How all 30 NBA teams have fared since 2026 began

The common season spans a part of two calendar years, and the staff’s data over that span shall be ranked on the ultimate day, turning into etched in historical past. However, what is the order since the brand new 12 months?

This query issues for a couple of causes: there are extra video games in 2026 than in 2025, fortunes typically flip through the season’s closing three-and-a-half months and people shifts are likely to reveal a staff’s true identification.

For instance, 2026 gave the Charlotte Hornets an opportunity to develop a full rotation of younger gamers, and now they’re having fun with the development in the correct course. On the flip aspect, 2026 is costing the Denver Nuggets by way of accidents and inconsistency.

Here’s a take a look at the standings in each conferences since New Year’s Daywith their data and order by way of Tuesday’s video games.

Eastern Conference

Detroit Pistons (27-11 since Jan. 1): Fueled by Cade Cunningham and blessed with relative good well being, the Pistons managed to maintain their thumb on the remainder of the East whereas motoring towards a possible No. 1 seed. However, now they have no Cunningham and no whole well being, with Detroit’s famous person coping with a collapsed lung and the Pistons pressed to switch his scoring and playmaking. Good information, although: They’re 8-2 since their departure.

Cleveland Cavaliers (26-11): Injuries and inconsistency handcuffed the Cavs earlier than the calendar flipped, sitting at eighth within the East. Now they’ll end third within the transitional stretch with James Harden changing Darius Garland to hopefully turn out to be a greater pair with Donovan Mitchell, together with a clear invoice of well being within the rotation.

Boston Celtics (27-12): Their 20-12 report in 2026 would maybe be an even bigger shock, if solely as a result of the Celtics with out Jayson Tatum refused to stumble after a dash out of the gate. Now with Tatum again, their probabilities of ending as a top-two seed are stronger, although not a slam dunk.

Charlotte Hornets (27-12): Clearly, the Hornets’ turnaround is the most important within the NBA, as across the holidays, Charlotte appeared to be spiraling towards one other lottery end. Instead, the right storm occurred: LaMelo Ball remained wholesome, Brandon Miller confirmed progress and Kon Knueppel regularly made extra of a direct affect as a rookie. A nine-game win streak in late January modified every thing.

Atlanta Hawks (24-13): So a lot has gone proper for the Hawks after a 16-19 begin. Trae Young, who was injured and performed simply 10 video games, was traded. Nickeil Alexander-Walker thrived each in his absence and since his departure, and, coupled with the playmaking of Dyson Daniels, the drop-off in guard play was surprisingly minimal. Jalen Johnson additionally blossomed into an All-NBA-level participant. Additionally, the Hawks’ schedule softened, holding them at dwelling as Atlanta moved from tenth to sixth place.

New York Knicks (25-15): The Emirates NBA Cup champions had a tough patch from New Year’s Eve to Jan. 19 after they gained twice in 11 video games. They’ve figured it out since then, rediscovering Mike Brown’s system.

Toronto Raptors (20-16): The momentum of a stable begin (fourth within the East) fizzled in springtime because the Raptors didn’t match up with the highest teams, shedding to the Thunder, Spurs, Knicks, Wolves, Rockets and Nuggets during the last month, hinting that Toronto won’t belong in such firm.

Philadelphia 76ers (22-19): Joel Embiid was a considerably common presence within the lineup early in 2026, however his standing grew to become unpredictable resulting from harm points. The suspension of Paul George hasn’t helped, both, throughout this stretch. The Sixers are simply making an attempt to remain within the playoff/SoFi Play-In Tournament combine between now and season’s finish.

Miami Heat (20-19): Tyler Herro performed simply 10 video games in January and February; Miami misplaced six of them. They’ve survived due to Norman Powell’s ascent to All-Star, a extra constant Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr. off the bench.

Orlando Magic (19-19): Franz Wagner has performed simply three video games in 2026. Also, Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs have not taken the following steps of their improvement, a minimum of not like Anthony Black. They’ve had some crushingly dangerous 2026 losses, most recently to Indiana.

Milwaukee Bucks (15-22): The wrestle continues to be actual in Milwaukee, the place the Bucks are headed to the draft lottery and hurtling towards a summer time of uncertainty about Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose enjoying standing is contentious.

Chicago Bulls (13-25): Another 12 months, one other transformation for the Bulls, who proceed to remain locked in irrelevance. Coby White, Nikola Vučević and Ayo Dosunmu all vanished in February. The new section of rebuilding will not absolutely kick in till subsequent season.

Indiana Pacers (10-28): Unlike the Celtics, this has been a real hole 12 months for the Pacers whereas they await the return of Tyrese Haliburton, the incoming lottery choose and for Ivica Zubac to mesh.

Washington Wizards (8-31): They devoted their 2026 to the long run by buying and selling for Trae Young (who has performed minimally) and Anthony Davis (none at all) with out jeopardizing their pending excessive draft choose place.

Brooklyn Nets (7-35): Michael Porter Jr. began sizzling, then cooled a bit, and the Nets shoveled minutes to their ample younger gamers. This report has been the anticipated 2026 outcome.

Western Conference

San Antonio Spurs (30-9 since Jan. 1): They’ve misplaced solely twice since Feb. 1, and even in case you embrace January (after they had been 8-7), the calendar 12 months agrees with the Spurs and elevates them above all others. The NBA is witnessing the speedy improvement of a championship contender, and the explanations transcend Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio’s younger gamers look very mature, and the veterans are enjoying at their peak. Add Wembanyama as an MVP contendand it is the best combine.

Oklahoma City Thunder (28-10). At one stretch in 2026, they had been 8-11, take away the flip-flop from beginning 24-1. This was a surprising reset attributable to accidents to Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein. Still, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stored up the Kia MVP pacethe Thunder added Jared McCain on the February commerce deadline and the Spurs disappeared, lastly, from the schedule. All appears proper in OKC once more.

Los Angeles Lakers (26-15): The Lakers needed to cope whereas Austin Reaves and LeBron James handled accidents. Luka Dončić did his half then, and particularly now, main the league in scoring and having fun with a Kia MVP-flavored season. They had been simply 10 video games over .500 earlier than the calendar flipped, however getting more healthy, enjoying a lot better protection and leaning on Dončić has paid off.

LA Clippers (25-15): What’s most astonishing in regards to the Clippers is how they continued to be respectable even after shedding James Harden and Ivica Zubac on the February commerce deadline. They went 11-4 in January, and all through 2026, Kawhi Leonard has performed a number of the greatest ball of his profession.

Minnesota Timberwolves (23-15): Minnesota struggled early at instances, primarily as a result of the Wolves by no means resolved their problematic level guard subject final offseason and due to this fact positioned lots on Anthony Edwards’ plate. A mid-season commerce introduced Ayo Dosunmuand whereas he is in all probability not the long-term reply, he is an improve. Now they’re making an attempt to stay aggressive during Edwards’ absence resulting from a knee harm.

Portland Trail Blazers (22-17): The Blazers began 2026 at 9-2, stamping themselves as a SoFi Play-In Tournament contender. While Deni Avdija has impressed all season, the event of Donovan Clingan as an elite rebounder (virtually 13 per sport since January) has been the most important plus of 2026.

Houston Rockets (23-18): Losing Steven Adams and his rebounding after 32 video games did not assist issues for Houston, which is roughly a .500 staff right here in March. That mentioned, Kevin Durant exhibits few indicators of weariness at this stage of his profession, and he is nonetheless getting buckets. This is an inexpensive 2026 report for the Rockets at this stage, given the extent of competitors within the West.

Denver Nuggets (22-18): Nikola Jokic played once in Januaryand that threw him and the Nuggets off their tempo. Since their return, they’ve appeared inconsistent, struggling to shut out video games or play the extent of protection vital to suit the definition of a contender. Aaron Gordon returned this month, and Denver appears lastly headed toward full healthhowever time is working out within the common season and an opportunity at a assured home-court playoff spot.

Phoenix Suns (21-19): Phoenix caught the league abruptly after buying and selling Durant final summer time and coping with Jalen Green’s harm absence to start out the season. Since then, not dangerous: the Suns nonetheless have star energy, a successful report and favorable Play-In Tournament possibilities.

New Orleans Pelicans (17-21): Their report displays an enchancment for the Pelicans, who had been lacking Dejounte Murray for nearly all the season, till his return on Feb. 24 from Achilles surgical procedure. This emerges as distressing information for the Hawks, who personal the Pelicans’ No. 1 choose in June.

Golden State Warriors (16-22): There are easy explanations for the fall-off: they lost Jimmy Butler for the seasonStephen Curry for a piece of it they usually could not swing for any vital assist at the trade deadline. Role gamers began getting starters’ minutes final month, and right here they’re. They’ll seemingly be within the Play-In Tournament and Curry, if he returnscould make a distinction then.

Dallas Mavericks (11-27): Kyrie Irving nonetheless hasn’t suited upand will by no means once more for the Mavericks, and Anthony Davis was shipped at the deadlinebringing an uncomfortable finish to the Dončić commerce in 2025. Going ahead, it is all about Cooper Flagg.

Sacramento Kings (11-29): Sacramento by no means developed any traction earlier than the vacations, particularly as soon as Domantas Sabonis was limited to 19 gamesZach LaVine to 39 games and Keegan Murray played just 23. The Kings ultimately pivoted to dedicate a wholesome chunk of the remaining season to creating gamers like Maxime Raynaud.

Memphis Grizzlies (9-29): Ja Morant performed in simply 20 video games and is done for the season. That, coupled with 11 video games from Zach Edey and the deadline trade of Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah, made this a tricky ending stretch. Ty Jerome was a pleasant pickup, although.

Utah Jazz (9-31): Walker Kessler (shoulder) last played on HalloweenJaren Jackson Jr. (knee) played just three games since arriving on the commerce deadline and Lauri Markkanen hasn’t performed since late February. That’s why the Jazz faltered, although no fault of Keyonte George.

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Shaun Powell has lined the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.comdiscover his archive here and follow him on.