NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
Following the All-Star break, NBA play resumed, and there’s only a quarter of the season left before we get to the playoffs.
All of which means teams are largely split into two buckets: those trying to improve their seeding and standing in their respective conferences, and those who are shutting down players or sitting starters in the fourth quarter, seemingly in an attempt to tank to improve their draft positioning.
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Yet, with a massive victory over the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons are maintaining their grasp atop this list. And, as Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, continues to miss games, it’s opening the door for Detroit All-Star Cade Cunningham to potentially take that honor, too.
Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 16 of the 2025-26 regular season:
1 / 8
Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
1 / 8
Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
2 / 8
Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards’ Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.
3 / 8
Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.
4 / 8
Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets’ Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns’ Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.
5 / 8
Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.
6 / 8
