Power Rankings: The Definitive Week 12 NBA Hierarchy
The NBA hierarchy is becoming clearer following Week 11. While the hierarchy at the top has tightened compared to earlier in the season, recent results and scoring margins have helped define which teams belong in the leagueโs upper tier right now.
The Teams at the Top Now: NBA Hierarchy
San Antonio remains at the top of the power rankings following Week 11, even though the last two weeks have included inconsistent results, a position that still reflects its standing within the NBA hierarchy. The Spurs have lost three of their last five games, playing two of those without Victor Wembanyama following a knee scare. Even so, the overall results continue to hold up.
San Antonio owns a +5.4 Net Rating, ranks inside the top 10 on both offense and defense, and has been dependable against strong competition, going 7-1 against teams winning at least 65% of their games. The offense has dipped slightly over the last five games (113.5 points per 100 possessions), but the Spurs have still controlled most stretches.
Oklahoma City remains second, holding the same position as last week and reinforcing its place near the top of the NBA hierarchy. The Thunder continue to rely on defense, allowing just 104.4 points per 100 possessions, the best mark in the league. They also lead the NBA in NetRtg (+14.4). In their six losses, the pattern has been familiar: scoring slows, and offensive rebounding falls off, particularly when Isaiah Hartenstein is unavailable. Even in those games, Oklahoma City has rarely allowed opponents to pull away.
Detroit has moved further up the rankings after climbing from fifth last week, a rise that has reshaped perceptions of the NBA hierarchy. The Pistons rank second in defensive rating (110.6) and have maintained that level despite missing Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren. Isaiah Stewart has taken on more responsibility inside, limiting opponents to under 42% shooting at the rim, while Detroitโs bench has avoided giving games back. After briefly losing three of four, the Pistons responded with a physical road win in Cleveland.
Houston continues to rise after sitting sixth a week ago, positioning itself firmly within the upper tier of the NBA hierarchy. The Rockets rank second in NetRtg (+8.6) and have frequently won games by comfortable margins. Turnovers remain elevated at 16.2 per 100 possessions, and late-game mistakes have shown up in recent losses. Over full games, however, Houston consistently generates more shot attempts than opponents, which has kept them near the top.
Minnesota rounds out the Top 5 after moving up from seventh last week, with its spot in the NBA hierarchy closely tied to ball security. The Timberwolvesโ results have closely tracked their ball control. Minnesota is 16-3 when committing fewer than 15 turnovers. Road wins in Miami and Washington helped stabilize things after a rough close to December, but consistency remains the key factor.
Just Behind
Just outside the top 5, the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets both slide back this week. New York has allowed 120.6 points per 100 possessions over its last nine games, a clear step back from earlier stretches. Denverโs drop is tied more to availability, as the Nuggets have struggled to maintain defensive structure without Nikola Jokiฤ. Both teams remain close to the top 5 but have not played well enough recently to stay inside it.
Boston and Phoenix were the final teams left out. Boston continues to rank second in offensive rating (122.3) and can score quickly when perimeter shots fall, though defensive results have varied. Phoenix has won six of its last seven, including an 18-point comeback against Oklahoma City, but rebounding swings and schedule factors keep the Suns just outside the top 5 for now.
