27 Record: 2-1 | Last Week’s Schedule: at BKN (W7), vs. ATL (L47), vs. MIA (W5)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. WAS (10/26), at DET (10/28), at WAS (10/30), vs. PHI (10/31)
With no Kon Knueppel, Coby White, or Grant Williams, it seemed like the Charlotte Hornets were doomed entering the 2026-27 season. Although this team has been abysmal offensively, Brandon Miller has done just enough on offense, paired with their defensive effort, to start the new year with a 2-1 record.
As a result of these key starters missing time early on in the season, it’s been Naz Reid and Grayson Allen stepping up alongside Miller as the go-to options on offense. Once Knueppel and White are back, the Hornets will have a lot of scoring options, especially as their 3-point barrage continues.
Charlotte has attempted 142 threes through its first three games, the most in the NBA.
20. Miami Heat (-7)
2026-27 Record: 0-3 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. MIN (L25), vs. DET (L17), at CHA (L5)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. DAL (10/26), at ATL (10/28), vs. IND (10/30)
The Miami Heat have trailed by 20-plus points in each of their first three games of the season. This led to two blowout losses against Minnesota and Detroit, followed by a stunning loss on the road against a Hornets team without two starters.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has looked good, scoring over 35 points in each of the first two games of the new season, yet the Heat as a whole look awful on offense. Bam Adebayo has struggled to get anything going on offense, Andrew Wiggins is shooting 35 percent from the floor, and Klay Thompson has combined to shoot 27.9 percent from 3-point range with Tim Hardaway Jr.
To be honest, this Heat team looks like the same exact situation Giannis dealt with in Milwaukee over the last few years. Things better turn around quickly for the Heat.
21. Washington Wizards (-)
2026-27 Record: 2-1 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. MIL (W12), vs. TOR (L10), at CHI (W4)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at CHA (10/26), at CLE (10/28), vs. CHA (10/30)
No AJ Dybantsa, no problem so far for the Washington Wizards. The first-overall pick has yet to make his debut, and he won’t on Monday night against the Hornets either, yet the Wizards are 2-1 and have been highly competitive behind Anthony Davis and Trae Young leading the way.
Brian Keefe has to be pleased with what he’s seen from his young team led by the two veteran stars to this point. Washington ranks fifth in pace and is inside the top 15 in both offensive and defensive rating.
It will be interesting to see if that changes heading into two games against the Hornets and a tougher road assignment in Cleveland.
22. Phoenix Suns (-4)
2026-27 Record: 1-1 | Last Week’s Schedule: at POR (L41), vs. GSW (W9)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at OKC (10/26), vs. DEN (10/30)
After getting blown out in their season opener against Portland, the Phoenix Suns barely escaped the Golden State Warriors, who were without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, and Brandin Podziemski.
This team simply looks stuck in the mud offensively, with no real identity outside of having Devin Booker bail them out. It took him scoring 43 points on Saturday to get past Golden State, who were relying on rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and Brandon Williams to carry the scoring load in the starting lineup.
The Suns have a lot to figure out heading into a week where they’ll meet the Thunder and Nuggets, which could lead to a 1-3 start.
23. Utah Jazz (-1)
2026-27 Record: 1-2 | Last Week’s Schedule: at MEM (L20), vs. NOP (W1), vs. LAL (L9)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. MEM (10/26), vs. SAS (10/28), vs. POR (10/31)
Entering the year, there were reasons to be optimistic about the Utah Jazz on offense. So far, they have looked really strong, with Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, and Ace Bailey all averaging double-digit scoring.
On defense, the Jazz have been abysmal, allowing just under 125 points per game to their opponents. Utah surrendered a season-high 132 points to the Lakers on Sunday, a game where Doncic went for 52 points against them.
If the Jazz are to be a threat in the West playoff picture, then they must figure out how to tighten things up defensively.
24. LA Clippers (-)
2026-27 Record: 1-2 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. SAC (W25), at LAL (L8), at OKC (L7)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. LAL (10/28), at MIN (10/30), at GSW (11/1)
Expect the LA Clippers to be a .500 team all season. Nothing really stands out about them that makes you think they can get to the playoffs, but they definitely have playmakers who can create competitive scenarios against a lot of teams in the league on any night.
That is what happened during the first week of the season, as the Clippers’ defensive intensity and their scoring output from Darius Garland and Brook Lopez kept things interesting against the Lakers and Thunder.
Rookie guard Keaton Wagler certainly stood out during LA’s first three games of the season, averaging 13.0 points and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 40.0 percent from 3-point range. His 15-5-5 performance in the season opener while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 3-point range made him the second-youngest player in league history to achieve this stat line, joining LeBron James.
25. New Orleans Pelicans (-)
2026-27 Record: 0-3 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. IND (L3), at UTA (L1), at DEN (L6/OT)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. DEN (10/28), vs. SAC (10/29), vs. ATL (10/31)
Are the New Orleans Pelicans actually a good basketball team disguised as a 0-3 team to begin the 2026-27 season? The Pelicans lost by a combined 10 points to Indiana, Utah, and Denver to begin the season, taking the Nuggets to overtime on their home floor.
Despite being 0-3, the Pelicans rank eighth in offensive rating and fourth in scoring. This team definitely has plenty of offensive firepower considering that nine of the 12 players who have played this season for Jamahl Mosley’s group are averaging more than eight points per game, with Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III each averaging more than 20 points per game.
The question for the Pelicans is whether they can sustain Yves Missi being out indefinitely with a bone bruise in his knee, as veteran DeAndre Jordan and second-year big man Derik Queen are their only other options at center.
26. Golden State Warriors (-7)
2026-27 Record: 0-3 | Last Week’s Schedule: at LAL (L22), vs. MEM (L3), at PHX (L9)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at DEN (10/26), at MIN (10/28), vs. LAL (10/30), vs. LAC (11/1)
The last time that the Golden State Warriors began the NBA season with a 0-3 record, Stephen Curry was beginning his sophomore year at Davidson and preparing to put himself on the map as one of the best basketball prospects in the country.
Once again, the problems that plagued the Warriors last year are emerging this year. Nobody stepped up around Steph Curry in the first game of the year, leading to their 22-point loss in Los Angeles, and then Golden State lost 111-108 at home to the Grizzlies despite leading Memphis 106-94 with just over three minutes left in the game.
Losing to the Suns on Saturday wasn’t all that surprising since it seemed like Steve Kerr and his group were punting the game with the starters out, yet this may have been the Warriors’ best performance of the season.
Without Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, and Moses Moody, the Warriors are in big trouble and could fall into a hole during the first month of the new season that they won’t be able to recover from. There is absolutely reason to worry about what the immediate future holds for this team.
27. Chicago Bulls (-)
2026-27 Record: 1-2 | Last Week’s Schedule: at TOR (L43), at MIL (W7), vs. WAS (L4)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at BOS (10/26), vs. NYK (10/28), at BOS (10/30)
Caleb Wilson has been the only bright spot for a Chicago Bulls team that simply isn’t that good. After scoring 37 combined points in his first two NBA games, Wilson put together a 30-point, 14-rebound gem in the Bulls’ 124-120 loss to the Wizards on Saturday.
Through his first three games as a member of the Bulls, Wilson has scored 67 total points, the second most all time in team history behind only Michael Jordan (74). That is pretty remarkable for the Bulls’ rookie.
28. Brooklyn Nets (+1)
2026-27 Record: 0-3 | Last Week’s Schedule: vs. CHA (L7), at CLE (L4), vs. IND (L27)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at BOS (10/27), vs. DET (10/30), at IND (11/1)
The Nets almost succeeded in their comeback attempt in Cleveland on Saturday, but Donovan Mitchell’s crew were able to hang on. This is the second straight year that the Nets have dropped each of their first three games of the season, and it doesn’t seem like much will change for Brooklyn this upcoming week with three Eastern Conference contenders on the schedule.
Through his first three games with the Nets, Julius Randle has averaged 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Expect the veteran forward to gain trade attention from rival teams as the season progresses.
29. Sacramento Kings (+1)
2026-27 Record: 0-3 | Last Week’s Schedule: at LAC (L25), vs. POR (L8), vs. MEM (L11)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: at SAS (10/27), at NOP (10/29), at MEM (10/31)
Darius Acuff Jr. and Zach LaVine have been chucking up virtually all the Sacramento Kings’ shots to this point. These two have attempted 132 total shots through three games, which is 48.9 percent of the Kings’ total shot attempts on the year.
In fact, Acuff has attempted 73 total shots, which is the most any player has ever taken in NBA history through their first three career games. He is also the first player to ever attempt 20 or more shots in each of his first three games.
The Kings have a future star at the point guard position in Acuff, yet it’s hard to imagine this team being anything special.
30. Milwaukee Bucks (-2)
2026-27 Record: 0-3 | Last Week’s Schedule: at WAS (L12), vs. CHI (L7), at PHI (L11)
Upcoming Week’s Schedule: vs. IND (10/26), vs. HOU (10/28), vs. CLE (10/31)
At least the Bucks tried during the first week of the season. This team is simply one that has been thrown together and just has a lot of basketball players with no identity.
Could Tyler Herro score 20-plus points? Sure. Could Jaime Jaquez Jr. or someone else also get hot offensively? Definitely. Can the Bucks string together multiple wins in a row and shake things up in the standings? Highly doubtful.
Milwaukee has some good players, but this just isn’t a team that can reach 20 wins this season.
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