NBA Power Rankings: Jokic suffers knee injury; Kawhi, Clippers getting hot

The NBA has flipped its calendar. We're now in the 2026 part of the 2025-26 season. That means we're only four months away from the playoffs. At around the halfway mark, you're starting to see teams naturally group themselves in tiers.

Injuries can derail that, though. Ask the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic will be out at least a month with a hyperextended knee. On one hand, that's the best of a bad scenario. The injury looked worse. On the other hand, his absence will cause a ripple effect.

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Elsewhere, the LA Clippers have gotten hot. Kawhi Leonard has turned back the clock to a decade ago. He's been an efficient 30-plus point scorer as they try to claw themselves back into the postseason picture.

Every week, Thunder Wire will release updated 2025-26 NBA Power Rankings. Here is the Dec. 29-Jan. 4 edition:

30. Indiana Pacers (6-30)

Previous Rankings: 30

It's a little surreal to think just six months ago, the Pacers were fighting for an NBA championship. An unreal 12-game losing streak has dropped them to the bottom of the standings with a cushion. It doesn't even matter that they're mostly healthy, either. You gotta feel for Pascal Siakam, who is still putting up 23-plus points despite losing efforts. Indiana hopes to get rewarded for the gap year with a premium draft pick.

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29. Sacramento Kings (8-28)

Previous Rankings: 28

The Kings continue to fall in the standings. They've lost five in a row. It's painfully obvious that this group, filled with household names, has been an epic failure. The only thing Sacramento has going for it is that Russell Westbrook continues to make NBA history in its uniform. Besides that, though, it's a miserable bunch with no real direction. Perhaps the lottery will smile upon them with a high draft pick. But that's a while away.

28. New Orleans Pelicans (8-29)

Previous Rankings: 27

Well, it was a fun couple of weeks. But the Pelicans are back to their losing ways. They've dropped seven in a row. The excuses have run out for this group. Even when Zion Williamson drops an efficient 35 points, they still find ways to come up short. New Orleans needs some fresh faces. It accidentally started that process already. Feels like sooner or later, they will need to trade away most of their roster to truly start over.

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27. Washington Wizards (9-25)

Previous Rankings: 29

While fun, a couple of wins might mess with their lottery odds down the road. CJ McCollum scored a game-winner in an upset over the Bucks. The team celebrated the big-time moment, but the front office and fanbase likely grimaced a little bit. It's one thing if a young player had that moment. It's another when it's a journeyman. The only real positive is that maybe it boosts his trade value. He could be on the move as a classic trade piece.

26. Charlotte Hornets (12-23)

Previous Rankings: 25

At this point, the juice isn't worth the squeeze. The Hornets have lost three of their last four. Considering how bad that franchise has been since forever ago, it's nothing new. What is new is LaMelo Ball's drop in play. He's degraded to an inefficient 20-point scorer. When he plays, the rest of the team stalls. Considering the bad vibes between both sides, a divorce could do them well. The only question left is how much Charlotte can get back, which probably won't be much.

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25. Brooklyn Nets (11-22)

Previous Rankings: 26

After a couple of hot weeks, the Nets are back to losing. It's probably for the betterment of the franchise. Brooklyn has fully leaned on playing its young players. Egor Demin has shown flashes throughout the season. He was their prized prospect from this past draft class. The rest of their draft class has also played their way into the rotation. They need to catch up in the reverse standings. Playing a bunch of unproven players is one of the formulas to get there.

24. Dallas Mavericks (13-23)

Previous Rankings: 23

It didn't take long for Anthony Davis to return from his latest groin injury. He only missed a week. He played in their loss to the Sixers. Looks like a worst-case scenario was avoided. That said, take it as a sign. The Mavericks should probably look into trading the future Hall-of-Famer. Considering his age and injury history, he likely won't get a ton back in a trade. But Dallas can't fall into a sunk cost fallacy. They aren't ready to contend anytime soon. Let's not fool ourselves.

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23. Utah Jazz (12-22)

Previous Rankings: 22

One of the best ways to ensure you're in the basement is a bad defense. The Jazz have mastered that science. They've continuously been one of the worst defenses. Every other game, they're allowing 130-plus points in regulation. Utah has had the offensive firepower to keep up. Thanks to Keyonte George's ascension. He had an efficient 37 points in a loss to the Celtics. No matter what happens the rest of the way, his breakout has made this year worth it.

22. Atlanta Hawks (17-20)

Previous Rankings: 20

You're starting to run into a chicken-or-the-egg situation. As Trae Young has once again been sidelined recently due to a quad injury, the Hawks have returned to their winning ways. Jalen Johnson scored 34 points in a win over the Timberwolves and had a triple-double in a win over the Knicks. That said, Atlanta's defense remains nonexistent. Maybe they're better off without the high-usage guard, but that won't solve all of their problems. Either way, they're about to approach a fork in the road with his long-term future.

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21. Portland Trail Blazers (16-20)

Previous Rankings: 19

Frustrated with ambiguity, the Trail Blazers announced several injury updates. It sounds like Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson are closer to a return. Both have had extensive absences. Not having a point guard was exposed in their humiliating New Year's Eve loss to the Thunder. At least Deni Avdija bounced back with an efficient 34 points in a win over the Pelicans. He's been Portland's sole source of offense for most of the season.

20. Milwaukee Bucks (16-20)

Previous Rankings: 21

Putting on his Superman cape, Giannis Antetokounmpo has carried the Bucks to four wins in their last five games. He had 30 points in a close win over the Hornets. That included a go-ahead dunk in the final seconds. Despite all of the trade rumors, it feels like the two-time MVP will leave it all on the floor. If both sides eventually get a divorce, he can at least know he did everything in his power. The next couple of weeks can determine which direction Milwaukee goes for the rest of the way.

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19. LA Clippers (12-22)

Previous Rankings: 24

Speaking of aging NBA superstars dragging their team to competence. Don't look now, the Clippers have been red-hot. They rode a six-game win streak back into life. You can thank Kawhi Leonard for that. He's stepped into a time machine and morphed into his vintage self. He dropped an efficient 45 points in a win over the Jazz. Two games after a career-best 55 points in a win over the Pistons. Still a long climb ahead, but LA has played like a much better team in recent weeks.

18. Memphis Grizzlies (15-20)

Previous Rankings: 16

When it feels like the Grizzlies have taken a step in the right direction, they take two steps backwards. That's what happens with their losses to the Wizards and Sixers. Even with mostly being healthy, Memphis continues to be an inconsistent squad. You can't drop gimmes like that. It makes their loss to the Lakers look even worse. Just feels like we're on our way to another season where they're in the play-in range. They don't have true superstar talent to overcome that mediocrity destination.

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17. Chicago Bulls (17-18)

Previous Rankings: 17

As ESPN's Brian Windhorst famously coined, all roads in Chicago lead to 39 wins. That's been their MO for years now. Feels like we're going to have another season where the Bulls are in the play-in tournament. Even with some hot recent weeks, they received some bummer news that Josh Giddey will be out for a handful of games with a hamstring strain. He's been Chicago's best player this season. Let's see how they survive without him.

16. Miami Heat (20-16)

Previous Rankings: 15

A four-game win streak reminds folks how much of an upset danger the Heat are. One of those wins was over the Pistons. Norman Powell scored 36 points to get the signature road win. While Miami looks like it's on its way to another play-in purgatory spot, they've shown over the years that they could get hot at the right time. Not that wild to think a Round 1 matchup between those two teams could go the distance.

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15. Golden State Warriors (19-17)

Previous Rankings: 12

After reading some of Steve Kerr's recent comments, it feels like the Warriors are brutally honest with themselves. He said the Warriors are levels behind the West's best teams, like the Thunder and Spurs. Their actions show that, too. Golden State punted its game against OKC so it can get a more realistic win over the Jazz. It's a little demoralizing to hear your head coach say that, but it's the truth.

14. Orlando Magic (20-16)

Previous Rankings: 11

Injuries continue to be a problem. Jalen Suggs will be out for a while as he deals with an MCL contusion. As awesome a defensive guard as he is, he can't stay healthy. Zooming out, that seems to be Orlando's biggest problem with this group. It's an ever-changing injury report where at least one important player is out at all times. You have to wonder how much that affects their inconsistency problems on offense. At least Anthony Black has broken out. He had 27 points and 10 assists in a win over the Pacers.

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13. Toronto Raptors (21-15)

Previous Rankings: 14

The Raptors are back to their winning ways. They've won three of their last four games. A sole loss was at the buzzer against the Nuggets. RJ Barrett scored a season-high 29 points in a statement win over the Hawks. If Toronto wants to avoid the play-in, it gotta get those games. Feels like the Raptors have a system where any of their players can be the leading scorer. They've been one of the bigger surprise teams this season.

12. Philadelphia 76ers (19-14)

Previous Rankings: 13

Throwing down his first dunk of the season, Joel Embiid had quite the throwback week. He had 34 points and 10 rebounds in an overtime win over the Grizzlies. The former MVP winner may no longer be one of the best players. Injuries have derailed his peak. But he can still show glimpses now and then. And considering his smaller role in Philadelphia, that's all they ask from him. Feels like we haven't seen the MVP version of him all year, so it's good to get a whiff of nostalgia.

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11. Cleveland Cavaliers (20-17)

Previous Rankings: 18

Before they lost it, a three-game win streak had the Cavaliers look their best all season. They collected some resume wins over the Spurs and Nuggets. Donovan Mitchell had 33 points in a win over the latter. He's been awesome this season as a 30-point scorer. Cleveland has had a rollercoaster season, but its track record has given it the benefit of the doubt. Finally healthy for the first time this year, they look like the East contender everybody thought they'd be this past offseason. Even with a couple of frustrating playoff exits.

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10. Phoenix Suns (21-14)

Previous Rankings: 10

The vibes are pretty high in Phoenix. After being penciled in as a bottom-tier team, the Suns have played like. playoff squad all year. Devin Booker has had one of his best seasons as he returns to being the undisputed best player. He hit a game-winner over the Thunder. The only real downside is that Jalen Green has seldom played this year due to a nagging hamstring strain. Even then, he's remained a supportive teammate. You gotta be happy with what they've done this season, considering their low expectations.

9. Los Angeles Lakers (22-11)

Previous Rankings: 9

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Inconsistent as always, the Lakers continue to alternate between wins and losses. That's what happens when you're a one-sided team that refuses to play competent defense. JJ Redick might be upset with the entire roster, but it's a foundational problem that starts at the top. As awesome as Luka Doncic is, being a cone on defense has been one of his biggest complaints. He averages an impressive 34 points, but it comes with inefficient shooting nights. Let's see if Los Angeles can pick up on wins so he can grab second-place in MVP voting.

8. Minnesota Timberwolves (23-13)

Previous Rankings: 8

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Speaking of inconsistent squads, the Timberwolves continue to collect signature wins surrounded by puzzling losses. They dropped a bad one to the Hawks. To the point that Anthony Edwards left the bench and called out his teammates afterward. Minnesota's problem is that it has no problem getting up for the primetime matchups. It's the easy ones they struggle with. That's a lot easier to fix than the latter, but it's something that can hurt them in terms of their playoff seeding.

7. New York Knicks (23-12)

Previous Rankings: 5

Well, the Knicks are in a slump. They've lost three in a row. They weren't able to pick up another win over the Spurs in an NBA Cup finals rematch. Jalen Brunson had 29 points, but New York allowed 134 points in regulation. This encapsulates what could stop them from going deep in the playoffs. As fun as their offense is, the defense is pretty middle-of-the-road. That's what happens when your best player is an undersized guard who will get attacked. It's an interesting dilemma that has surfaced with this losing streak.

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6. Houston Rockets (21-11)

Previous Rankings: 6

The Rockets had won four in a row before an upset by the Mavericks. Zooming out, it's been a productive week as they beat up on the bottom of the standings for some necessary wins. It'll be interesting to see if Alperen Sengun misses time. He rolled his ankle in their loss to Dallas. Houston has catered its team around his strengths. He looks like someone ready to make an All-NBA team. Maybe Kevin Durant can join him. He's been an efficient 25 points and a seamless fit to their style.

5. Denver Nuggets (23-12)

Previous Rankings: 4

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The Nuggets have had their season structure completely destroyed. Once looking like a team that could walk its way to the second seed, Nikola Jokic's month-plus absence with a hyperextended knee could see them quickly fall in the standings. Not only that, but the three-time MVP winner will likely be disqualified from the award race as he fails to meet the 65-game minimum. Just an unreal week for Denver, which has been hampered by injuries to all of its starters. It's now about surviving the next month. As long as they can avoid the play-in tournament, they should be good. But it's a gruesome situation to find yourself in after second-seed aspirations.

4. Boston Celtics (22-12)

Previous Rankings: 7

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With Jokic out, somebody else has to step up in the MVP race. In comes Jaylen Brown. He dropped 50 points in a win over the Clippers. After being snubbed for the Player of the Month conversations, he showed the rest of the NBA world why the Celtics are a lot better than even the homers could dream of. He's stepped up to be a 30-point machine. Boston is looking like a top-five team on both sides of the floor. Just an unreal surprise from a team that everybody thought would take the year off.

3. San Antonio Spurs (25-10)

Previous Rankings: 2

Surviving an injury scare, the Spurs are back in familiar territory. Victor Wembanyama sustained a hyperextended knee in their win over the Knicks. He continues to have bad injury luck. Only recently did he return to the starting lineup after he returned from a calf strain. San Antonio has shown it can survive without him in the regular season, but if it wants a deep playoff run, Wembanyama must be healthy. Durability has been a red flag for him so far in his career. This is small potatoes, but it is the latest example.

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2. Detroit Pistons (26-9)

Previous Rankings: 3

A couple of big-time wins strengthen why the Pistons look like a title contender. They beat the Lakers and Cavaliers in a couple of prime-time matchups. The same thing said about Brown earlier could be copied with Cade Cunningham. He had 27 points in a signature win over Cleveland. He's the face of Detroit's success. Now that Jokic is out, the MVP pool is pretty shallow. But finishing runner-up or close to it would be quite the leap for him to make.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (30-6)

Previous Rankings: 1

After a Christmas slump, the Thunder are back to their winning ways. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had a couple of signature performances where he had 30 points in three quarters as OKC enjoyed blowout wins over the Trail Blazers and Warriors. Back to business as usual for the reigning NBA champions. And it looks like the reigning MVP could go back-to-back as his main competition could get disqualified.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: NBA Power Rankings: Jokic suffers knee injury; Kawhi, Clippers getting hot