The NBA enjoyed an optimistic week with a slowdown in major injuries and high-quality basketball, featuring multiple seven-game winning streaks that did not even make the winners list.
Three Biggest Winners
1. Oklahoma City Thunder — Despite missing Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, and Chet Holmgren, the Thunder went 4-0, sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers and beating the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards by a combined 70 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged just under 36 points. Oklahoma City shifted from a turnover-heavy defense to protecting the paint, allowing five fewer points in the paint per game than last season. The offense committed the fewest turnovers in the tracking era, averaging 231.6 passes per game. Rookie Ajay Mitchell scored over 1.2 points per possession on pick-and-rolls, ranking in the 94th percentile. The Thunder also acquired wing Nique Clifford from the Sacramento Kings for two second-round picks.
2. Luka Dončić — Dončić averaged 40.1 points, leading the NBA in both 3-point attempts and free-throw attempts. The Los Angeles Lakers are 9-2 with the league's top-rated offense, despite ranking 23rd in rebounding and defense. The Lakers are roughly 34 points per 100 possessions better with Dončić on the floor, and they even won a key road game against the Detroit Pistons without him.
3. LaMelo Ball — After being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ball stepped up when Anthony Edwards was injured. Minnesota went 4-2, outscoring opponents by 13.3 points per 100 possessions with Ball on the court and posting a true shooting percentage just under 60% with him versus just over 54% without. Teammates Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu saw their true shooting jump at least 14 percentage points when playing alongside Ball.
Three Biggest Losers
1. Charlotte Hornets — Since trading Ball, the Hornets have the NBA's worst offense, ranking last in true shooting percentage and turnovers. They average fewer assists than the Thunder despite 65 more passes per game. Injuries to Coby White and Kon Knueppel (hamstring, out four weeks) and Brandon Miller's struggles (26% from three, below 36% overall on a $209 million contract) have made the step back far worse than anticipated.
2. Western Conference Middle Class — Early excitement around the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, and New Orleans Pelicans has faded. The Grizzlies turned a six-game winning streak into a three-game losing streak. The Blazers lost to the Lakers and were blown out by the San Antonio Spurs, with two games against the Thunder upcoming. The Pelicans dropped back-to-back games after a four-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Spurs have won eight straight, and the Thunder, Lakers, Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets are performing as expected or better.
3. Lottery Reform Impact — Seven teams have only one or two wins after nearly three weeks, with just three total victories over teams above .500. Many bottom-tier teams lack incentive to win because they do not control their own first-round picks (e.g., Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers). The Chicago Bulls may even benefit from a lower pick to avoid a top-five selection in a weak 2027 draft class. Overt tanking may be reduced, but competitive balance remains elusive.
