Early-season NBA records can be misleading. Hot starts fade, slow starts stabilize, and a few teams quietly establish themselves as real threats long before the standings catch up. To measure which teams are truly playing the best basketball right now, RotoWire developed the NBA Momentum Index — a composite power indicator that evaluates how well teams are performing on both ends, not just whether they're winning games.
The Index scores every team on five key performance indicators over a rolling two-week window: Net Rating, Offensive Rating, Defensive Rating, Effective Field Goal Percentage and Win Percentage. These metrics are normalized, weighted, and combined into a single number — the Pulse Score — which reflects current form and sustainability.
This will be updated every two weeks all season. Each update will highlight:
Risers: Teams gaining meaningful momentum
Fallers: Teams losing rhythm or efficiency
Stability Teams: Clubs holding strong with consistent play
This helps track performance arcs, not just standings shifts.
Methodology:
The NBA Momentum Index uses publicly available advanced stats from the current season, calculated across the most recent two-week game window for all 30 teams.
For each team, we collected:
Net Rating (NetRtg)
Offensive Rating (ORtg)
Defensive Rating (DRtg)
Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%)
Win Percentage over the same window
Each stat was then:
Normalized to a 0–100 scale.
Weighted based on predictive strength and sustainability:
| Metric | Weight | Purpose |
| Net Rating | 30% | Best overall indicator of true team strength |
| Offensive Rating | 20% | Measures scoring efficiency + shot creation |
| Defensive Rating | 20% | Captures ability to prevent opponent runs |
| Effective FG% | 20% | Rewards teams generating good shots |
| Win % (this window only) | 10% | Adds contextual performance temperature |
These weighted values were averaged into a final Pulse Score, which determines ranking.
The Index will be recalculated every two weeks, comparing new Pulse Scores vs. previous values to track:
Momentum shifts
Breakout teams
Cooling trends
Underlying performance vs. record
| Rank | Team | Win% | NetRtg | ORtg | DRtg | eFG% | Pulse Score |
| 1 | Thunder | 1.000 | 13.7 | 118.5 | 104.8 | 54.9% | 93.9 |
| 2 | Spurs | 0.833 | 8.8 | 117 | 108.2 | 56.6% | 81.4 |
| 3 | Rockets | 0.667 | 12 | 123.2 | 111.2 | 57.0% | 80.5 |
| 4 | Nuggets | 0.667 | 10.5 | 121.2 | 110.7 | 58.3% | 79.3 |
| 5 | Bulls | 0.857 | 4.7 | 117.2 | 112.5 | 57.5% | 76.2 |
| 6 | 76ers | 0.714 | 6 | 121.1 | 115.1 | 55.3% | 71.1 |
| 7 | Lakers | 0.750 | 2.5 | 117.7 | 115.2 | 59.2% | 70 |
| 8 | Heat | 0.571 | 6.4 | 116.4 | 109.9 | 58.2% | 69.7 |
| 9 | Warriors | 0.625 | 3.5 | 115.5 | 112 | 56.7% | 65.6 |
| 10 | Pistons | 0.714 | 3.5 | 114.4 | 110.8 | 51.7% | 65 |
| 11 | Bucks | 0.625 | 0.9 | 117.2 | 116.4 | 59.6% | 63.3 |
| 12 | Trail Blazers | 0.571 | 3.5 | 115.2 | 111.7 | 52.4% | 60.4 |
| 13 | Raptors | 0.500 | 2.4 | 117.3 | 114.8 | 57.5% | 59.9 |
| T-14 | Timberwolves | 0.571 | 0.6 | 117 | 116.4 | 57.8% | 59.6 |
| T-14 | Knicks | 0.571 | 3.2 | 116.3 | 113.1 | 52.2% | 59.6 |
| 16 | Cavaliers | 0.571 | 0.3 | 111.3 | 111 | 53.5% | 56.4 |
| 17 | Hawks | 0.500 | -0.9 | 113.6 | 114.5 | 54.8% | 52.7 |
| 18 | Hornets | 0.375 | 0.1 | 117 | 116.9 | 56.6% | 50.9 |
| 19 | Celtics | 0.375 | 0.8 | 114.2 | 113.5 | 51.3% | 48.2 |
| 20 | Clippers | 0.429 | -3.2 | 114.5 | 117.7 | 56.6% | 47.7 |
| 21 | Magic | 0.375 | -1.5 | 112.9 | 114.3 | 53.6% | 46.5 |
| 22 | Suns | 0.375 | -3.7 | 112.9 | 116.6 | 54.9% | 43.8 |
| 23 | Jazz | 0.429 | -3.4 | 112.7 | 116.1 | 51.5% | 43.5 |
| 24 | Grizzlies | 0.375 | -4.7 | 111.9 | 116.6 | 51.9% | 39.9 |
| 25 | Kings | 0.286 | -4.1 | 114.2 | 118.3 | 54.9% | 39.8 |
| 26 | Mavericks | 0.286 | -7.7 | 103.6 | 111.3 | 50.3% | 31.5 |
| 27 | Pacers | 0.143 | -8.1 | 106.6 | 114.7 | 47.0% | 22.9 |
| 28 | Wizards | 0.143 | -13.7 | 105.5 | 119.2 | 52.9% | 18.4 |
| 29 | Pelicans | 0.143 | -14.5 | 107.9 | 122.5 | 50.0% | 14.4 |
| 30 | Nets | 0.000 | -15.5 | 113 | 128.5 | 52.1% | 8.8 |
*All metric stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com
Who Are The NBA's Early Leaders in Teamwide Momentum?
Oklahoma City Thunder (12-1)
Pulse Score: 93.9
When it comes to playing the game well at all levels, few teams do it better on both ends of the court than the Oklahoma City Thunder. A year after winning the club's first NBA title since moving to Oklahoma City, the Thunder are putting up similar numbers to the team that went 68-14 before beating the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers in succession.
So far through 13 games, Mark Daigneault's team has a similar look, ratings wise, from last year's team, with an offensive rating of 118.7 (ranking 7th in the league), compared with last year's figure of 120.3 (ranking third). On defense, OKC has kept their collective feet on the gas pedal, leading the league in defensive rating (at 107.4), after doing the same last season (with a 107.5 figure).
In total, the Thunder have the second-best net rating in the 30-team league, at +11.2, a year after posting an NBA-leading +12.8 mark, helping to explain why OKC has the best pulse score in the association right now, at 93.9.
All told, OKC's unique talent distribution on both ends of the court isn't lost on oddsmakers, with the team from DraftKings Sportsbook listing the Thunder at +235 to repeat as NBA champs in 2026, ahead of the Nuggets (+550) and Cleveland Cavaliers (+750), while putting them atop the list this week, momentum wise.
San Antonio Spurs (8-3)
Pulse Score: 81.4
The first year of the Mitch Johnson era in San Antonio hasn't missed a beat, with the San Antonio Spurs rank 2nd leaguewide in defensive rating (109.6) and fourth in net rating (+8.3), while placing 11th in terms of offensive rating (117.9).
All of those metrics score well above where the Spurs finished last year, when San Antonio went 34-48 in the final year of the Gregg Popovich era, with the league's 19th best offensive rating (114.4), 25th best defensive rating (117.2) and 21st ranked net rating (-2.8).
Led by big man Victor Wembanyama and his team-leading 1.2 win shares and 0.5 VORP, San Antonio current has the NBA's second-best pulse score, at 81.4, thanks in large part to giving up the second fewest points leaguewide, at 109.6.
All told, the Spurs' impressive metrics in the opening stretch of the NBA season have elevated the team's futures on FanDuel Sportsbook, with San Antonio holding -320 odds of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2018-19 in 2026.
Throw in San Antonio's +4000 title odds and you have a decent snapshot of the turnaround that's underway deep in the heart of Texas, with one of the league's standard-bearers getting back on track this season.
Houston Rockets (7-3)
Pulse Score: 80.5
A year after head coach Ime Udoka led Houston back to the postseason for the first time since 2020, the Rockets appear to be back and ready for more, with a 7-3 record and the league's top offense to boot.
In seven games, Udoka's bunch rank atop the NBA when it comes to points per game (124.7) and offensive rating (123.9), while posting the best net rating (+12.9), though their on-court mastery doesn't end there.
That's because the Rockets also boast the league's fifth best defense, both when it comes to points allowed (111.7) and defensive rating (111.0), a year after finishing sixth in points allowed (109.8) and fourth in defensive rating (110.8).
All told, Houston's No. 3 pulse score of 80.5 has a lot to do with the team's continued crackdown on both ends of the court, led by center Alperen Sengun and his team-leading 8.3 win shares and 3.9 VORP, while forward Amen Thompson isn't far behind, with 3.9 win shares and 3.4 VORP this season in the Space City.
Still, Houston's impressive start hasn't been enough to sell oddsmakers on the team's title chances (yet, at least), with the Rockets holding +1600 NBA championship betting odds on Bet365, ranking seventh leaguewide.
For now, at least Udoka and his staff can lean on the fact that Houston's 5-2 start has been the net result of solid play on both ends of the court, with the Rockets launching off the pad with gusto in 2025.
Denver Nuggets (9-2)
Pulse Score: 79.3
While each of the last two seasons has ended in disappointment for Denver Nuggets fans and players alike, with consecutive Western Conference Semifinal losses on the heels of the club's first NBA title, that's not to say that this season will end the same way.
That's because head coach David Adelman's first year with the team has netted positive results, with a 9-2 record and the NBA's second-ranked offense to boot, with the Nuggets averaging 124.6 points and 121.8 when it comes to offensive rating out of the gate.
That comes on the heels of a season where Denver ranked third in terms of points per game (120.8) and fourth in offensive rating (119.9), though the biggest difference year-over-year in the Mile High City has been on the defensive end.
That's because the Nuggets' rankings have shot through the roof when it comes to points per game allowed (from 25th to 6th) and defensive rating (from 22nd to 6th), helping bolster the team's championship outlook.
To that end, oddsmakers from Caesars Sportsbook currently have Denver down as the No. 2 team when it comes to 2026 NBA championship betting odds, at +550, speaking to the team's newfound defensive mettle under Adelman's watch.
Chicago Bulls (6-5)
Pulse Score: 76.2
One of the NBA's best stories this season has been the improvement shown by the Chicago Bulls under longtime head coach Billy Donovan, going from three straight losing seasons to a 6-1 start in 2025, though they've slipped to 6-5.
Like Denver, a big reason for Chicago's turnaround has been the team's improved performance defensively, jumping 16 spots when it comes to points per game allowed (From 119.4 to 115.6), while the Bulls' defensive rating has gone from 18th (115.6) to 12th (113.8).
Chicago's net rating has been a big benefactor from that defensive improvement, going from 20th leaguewide, at -1.5, to sixth overall at +4.8 in 2025, which has basketball fans in the Windy City dreaming of a postseason run for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign, where Donovan and company bowed out in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.
This year, oddsmakers from Fanatics Sportsbook are expecting such an outcome to become reality, giving the Bulls -120 odds of making the postseason, which speaks to the team's early season momentum, with Chicago posting the fifth best pulse score leaguewide, at 76.2, through seven games of play.
Other NBA Momentum Tidbits
Like Chicago, another early season success story has been the turnaround in the City of Brotherly Love, with the Philadelphia 76ers going 7-4 out of the gate after a disastrous 24-58 campaign in Philly.
This year, Nick Nurse's team has seen their tides turn a bit, posting the sixth best pulse score to date (71.1), while the Sixers look to do enough things correctly to return to the postseason after missing out last year.
Throw in the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers, who rank seventh in terms of early season pulse score at 70 after winning seven of nine to start the year, and the 7-5 Miami Heat (69.7 pulse score) and you have the next two spots on our leaguewide list covered.
The other teams that round out our momentum top 10 are the 7-6 Golden State Warriors, who have a figure of 65.6 this year, while the 10-2 Detroit Pistons are 10th overall.
