The 2026–27 NBA season is underway, and several teams have already made strong starts. Oklahoma City, Detroit, Houston, and Minnesota all won their first three games, while the defending champion New York Knicks have struggled to find their rhythm.

The opening games have brought impressive individual performances, but a strong start means more when a team can build on it over several weeks. From established contenders to teams looking to take another step forward, these are some of the NBA teams worth watching as the season begins to take shape.

Oklahoma City Thunder: A Strong Foundation in the West

The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the 2026–27 season with plenty of reasons to feel confident. After winning the NBA championship in 2025 and reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2026, the team has established itself among the conference’s strongest competitors.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains central to that success. The two-time reigning MVP scored 32 points against San Antonio and another 34 against the Clippers, giving Oklahoma City a reliable scoring option. His ability to create shots and draw defensive attention also opens opportunities for teammates.

Chet Holmgren provides another important piece. His combination of rim protection, mobility, and outside shooting allows the Thunder to compete with different types of opponents. Together, these players contribute to a team that has already shown it can combine individual talent with organized defense and effective ball movement.

The Thunder opened the season with a 116–104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference Finals. They followed that with wins over Denver and the Clippers, improving to 3–0 while allowing just 96.3 points per game, the lowest average in the league through October 25.

As the schedule develops, Oklahoma City’s consistency against strong opponents will be particularly revealing. The Thunder have already established themselves among the contenders in the wider NBA Finals race, but maintaining that standard across an 82-game season remains the challenge.

New York Knicks: Defending the Championship

The New York Knicks entered the season in a position they hadn’t experienced for decades: as defending NBA champions. Their 2025–26 title ended a championship drought dating back to 1973 and raised expectations for a team that had already become a serious Eastern Conference contender.

Jalen Brunson remains one of the most important players in New York’s offense. His ability to create scoring opportunities, operate in tight spaces, and manage possessions gives the Knicks a dependable option when games become competitive.

The challenge now is maintaining the standards that brought the franchise its championship. Opponents will have spent the offseason studying New York’s strengths, and the Knicks must continue finding ways to win against teams that are increasingly familiar with their approach.

New York’s opening week has been more difficult than expected. The Knicks lost their first three games, including a 111–102 defeat against Orlando on October 25. Jalen Brunson scored 28 points against the Magic, but New York was outscored 40–27 in the fourth quarter.

New York’s early results will help show whether the team is performing in line with preseason expectations. Season-long projections, such as NBA over/under wins, provide a reference point for comparing those expectations with the team’s progress across the 82-game schedule.

New York has already demonstrated its championship potential, but its 0–3 start shows that defending the title won’t be straightforward. Improving its fourth-quarter execution and finding more consistent results will be important as the season moves into November.

Detroit Pistons: Building on a Breakthrough Season

The Detroit Pistons are another team entering 2026–27 with significantly higher expectations. Detroit finished the previous regular season with a 60–22 record, leading the Eastern Conference and establishing itself as one of the league’s strongest teams. That performance marked a major change for a franchise that had spent several seasons rebuilding.

Cade Cunningham has been instrumental in Detroit’s development. He recorded 22 points and eight assists against Boston, then contributed 26 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in the win over Philadelphia. His scoring and playmaking give the Pistons a dependable offensive leader, but the team’s improvement has involved more than one player.

Detroit’s defensive intensity, rebounding, and ability to compete physically have helped it establish a recognizable style. Those qualities can be particularly valuable during stretches when outside shots aren’t falling.

Detroit opened the season with a 121–113 victory over Boston, overcoming a 22-point deficit along the way. The Pistons followed that with wins against Miami and Philadelphia, reaching 3–0 and taking an early lead in the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons are no longer an unexpected success story, and their early performances will help determine whether they can maintain the consistency that produced 60 wins last season.

Houston Rockets: An Encouraging Opening Statement

Houston opened the 2026–27 season with a 128–110 victory over Dallas and followed it with wins against San Antonio and Atlanta. The Rockets reached 3–0 while averaging 121 points per game, showing encouraging offensive consistency across their opening matchups.

Kevin Durant gives Houston an experienced scoring presence, contributing 22 points in the win over Atlanta. Alperen Sengun offers another offensive dimension through his passing and interior play, recording 29 points against San Antonio. Jabari Smith Jr. adds another scoring option, giving Houston several players capable of influencing a game.

Houston’s potential lies partly in how those different skills fit together. Durant can create shots in difficult situations, while Sengun’s versatility allows the offense to operate through different areas of the floor. When the supporting players contribute consistently, the Rockets become harder to defend.

Three consecutive wins are an encouraging start, but Houston still needs to demonstrate that its offense can perform against different defensive systems and that its defensive effort remains consistent throughout the schedule.

Houston’s 114–110 victory over San Antonio was particularly revealing. Amen Thompson blocked Victor Wembanyama’s late attempt, while Sengun scored 14 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter. The Rockets showed they could respond in a close game rather than relying entirely on their scoring output.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards Leads the Way

Minnesota delivered one of the most impressive individual performances of opening week. Anthony Edwards scored 45 points against Miami, helping the Timberwolves begin the season with a convincing victory.

Edwards remains central to Minnesota’s offense, following his impressive opening performance with another 26 points against Toronto. His ability to create shots from different areas of the court gives the Timberwolves a reliable scoring option, even when opponents focus their defensive attention on him.

However, the Timberwolves’ prospects depend on more than Edwards producing big scoring numbers. Contributions from the rest of the roster will be important when opponents focus their defensive attention on him.

The arrival of LaMelo Ball adds another playmaking option to Minnesota’s offense. He has already contributed as a scorer and facilitator, including eight assists against Toronto, giving the Timberwolves another way to create opportunities alongside Edwards.

Minnesota has also started 3–0, holding Orlando to 93 points and Toronto to 94 in consecutive victories. That defensive consistency has complemented Edwards’ scoring, giving the Timberwolves a promising foundation as they prepare to face stronger Western Conference competition.

What Will Separate the Contenders in November?

Oklahoma City and Minnesota have stood out defensively, while Houston has produced strong offensive numbers. Detroit has combined scoring with defensive discipline, and November will test whether those early strengths can hold up against different opponents and playing styles.

A strong offense can produce impressive scores against certain opponents, but maintaining that production against disciplined defensive teams is a different challenge. The same applies to defense. Teams that can limit opponents’ scoring opportunities without sacrificing their own offensive efficiency are generally better positioned to compete consistently.

Depth will also matter as coaches manage rotations and respond to injuries or changing matchups. Teams with several reliable contributors have more flexibility when their usual approach isn’t working.

The NBA Cup will add another dimension to the early schedule. Group play begins on October 30 and continues throughout November, bringing meaningful competition between teams from across the league.

As teams settle into the regular season, FanDuel’s NBA news and analysis offers a way to follow player performances, recent results, and developing trends across the league.

By the end of November, teams will have a more substantial collection of results to examine. That should make it easier to distinguish a promising opening stretch from a genuinely strong start to the season.

An Early Race With Plenty Left to Prove

Oklahoma City, Detroit, Houston, and Minnesota have all opened the season with three consecutive victories, although each has relied on different strengths. New York’s difficult start, meanwhile, shows how quickly expectations can be challenged once the games begin.

The coming weeks will reveal which teams can turn promising signs into consistent results. With conference rivalries, new roster combinations, and NBA Cup games adding to the schedule, the early race should offer plenty of reasons to keep watching.

Content reflects information available as of 2026/10/27; subject to change.