NBA Week 3 Power Rankings: Every Team Ranked From Bottom to Top as Thunder Dominate and Pistons Shake Up the East

It’s been a few weeks since the new NBA season started, and the landscape is already taking shape. After the second week’s ranking list, the third one came into light, and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder is again owning the top spot among all the teams.

The Eastern Conference picture is anything but predictable, with the Detroit Pistons leading the pack, and several contenders are competing fiercely. Here is how all 30 teams stack up after week 3:

Top 30 NBA Teams Ranking For Third Week

30. Washington Wizards

The Wizards lost eight straight games, averaging a 20.8-point defeat and ranking last in the net rating. Rookie Tre Johnson showed promise with efficient scoring and boosting the offense.

 29. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are 1-9 but snapped a four-game losing streak. The team shot poorly. Despite winning the possession battle, they rank last in effective field goal percentage, failing to capitalize on extra opportunities.

28. Brooklyn Nets

The Nets got their first win of the season, but remain near the bottom with a -15.3 net rating. Cam Thomas is out, and Michael Porter Jr. took the main offensive charge.

27. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans are on 2-8 and got their first two win of the season without Zion Williamson. Their defense was strong in the two wins, though offensive struggles continue.

26. Utah Jazz

The Jazz lost five of six games and will play without Walker Kessler for the season. Offensively, the team struggles with Jusuf Nurkic starting. While Isaiah Collier made his debut.

25. Sacramento Kings

The Kings lost two big home games after starting the week 3-8. Russell Westbrook led the offense while Domantas Sabonis missed two games. The team faced the toughest schedule in the league.

24. Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets are standing at 3-7. They have strong middle-quarter scoring but poor first-quarter defense and fourth-quarter offense.

23. Dallas Mavericks

With a 3-7 record, the Mavericks are struggling with injuries to key big players, including Anthony Davis. Dallas won the possession battle but still ranks near the bottom in turnovers and rebounding.

22. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are 4-7 and struggling with Ja Morant’s tension with the coaching staff. They have improved in the first quarter and built early leads, while rookie Cedric Coward is a bright spot for excelling in efficient scoring.

21. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are 3-7 and have lost four games back-to-back without Kawhi Leonard. They struggled defensively than last season.

20. Orlando Magic

The Magic remain near the bottom of the East and struggled for consistency on both ends. They limit opponent 3-pointers well, but struggle to make their own, especially in clutch moments.

19. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are 6-5 and will be without Trae Young for at least a month. Their offence improved without Young, with balanced scoring from multiple players. Meanwhile, they struggle defensively in the second half, which ends with a big drop-off.

18. Boston Celtics

The Celtics went 5-7 last week. They are facing inconsistency, but their bench helped in Orlando, outscoring the Magic by 21 points while Jaylen Brown rested.

17. Phoenix Suns

The Suns surprised this season, winning four of their last five games. Jalen Green had a strong debut but re-injured his hamstring. They shot well from deep and ranked in the top 10 in both 3-point percentage and volume.

16. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors lost their four-game winning streak in Philadelphia. Their win comes from strong defense, allowing just 10.2 points per 100 possessions, while losses see opponents shoot and rebound much better.

15. Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers were 0-3, losing leads late in games. Their 3-point shooting slipped, but they dominated with Trendon Watford recording a triple-double.

14. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers struggled to close games and allowed 48 points on 41 clutch possessions over their last five contests. Deni Advija starred last week with a 30.7 points average while shooting 91% from the line.

13. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls went 2-3 last week and struggled defensively as opponents shot better from 3-point range. Their own 3-point shooting dropped without Coby White, but they still lead the league in transition points.

12. Miami Heat

The Heat won both games without Bam Adebayo, with all nine rotation players scoring at least nine points. Their bench was excellent and made a huge impact.

11. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors struggled without Stephen Curry and lost eight straight games in his absence. They score much more efficiently when Curry plays with Butler and Green.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves struggled without Anthony Edwards and went 2-2 with two big wins in his return weekend. Edwards boosts their offensive depth, while Rudy Gobert’s defense was evident.

9. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks struggled recently as they lost three of five games despite a 4-1 start. Their defence showed ups and downs, while Giannis Antetokounmpo is taking charge of the offence.

8. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are on a seven-game winning streak and lead the Eastern Conference. Their strong interior defense challenges opponents while Cade Cunningham shines in the clutch moments.

7. San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama and the team dominate inside and outscore opponents consistently. At the same time, De’Aaron Fox’s upcoming return should boost the Spurs’ confidence further. The team won big over the Rockets, and the offense performed better than before.

6. Los Angeles Lakers

Luka Doncic returned in dominant form and led the Lakers to secure a solid upper hand early this season. The team is overachieving in terms of point differential and is undefeated in clutch situations, for the most part.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

Injuries affected the Cavaliers’ game plan, but Donovan Mitchell’s strong presence helped the team stay competitive. Their offense improved, scoring 130.8 points per 100 possessions over the last three games while significantly reducing turnovers.

4. New York Knicks

The Knicks bounced back at home after a tough road trip. Their offence leaned heavily on three-pointers that hit them at one of the league’s best rates. With Mitchell Robinson back, the Knicks’ starting lineup looks strong and continues to outscore opponents.

3. Houston Rockets

The Rockets started strong, and their veteran leader continues to lead the team to success. They struggled defensively against the San Antonio Spurs, while they excel in offensive rebounding with a season-high 41.4% rate.

2. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are strong on both ends with a 8-2 record. Nikola Jokic is still dominating on the court, nearly posting five straight triple-doubles to start the season. Their improved defense and growing use of zone will play a crucial role in their success ahead.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder remains tall at 11-1 despite missing several key players, including Jalen Williams. They boast the league’s top net rating and elite defense. However, they struggle defending corner 3s.