NBA Power Rankings: Spurs, Knicks advance to 2025 NBA Cup finals

The NBA has entered its weird mini-vacation week. The 2025 NBA Cup has reached the Las Vegas portion of the tournament. That means most of the league had several off days stuffed in their calendar this past week.

The San Antonio Spurs served an upset to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals. Victor Wembanyama returned from a calf strain and made his impact known. Meanwhile, the NBA is happy to see the New York Knicks advance in a win over the Orlando Magic.

The Spurs and Knicks will face off in the 2025 NBA Cup finals. All eyes will be on them. Meanwhile, the rest of the league will enjoy the last days of their impromptu Christmas break before the 2025-26 regular season returns back to normal.

Every week, Thunder Wire will release updated 2025-26 NBA Power Rankings. Here is the Dec. 8-14 edition:

Dec 14, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Garrison Mathews (24) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 29

The Wizards have the NBA’s worst record. That’s all by design. For the third straight season, they have a 3-20 record. Just ugly. Even with Washington’s new front office, you hope it can eventually change its fortune. Too much losing can mentally check out a fanbase. They have several young players to keep an eye on with their development. Alex Sarr is the biggest name.

Dec 8, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs center/forward Luke Kornet (7) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 30

We’re witnessing a public opinion slowly change. After being mocked for months, folks are starting to understand why the Pelicans gave up an unprotected 2026 first-round pick for Derik Queen. He’s been awesome for them as he played his way up the rotation. He dropped an efficient 33-point triple-double in a loss to the Spurs. The more confident he gets, the better he plays. Maybe he can carve out a ROTY campaign.

Dec 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Zach Lavine (8) protects the ball defended by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (8) during the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 28

Maybe this is the most hopeless franchise in the NBA. They have a roster filled with big-name players. But most have their best years behind them. And even if Sacramento decides to start over, the trade market for guys like Zach LaVine will mostly be dry. The Kings are getting closer to falling out of the play-in picture. Everything has been bad for them this season. It feels like everybody is playing for their own agenda.

Table of Contents

27. Brooklyn Nets (7-18)

Dec 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Danny Wolf (2) looks on during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 26

Bringing in a bunch of rookies, the Nets have had mixed results. You hate to see that if you’re in Brooklyn. This season is about player development. None of your prized prospects doing anything must cause frustration. In comes Danny Wolf. He’s figured things out. He had 17 points and seven rebounds in a loss to the Mavericks. He’s a funky big man who can run the offense like a guard.

26. Charlotte Hornets (8-18)

Dec 12, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) shoots a three over Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) during the second quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 24

Like Andy in the ‘Toy Story’ movie, the Hornets have pivoted to a new face of their franchise. Kon Knueppel has been the best rookie. He dropped 33 points in a loss to the Bulls. He’s a ROTY candidate. Even if it’s the same old losing season, he provides some new blood to the franchise. Charlotte could make a potential divorce from LaMelo Ball sting even less because of his play.

25. LA Clippers (6-19)

Dec 11, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 27

Failing to inbound the ball, a five-second violation ended the Clippers’ chances for a win in their loss to the Rockets. Yep. That about sums up LA’s season. On a team filled with veterans, an elementary mistake is inexcusable. The vibes are off there. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden have been healthy, but it hasn’t mattered. You have to wonder when they will eventually make a big decision in hopes of saving their season.

Dec 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 25

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Pacers have played better. They were destroyed by injuries early on in the season. Now that all of those players have slowly returned, they look like a decent team. Andrew Nembhard had 28 points and 12 assists in a win over the Kings. Indiana is still one of the worst teams in the league, but its record doesn’t reflect the talent it has.

Dec 11, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears (0) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 20

The Trail Blazers have hit a bump on the road. They reached their low point in a blowout loss to the Pelicans, where they surrendered 143 points in regulation. Portland had been one of the more fun teams to start the season. But reality has slowly dragged them down the standings. Aside from Deni Avdija, they don’t have anybody else who can consistently get them buckets.

Dec 12, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) keeps his balance on a rebound against Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 22

Needing a win, the Bulls snapped a seven-game losing streak over the Hornets. Josh Giddey scored 26 points. It’s almost panic time for Chicago’s slide down the standings. Their hot start at the beginning of the season feels like forever ago. The only saving grace is they play in the East, so you don’t even need to necessarily be at .500 to stay in the postseason picture. But that’s a frustrating mindset to have since it’s a copy and paste of all their previous years.

21. Utah Jazz (9-15)

Dec 12, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) drives past defender Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (12) in the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Smith-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 21

Desperately hoping for blue-chip talent, Keyonte George has provided the Jazz hope. He’s had a breakout season. He scored a career-high 39 points in a win over the Grizzlies. Most NBA fans don’t keep up with Utah, but he’s been awesome. He’s upped his scoring and has turned into a legitimate playmaker. These are franchise-altering developments after he looked pedestrian in his first two seasons.

20. Milwaukee Bucks (11-16)

Dec 11, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jordan Walsh (27) tries to steal the ball from Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 19

The Bucks picked up a much-needed win over the Celtics. Kyle Kuzma went off for 31 points. But that’s likely just a band-aid to a bigger problem. It feels inevitable that they will trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. The question will be whether it happens during the season or in the offseason. It can’t be overstated just how league-altering a deal will be. Depending on where he lands. All eyes will be on Milwaukee.

Dec 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) and guard Kyrie Irving (11) look on from the team bench during the game between the Mavericks and the Nets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 23

Taking on another hit from their NBA Finals squad from two years ago, Dereck Lively II was ruled out for the rest of the season with foot surgery. It’s been a complicated two seasons for him. This feels like a case where Dallas completely botched its rehab. Now, the situation has exploded. Such a shame, too. He had one of the greatest rookie seasons. It’s been all downhill since then. The Mavericks continue to lose the benefit of the doubt with their fanbase.

18. Golden State Warriors (13-14)

Dec 14, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after making a three-point basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 18

Finally, Stephen Curry has returned. He dropped an unreal 48 points in a close loss to the Trail Blazers. But the result shouldn’t bring down Golden State’s mood. All of their playoff hopes rely on the two-time MVP winner. That’s probably not a smart long-term plan, but that’s what happens when your roster is filled with aging players. Let’s see if they can go on a run and gain some cushion in the standings.

17. Miami Heat (14-11)

Dec 9, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) drives around Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) during the second half at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 14

A four-game losing streak has caused the Heat to slide in the standings. A lot of the praise Miami’s offense received to start the season has disappeared. They’ve hit a low point. They only scored 108 points in an NBA Cup quarterfinals loss to the Magic. Perhaps it’s taking a little longer than usual for Tyler Herro to find his groove with this group.

Dec 7, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) shoots as Portland Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen (16) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 17

As soon as the Grizzlies get on a roll, another dreadful injury hits them. Playing the best basketball of his career, Zach Edey will miss at least a month with an ankle stress reaction. That’s been a nagging injury that has haunted him all year. Brutal. It can’t go understated just how important he’s been to Memphis’ recent success. He’s helped on the boards and has turned into a legitimate scorer. Now, they must return to being without him for a while.

15. Atlanta Hawks (15-12)

Dec 6, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) celebrates with Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) after scoring while being fouled against the Washington Wizards in the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 13

Well, all the talk that the Hawks don’t need Trae Young looks premature. Recent losses have seen this struggle on offense. Young should help with that. He’s a step closer to his return. He’ll practice this week. When he eventually comes back, it’ll be interesting to see the dynamics between himself and Jalen Johnson, who has blossomed into a triple-double machine.

Dec 9, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) battles for the ball against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) during the second half at the 2025-26 NBA Emirates Cup at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 10

Feels like we’ve hit the part of the season where early Cinderella runs end. The Raptors are the latest example with a four-game losing streak. They lost to the Knicks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. On top of that, RJ Barrett will miss more time after receiving a knee injection. Toronto is a top-heavy squad, so anytime one of its starters is out for a long time, you feel their absence. Still, the Raptors have normalized a bit.

Dec 10, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) blocks a shot by Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) during the third quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 16

Well, the Suns learned that there are levels to being a contender. They were slapped in the face with reality in their franchise-record 49-point loss to the Thunder in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Even with Devin Booker out, you can’t excuse away just how absurd that loss was. Phoenix has been a nice story, but it is still far away from being a legitimate contender. The good news is that all their fanbase wants is a fun, competitive season without any drama.

12. Cleveland Cavaliers (15-12)

Dec 12, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) talks with Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) and Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) during a stoppage in play against the Washington Wizards in the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 15

At this point, the Cavaliers likely won’t ever be healthy. Evan Mobley will miss at least a couple of weeks with a calf strain. That’s turned into a league-wide epidemic. But even if you want to excuse Cleveland’s worrying start to injuries, there’s just something off about this squad. They’re not the same win machine they were last year. And it feels like the offense has regressed to Donovan Mitchell being asked to bail them out all the time.

11. Philadelphia 76ers (14-11)

Dec 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 12

In a throwback performance, Joel Embiid scored a season-high 39 points in a win over the Pacers. That was a nice escape from reality. There have been red flags all season that the former MVP winner has lost a step. Perhaps the injuries have finally caught up to him. Those still exist, but this showed that he can still have a monster game every now and then. And honestly, that’s all Philadelphia needs.

10. Orlando Magic (15-11)

Dec 13, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) goes in the for the dunk as Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) defends during the second half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 11

Turns out, going to Las Vegas in December can be apocalyptic. The Magic had the NBA’s entire attention for a couple of days. They punched their ticket to the NBA Cup semifinals. But a loss to the Knicks could turn costly. Jalen Suggs sustained a hip injury. Orlando awaits to see how severe it is. If he misses time, it’ll be another injury for him. The Magic just can’t stay healthy. That’s been the case for the last two seasons. Brutal luck.

9. Boston Celtics (15-10)

Dec 11, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) and guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) in the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 9

The Celtics remain one of the NBA’s best teams. Jaylen Brown has graduated to a 29-point scorer. That’s been quite the development that wasn’t a sure deal. Once thought of as a rebuild, they’ve quietly been one of the better squads in the East. Makes you wonder if Boston could make a wildcard playoff run. Considering the goal this season was to shed salary, how they handle the trade deadline will be super interesting to follow.

Dec 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) and guard Donte Divincenzo (0) shake hands after a basket against the Sacramento Kings at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 7

Besides a close loss to the Suns, the Timberwolves have been on a roll. They’ve won seven of their last eight games. Julius Randle had 24 points and 10 rebounds in a win over the Kings. It’s been an up-and-down season for Minnesota. That’s been a trademark for them the last two years. But they’ve done a good job at figuring things out. The role players have stepped up in recent weeks after most hit some regression.

Dec 10, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and forward Lebron James (23) react after a foul call during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 4

With a chance to make Las Vegas, the Lakers had zero pop. They suffered a blowout loss to the Wemby-less Spurs in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. A bad defense was exposed on a national stage. It makes you wonder what Los Angeles’ ceiling ultimately is. Sure, they have a three-headed monster. But none of those three players is a capable defender. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will provide glitz and glamor as a scoring duo at least.

Dec 11, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) talks with Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 3

The Rockets survived a scare with a close win over the Clippers. That was their only game of the week. They’ve surprisingly had a weird schedule early, where they’ve played fewer games compared to the rest of the league. You have to wonder if that’s affected Houston’s hot start. It certainly helps Kevin Durant as he gets plenty of time to rest his legs. Now, the bill will eventually come due. It’ll be interesting to see how they handle that inevitable problem.

5. New York Knicks (18-7)

Dec 13, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts with center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 6

In the biggest stage of the season, Jalen Brunson stepped up. He scored a season-high 40 points in an NBA Cup semifinals win over the Magic. The neutral Las Vegas crowd chanted ‘MVP’ at him. The NBA has to be happy that one of its biggest market teams made it to the championship game. The Knicks could benefit from the high-stakes game. After all, it can be a nice price run for a hopeful NBA Finals appearance later in the year.

4. San Antonio Spurs (18-7)

Dec 13, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) stands on the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 8

Knocking down the door, the Spurs made it known this past week that they belong in the contender conversation, too. They blew out the Lakers. Stephon Castle had an impressive 30 points. And then Victor Wembanyama made his return from a 12-game absence due to a calf strain. He scored 22 points in an upset win over the Thunder to advance to the NBA Cup finals. San Antonio has taken advantage of the tournament’s national spotlight. The young squad is filled with players eager to stamp their spot in the NBA. Let’s see if they can bring home an NBA Cup.

3. Denver Nuggets (18-6)

Dec 11, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 5

The Nuggets have rattled off four straight wins. Nikola Jokic had 36 points and 12 rebounds in a blowout win over the Kings. Denver has been one of the NBA’s best teams. And the three-time MVP winner looks to be ahead in the prestigious award race. Also, looks like Jamal Murray could finally make an All-Star Game for the first time in his career this season. He’s been phenomenal for Denver and has been a legitimate second go-to scorer.

2. Detroit Pistons (20-5)

Dec 12, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) center watches from the bench as the Pistons pull away from the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 2

The Pistons have won three in a row. They dropped 142 points in a blowout win over the Hawks. Several players chipped in for their lone game of the week. Cade Cunningham has played his way into the MVP conversation. He won’t win it, but perhaps could get some votes. And as All-Star weekend nears, perhaps Jalen Duren can join him for the weekend festivities. He’s been Detroit’s second-best player in their East-leading start. If they sit in first place by then, they’ll surely get two representatives.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (24-2)

Dec 13, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) brings the ball up court against the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Previous Rankings: 1

The 70-win talks are unavoidable. Everybody has wondered if the Thunder can reach that all-time status. A franchise-best 16-game win streak should certainly help those odds. Alas, they tasted defeat for the first time in over a month. They were on the wrong side of an upset when the Spurs barely beat them in the NBA Cup semifinals. OKC’s Las Vegas trip ended prematurely. The reigning NBA champion has been the clear-cut best team in the league. Their point differential is the best of all time. Let’s see how they respond after this rare loss.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: NBA Power Rankings: Spurs, Knicks advance to 2025 NBA Cup finals

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