NBA Power Rankings: Thunder, Lakers, Celtics get high marks in first quarter

December 10, 2025 at 8:30 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Tier 1: Top Contenders
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-1)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W at GS, W vs DAL, W at UTA
Offensive rating: 120.0 (fifth place)
Defensive rating: 104.1 (first place)

First-quarter grade: A

The Thunder have lost once. And they’re NBA Cup-bound, along with seven other teams that have lost more than one game. It will be interesting to see if they make the NBA Cup championship for the second year in a row, because if they do win twice this week, they would have to return home next week to play on zero days rest and thank host the LA Clippers. But about this start. Obviously, it is the best in franchise history (yes, that includes Seattle. Bring back the Sonics). Only four other teams have ever won at least 19 of their first 20 games, and all of those teams at least made it to the conference finals. Only the 1970 Knicks (23-1) and 2016 Warriors (24-0, blew a 3-1 NBA Finals lead) have had a record like the Thunder have now. This is the best team in the league because it has the reigning MVP (through three quarters anyway) in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the best defense in the league, forcing turnovers better than any other team. Why not an A-plus? Well, we want to leave some slight room for improvement! As I said above: ruthless grader.

2. Denver Nuggets (17-6)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: L vs DAL, W at IND, W at ATL, W at CHA
Offensive rating: 124.0 (first place)
Defensive rating: 115.4 (18th place)

First-quarter grade: B+

The Nuggets have had to navigate multi-week injuries to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, but it’s easier when you have more depth around Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Denver leads the NBA in field goal percentage, with all three of Jokić (61.2 percent), Murray (50.6 percent) and Gordon (53.2 percent) making more than half of their field goals. This is a powerful basketball team, one that has won 10 consecutive games away from Ball Arena.

3. Detroit Pistons (19-5)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W vs ATL, L at MIL, W vs POR, W vs MIL
Offensive rating: 116.7 (ninth place)
Defensive rating: 111.3 (fourth place)

First-quarter grade: A

This was Detroit’s best 20-game start in 20 years. And the Pistons are defending like contenders, primarily because they force turnovers at a high rate. Six Pistons average at least a steal per game, led by second-year reserve forward Ronald Holland II with 1.7 per game.

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The pair spent time together in Colorado and Dallas, too, but their Rome excursion was on another level.
4. Houston Rockets (15-6)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: L at UTA, W vs SAC, W vs PHO, L at DAL
Offensive rating: 121.4 (fourth place)
Defensive rating: 110.7 (second place)

First-quarter grade: A

The Rockets attempt the fewest 3s in the league, have one of the worst turnover rates and are arguably the slowest team in the league. And yet, they are off to their best 20-game start in eight years while overwhelming teams with second-chance scoring opportunities and the kind of size that overwhelms teams on both ends of the floor. This wasn’t a great week for the Rockets, though, as they lost two road games to losing teams while dealing with the dreaded five games in seven days stretch.

5. Los Angeles Lakers (17-6)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: L vs PHO, W at TOR, L at BOS, W at PHI
Offensive rating: 118.3 (sixth place)
Defensive rating: 116.2 (20th place)

First-quarter grade: A

When the Lakers lose, they get wiped off the court. But if it’s a close game, they are winning it. They are the last undefeated team in clutch time at 8-0, and they are 15-0 when they lead through three quarters. They have the top scorer in the league in Luka Dončić, a second free-throw merchant in Austin Reaves leading all No. 2 scorers and the top scorer in league history in LeBron James picking his spots. This is the best 20-game start for the Lakers in six seasons, and that is more meaningful than their strength of schedule, considering the fact that their best three players are still coalescing.

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LakerTom says

December 10, 2025 at 8:30 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Tier 1: Top Contenders
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-1)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W at GS, W vs DAL, W at UTA
Offensive rating: 120.0 (fifth place)
Defensive rating: 104.1 (first place)

First-quarter grade: A

The Thunder have lost once. And they’re NBA Cup-bound, along with seven other teams that have lost more than one game. It will be interesting to see if they make the NBA Cup championship for the second year in a row, because if they do win twice this week, they would have to return home next week to play on zero days rest and thank host the LA Clippers. But about this start. Obviously, it is the best in franchise history (yes, that includes Seattle. Bring back the Sonics). Only four other teams have ever won at least 19 of their first 20 games, and all of those teams at least made it to the conference finals. Only the 1970 Knicks (23-1) and 2016 Warriors (24-0, blew a 3-1 NBA Finals lead) have had a record like the Thunder have now. This is the best team in the league because it has the reigning MVP (through three quarters anyway) in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the best defense in the league, forcing turnovers better than any other team. Why not an A-plus? Well, we want to leave some slight room for improvement! As I said above: ruthless grader.

2. Denver Nuggets (17-6)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: L vs DAL, W at IND, W at ATL, W at CHA
Offensive rating: 124.0 (first place)
Defensive rating: 115.4 (18th place)

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First-quarter grade: B+

The Nuggets have had to navigate multi-week injuries to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, but it’s easier when you have more depth around Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Denver leads the NBA in field goal percentage, with all three of Jokić (61.2 percent), Murray (50.6 percent) and Gordon (53.2 percent) making more than half of their field goals. This is a powerful basketball team, one that has won 10 consecutive games away from Ball Arena.

3. Detroit Pistons (19-5)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W vs ATL, L at MIL, W vs POR, W vs MIL
Offensive rating: 116.7 (ninth place)
Defensive rating: 111.3 (fourth place)

First-quarter grade: A

This was Detroit’s best 20-game start in 20 years. And the Pistons are defending like contenders, primarily because they force turnovers at a high rate. Six Pistons average at least a steal per game, led by second-year reserve forward Ronald Holland II with 1.7 per game.

What You Should Read Next
Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and the Roman holiday that’s fueling the Pistons
Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and the Roman holiday that’s fueling the Pistons
The pair spent time together in Colorado and Dallas, too, but their Rome excursion was on another level.
4. Houston Rockets (15-6)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: L at UTA, W vs SAC, W vs PHO, L at DAL
Offensive rating: 121.4 (fourth place)
Defensive rating: 110.7 (second place)

First-quarter grade: A

The Rockets attempt the fewest 3s in the league, have one of the worst turnover rates and are arguably the slowest team in the league. And yet, they are off to their best 20-game start in eight years while overwhelming teams with second-chance scoring opportunities and the kind of size that overwhelms teams on both ends of the floor. This wasn’t a great week for the Rockets, though, as they lost two road games to losing teams while dealing with the dreaded five games in seven days stretch.

5. Los Angeles Lakers (17-6)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: L vs PHO, W at TOR, L at BOS, W at PHI
Offensive rating: 118.3 (sixth place)
Defensive rating: 116.2 (20th place)

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First-quarter grade: A

When the Lakers lose, they get wiped off the court. But if it’s a close game, they are winning it. They are the last undefeated team in clutch time at 8-0, and they are 15-0 when they lead through three quarters. They have the top scorer in the league in Luka Dončić, a second free-throw merchant in Austin Reaves leading all No. 2 scorers and the top scorer in league history in LeBron James picking his spots. This is the best 20-game start for the Lakers in six seasons, and that is more meaningful than their strength of schedule, considering the fact that their best three players are still coalescing.

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