Luka Doncic, Lakers surge in Post’s NBA Power Rankings

Each week, the California Post will power rank the NBA’s 30 teams. Records are as of Saturday morning:

1. Philadelphia 76ers (8-1)

LeBron James is sipping fan’s wine. He’s dancing after making an and-one fadeaway jumper. The 76ers are atop the Eastern Conference, and the face of the league is having fun as he makes a run for his fifth ring. (Last week, 3rd)

2. Los Angeles Lakers (8-2)

Luka Doncic is putting up video game numbers, averaging 40.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists for the Lakers, who are atop the Western Conference. He’s having an early MVP campaign. If he keeps playing this way, the Lakers could be a championship team. (Last week, 9th)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, drives to the basket as Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III defends on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill3. San Antonio Spurs (7-2)

Victor Wembanyama had a 52-point, 24-rebound, eight-block performance against the Mavericks on Wednesday. When he’s on, he’s unstoppable for the Spurs, who have won seven games in a row. (Last week, 7th)

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (7-2)

They’ve won three games in a row even though they’re without Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace because of injuries. This team is ridiculously deep, led by two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilegous-Alexander. (Last week, 6th)

5. Minnesota Timberwolves (7-3)

No Anthony Edwards? No problem. The Timberwolves have won three games in a row even though their superstar has been sidelined after undergoing an arthroscopic right knee debridement procedure on Oct. 29. They beat the Rockets on Wednesday, 117-107. But missing Edwards’ 33.3 points per game is undoubtedly going to be tough. (Last week, 10th)

6. Detroit Pistons (6-2)

The Pistons have the best defensive rating in the NBA (103), and their only losses have been against the 76ers and the reigning champion Knicks. (Last week, 4th)

7. Houston Rockets (7-2)

They have balanced scoring. They’re a good defensive team. Last week, they beat Oklahoma City and Boston before falling to the Timberwolves. (Last week, 1st)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Joan Beringer defends in Houston, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith8. Boston Celtics (6-2)

Don’t sleep on this Celtics team. They’re in the top five in both offense and defense, and Jayson Tatum is showing that he can lead a team without Jaylen Brown. (Last week, 5th)

9. Portland Trail Blazers (6-2)

Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija have wasted no time developing chemistry. They already look like one of the most dynamic duos in the league, and they jumped to a 16-point lead over the Lakers on Friday before letting that advantage slip through their fingers in a 124-118 loss. (Last week, 8th)

10. Memphis Grizzlies (6-3)

Ty Jerome went from averaging 19.7 points last season to 27.4 this season. Cameron Boozer is deserving of his early Rookie of the Year buzz. The Grizzlies are surpassing expectations. (Last week, 2nd)

11. Golden State Warriors (6-3)

The Warriors have won six games in a row after dropping their first three contests. Steph Curry is still very much Steph Curry. Yaxel Lendeborg has wildly surpassed expectations. And this team could be dangerous, especially when Jimmy Butler returns from a torn ACL in the next few months. (Last week, 14th)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, confers with head coach Steve Kerr in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in Denver, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. AP Photo/David Zalubowski12. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-4)

The Cavaliers routed the 76ers on Friday, 119-95, dealing them their first loss of the season. That’s a positive development for a team that has struggled against the stronger teams in the league this season, losing to the Thunder (twice), 76ers (in their season opener) and Hawks. (Last week, 13th)

13. Atlanta Hawks (6-4)

The Hawks are solid offensively and defensively and have won three games in a row. This could be a sleeper team in the East. (Last week, 16th)

14. New York Knicks (4-4)

Yeah, yeah, they’ve had a surprisingly slow start to this season. But they’re the reigning champs and they’re going to figure it out. Jalen Brunson is coming off a 33-point performance (10-for-17 from the field, 5-for-10 from 3), and the Knicks have won two games in a row against the Nets and Bulls. They’re going to be just fine. (Last week, 17th)

15. Denver Nuggets (4-3)

Nikola Jokic is looking a little less Nikola Jokic-esque than usual, averaging his fewest points (23.4) and rebounds (9.7) since 2019-2020, as well as his fewest assists (9.3) since 2023-24. But here’s to betting that turns around real soon. (Last week, 15th)

16. Toronto Raptors (5-4)

Kawhi Leonard (left knee swelling) has begun a return-to-play process after playing in only two games this season. Him being back on the court will change things for this team. (Last week, No. 12th)

17. Dallas Mavericks (5-4)

The Mavericks stunningly lost to the lowly Kings on Monday, 115-110. But they have wins over the Rockets and Thunder this season. Go figure. The Mavericks can be very good on any given night, and Cooper Flagg is just as good as they hoped. (Last week, 11th)

18. Washington Wizards (4-5)

The Wizards lost two games in a row to the Hawks this week. They’re still trying to find their identity. But they have some good pieces in Trae Young and Anthony Davis, if those two can figure things out. (Last week, 18th)

19. Miami Heat (3-6)

Frustrations are brewing for the Heat, who have so much talent in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Klay Thompson — but it’s not translating into wins. They dropped games this week against the Lakers and Warriors, and their defense has looked porous. At least Thompson hit a game-winning 3-pointer against the Clippers with one second left in a 117-116 overtime victory on Wednesday. (Last week, 20th)

20. New Orleans Pelicans (4-5)

The Pelicans won four games in a row before falling to the Timberwolves on Friday, 115-109. After dropping their first four games of the season, they even beat the Grizzlies on Monday in overtime, 135-134. Maybe they’re starting to turn things around? Probably not. (Last week, 25th)

21. Indiana Pacers (3-6)

Players have been in and out of the lineup with injuries, and the Pacers have lost five of their last six games. But with Tyrese Haliburton on the roster, this team can’t be counted out. (Last week, 22nd)

22. Charlotte Hornets (3-7)

The Hornets are on a six-game losing streak, including suffering a 39-point route against the Celtics on Friday, 119-80. (Last week, 19th)

23. Phoenix Suns (2-5)

Dillon Brooks started drama with Draymond Green. Guess there’s some intrigue there. But otherwise, the Suns have fallen off the radar, losing four of their last five games. (Last week, 23rd)

24. Orlando Magic (2-6)

The Magic have wins over a few strong teams: the Knicks and Raptors. But they’ve lost every other contest. (Last week, 21st)

25. Los Angeles Clippers (1-7)

The Clippers have been decimated by injuries and rocked by the Aspiration scandal. We weren’t expecting much from them this season. And there have been no surprises. (Last week, 24th)

26. Brooklyn Nets (2-6)

At least New Yorkers have the Knicks. (Last week, 29th)

27. Utah Jazz (1-8)

The Jazz have the injury bug, they can’t convert from beyond the arc and they’ve faced some of the league’s best opponents to start the season. Unsurprisingly, it hasn’t panned out well for them. (Last week, 26th)

28. Chicago Bulls (1-7)

They have the worst net rating and point differential in franchise history. It’s going to be a long rebuild. (Last week, 27th)

29. Sacramento Kings (1-8)

It’s been a rough season, but, hey, that win over the Mavericks on Monday was unexpected. (Last week, 30th)

30. Milwaukee Bucks (1-8)

Maybe Bucks fans can find a bit of consolation in the fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo is struggling in Miami? (Last week, 28th)