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The Boston Celtics are making their NBA power ranking debuts after Week 7, after extending their win streak to five games. The OKC Thunder still occupy the top spot because they remain the most unstoppable team in the league. The Detroit Pistons are hanging on just behind the defending champions.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers and Houston Rockets are still contenders to be in the Top 5. The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks continue their strong performances, while the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors fall off the Top 10.
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Let's look at the latest NBA power rankings after Week 7 of the season, brought to you by Sportskeeda.
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NBA Power Rankings 2025-26 Season: Top 10 Teams After Week 7
#10. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-9)
Previous Ranking: NR
Offensive Rating: 117.9
Defensive Rating: 113.4
Net Rating: 4.5
The Minnesota Timberwolves displaced the Toronto Raptors in this week's NBA power rankings. The Timberwolves have a better record overall, though the main reason for the Raptors' ouster was losing three of their four games, including a blowout to the lowly Charlotte Hornets.
Led by Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves won three of their four games in Week 7. They could have been higher on the list, but those three wins came against the New Orleans Pelicans twice and the LA Clippers. Both teams are near the bottom of the West standings.
#9. Orlando Magic (14-10)
Previous Ranking: No. 10
Offensive Rating: 115.7
Defensive Rating: 111.8
Net Rating: 3.9
The Orlando Magic moved up one spot in this week's NBA power rankings, despite having a worse record than the Toronto Raptors. The Magic survived after Week 7 because their two losses this week came against two powerhouses: the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks.
Paolo Banchero's return hasn't been impactful, with the Magic playing better when he was out. But with Franz Wagner ruled injured with a severe ankle sprain, Banchero will need to step up if Orlando wants to retain their spot in the Top 10 for the rest of the season.
#8. New York Knicks (16-7)
Previous Ranking: No. 7
Offensive Rating: 121.7
Defensive Rating: 113.5
Net Rating: 8.2
The New York Knicks had a fantastic Week 7, but they still dropped one place to No. 8. Some fans might think that the Knicks deserve to be higher because they were 3-1 last week. However, two of those wins were against weaker teams in the Charlotte Hornets and Utah Jazz.
They survived against the Franz Wagner-less Orlando Magic, while their lone loss was to the Boston Celtics. If the Knicks beat their Atlantic Division rivals, they would have at least retained the No. 7 spot in the NBA power rankings. The consolation prize is that they are second in the East standings.
#7. Boston Celtics (15-9)
Previous Ranking: NR
Offensive Rating: 122.0
Defensive Rating: 114.8
Net Rating: 7.2
The Boston Celtics make their debut in the NBA power rankings at No. 7. They extended their win streak to five games and had won eight of their last 10 games entering this week's NBA Cup quarterfinals. They went 4-0 in Week 7, beating three teams with a winning record.
The Celtics made it look easy against the New York Knicks, LA Lakers and Toronto Raptors. They also beat the Washington Wizards, but that was an expected outcome. Jaylen Brown continues to be comfortable as the first option, while Payton Pritchard has stepped up in his first season as a starter.
#6. San Antonio Spurs (16-7)
Previous Ranking: No. 6
Offensive Rating: 118.2
Defensive Rating: 114.4
Net Rating: 3.8
Despite not having Victor Wembanyama over the four weeks, the San Antonio Spurs continued to win. The Spurs also were without Stephon Castle until the final game of Week 7 against the New Orleans Pelicans. They went 3-1, but they failed to move into the Top 5.
It all came down to the quality of their opponents, with just a 1-1 record against winning teams. They beat the Orlando Magic but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They also had close games versus the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans, a couple of teams in the lower half of the West standings.
#5. Houston Rockets (15-6)
Previous Ranking: No. 4
Offensive Rating: 121.4
Defensive Rating: 110.7
Net Rating: 10.8
The Houston Rockets have looked like legitimate NBA championship contenders this season. The Rockets survived Kevin Durant's absence in Week 6 and have looked better in Week 7. However, they are still inconsistent and will need a real playmaker in the playoffs.
Houston easily beat the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, but they were bamboozled by Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks. If the Rockets want to be taken seriously, they need to put away teams that are worse than them. It didn't help that Alperen Sengun missed games last week.
#4. LA Lakers (17-6)
Previous Ranking: No. 3
Offensive Rating: 118.3
Defensive Rating: 116.2
Net Rating: 2.0
The LA Lakers are back to the No. 4 spot in this week's NBA power rankings, despite a 2-1 record in Week 7. The Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers on the road, which weren't easy feats. But it was closer than expected, so they failed to hold on to the Top 3.
Luka Doncic missed a couple of games due to paternity leave, while Austin Reaves lost his gas tank in the final game of the week. LeBron James turned back the clock against the Sixers, but the Lakers' main concern is how to improve their overall defense.
#3. Denver Nuggets (17-6)
Previous Ranking: No. 5
Offensive Rating: 124.0
Defensive Rating: 115.4
Net Rating: 8.6
The Denver Nuggets are back in the Top 3 after spending last week's NBA power rankings at No. 5. Nikola Jokic is still one of the favorites to win the MVP award, while Jamal Murray is poised to become a first-time All-Star. The Nuggets are surviving despite long-term injuries to starters Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon.
Denver won all three of their games in Week 7, blowing out the Indiana Pacers to start it. They then outlasted the Atlanta Hawks before beating the Charlotte Hornets on the road. They are tied with the LA Lakers for the third-best record in the league.
#2. Detroit Pistons (19-5)
Previous Ranking: No. 2
Offensive Rating: 116.7
Defensive Rating: 111.3
Net Rating: 5.4
The Detroit Pistons have a stronghold on the No. 2 spot in the NBA power rankings. The Pistons were careless in Week 7, losing to the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks before bouncing back against the Portland Trail Blazers and getting their revenge on Milwaukee.
Cade Cunningham remains a strong MVP candidate, while Jalen Duren has started slowing down after a hot start to the campaign. The Pistons will still need to address the need for a better secondary option on offense. They have been linked to Anthony Davis and Lauri Markkanen, though there might be cheaper and better options.
#1. OKC Thunder (23-1)
Previous Ranking: No. 1
Offensive Rating: 120.0
Defensive Rating: 104.1
Net Rating: 15.9
The OKC Thunder have appeared unstoppable seven weeks into the new season. The defending NBA champions haven't had any problems winning games, with their lone loss a few weeks ago being a two-point defeat against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Jalen Williams' return gave them another boost, though it will be interesting to see how sustainable their current run is. The Thunder are the third team in NBA history to start the season at 23-1 or better, joining the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (24-0) and 1969-70 New York Knicks (23-1).
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