The NBA regular season spans two calendar years, with final team records becoming etched in history. Since 2026 began, there have been shifts in the standings, revealing team identities. These shifts matter because there are more games in 2026 and fortunes often flip during the season’s final months.
Eastern Conference Teams on the Rise
The Detroit Pistons, fueled by Cade Cunningham, kept their thumb on the rest of the East while motoring toward a potential No. 1 seed. However, Cunningham is now dealing with a collapsed lung. Despite this, they’re 8-2 since his departure.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were handcuffed by injuries and inconsistency before 2026. Now, they can finish third in the transitional stretch with James Harden replacing Darius Garland to hopefully become a better pair with Donovan Mitchell, along with a clean bill of health in the rotation.
The Charlotte Hornets’ turnaround is the biggest in the NBA. Around the holidays, Charlotte seemed to be spiraling toward another lottery finish. Instead, LaMelo Ball remained healthy, Brandon Miller showed growth and Kon Knueppel gradually made more of an immediate impact as a rookie. A nine-game win streak in late January changed everything.
So much has gone right for the Atlanta Hawks after a 16-19 start. Trae Young, who was injured and played just 10 games, was traded. Nickeil Alexander-Walker thrived both in his absence and since his departure, and, coupled with the playmaking of Dyson Daniels, the drop-off in guard play was surprisingly minimal. Jalen Johnson also blossomed into an All-NBA-level player. Additionally, the Hawks’ schedule softened, keeping them at home as Atlanta moved from 10th to sixth place.
The Impact of Player Changes and Injuries
Injuries and inconsistency are costing the Denver Nuggets. The Boston Celtics’ 20-12 record in 2026 would perhaps be a bigger surprise, if only because the Celtics without Jayson Tatum refused to stumble after a sprint out of the gate. Now with Tatum back, their chances of finishing as a top-two seed are stronger, though not a slam dunk.
The New York Knicks are the Emirates NBA Cup champ.
Analysing the league’s hottest surges, biggest slides and the shifting playoff races since 2026 began allows us to see the teams’ records and order through Tuesday’s games.