Power Rankings, Week 12: Spurs stay in lead; Rockets, Pistons in Top 5
San Antonio keeps rolling at the top as Detroit, Houston and Phoenix are among the big risers as Week 12 begins.
You are what your record says you are.
But sometimes, a team’s record doesn’t tell the whole story. At this point of the season (43% of the way through), there can be a pretty big disparity in how tough schedules have been.
Point differential also adds context and can help us determine if a team’s record is sustainable.
Here are the three teams with the biggest differentials between their actual wins and their “expected” wins (based on point differential) …
Biggest difference, actual wins – “expected” wins
| Team | W | L | PCT | +/- | Exp. W | Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | 22 | 11 | .667 | 0.0 | 17 | 5 |
| Chicago | 17 | 18 | .486 | -3.5 | 13 | 4 |
| Washington | 9 | 25 | .265 | -11.0 | 6 | 3 |
| Utah | 12 | 22 | .353 | -7.1 | 10 | 2 |
| Sacramento | 8 | 28 | .222 | -12.0 | 6 | 2 |
Here’s the opposite end of the list, the teams with more “expected” wins than actual wins…
Biggest difference, “expected” wins – actual wins
| Team | W | L | PCT | +/- | Exp. W | Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 21 | 11 | .656 | +8.6 | 25 | -4 |
| Boston | 22 | 12 | .647 | +7.1 | 25 | -3 |
| Miami | 20 | 16 | .556 | +3.6 | 22 | -2 |
| LA Clippers | 12 | 22 | .353 | -2.2 | 14 | -2 |
| Charlotte | 12 | 23 | .343 | -2.6 | 14 | -2 |
So in the “expected” wins standings, the Rockets would be 8 1/2 games ahead of the Lakers. In the actual standings, the Lakers are a half-game ahead of the Rockets.
In this week’s Power Rankings, Houston has the edge.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
- Right Way: Chet Holmgren (OKC) was a plus-74 in four games last week.
- Wrong Way: Keegan Murray (SAC) was a minus-73 in four games last week.
Teams of the Week
- Make It Last Forever: Boston (3-0) — The Celtics’ offense might never cool off.
- Something Just Ain’t Right: Sacramento (0-4) — The beam still has plenty of battery life left.
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East vs. West
- The West is 82-72 (.532) against the East in interconference games, though the East was 16-12 last week.
Schedule strength through Week 11
- Toughest: 1. Sacramento, 2. Utah, 3. New Orleans
- Easiest: 1. Denver, 2. Oklahoma City, 3. Detroit
- Schedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record.
* * *
Movement in the Rankings
- High jumps of the week: Portland (+4), LA Clippers (+3), Milwaukee (+3)
- Free falls of the week: Denver (-6), Brooklyn (-5)
* * *
Week 12 Team to Watch
- Minnesota — The Wolves seems to have flipped the switch after a pair of ugly losses at the end of 2025, but they’ll be tested this week, with games against the Heat, Cavs (x 2) and Spurs.
* * *
Previously…
- Last week: Spurs power past Thunder for No. 1
- The archive: NBA.com Power Rankings
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
The league has averaged 115.0 points scored per 100 possessions and 100.8 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes this season.
NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, contact him via Bluesky.
