Power Rankings, Week 2: Nuggets maintain grip on No. 1 – NBA.com

See where all 30 teams rank after the first week of the 2023-24 season.
John Schuhmann
Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets have kept their stride as the 2023-24 season begins.
After six days of the 2023-24 season, there are six undefeated teams remaining, and they’re led by the 3-0 defending champs. There will be two games between those undefeated teams this week: Indiana-Boston on Wednesday and Dallas-Denver on Friday.
Friday, of course, is the first night of the In-Season Tournament, seven games that also include Knicks-Bucks and Warriors-Thunder. So Week 2 brings something new, along with more data to chew on.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
Teams of the Week
* * *
East vs. West
* * *
Movement in the Rankings
* * *
Week 2 Team to Watch
* * *
Previously…
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 averaged 109.5 points scored per 100 possessions and 100.9 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes in Week 1.
* = In-Season Tournament game
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, send him an e-mail or contact him via Twitter.
Record: 3-0
OffRtg: 121.2 (2) DefRtg: 103.4 (7) NetRtg: +17.8 (1) Pace: 98.2 (24)
Not breaking news: Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are really bleeping good. They almost blew a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead in Memphis, but they got two comfortable wins over good teams (the Lakers and Thunder).
Three takeaways
No championship hangover yet. The defending champs come out of Week 1 (in which they faced some solid competition) as the league’s only 3-0 team and at the top in point differential per 100 possessions.
Their win in Oklahoma City began a stretch of five games in seven days, so the Nuggets’ depth should really be tested by the time they get to their back-to-back (against the Mavs and Bulls) on Friday and Saturday.
Joker casual half-court baseball pass lob 🤷‍♂️
DEN/MEM – Live now on the NBA App: https://t.co/htyakZeFve pic.twitter.com/NH5HP8n50u
— NBA (@NBA) October 28, 2023

Week 2: vs. UTA, @ MIN, vs. DAL*, vs. CHI
Record: 2-0
OffRtg: 115.8 (7) DefRtg: 109.7 (14) NetRtg: +6.1 (10) Pace: 98.0 (25)
Kristaps Porzingis made an immediate impact, putting up 30 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in the Celtics win at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. And with the score tied with less than two minutes left, he drained a 27-foot, pick-and-pop 3 that put the Celtics up for good. Two nights later, Derrick White was the star, with eight of his 28 points being all of his team’s scoring on the run that turned a two-point deficit into a six-point lead early in the fourth quarter against Miami.
Three takeaways
Now that they’ve gotten through the Knicks and Heat, the Celtics have a good chance to run off a decent-sized winning streak to start the season, though the Pacers (who they’ll host on Wednesday) are also off to a 2-0 start.
The Celtics have a league-high 16 rest-advantage games this season, and the first is Saturday in Brooklyn.
Week 2: @ WAS, vs. IND, @ BKN
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 107.2 (18) DefRtg: 100.7 (4) NetRtg: +6.5 (8) Pace: 102.2 (10)
The great thing about having three stars is that when one is out, you still have two. But when two are out…
Three takeaways
Back and foot injuries can linger, so it’s already time to wonder how many games the Suns’ big three will play together. But there was some good stuff from Durant’s supporting cast against the Jazz on Saturday.
Even with all their star power, the Suns might be the less interesting team for their next three games, two against the Spurs and a visit to Philadelphia. Phoenix has won nine straight games against San Antonio.
Week 2: vs. SAS, vs. SAS, @ PHI, @ DET
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 110.3 (13) DefRtg: 105.7 (10) NetRtg: +4.6 (12) Pace: 100.2 (18)
They lost the opener at home, but the Warriors are 2-0 on the road! (They lost their first eight road games last season.) Draymond Green is back after missing the first two games, and Chris Paul coming off the bench (for the first time in 1,366 career games) worked pretty well in Houston on Sunday.
Three takeaways
Curry remains electric, so if the Warriors can just avoid getting killed by turnovers and free throws, they’re in good shape.
The Warriors are just getting started on a pretty tough, two-week stretch of travel, where they’re going from Northern California to the Southeast, back home for one game, and then back East again.
Week 2: @ NOP, vs. SAC, @ OKC*, @ CLE
Record: 1-1
OffRtg: 110.1 (14) DefRtg: 117.3 (27) NetRtg: -7.2 (24) Pace: 103.8 (7)
Damian Lillard’s Bucks debut was brilliant. His second game was brutal, and the 122.1 points per 100 possessions the Bucks allowed the Hawks to score on Sunday was more than Milwaukee allowed in any of its first 20 games last season.
Three takeaways
Milwaukee is still undefeated (1-0) with Khris Middleton in uniform (and he was a plus-14 in 16 minutes against Philly), but it may be a while before he’s a full go on a consistent basis.
The Bucks’ three-game homestand concludes with a visit from the No. 8 seed that knocked them out of the playoffs six months ago.
Week 2: vs. MIA, @ TOR, vs. NYK*
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 118.6 (5) DefRtg: 107.7 (13) NetRtg: +10.9 (5) Pace: 100.2 (18)
James Harden was on the bench on Sunday, but it remains to be seen if he’ll play for the Sixers this season. This team is still pretty good without him, going 2-1, with only a one-point loss in Milwaukee, in Week 1.
Three takeaways
The fact that the Sixers haven’t missed Harden that much doesn’t mean that they don’t need to get as much as possible in a trade. They’ll just need to be patient.
With their first back-to-back in the books, the Sixers have three days off before facing the Raptors again on Thursday, Game 2 of a stretch where they’re playing eight of nine at home.
Week 2: vs. TOR, vs. PHX
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 116.4 (6) DefRtg: 112.4 (18) NetRtg: +4.0 (13) Pace: 104.1 (6)
De’Aaron Fox had a strong week, averaging 31.3 points pretty efficiently. And when the Clutch Player of the Year turned his ankle in the fourth quarter on Sunday, the Kings got a huge clutch win over the Lakers without him or Domantas Sabonis on the floor.
Three takeaways
The Kings aren’t off to a bad start defensively, though they’ve fouled a little too much. Sabonis wasn’t available down the stretch of the Lakers game because he fouled out and the Kings have two of the five guys — Chris Duarte and Davion Mitchell — who’ve averaged more than seven fouls per 36 minutes.
Fox has a couple of days off to rest his ankle before the Kings will get another shot at the Warriors on Wednesday. Then they’ll play three straight games against teams — Houston (x 2) and Portland — that went winless in Week 1.
Week 2: @ GSW, @ HOU
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 106.4 (19) DefRtg: 110.5 (15) NetRtg: -4.2 (19) Pace: 101.0 (15)
The Lakers are in the Play-In group again.
OK, it’s too early for that, but they did go 1-2 against some of their best Western Conference competition, with the Suns missing two of their three stars when the Lakers beat them on Thursday.
Three takeaways
The defense will probably need to be better. The win over the Suns was ugly, but the Lakers couldn’t get enough stops against the Nuggets and Kings. Including the Phoenix game, the starting lineup allowed 113 points on its 89 defensive possessions (127 per 100).
The Lakers are tied (with Houston and Orlando) for the league’s biggest rest-advantage discrepancy this season, where they have five fewer rest-advantage games (7) than rest-disadvantage games (12). They’ll have one of each this week, playing with a disadvantage against the Magic on Monday and with an advantage against the Clippers on Wednesday.
Week 2: vs. ORL, vs. LAC, @ ORL
Record: 2-0
OffRtg: 101.5 (27) DefRtg: 93.6 (1) NetRtg: +7.8 (7) Pace: 102.0 (11)
The Pelicans’ first two games were the 11th and 12th of a possible 121 games that CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have played together. They’re now 8-4 with the trio, even though their offense is off to a slow start (after an ugly preseason).
Three takeaways
It’s possible that the Grizzlies just aren’t very good this season, but based on preseason projections, that was a huge win on Wednesday. The Pelicans don’t need to have any sympathy for a team missing key personnel.
New Orleans had a rest advantage when it held the Knicks to just 87 points on 100 possessions (the second least efficient game for any team in Week 1) on Saturday. The Pelicans will have another rest advantage when they host the Warriors on Monday.
WHAT A SEQUENCE FOR ZION 🤯
The poster AND the half-court lob ‼️#KiaTipOff23 | Live on the NBA App
📲: https://t.co/WfH3FJ6tZs pic.twitter.com/nQkBuR0xI7
— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2023

Week 2: vs. GSW, @ OKC, vs. DET, vs. ATL
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 120.5 (4) DefRtg: 103.6 (8) NetRtg: +16.9 (3) Pace: 100.8 (16)
The Clippers played a weak Week 1 schedule and lost to the Jazz (who are otherwise 0-2) despite shooting 53% in what was the most efficient performance for a losing team in Week 1. But more important is that Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were in uniform for all three games.
Three takeaways
The Clippers of this era have always been pretty good defensively. But having healthy stars gives them a chance to have an elite offense like they did in 2019-20 and ’20-21.
The Clippers have just two games this week, but their first back-to-back of the season, with their “road game” against the Lakers on Wednesday on national TV. The Clippers have won the last 11 meetings between the two L.A. teams, even though Leonard has played in only six of those 11 games.
Week 2: vs. ORL, @ LAL
Record: 2-0
OffRtg: 120.7 (3) DefRtg: 114.4 (23) NetRtg: +6.3 (9) Pace: 104.3 (5)
Last season, the Mavs were 3-11 in clutch games (those within five points in the last five minutes) with both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in uniform. This season: 2-0, coming back from late deficits against both the Spurs and Nets.
Three takeaways
Most important about Lively’s minutes is that the Mavs allowed just 106.8 points per 100 possessions, including just 94.6 in his 33 with Grant Williams also on the floor. The opponents shot well, but the Mavs limited fouls (Lively had just four in 48 total minutes) and rebounded well with him on the floor.
The rookie will get to face the best player in the world when the Mavs begin the In-Season Tournament with a game in Denver on Friday. Their other three Week 2 opponents all rank in the bottom 10 offensively after Week 1.
LUKA MAGIC.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY.
4 straight threes… each getting progressively more difficult and more clutch… to reach 49 points and give Dallas the win.
Special stuff from a superstar. pic.twitter.com/4uCvy2Qdfe
— NBA (@NBA) October 28, 2023

Week 2: @ MEM, vs. CHI, @ DEN*, vs. CHA
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 108.3 (17) DefRtg: 112.7 (19) NetRtg: -4.4 (20) Pace: 100.2 (18)
After a strong start defensively (holding the Bulls and Cavs to just 102.5 points per 100 possessions), the Thunder ran into the champs on Sunday. And now they rank in the bottom half of the league on that end of the floor.
Three takeaways
The Thunder aren’t quite ready to compete with the champs, but two road wins are two good wins. And this is the first time in the last seven years that the Thunder have won at least two of their first three games.
Their six-game homestand continues this week with what should be three fun games, including a meeting with the similarly 2-1 Pistons on Monday.
Week 2: vs. DET, vs. NOP, vs. GSW*
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 109.6 (15) DefRtg: 114.2 (21) NetRtg: -4.6 (21) Pace: 101.0 (13)
The Cavs had double-digit leads in all three of their games, but needed some Donovan Mitchell heroics to get their only win. More important than the 1-2 record is that they had three starters — Mitchell, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen — on the shelf in the third game of the season.
Three takeaways
Health matters. The Cavs were 39-18 with both Mitchell and Allen last season, but just 12-13 when one or both weren’t available. The development of Mobley matters too, and absences provide him opportunities like he had on Saturday.
The Knicks absolutely clobbered the Cavs on the glass in their first-round series six months ago. We’ll see if they can keep that from happening again when the two teams play a home-and-home back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Week 2: vs. NYK, @ NYK, @ IND*, vs. GSW
Record: 2-0
OffRtg: 128.2 (1) DefRtg: 111.5 (17) NetRtg: +16.7 (4) Pace: 104.5 (3)
The Pacers have been a worse-than-average defensive team, but are tied with the Magic for the league lead in point differential (per game), because they had the second and third most efficient scoring games of Week 1.
Three takeaways
They beat the Wizards and a Cavs team without Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. So we’ll temper the enthusiasm a bit for now. But the Pacers could be pretty good.
They have two five-game homestands (their longest of the season) and two stretches of five games in seven nights this season. The first of both begins Friday with their In-Season Tournament opener, which is also their second game against the Cavs.
Week 2: vs. CHI, @ BOS, vs. CLE*, vs. CHA
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 105.0 (20) DefRtg: 106.6 (11) NetRtg: -1.6 (16) Pace: 101.0 (13)
You would think that a back-to-back in Week 1 wouldn’t be that big of a deal. But (having won in Atlanta the night before) the Knicks came out completely discombobulated in New Orleans on Saturday, scoring 12 points (with eight turnovers) in the first quarter and finishing with the second-least efficient offensive performance for any team in Week 1.
Three takeaways
It’s obviously too soon to worry. We knew the Knicks had a tough early schedule, and (despite another ugly first quarter) they were right there with the Celtics down the stretch on Wednesday.
The Knicks have another back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday, though both games (one on the road, one at home) are against the same opponent, a familiar one at that. They were 7-2 against the Cavs last season when you combine the regular season and playoffs.
Week 2: @ CLE, vs. CLE, @ MIL*
Record: 1-1
OffRtg: 100.0 (30) DefRtg: 94.0 (2) NetRtg: +6.0 (11) Pace: 99.8 (21)
The Wolves have held their opponents under a point per possession in two straight games for the first time since March of 2022 (before Rudy Gobert arrived). But the offense was even uglier on the Wolves’ end of the floor on Wednesday, so the league’s second-best Week 1 defense translated to just a 1-1 record.
Three takeaways
The minutes with Reid on the floor with one of the other bigs were bad (minus-11.0 points per 100 possessions) last season, so a reversal in the first two games is promising. If Towns can find his 3-point stroke (he was 3-for-14 from deep), maybe the starters’ minutes will be better.
The Wolves had a rest advantage in their win over the Heat (who rested Jimmy Butler) on Saturday, and they’ll have another rest advantage in Atlanta on Monday night. Then they’ll begin their Western Conference schedule with the team that eliminated them in the first round six months ago.
Week 2: @ ATL, vs. DEN, vs. UTA
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 113.3 (10) DefRtg: 113.2 (20) NetRtg: +0.2 (14) Pace: 104.3 (4)
Team Even Steven has become Team Jekyll and Hyde. The Hawks began Week 1 with a loss in Charlotte and ended it with a 17-point win in Milwaukee. In between was a near-miraculous comeback against the Knicks, but Clint Capela couldn’t catch Trae Young’s lob with an opportunity to tie or take the lead.
Three takeaways
With that more aggressive pick-and-roll coverage, the Hawks lead the league in opponent turnover rate (18.6 per 100 possessions). But they’re going to give up some weak-side 3s, and the Knicks were 20-for-44 from beyond the arc on Friday.
It was surely a nice flight home from Milwaukee, but it will be a quick turnaround for the Hawks, who host the Wolves on Monday, their first rest-disadvantage game of the season.
Week 2: vs. MIN, vs. WAS, @ NOP
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 104.1 (21) DefRtg: 110.8 (16) NetRtg: -6.7 (23) Pace: 97.8 (26)
The Heat added fuel to the “they don’t care so much about the regular season” fire, resting Jimmy Butler in the second game of their first back-to-back. They lost it and the game that came before it, having barely held on to beat the Pistons at home on opening night.
Three takeaways
The Heat have just 13 back-to-backs this season, tied (with nine other teams) for the league-low. But if they’re liberal with resting Butler, it’s unlikely he’ll be eligible for any NBA awards. Again, maybe they (and he) don’t care about that. They were 9-9 without him last season.
The Heat don’t have any back-to-backs this week, but they will play their first game against the one that got away, visiting Damian Lillard and the Bucks on Monday.
Week 2: @ MIL, vs. BKN, vs. WAS*
Record: 2-0
OffRtg: 113.5 (9) DefRtg: 95.8 (3) NetRtg: +17.7 (2) Pace: 95.8 (30)
The opponents were the Rockets and Blazers, but a 2-0 start is certainly better than the alternative (like an 0-5 start last year). The Magic trailed in the two games for a total of just 4:58.
Three takeaways
The Magic ranked fifth in free throw rate last season and were still in the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency for the 11th straight year. They’re still looking for better shooting around their two young forwards, and the starting backcourt — Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs — was 2-for-10 from 3-point range over the two games.
The Magic were 1-12 in the second games of back-to-backs last season, the worst such mark for any team in the last six years. Their first back-to-back of this season is Monday and Tuesday in L.A.
Week 2: @ LAL, @ LAC, @ UTA, vs. LAL
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 101.7 (25) DefRtg: 102.6 (5) NetRtg: -1.0 (15) Pace: 97.6 (27)
The Raptors let one get away in Chicago on Friday, committing multiple bad turnovers and bad fouls as they blew a 17-point lead with less than five minutes left and lost to the Bulls in overtime.
Three takeaways
That jump in assist rate has come with the league’s biggest jump in turnover rate, and 23 turnovers killed the Raptors in that loss in Chicago on Friday. They only had 13 the following night against Philadelphia, but still blew another double-digit lead (early in the second quarter).
The Raptors will be at a rest disadvantage against the Sixers again on Thursday, and that’s the start of a four-game trip that concludes in Boston.
Week 2: vs. POR, vs. MIL, @ PHI, @ SAS
Record: 2-1
OffRtg: 111.8 (11) DefRtg: 102.7 (6) NetRtg: +9.1 (6) Pace: 98.7 (23)
The 2022-23 Pistons won two straight games only once, and those two wins came by a total of 11 points. After a narrow, opening-night loss in Miami, the Pistons have their first winning streak since before Thanksgiving of last year, having beat both the Hornets and Bulls by more than 11.
Three takeaways
The Pistons rank sixth defensively after Week 1, and the positive context is that’s more about shooting in the paint (42.3%, second lowest opponent mark) than shooting from deep (the Pistons have limited opponent 3-point attempts). The negative context is that their opponents were teams that ranked 25th, 30th and 24th offensively last season. Better offenses are coming.
With their central location, the Pistons lead the league with 13 one-game road trips. The first two of those — to Oklahoma City and New Orleans — are this week.
Week 2: @ OKC, vs. POR, @ NOP, vs. PHX
Record: 0-2
OffRtg: 115.3 (8) DefRtg: 119.5 (29) NetRtg: -4.2 (18) Pace: 100.5 (17)
The Nets were Team Heartbreak in Week 1, blowing a six-point lead with 1:20 left against the Cavs and blowing a five-point lead 2:15 left in Dallas, with the difference on Friday being Luka Doncic’s ridiculous, late-clock 3 that hit off the glass.
Three takeaways
Cam Johnson (calf) and Nic Claxton (ankle) both missed the Dallas game with injuries, and it’s somewhat encouraging that the Nets were competitive against what should be two good teams. But they enter Week 2 as the only winless team in the Eastern Conference and missed opportunities will hurt if they’re competing for a playoff or Play-In Tournament spot.
Some not-as-great offenses are coming up on the schedule and the Nets will play the Heat three times in the next four weeks. After their four-game trip ends with an In-Season Tournament game in Chicago on Friday, they’ll play 11 of their next 14 games at home.
Week 2: @ CHA, @ MIA, @ CHI*, vs. BOS
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 103.0 (22) DefRtg: 114.2 (22) NetRtg: -11.2 (26) Pace: 97.1 (28)
Zach LaVine had the highest-scoring game of Week 1, dropping 51 in Detroit on Saturday … as the Bulls lost by 16 points to what was the worst team in the league last season. They’d be 0-3 if not for multiple blunders from the Raptors down the stretch on Friday.
Three takeaways
The good news is that the Bulls are undefeated in clutch games. But it wasn’t a good week for those hoping for a Patrick Williams breakout. The 22-year-old didn’t get a contract extension by Monday’s deadline and then shot 5-for-18 (1-for-9 from 3-point range) over the Bulls’ first three games.
There are six undefeated teams after Week 1 and the Bulls will play half of them in Week 2.
ALEX CARUSO HITS THE 3⃣ TO TAKE THE LEAD WITH 2.3 SECS IN OT!
WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/WfH3FJ6tZs pic.twitter.com/kE4hRbGotT
— NBA (@NBA) October 28, 2023

Week 2: @ IND, @ DAL, vs. BKN*, @ DEN
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 110.8 (12) DefRtg: 122.2 (30) NetRtg: -11.4 (27) Pace: 101.8 (12)
A second straight 3-0 start was not to be. In fact, the Jazz got clobbered by the Kings and Suns. But in between, they got a nice win over the Clippers, with Lauri Markkanen scoring 35 points and Jordan Clarkson hitting a tough 3-pointer to take the lead in the final minute.
Three takeaways
Size should also help on defense and Kessler is thought of as an anchor on that end, but the Jazz are one of three teams — the Bulls and Blazers are the others — that allowed more than 120 points per 100 possessions multiple times in Week 1.
The Jazz are one of three teams with three sets of five games in seven nights this season, and they’re two games into the first of those five-in-seven stretches. They’re set to face another elite offense (that of the champs) on Monday, but some weaker ones are on the schedule later in the week.
Week 2: @ DEN, vs. MEM, vs. ORL, @ MIN
Record: 1-1
OffRtg: 108.9 (16) DefRtg: 116.9 (26) NetRtg: -8.0 (25) Pace: 106.8 (1)
Game 1 was an “Uh oh,” with the Wizards allowing the Pacers to score 143 points on 111 possessions, the second most efficient performance for any team in Week 1. But the Wizards were much better in their home opener, a rest-advantage win over the Grizzlies, who shot just 18-for-40 (45%) in the paint.
Three takeaways
Transition defense shouldn’t be as much of an issue if you’re sixth in (lowest) turnover rate. If the Wizards don’t clean it up (consistently), they’re probably looking at a bottom-10 finish on defense for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
The Hawks and Heat are both 1-2, so visits to Atlanta and Miami this week could be good measuring sticks of just how competitive the Wizards will be this season.
Week 2: vs. BOS, @ ATL, @ MIA*
Record: 0-3
OffRtg: 101.6 (26) DefRtg: 107.1 (12) NetRtg: -5.5 (22) Pace: 103.2 (9)
The Grizzlies lost their three games by a total of just 18 points, but only one (vs. Denver on Friday) was within five in the last five. They trailed the Pelicans by 17 and the Wizards by 15 in the fourth quarter before making a couple of too-little-too-late runs. It’s their first 0-3 start since the 2004-05 season, when Hubie Brown was their coach. (That team finished 45-37 and made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, but got swept in the first round.)
Three takeaways
With a starting lineup that included Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams, we used to worry about the Grizzlies’ 3-point volume. With two of those three players not available, that’s no longer an issue. Overall talent and an ability to score inside is an issue, though the increased 3-point rate could add some variance to an offense that scored less than 105 points per 100 possessions in all three games last week.
The Grizzlies’ three-game trip that begins Wednesday in Utah and includes both of their games in Portland should offer three good opportunities to score more efficiently and get a win.
Week 2: vs. DAL, @ UTA, @ POR*, @ POR
Record: 1-1
OffRtg: 101.4 (28) DefRtg: 104.7 (9) NetRtg: -3.3 (17) Pace: 105.8 (2)
Brandon Miller scored eight points on a 19-9, fourth-quarter run that turned the Hornets’ opener around, with the rookie making more 3-pointers in the span of four possessions (two) than he made in the entire preseason (one). Miller had a highlight dunk two nights later, but the Hornets followed their win over the Hawks with a loss (at home) to the Pistons, scoring just 99 points on 108 possessions (92 per 100).
Three takeaways
The Hornets will go as Ball goes, and as good as Williams is defensively at 21, they’ll need to score efficiently to be competitive. Ball must find his rhythm all while not getting too shot-happy.
A loss to Detroit was a missed opportunity, but the Hornets’ easy start to the season continues with six more games against teams that either had losing records last season or had a losing record after trading Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. They’ll head out on a three-game trip after hosting the Nets on Monday.
Week 2: vs. BKN, @ HOU, @ IND, @ DAL
Record: 1-2
OffRtg: 101.9 (24) DefRtg: 115.6 (25) NetRtg: -13.7 (28) Pace: 103.6 (8)
Victor Wembanyama continues to amaze, and he made some big plays on both ends of the floor as the Spurs got their first win of the season (Friday vs. Houston). But while a strong preseason had the Spurs looking like a decent team, a 40-point loss to the Clippers is a signal that it’s time to temper expectations.
Three takeaways
We’ll watch Wembanyama every night to see what he’ll do on any given possession. But we might need to be patient in regard to wins and losses.
Get your popcorn ready, because Wembanyama and Kevin Durant could be matched up quite a bit as the Spurs play two games in Phoenix this week. And it will be fascinating to see how Durant tries to score if he’s got the rookie one-on-one.
Victor Wembanyama puts on a SHOW and secures his first career NBA win in an OT thriller!
🔥 21 PTS
🔥 12 REB
🔥 3 BLK
🔥 2 STL pic.twitter.com/a0cYk5lPmj
— NBA (@NBA) October 28, 2023

Week 2: @ PHX, @ PHX, vs. TOR
Record: 0-3
OffRtg: 101.0 (29) DefRtg: 115.2 (24) NetRtg: -14.2 (29) Pace: 97.0 (29)
The Rockets had fourth-quarter leads in two of their three games, but Jabari Smith Jr. had a rough finish (0-for-2 from the line before missing a wide-open game-winner) in San Antonio. Stephen Curry happened two nights later. Houston is off to a 0-3 start for the second straight season.
Three takeaways
The Rockets don’t play the Blazers until Jan. 24, so they’re going to have to be better to get off the schneid. They got their first win in their fourth game last season, beating the previously undefeated Jazz with Smith going 4-for-4 from the line down the stretch.
Their loss to the Warriors on Sunday was the start of a seven-game homestand, with the next game (vs. the Hornets on Wednesday) clearly being the most winnable of the seven, because the Kings (x 2), Lakers, Pelicans and Nuggets are coming to town after that.
Week 2: vs. CHA, vs. SAC
Record: 0-3
OffRtg: 102.7 (23) DefRtg: 117.8 (28) NetRtg: -15.1 (30) Pace: 99.3 (22)
A seemingly bad team got worse when Anfernee Simons was lost for 4-6 weeks with a torn ligament in his right thumb. The Blazers struggled on both ends of the floor as they lost their three games by a total of 45 points.
Three takeaways
The Blazers trailed the undefeated Magic by just a point early in the fourth quarter on Friday, but then scored just two points (on a pair of free throws) over the next seven and a half minutes. It’s going to be tough for them to put four decent quarters together.
But it’s a good time to be playing Memphis, and the Blazers will host the Grizzlies for a two-game series this coming weekend.
Week 2: @ TOR, @ DET, vs. MEM*, vs. MEM
See where all 30 teams rank heading into the 1st week of the 2023-24 season.
Denver gets hot from the field, shuts down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and uses its bench to thrash Oklahoma City.
LA gets physical with the San Antonio rookie, who still makes an impression despite being held to 11 points.
Milwaukee's new star duo should find plenty of creative ways to score. How will teams defend them?
See where all 30 teams rank heading into the 1st week of the 2023-24 season.
Denver gets hot from the field, shuts down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and uses its bench to thrash Oklahoma City.
LA gets physical with the San Antonio rookie, who still makes an impression despite being held to 11 points.
Milwaukee's new star duo should find plenty of creative ways to score. How will teams defend them?
The New Orleans guard will undergo an additional examination in the next 48 hours to determine the progress of healing.
Introducing a 1-stop shop for all the latest on Victor Wembanyama. A new recap drops every Sunday.
Celtics history. Early Wemby tip today. Nuggets roll again. Behind the Sombor Shuffle. Windmill dunks were going around.
Scintilliating debuts, bittersweet retirements and incredible performances highlight this week's historic moments.
The Magic center, injured in the final seconds of Thursday's win over the Jazz, fractured the 3rd metacarpal in his left hand.
The 25-year-old Tatum passes Antoine Walker to claim status as youngest player in franchise history to achieve the feat.
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