NBA standings today: 76ers/ Bulls set early East pace, Thunder sprint to 5–0 in the West

The first full week of the 2025–26 season has produced clear early tiers in the NBA standings. Philadelphia is unbeaten and looks turbocharged behind Tyrese Maxey, Chicago has opened perfectly under a defense-first template, and Miami sits close behind after a sharp start. Out West, Oklahoma City has stormed to 5–0, San Antonio is spotless, and Golden State has banked wins while integrating new lineups. It’s early—but patterns are already forming.

East snapshot: Philly’s fast start, Chicago’s balance, Miami’s depth

• 76ers (4–0): The league’s hottest launch owes to blistering guard play and tempo, with role players finishing efficiently around the edges. The rotation has survived injury management thanks to shooting variance breaking their way and a turnover profile that’s cleaner than last October.

• Bulls (3–0): Three wins built on half-court defense and glass control. Offensively, the ball has moved—secondary creators are getting downhill instead of settling, and late-clock shot quality has improved.

• Heat (3–1): Classic Heat DNA: organized defense, punchy bench contributions, and just enough shooting to stretch fourth quarters.

• Cavaliers/Knicks/Celtics cluster: Records are tight, but the throughline is rim protection driving early net rating. Cleveland’s second units have swung minutes; New York has leaned on offensive boards; Boston’s spacing still travels.

• Slow starts: Pacers (0–4) and Nets (0–5) are underwater on defensive efficiency, with transition defense and foul rates the immediate fixes.

What matters next in the East: sustainability of Philly’s turnover edge; whether Chicago’s half-court scoring keeps pace against elite defenses; Miami’s health and minutes management on a compact schedule. If those hold, the conference top four could solidify quickly.

West snapshot: Thunder at full gallop, Spurs perfect, Warriors steady

• Thunder (5–0): Ball pressure, pace control, and a live-wire advantage creation engine have produced both wins and style points. Early shot charts show a diet heavy on rim and corner threes—the modern map, executed cleanly.

• Spurs (4–0): The defense has advanced a full step—length plus discipline is translating into contested threes and better defensive rebounding. Offensively, the reads are simpler, cutting down on live-ball giveaways.

• Warriors (4–1): Veteran poise with a deeper rotation: bench minutes are positive, and late-game execution has been crisp. They’re winning the math without overextending stars.

• Chasing pack (Nuggets, Kings, Suns, Mavericks): Records vary night to night, but the common theme is offense-first profiles with top-10 shot quality; defensive communication will determine who climbs.

• Concern watch: Pelicans and one or two other West teams have struggled to string stops; second-chance points allowed are the tell.

What matters next in the West: can OKC’s turnover creation stay elite as scouting tightens; do the Spurs sustain half-court scoring when 3s cool; and can Golden State maintain positive bench splits on a tougher road stretch.

Early trends hiding inside the NBA standings

• Free-throw economy: Teams winning the whistle are buying themselves fourth-quarter cushions as early-season shooting wobbles normalize. The Bulls and Heat, in particular, have leveraged foul discipline on defense while getting to the stripe enough to steady late possessions.

• Glass as a separator: Offensive rebounding rates are deciding close games. Knicks and Cavs second chances have papered over cold stretches; clubs that box out poorly are already paying with extra opponent threes.

• Bench stability matters: With rotations still in flux, second units that can defend without fouling are gold. The Warriors’ and Heat’s benches have banked swing minutes that show up in the standings now—and in tie-breakers later.

Five storylines to watch before the first standings shuffle

1. Undefeated pressure: How long can the 76ers and Thunder stay perfect as schedules stiffen? Early undefeated runs often turn into seed equity by spring.

2. Chicago’s offensive ceiling: The Bulls’ defense is real; the question is whether mid-range heavy nights can be balanced with more rim pressure against top-10 defenses.

3. Rookie/young-core runway: Several rotations are trusting first- and second-year players in closing groups. Those possessions now are experience banks for March.

4. Travel and back-to-backs: The first dense week tends to ding legs; teams that keep pace and foul rates stable on no rest usually rise a tier.

5. Three-point diet sanity check: Clubs living above 45% of attempts from deep often face a regression week; the ones that also win the paint can ride out cold spells.

What today’s NBA standings mean—and don’t

In late October, records tell you who’s sharp and who’s sloppy, not yet who’s elite. The NBA standings already reward teams that defend without fouling, secure the glass, and find clean looks early in the clock. Expect shuffling as scouting reports catch up and road trips bite. But banked wins matter: the habits that produced them—turnover control, bench defense, two-for-one execution—tend to last longer than a hot shooting week.