Overview
- CBS keeps Detroit at No. 1 after a 3-1 stretch without Cade Cunningham for one loss, with Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Denver and Boston completing its top five.
- Bleacher Report places Oklahoma City at No. 1 and Detroit at No. 2, noting the champs’ recent wobble despite a 31-7 record and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 46-point OT win over Utah.
- The Trae Young deal to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert factors into reassessments of the Wizards and Hawks across both rankings.
- Philadelphia climbs on Joel Embiid’s resurgence, with averages of 28.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists over his last five games in a 4-1 run.
- Other context shaping evaluations includes Denver’s resilience without Nikola Jokić as Jamal Murray steps up, Victor Wembanyama’s minutes cap despite elite per-minute output, and reports that Memphis is listening to offers for Ja Morant.